Housing for a dewar device comprising a connecting element of a watch case

Abstract

The invention relates to a Dewar device (1) for mechanical and / or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a strap and a case (4) comprising a housing (5) in which a case (6) of said watch (3) can be arranged and at least one reversible connecting element (7) fixing said case (6) of watch (3) in said housing (5) of the case (4) keeping it away from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the case (4) defining this housing (5), said at least one reversible connecting element (7) being provided with a body forming a structure (8) comprising at least one hollowed area (9).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, particularly suitable for operating under extreme temperatures, the Dewar device comprising at least one connecting element for arranging a watch case in its casing. Technological background

[0002] An electronic watch typically comprises a strap and a watch case containing several electrical or electronic components. It is known in the prior art that some of these components cannot withstand extreme temperatures and cease to function properly at these temperatures. Typically, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) using light-emitting diodes or quartz tolerate temperatures not exceeding approximately 80°C (degrees Celsius), and not falling below 0°C. However, in particular environments such as space or lunar missions, temperatures can frequently reach values ​​of approximately -150°C to +125°C. CN 106 325 041 A discloses a watch movement protected by a closed hollow case in a vacuum state.The inner surface of the case is coated with a layer of silver, the outer surface of the case is coated with a heat conduction material resistant to high and low temperatures.

[0003] There is therefore a need to be able to use a watch, particularly an electronic watch, in environments where such extreme temperatures can prevail. Summary of the invention

[0004] For this purpose, the invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, according to claim 1.

[0005] Thanks to the Dewar device formed by the case and the watch case, the mechanical and / or functional components of the watch are protected from possible extreme temperatures between -150 and +125 degrees Celsius that may exist outside said device. In addition, said at least one connecting element ensuring the attachment of the watch case to the case helps to ensure very good thermal insulation of the case by preventing any heat loss from this watch case 6, in particular by radiation. Thus, such a Dewar device makes it possible to use mechanical and / or functional components in contexts and environments where temperatures may be extreme, such as for example during space exploration missions such as the exploration of the planet Mars or the Moon.This also helps to ensure cost rationalization and maintain reasonable complexity for the components used in watches used for such missions.

[0006] In other embodiments: the structure comprises a plurality of substantially different or strictly different hollowed-out areas; the structure comprises a plurality of hollowed-out areas having substantially similar or strictly similar shapes; the structure is a lattice structure; said structure is a lattice structure; at least one connecting element provides a reversible attachment of the watch case to an inner peripheral wall of the enclosure of the case; said at least one connecting element provides a reversible attachment of the watch case to a back of the case; said at least one connecting element is the only connecting element ensuring the reversible attachment of the watch case in the enclosure of the case; said enclosure is under vacuum or almost vacuum; the case comprises a crystal whose surface is substantially greater or strictly greater than a crystal of the watch case; Brief description of the figures

[0007] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the attached figures, in which: there figure 1 is a sectional view of a schematic representation of a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, according to one embodiment of the invention, and the figure 2 a larger scale view of a body forming a structure comprising at least one hollowed-out zone belonging to a reversible connecting element capable of ensuring the fixing of a watch case in a case of said device, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] There figure 1represents an isothermal watchmaking device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a watch 3 also called a Dewar watchmaking device or more simply in the remainder of the description “Dewar device”. Such a Dewar device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a watch 3 is capable of participating in providing good thermal insulation to mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, a case 6 of which must be arranged in this case 4 of the device 1 in order to ensure such insulation to these components 2. In other words, this Dewar device 1 is notably formed by the combination of its case 4 and the case 6 of watch 3 in order to provide suitable thermal insulation for these mechanical and / or functional components 2.In this configuration, the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in an enclosure 5 while being kept away or at a distance from all of the elements 10a to 10c of the case 4 defining this said enclosure 5, namely a crystal 10a, an inner peripheral wall 12 of a caseband 10c and a back 10b of this case 4. It will be noted that this inner peripheral wall 12 is also that of said enclosure 5.

[0009] This separation or this distance is configured from at least one connecting element 7 that we describe subsequently, to (or to participate in) reducing or even eliminating any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall of the caseband 10c and / or the back 10b and / or the crystal 10a with the case 6 of watch 3 in particular with an external face of this case 6. This external face comprises the external surfaces of the crystal, the caseband and the back of this case 6 of watch 3.

[0010] It will be noted that such a box 6 is included in a watch 3 which may be an electronic watch, for example a quartz watch, or even a mechanical watch.

[0011] The mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, mentioned above, include, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: a watch movement, a dial, hands, rings, seals and / or electronic and / or electrical components 2. It will be noted in particular that such electronic and / or electrical components comprise, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator, etc.

[0012] It is therefore understood that in this configuration, this Dewar device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as a Dewar tube / vessel well known in the state of the art. As we have previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar device 1 contribute to giving it good thermal insulation with regard to temperatures, in particular extreme temperatures, which may prevail in the external environment in which such a device 1 may be located.

