COMPONENT OF A CLOCK MOVEMENT THAT INCLUDES A LOCKABLE JOINT

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention falls within the field of watchmaking, and in particular the components of a watch movement.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a component of a watch movement, comprising a joint capable of being locked. Technological background

[0003] Watch movements, particularly those with horological complications—that is, mechanisms that provide indications other than the time and its divisions—generally comprise a large number of components, often several hundred, arranged within a relatively small volume. Such movements are illustrated in documents CH48871A and CH28541A, for example.

[0004] The design of a watch movement is therefore accompanied by an important constraint related to the available volume for arranging all the components.

[0005] Watch movement designers must also ensure that each component is durable and can withstand the mechanical stresses it is subjected to over time, that it can be manufactured repeatably and as simply as possible while respecting dimensional tolerances. Furthermore, the component must be easy to assemble within the movement and to remove for servicing.

[0006] The present invention relates to a component that addresses all the aforementioned difficulties related to the design of a component of a watch movement. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a component of a watch movement comprising two arms connected to each other by means of a pivot joint. The component is capable of occupying a deployed position and a folded position in which the arms form a smaller angle than when the component is in the deployed position. The component further includes a coupling mechanism configured to prevent any relative movement between the two arms when the component is in the deployed position.

[0008] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0009] In particular embodiments, the coupling mechanism includes elastic interlocking elements.

[0010] In particular embodiments, the elastic interlocking elements are formed by a lug arranged on one of the arms and an elastic tab arranged on the other arm. This elastic tab has a recess in which the lug is intended to fit when the component is in the deployed position, thus immobilizing the arms relative to each other.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the elastic leg is configured so as to apply an elastic restoring force against the lug.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the lug and the recess are shaped so that the release of the lug from the recess is caused by the stressing of the elastic tab against an elastic restoring force.

[0013] In particular embodiments, the elastic leg is arranged between the lug and the arm which carries it, so as to present a range of motion whose limits are defined by said lug and said arm.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the recess is arranged between a proximal portion and a distal portion of the elastic leg, the distal portion being designed to extend along an arc concentric to the axis of rotation of the arms or along a segment tangential to the axis of rotation of the arms.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the recess is shaped so as to constitute a stop preventing the relative mobility of the arms in one direction of rotation, when the elastic leg is stressed so as to release the lug of said recess.

[0016] In particular embodiments, the proximal portion of the elastic leg includes a segment by which it is in contact with the lug when the component is in the deployed position, this segment being shaped so as to extend tangentially relative to the axis of rotation of the arms, along an axis passing through the center of the lug when the latter is housed in the recess. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to: there figure 1 representing a perspective view of a component of a watch movement comprising a joint capable of being locked according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; the figure 2 representing a detailed front view of the component of the figure 1 .

[0018] Note that the figure is not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] The present invention relates to a component 10 of a watch movement which, in application examples, can form a motion transmission element such as a rocker, lever, shaft, or any other elongated element, i.e., one extending along a longitudinal axis. The component 10 extends along a longitudinal axis which can be straight, curved, or of any shape, as shown in the illustration. figure 1 .

[0020] Component 10 includes a joint connecting two arms 11 to each other via a pivot connection. This feature allows component 10 to be configured in both an extended and a folded position, in which the arms 11 form a smaller angle than when component 10 is in its extended position. This folded position can advantageously allow a watchmaker to more easily mount component 10 within the watch movement or to more easily remove it.

[0021] The arms 11 are connected to each other by a pivot that can be implemented using any technical solution within the reach of a person skilled in the art. In particular, in the example of implementation shown on the figures 1 and 2, each of the arms 11 has, at one end of the interface, a through hole in which a rod forming a pivot can be engaged, for example stopped in translation by a head forming a stop opposite to a nut with which the rod cooperates by a threaded portion.

[0022] This pivot can possibly constitute a pivot of component 10, the axis of rotation of the arms 11 relative to each other and the axis of rotation of component 10 then being coincident.

[0023] The rotational mobility of the arms 11 relative to each other can advantageously be eliminated by a coupling mechanism provided in the component 10, so that one of the arms 11 can transmit a force, for example a torque, to the other arm 11. More precisely, the arms 11 are immobilized relative to each other when the component 10 is in the deployed position, as illustrated in the figures 1 and 2 .

[0024] In particular, the coupling mechanism includes elastic interlocking elements. For example, a lug 12 is arranged on one of the arms 11, and an elastic tab 13 is arranged on the other arm 11. The elastic tab 13 may have a proximal portion 130 and a distal portion 131 between which is arranged a recess 132, as shown in the figure 2 The lug 12 is designed to fit into the recess 132 so as to establish a rigid connection between the two arms 11, and consequently prohibit any relative mobility between said arms 11.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic tab 13 is configured to apply an elastic restoring force against the lug 12. This feature ensures permanent contact between the elastic tab 13 and the lug 12, thereby ensuring, firstly, that the lug is engaged in the recess 132 when the component 10 moves from the folded to the deployed position, and secondly, that the lug 12 remains engaged in the recess 132 when the component 10 is in the deployed position. The direction of the elastic restoring force is preferably radial relative to the axis of rotation of the arms 11, so as to pass through the center of the lug 12 and to be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the arm 11 carrying the lug.

