Watch case comprising a mechanism for actuating a mobile indicator

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch case (10) comprising a case (11) to which are fixed a crystal (12) and a case back (13) delimiting an internal volume in which is arranged a watch movement (14) intended to drive indicator organs, said case (10) further comprising an actuation mechanism for a rotating movable indicator (16) housed in the internal volume of the case (10), said actuation mechanism comprising a rotating movable bezel (15) intended to be manipulated by a user and a transmission pinion (17) arranged in meshing relationship with the bezel (15) and the indicator (16), the respective axes of rotation of the bezel (15), the transmission pinion (17) and the indicator (16) being parallel to each other.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular to that of watch components.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a watch case comprising a mechanism for actuating a movable indicator. Technological background

[0003] There are watch cases that include one or more rotating bezels intended to indicate certain information to a user.

[0004] In particular, cases are known which have a fluted rotating bezel adapted to drive an indicator located inside the caseband allowing aircraft pilots to record the duration of the flight. Document CH304088A is a first example.

[0005] In particular, the driving of an indicator by means of the movement of a rotating bezel is known from numerous documents.

[0006] For example, patent CH681127 in the name of WERTHANOR describes a moving assembly formed by a rotating bezel, a crystal and a flange, said moving assembly being separated from the caseband by a seal.

[0007] In addition to being relatively complex to produce, this type of mechanism has a disadvantage regarding its water and air tightness. Generally speaking, these mechanisms are very sensitive to attacks from the external environment.

[0008] Patent EP1342131 in the name of LVMH describes a rotating bezel equipped with a mechanism for driving an indicator by magnetic attraction. The operation of this type of device can be disrupted when the watch is located near magnetic fields. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a simple and reliable solution for driving an indicator internal to the case of a watch.

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a watch case comprising a caseband to which a crystal and a back delimiting an internal volume are fixed in which a watch movement is arranged intended to drive indicator members, said case further comprising a mechanism for actuating a rotating indicator housed in the internal volume of the case, and being characterized in that said actuating mechanism comprises a rotating bezel intended to be manipulated by a user and a transmission pinion arranged in meshing relationship with the bezel and the indicator, the respective axes of rotation of the bezel, the transmission pinion and the indicator being parallel to each other.

[0011] Thus, due to the features of the present invention, the operation of the actuating mechanism is not sensitive to magnetic fields and is relatively simple to produce.

[0012] Advantageously, the present invention comprises a reduced number of moving parts, which helps to ensure the reliability of the actuating mechanism.

[0013] Advantageously, the characteristics of the invention make it possible to guarantee effective sealing between the internal volume of the case and the external environment since the bezel is not mechanically linked to the glass.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the bezel, indicator, and transmission pinion are configured such that the bezel and indicator pivot at the same angular velocity when the bezel is rotated.

[0016] According to the invention as claimed in the appended set of claims, the transmission pinion comprises an upper toothing and a lower toothing, extending coaxially with each other so that the upper toothing meshes with a toothing of the bezel and so that the lower toothing meshes with a toothing of the indicator.

[0017] In particular embodiments, the upper and lower teeth are separated from each other by a radial groove receiving a seal.

[0018] This arrangement ensures effective sealing between the internal volume of the box and the external environment.

[0019] In particular embodiments, the indicator is formed by a flange comprising a cylindrical wall at a lower end of which extends radially from an external face of said cylindrical wall, a toothed radial lip, said radial lip being arranged opposite a radial bearing surface of the caseband so as to cooperate with the lower teeth of the transmission pinion in meshing relationship, said flange further comprising an index extending from an internal face of the cylindrical wall.

[0020] In particular embodiments, the bezel is engaged in an axial annular groove of the case, by means of a cylindrical-shaped lip carrying external teeth so as to cooperate with the upper teeth of the transmission pinion in meshing relationship.

[0021] In particular embodiments, the bezel is engaged in an axial annular groove of the caseband, by means of a cylindrical-shaped lip carrying internal teeth cooperating in mesh with teeth of a return pinion mounted freely rotatable in a housing of the caseband, said return pinion being arranged so as to cooperate with the upper teeth of the transmission pinion.

[0022] In particular embodiments, the bezel is bidirectional.