[0013] In this context, this device 1 therefore comprises the case 4 which comprises the middle 10c on which is mounted a bracelet allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it. This case 4 also comprises the glass 10a and the back 10b mentioned above. In this device 1, it will be noted that the glass 10a preferably comprises a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than a glass 11 of the case 6 of watch 3.

[0014] As we have seen, the glass 10a, the caseband 10c and the back 10b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 5 of this case 4 which is capable of receiving the case 6 of watch 3. These three elements 10a to 10c of the case 4, the caseband 10c, the glass 10a and the back 10b can be separate elements which are joined together to construct this enclosure 5. Alternatively, the caseband 10c and the back 10b of the case 4 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the back 10b which is capable of being closed by the glass 10a in a reversible and sealed manner. In another alternative manner, the caseband 10c and the crystal 10a of the case 4 can together form a single-piece part, said single-piece part defining an opening opposite the crystal 10a which is capable of being closed by the back cover 10b, also in a reversible and sealed manner.

[0015] The case middle 10c and the back cover 10b are preferably made, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, of a metallic material, of glass or of thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers or even of ceramic materials. It will be noted that when the case middle 10c and the back cover 10b are transparent or semi-transparent, for example being made of glass, the peripheral wall 12 of the case middle 10c and the inner face of the back cover 10b may be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0016] In addition, the device 1 may comprise an interferometric filter arranged on an external face of the case 4, namely on an external peripheral wall of the caseband 10c and / or the external faces of the crystal 10a and the back cover 10b of this case 6 of the watch 3. This interferometric filter may be a grid or a trellis forming a coating on this external face of the case 4. This grid or trellis has a mesh whose dimensions are such that they only allow certain predetermined wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to pass through, typically the wavelengths of the visible range. It will be noted that such a filter helps to ensure blocking of thermal losses by radiation, in particular blocking of infrared waves, while allowing reading of the watch dial by allowing visible wavelengths generally less than approximately 600nm to pass through.

[0017] Furthermore, in this device 1, when the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in the enclosure 5 of the case 4, the space defined between this case 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the caseband 10c, the back 10b and the crystal 10a is empty of material or almost empty. In other words, the enclosure 5 is under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

[0018] In order to ensure that the watch case 6 of the watch 3 is held in this enclosure 5, the Dewar device 1 and in particular the case 4 comprises at least one connecting element 7 providing a reversible attachment of the watch case 6 of the watch 3 to the inner peripheral wall 12 and / or to the bottom of this case 4. This connecting element 7, which is also called a “reversible connecting element,” comprises two ends, a first of which is connected to the case 4. Such a connecting element 7 is configured to participate in reducing thermal conduction between the case 4 and the watch case 6 of the watch 3. As will be seen later, the body of this element 7 has a particular structure 8 which contributes to ensuring a reduction in thermal losses to the external environment of the Dewar device and therefore to ensuring an internal temperature in the watch case 6 of the watch 3 which is stable.In other words, a temperature which allows or permits optimal functioning of the components 2 of the watch 3.

[0019] More precisely, this first end can be connected in such a way: removable on the inner peripheral wall 12 and / or on the bottom of this housing 4 for example by clipping or fitting; non-removable, either fixed or immovable, on this inner peripheral wall 12 and / or on this bottom of the housing 4.

[0020] It will be noted that when the first end of this connecting element 7 is irremovably connected to the inner peripheral wall 12 and / or to the bottom 10b, it is then fixed to the latter two, for example by gluing or by welding.

[0021] The second end of this connecting element 7 which is intended to be connected to the case 6 of watch 3, is preferably removably connected. To do this, this second end comprises a fixing zone which is configured to be connected / connected to an attachment zone of the case 6 of watch 3 in place of the strap of this watch 3. By way of example, this fixing zone of this second end is capable of ensuring a reversible fixing on a bar included in this attachment zone of this watch 3 or of replacing this bar.

[0022] This connecting element 7 is provided with a body forming / comprising a structure 8 comprising at least one hollowed-out zone 9. This hollowed-out zone 9 is an empty part of the body of this connecting element 7 or a part which has been hollowed out of the material constituting the rest of the body of this element 7. In other words, each hollowed-out zone 9 is a through opening, a blind opening, a cell or a perforated zone included in the body of this element 7. It is therefore understood that the structure 8 of such a connecting element 7 comprises this said at least one hollowed-out zone 9 as well as a non-hollowed-out zone of this body.

[0023] In reference to the figure 2, such a structure 8 may comprise a plurality of hollowed-out areas. In this structure 8, the hollowed-out areas have similar shapes. It is understood that in other variants, the hollowed-out areas may have different shapes. In this context, such a structure 8 comprising several hollowed-out areas may be a lattice structure 8 such as a microlattice structure or a nanolattice structure, or even a lattice structure 8 which may also be called a triangulated system.