[0026] It is also conceivable that the elastic tab 13 does not exert force on the lug 12 and includes elastic interlocking elements, such as a reduction in the cross-section of the recess 132 at the level of an engagement opening of the lug 12, allowing to radially ensure the retention of the lug 12 in the recess 132.

[0027] Advantageously, the lug 12 and the recess 132 are shaped so that their cooperation is only broken by a user applying force to the elastic tab 13 against the elastic restoring force. In particular, only the deformation of the elastic tab 13 by applying force to the distal portion 131 towards the axis of rotation of the arms 11 in the example shown in the figures 1 and 2 , allows the lug 12 to be released from the recess 132, which then allows the arms 11 to pivot relative to each other.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the elastic leg 13 is arranged between the lug 12 and the arm 11 which carries it, so as to present a range of motion whose limits are defined by said lug 12 and said arm 11.

[0029] When component 10 is in its folded position and arms 11 are pivoted relative to each other, the lug 12 is designed to slide against the distal portion 131 of the elastic tab 13. To allow rotational movement of the arms 11 when the lug 12 is not engaged in the recess 132, the distal portion 131 is designed to extend along an arc concentric to the axis of rotation of arms 11 or along a segment tangential to the axis of rotation of arms 11, as shown in the detailed view of the figure 2 .

[0030] In summary, when component 10 is in the folded position, arms 11 can pivot relative to each other according to a predefined angular range of motion.

[0031] The recess 132 can advantageously be shaped to act as a stop, preventing the relative movement of the arms 11 in one direction when the component 10 moves from the deployed to the folded position, that is, when the elastic tab 13 is actuated to disengage the lug 12. In other words, the recess 132 is shaped to limit the rotation of the arms 11 relative to each other according to the predefined angle of movement. To this end, the recess 132 includes a protrusion 133 that acts as a stop. Thanks to this feature, the lug 12 cannot come into contact with the proximal portion 130 of the elastic tab 13.

[0032] The proximal portion 130 of the elastic leg 13 includes a segment 134 through which it contacts the lug 12 when the component 10 is in the deployed position. This segment 134 is preferably shaped so as to extend tangentially relative to the axis of rotation of the arms 11, along an axis passing through the center of the lug 12 when the latter is housed in the recess 132. This feature allows for optimal distribution of mechanical stresses during the transmission of forces between the arms 11.

[0033] More generally, it should be noted that the implementation and realization methods considered above have been described as non-limiting examples, and that other variants are therefore conceivable.

[0034] For example, a second recess suitable for receiving the lug 12 in engagement can be arranged on the distal portion 131 of the elastic leg 13 so as to generate a stable position of the arms 11 relative to each other, i.e. without degree of mobility, when the component 10 occupies the folded position.

Claims

1. Component (10) of a horological movement comprising two arms (11) connected to each other by means of a pivot link, the component (10) being able to occupy an extended position and a folded position, in which folded position the arms (11) form a smaller angle than when the component (10) occupies the extended position, the component (10) further including a coupling mechanism configured to prevent any relative mobility between the two arms (11) when the component (10) occupies the extended position, characterised in that the coupling mechanism comprises snap fitting elements.

2. Component (10) according to claim 1, wherein the snap fitting elements are formed by a catch (12) arranged on one of the arms (11), and a resilient tab (13) arranged on the other arm (11), said resilient tab (13) including a recess (132) in which the catch (12) is intended to be housed when the component (10) is in the extended position, so as to immobilise the arms (11) relative to each other.

3. Component (10) according to claim 2, wherein the resilient tab (13) is configured so as to apply a resilient return force against the catch (12).

4. Component (10) according to claim 2, wherein the catch (12) and the recess (132) are shaped so that the catch (12) is released from the recess (132) when the resilient tab (13) is biased against a resilient return force.

5. Component (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the resilient tab (13) is arranged between the catch (12) and the arm (11) carrying it, so as to have an angular range whose limits are defined by said catch (12) and said arm (11).

6. Component (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the recess (132) is arranged between a proximal portion (130) and a distal portion (131) of the resilient tab (13), the distal portion (131) being intended to extend along an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the arms (11) or along a segment tangential to the axis of rotation of the arms (11).

7. Component (10) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the recess (132) is shaped so as to constitute a stop preventing relative mobility of the arms (11) in one direction of rotation, when the resilient tab (13) is biased so as to release the catch (12) from said recess (132).

8. Component (10) according to claim 6, wherein the proximal portion (130) of the resilient tab (13) includes a segment (134) via which it is in contact with the catch (12) when the component (10) is in the extended position, this segment (134) being shaped so as to extend tangentially relative to the axis of rotation of the arms (11), along an axis passing through the centre of the catch (12) when the latter is housed in the recess (132).