[0023] In particular embodiments, the transmission pinion is engaged in a housing formed in the case middle, said housing opening via a lower end and via an upper end onto radial openings.

[0024] In particular embodiments, the housing opens via the upper end onto the axial annular groove of the middle part and via the lower end onto the radial bearing surface and onto a hollow with which the middle part is provided, said hollow being intended to receive a support sole.

[0025] In particular embodiments, the housing opens via the upper end onto the axial annular groove of the case and via the lower end onto the radial bearing surface and onto a plug interposed between a lower end of the transmission pinion and the bottom.

[0026] In particular embodiments, a peripheral seal is interposed between the flange and the case.

[0027] In particular embodiments, the case is provided with at least one orifice receiving a spring pusher, one elastically deformable end of which is designed to cooperate with positioning cavities made in the bezel in order to generate a notch when the bezel rotates.

[0028] In particular embodiments, the bezel, the transmission pinion and the indicator each have a body on which their respective teeth are fixed. Brief description of the figures

[0029] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 represents an exploded top perspective view of the watch case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; the figure 2represents an exploded perspective view from below of certain elements of the box of the figure 1 ; there figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the box figure 1 ; there figure 4 represents a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the watch case of the figure 1 . Detailed description of the invention

[0030] The present invention relates to a case 10 of a watch, as shown in the figure 1 , comprising a case 11 to which a glass 12 and a back 13 are fixed delimiting an internal volume in which a clock movement 14 is arranged intended to drive indicator organs, such as hour, minute and possibly second hands.

[0031] In the present invention, the clockwork movement 14 may be mechanical or electromechanical and is covered by a dial 20.

[0032] The box 10 according to the invention advantageously comprises a mechanism for actuating a movable indicator 16 housed in the internal volume of the box 10.

[0033] The actuating mechanism comprises a rotating bezel 15 intended to be manipulated by a user and a transmission pinion 17 arranged in meshing relationship with the bezel 15 on the one hand, and with the indicator 16 on the other hand.

[0034] Advantageously, the respective axes of rotation of the bezel 15, the transmission pinion 17 and the indicator 16 are parallel to each other. This characteristic allows the actuating mechanism to be of simple design and to exhibit high reliability since it has very few moving parts.

[0035] Furthermore, advantageously, as visible on the figures 1 And 3, the bezel 15 is intended to pivot around the crystal 12 which is held in position in the caseband 11 by a holding joint 18.

[0036] The bezel 15 is engaged in the middle 11 and is held in axial position by a translation stop member, formed in the present embodiment of the invention by an elastic ring 19 housed partly in an external radial groove of the middle 11, and partly in an internal radial groove of the bezel 15. The elastic ring 19 preferably comprises, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, a succession of rectilinear segments connected to each other, or has an oblong shape, so as to form an open ring.

[0037] The bezel 15 is engaged in an axial annular groove 110 of the caseband 11, by means of a cylindrical lip 150 bearing external teeth. The axial annular groove 110 extends over a face called the “upper face” of the caseband 11.

[0038] The lip 150 of the bezel 15 forms a shoulder with a radial bearing surface 151 of the bezel 15 arranged opposite the upper face of the middle part 11.

[0039] In this text, the relative terms "upper" and "lower" are defined according to the orientation of the box 10 illustrated in the figures 1 And 3 .

[0040] The middle 11 comprises a housing 111 of substantially cylindrical shape receiving the transmission pinion 17, visible in particular in the exploded view of the figure 2 .

[0041] The transmission pinion 17 comprises two coaxial teeth respectively called “upper teeth” 170 and “lower teeth” 171 in the remainder of the text, separated from each other by a radial groove receiving a seal 172. The transmission pinion 17 comprises two opposite longitudinal ends forming pivots, respectively called “lower end” and “upper end” in the remainder of the text.

[0042] As shown in the sectional view of the figure 3 , the seal 172 advantageously rests against a peripheral wall of the housing 111, so as to ensure air and water tightness between the internal volume of the box 10 and the exterior.

[0043] The case 11 comprises, at a first end of the housing 111, called the “upper end”, intended to be opposite the bezel 15, a preferably through orifice opening onto the upper face of the case 11 and guiding the upper end of the transmission pinion 17 in rotation.