[0024] Such a structure 8 of the connecting element 7 improves the holding of the watch case 6 of the watch 3 in the case 4 by having very good mechanical resistance to the possible stresses that such a connecting element 7 is likely to undergo in the context of the use of the Dewar device 1, in particular during the application of an acceleration, a deceleration and / or a sudden / violent / abrupt change of direction undergone by this Dewar device 1, for example during an impact. Furthermore, it will be noted that such a structure 8 gives this connecting element 7 a mechanical resistance greater than a connecting element of the state of the art which would have a mass substantially similar or strictly similar to the connecting element 7 of the present invention.

[0025] In addition, this structure 8 is capable of reducing the capacity of this connecting element 7 to diffuse heat between the inner peripheral wall 12 and / or the bottom 10b where the first end of this element 7 is fixed and the case 6 of watch 3, i.e. of reducing or limiting the thermal conductivity. In such a structure 8, the reduced section of one or more parts of the non-hollowed-out zone and / or the length of the thermal path(s) defined by this or these parts of the non-hollowed-out zone between the two ends of this connecting element 7, participate(s) in limiting or even preventing any heat loss from the case 6 of watch 3.

[0026] In order to improve these advantages provided by such a structure to the connecting element 7, the materials used for the manufacture of this structure preferably also have low thermal conductivity and / or high mechanical resistance properties. For example, these materials may include: steel, titanium, ceramic or polymers.

[0027] In the present embodiment shown in the figure 1, the case 4 preferably comprises two reversible connecting elements 7 fixing the case 6 of watch 3 on the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle 10c of this case 4. These connecting elements 7 keep the case 6 of watch 3 at a distance from the crystal 10a and the back 10b of the case 4 and also from the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle 10c which is that of the enclosure 5. In other words, these two connecting elements 7 avoid any direct contact between the case 6 of watch 3 and the crystal 10a, the back 10b and this inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle 10c.

[0028] Such a distance is configured according to: the position of the first end on the inner peripheral wall 12 of the caseband 10c between the crystal 10a and the back 10b of the case 4, and / or the shape of each connecting element 7, in other words the shape of the body forming the structure 8 defined / extending between the two ends of this connecting element 7, and / or the length of the body forming the structure 8 extending between these two ends of the connecting element 7.

[0029] In addition, these connecting elements 7 contribute to arranging the case 6 of watch 3 in this case 4 in such a way that the crystal 11 of this case 6 of watch 3 is arranged opposite the crystal 10a of the case 4 in such a way that the information included on the dial and / or the display interface of this watch 3 can be perceived through the transparent crystal 10a of the case 4 by the user wearing the Dewar device 1.

[0030] Thus, such a Dewar device 1 provides the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 with very good thermal insulation from the external environment by reducing or even preventing heat loss by radiation from the components arranged in the watch case 6 for a long period. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically of the order of -125 to +125°C, the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains substantially equal to the temperature present in the watch case 6 of the watch 3 when it is arranged in the case 4, typically of the order of 20°C. It will be noted that whatever the temperature conditions prevailing in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature present in the watch case 6 of the watch 3 is a temperature which does not hinder the proper functioning of the watch.This temperature is maintained for a duration that is 5 to 18 times greater than the duration during which such a watch case would be capable of maintaining an operating temperature of its components 2 by being located directly in such an environment where such extreme temperatures prevail (i.e. by being located outside the case of the Dewar device). It is thus understood that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, as well as to participate in ensuring their optimal operation in extreme external temperature conditions.

Claims

1. A Dewar device (1) for mechanical and / or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a bracelet and a casing (4) including an enclosure (5) wherein it is possible to arrange a case (6) of said watch (3) and at least one reversible connecting element (7) fixing said watch (3) case (6) in said enclosure (5) of the casing (4) while keeping it remote from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the casing (4) defining this enclosure (5), said at least one reversible connecting element (7) being provided with a body forming a structure (8) including at least one recessed area (9), device in which said casing (4) elements defining said enclosure (5) are : - a crystal (10a), - an inner peripheral wall (12) of a middle part (10c) on which said bracelet is fixed, and - a back (10b) of this casing (4), a crystal (11) of the watch (3) case (6) being disposed opposite a crystal (10a) of the casing (4) when the watch (3) case (6) is arranged in said enclosure (5).

2. The Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said structure (8) comprises a plurality of substantially different or strictly different recessed areas (9).

3. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said structure (8) comprises a plurality of recessed areas (9) having substantially similar or strictly similar shapes.

4. The Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said structure (8) is a lattice structure.

5. The Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said structure (8) is a trellis structure.

6. The Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said at least one connecting element (7) provides a reversible fixing of the watch (3) case (6) to an inner peripheral wall (12) of the enclosure (5) of the casing (4).

7. The Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least one connecting element (7) provides a reversible fixing of the watch (3) case (6) to a back of the casing (4).

8. The Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said at least one connecting element (7) is the only connecting element (7) ensuring the reversible fixing of the watch (3) case (6) in the enclosure (5) of the casing (4).

9. The Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said enclosure (5) is under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

10. The Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (4) comprises a crystal (10a) the surface of which is substantially greater or strictly greater than a crystal (11) of the watch (3) case (6).

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