[0044] Advantageously, the upper end of the housing 111 also opens radially onto the axial annular groove 110 of the middle part 11, so that the upper toothing 170 of the transmission pinion 17 is in meshing relationship with the toothing of the bezel 15, as shown in the sectional view of the figure 3 .

[0045] A second end of the housing 111, called the “lower end”, opens onto a recess 112 with which the middle part 11 is provided. The recess 112 advantageously receives, as a fixing, a support sole 113 comprising an orifice guiding the lower end of the transmission pinion 17 in rotation, as suggested by the exploded view of the figure 2 and as illustrated by the sectional view of the figure 3 .

[0046] The support sole 113 is preferably screwed onto the middle 11 and has a shape complementary to that of the hollow 112.

[0047] Furthermore, the case 11 comprises a radial bearing surface 114 opposite which the indicator 16 is arranged. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the radial bearing surface 114 is oriented opposite the back cover 13 as visible in the exploded view of the figure 2 , and forms a shoulder with the hollow 112 so that the housing 111 opens radially onto said radial bearing surface 114.

[0048] More precisely, the indicator 16 is formed by a flange comprising a cylindrical wall 160 at a lower end of which and from an external face of which, a toothed radial lip 161 extends, said radial lip 161 being arranged so as to extend opposite the radial bearing surface 114 so as to cooperate in meshing relationship with the lower toothing 171 of the transmission pinion 17.

[0049] Thus, the rotation of the bezel 15 causes, via the transmission pinion 17, the rotation of the flange. Preferably, the transmission ratios between the teeth of the bezel 15, the upper 170 and lower 171 teeth and the teeth of the radial lip 161 of the flange are such that the bezel 15 and the flange pivot at the same angular speed.

[0050] Preferably, the axes of rotation of the bezel 15 and the flange are concentric.

[0051] The cylindrical wall 160 is interposed between the watch movement 14 and the case 11, as shown in particular in the sectional view of the figure 3 Advantageously, the flange further comprises an index 162, in the form of a graphic representation or a relief extending radially from an internal face of the cylindrical wall 160, at the level of the upper end of the latter.

[0052] Advantageously, as illustrated in the figure 2 , the middle 11 may include a second hollow 115 receiving a second support sole 116 as a fixing, the support soles 113 and 116 being adapted by their shape to constitute axial stops, preventing any axial movement of the flange, apart from mechanical clearances allowing it to be driven in rotation.

[0053] Alternatively, as shown in the figure 4, instead of the support soles 113 and 116, the box 10 includes a plug 117 of substantially cylindrical shape interposed between the lower end of the transmission pinion 17, which it guides in rotation, and the bottom 13.

[0054] The stopper 117 may be made of any suitable material, for example plastic, and may be driven into a housing extending into the middle 11 and / or into a casing ring 21.

[0055] The dial 20 and the watch movement 14 are preferably held axially in position in the internal volume of the case 10 by the casing ring 21, in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

[0056] Advantageously, in the example in which the case 10 includes the stopper 117, a peripheral seal 118 can be interposed between the external face of the flange and the caseband 11.

[0057] More particularly, the peripheral seal 118 can be arranged in a groove 119 provided for this purpose, forming a shoulder with the radial bearing surface 114.

[0058] Such a peripheral seal 118 makes it possible to hold the flange in position during the manufacture of the case 10, said flange subsequently being fixed axially in the internal volume of the case 10 by the casing ring 21.

[0059] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the caseband 11, on a lower face opposite its upper face, is provided with at least one orifice 22 opening onto said upper face. The orifice 22 receives a spring pusher 23, one elastically deformable end of which extends through the upper face, said end being provided to cooperate with positioning cavities 152 made in the bezel 15 in order to generate an indexing during rotation of the bezel 15.

[0060] Preferably, sixty positioning cavities 152 are angularly distributed on the bezel 15 so that each angular position taken by the index corresponds to a division of one minute.

[0061] By way of non-limiting example, three spring pushers 23 are arranged in the case 11, at 120 degrees from each other.

[0062] In another embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the bezel 15 may comprise, instead of external teeth, internal teeth, cooperating in mesh with teeth of a return pinion mounted freely rotatable in a housing of the caseband 11. The return pinion is arranged so as to cooperate with the upper teeth 170 of the transmission pinion 17.

[0063] An embodiment of the invention has been described in which the bezel 15, the transmission pinion 17 and the indicator 16 are in one piece, their respective teeth being formed directly in the bodies of said components.

[0064] Alternatively, it may be envisaged that the bezel 15, the transmission pinion 17 and the indicator 16 each have a body on which their respective teeth are fixed, for example by driving or welding. Such an alternative, in which the bezel 15, the transmission pinion 17 and the indicator 16 are each formed in two parts, is shown in the figure 4 .

[0065] This feature makes it possible to simplify the manufacturing of these components and thus reduce their respective manufacturing costs.

Claims

1. Watch case (10) comprising a middle (11) to which are attached a crystal (12) and a back (13) delimiting an internal volume in which is arranged a horological movement (14) intended to drive indicating members, said case (10) further comprising a mechanism for actuating an indicator (16) capable of moving in rotation and housed inside the internal volume of the case (10), said actuation mechanism including a bezel (15) capable of moving in rotation and intended to be handled by a user, and a transmission pinion (17) arranged such that it meshes with the bezel (15) and the indicator (16), the respective axes of rotation of the bezel (15), transmission pinion (17) and indicator (16) being parallel to one another, the case (10) being characterised in that the transmission pinion (17) comprises an upper toothing (170) and a lower toothing (171), extending coaxially to one another such that the upper toothing (170) meshes with a toothing of the bezel (15) and such that the lower toothing (171) meshes with a toothing of the indicator (16).

2. Case (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bezel (15), the indicator (16) and the transmission pinion (17) are configured such that the bezel (15) and the indicator (16) pivot at the same angular velocity when the bezel is driven in rotation.

3. Case (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upper toothing (170) and lower toothing (171) are separated from one another by a radial groove that receives a sealing joint (172).

4. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the indicator (16) is formed by a flange comprising a cylindrical wall (160) at a lower end of which a toothed radial lip (161) extends radially from an outer face of said cylindrical wall (160), said radial lip (161) being arranged facing a radial bearing surface (114) of the middle (11) so as to cooperate with the lower toothing (171) of the meshing transmission pinion (17), said flange further including an index extending from an inner face of the cylindrical wall (160).

5. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bezel (15) is engaged in an axial annular groove (110) of the middle (11), by means of a cylindrical lip (150) carrying an external toothing so as to cooperate with the upper toothing (170) of the meshing transmission pinion (17).

6. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bezel (15) is engaged in an axial annular groove (110) of the middle (11), by means of a cylindrical lip (150) carrying an internal toothing cooperating by meshing with a toothing of an intermediate pinion mounted such that it is free to rotate in a housing of the middle (11), said intermediate pinion being arranged so as to cooperate with the upper toothing (170) of the transmission pinion (17).

7. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bezel (15) is bi-directional.

8. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transmission pinion (17) is engaged in a housing (111)formed in the middle (11), said housing (111) opening out at a lower end and at an upper end into radial openings.

9. Case (10) according to claims 4 and 8 in combination with one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the housing (111) opens out at the upper end into the axial annular groove (110) of the middle (11) and at the lower end into the radial bearing surface (114) and into a recess (112) with which the middle (11) is provided, said recess (112) receiving a supporting sole (113).

10. Case (10) according to claims 4 and 8 in combination with one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the housing (111) opens out at the upper end into the axial annular groove (110) of the middle (11) and at the lower end into the radial bearing surface (114) and into a plug (117) sandwiched between a lower end of the transmission pinion (17) and the back (13).

11. Case according to claim 10, wherein a peripheral joint (118) is sandwiched between the flange and the middle (11).

12. Case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the middle (11) is provided with at least one hole (22) receiving a spring-loaded push-piece (23), one elastically deformable end whereof is intended to cooperate with positioning cavities (152) made in the bezel (15) in order to generate a serration when the bezel (15) is rotated.

13. Case according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the bezel (15), the transmission pinion (17) and the indicator (16) each have a body to which the respective toothings thereof are attached.

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