Apparatus for winding a clock movement of a watch

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for winding a watch movement (20), comprising an electronic module (13) configured to drive a motor (14) kinematically connected to a drive member intended to rotate a winding member of the watch (20), the device (10) being characterized in that it comprises a support (11) for the watch (20) formed by a body having a central element (110) and at least one lateral element (111) arranged at a distance from each other so as to form a recess (118) intended to receive a strap (21) of a bracelet of the watch (20), said central (110) and lateral (111) elements being adapted to apply opposing forces on said strap (21) so as to ensure its retention in said recess (118).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking and relates in particular to a device for winding a watch movement.

[0002] The winding device is intended to wind a mechanical watch movement. Technological background

[0003] Watch movement winding devices make it possible to keep the movement running when the watch is not worn by a user. To this end, during winding, these devices act, depending on the type of watch movement equipping the watch, on the winding crown or on the oscillating weight in order to wind the barrel spring. In particular, either the winding crown is rotated by a gripping member provided for this purpose, as described in document EP1220061, or the watch case is rotated in order to pivot the oscillating weight, as described in document EP1489470.

[0004] All state-of-the-art winding devices require the watch whose movement is to be wound to be placed in a support provided for this purpose, ensuring that the watch is held in place during winding. This operation is generally relatively restrictive for the user.

[0005] Indeed, to do this, a removable support, generally called a "cushion", must be extracted from a housing of the device by the user, the watch must then be manipulated so as to close its bracelet around the support so that it is under tension, then the support gripped by the watch must be replaced in its housing.

[0006] Another disadvantage of existing winding devices is that the holder is not suitable for all watch strap lengths, which is particularly detrimental for straps with a deployment clasp. In particular, if the strap is too short, it will not be able to close around the holder, and if it is too long, it will not be tensioned by the holder and the watch will not be held in position.

[0007] The present invention aims to simplify the installation of the watch in a winding device.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to be able to easily adapt the support to any watch, whatever the length of its strap, in order to be able to tighten the latter. Summary of the invention

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus for winding a watch movement, comprising an electronic module configured to control a motor kinematically connected to a drive member intended to rotate a winding member of the watch. The apparatus comprises a watch support connected to the drive member and formed by a body having a central element and at least one lateral element arranged at a distance from each other so as to form a recess intended to receive a strand of a watch strap, said central and lateral elements being adapted to apply opposing forces to said strand so as to ensure its retention in said recess.

[0010] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the recess is defined by an inner flank of the side element having a concave cross section and by an outer flank of the central element having a convex cross section.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the central element is interposed between two lateral elements arranged relative to the central element so as to form two recesses intended to each receive a strand of a watch strap. The central element and the lateral elements are adapted to apply friction forces to said strands so as to ensure their retention in said recesses.

[0013] In particular embodiments, the central element has an end called the “rear end” opposite an end called the “front end”, the front end of the central element being arranged between two ends facing the lateral elements and being intended to receive a watch case as support.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the rear end has a greater elastic deformation capacity in compression than the front end.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the apparatus comprises a base on which the support is arranged, and the central element comprises a stop forming the rear end and being configured to be removably attached to the base so as to occupy at least two discrete positions in each of which the stop is arranged at a different distance from the front end.

[0016] In particular embodiments, the drive member is formed by a movable part of the base arranged in a cradle formed by a fixed part of the base. The fixed part has an internal volume in which the electronic module and the motor are housed, the movable part of the base being connected to the motor so as to be driven in an alternating rotational movement.

[0017] In particular embodiments, the drive member is formed by a connecting member intended to rotate a winding crown of the watch in order to wind its watch movement. Brief description of the figures

[0018] 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 1schematically represents a perspective view of a device for winding a watch movement of a watch according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and of a watch being inserted into this device; the figure 2 schematically represents a top view of a support of the device of the figure 1 , comprising a central element having a rear end having a greater elastic deformation capacity in compression than a front end, the rear end being in the rest position; the figure 3 schematically represents a top view of the support of the figure 2 , the rear end being constrained by a strap of a watch arranged in the support; the figure 4 represents a perspective view of a device according to the figure 1 wherein the support is arranged on a base comprising several holes intended to fix a stop of the central element; the Figure 5represents a perspective view of the device of the figure 4 in which the stop is fixed to one of the holes in the base; the figure 6 schematically represents a front view of the device of the figure 1 , wherein the base comprises a movable part arranged to be rotatably movable in a cradle of a fixed part of said base; the figure 7 schematically represents a front view of the apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the apparatus comprises a connecting member intended to rotate a winding crown of the watch.

[0019] Note that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The invention relates to an apparatus 10 for winding a watch movement of a watch 20 as shown in the figures 1 to 6 in a preferred embodiment.

[0021] As shown in the figures, the apparatus 10 comprises a support 11 for the watch 20, fixed on a base 12 and intended to hold the watch 20 whose watch movement is to be wound. The support 11 is formed by a body having a central element 110 and at least one lateral element 111 arranged at a distance from each other so as to form a recess 118 intended to receive a strand 21 of a strap of the watch 20. The recess 118 therefore extends from the base 12, constituting a bottom of the recess 118, to an insertion opening through which a strand 21 is intended to be engaged in order to fix the watch 20 on the support 11.

[0022] More precisely, the central 110 and lateral 111 elements are adapted to apply opposing forces to said strand 21 so as to ensure its clamping in said recess 118. These forces are shown by arrows on the figure 3In other words, the strand 21 is held in the recess 118, and therefore in the support 11, by the friction forces resulting from the clamping forces to which it is subjected.

[0023] The recess 118 is defined, more precisely, by an internal flank 112 of the lateral element 111 and by an external flank 113 of the central element 110. As shown in particular by the Figures 2 and 3 in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the internal flank 112 of the lateral element 111 has a concave cross section and the external flank 113 of the central element 110 has a convex cross section. This arrangement makes it possible to generate more friction on the strand 21 engaged in the recess 118 and therefore makes it possible to contribute to better maintaining the watch 20 in position in the support 11.

[0024] The lateral element 111 is arranged either at a regular distance from the central element 110 so that the cross-section of the recess 118 is constant in order to distribute over the strand 21 the forces to which it is intended to be subjected, or so as to generate a local zone in which the distance between the lateral element 111 and the central element 110 is minimal in order to locally generate a reduction in the cross-section of the recess 118 causing a concentration of stresses on said strand 21.

[0025] Preferably, the central element 110 is interposed between two lateral elements 111, as shown in the figures 1 to 7 , so as to hold in position two opposite strands 21 of the watch strap 20.

[0026] There figure 1shows in particular, by the representation of an arrow, the direction and sense of engagement of the strands 21 of the watch 20 in the recesses 118, through the openings for introducing the strands 21, in order to fix the watch 20 to the support 11.

[0027] The central element 110 preferably has a cross-section of ovoid shape and extends between two ends, one of which, called the “rear end” 114, has a narrower shape than the other, called the “front end” 115. The front end 115 is intended to receive a case 22 of the watch 20, and in particular a back of the case 22, as shown in the figures 1 And 3 à 7 .

[0028] Advantageously, as visible on the figures 1 And 3 à 7, the case 22 of the watch 20 is intended to rest in a space separating two opposite ends of the lateral elements 111. This characteristic allows a user to be able to observe, at any time, display members 23 of the watch 20 indicating a time value, such as the current time.

[0029] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures 2 and 3 , the rear end 114 has a greater elastic deformation capacity than the front end 115 when they are stressed in compression.

[0030] More specifically, the rear end 114 of the central element 110 has a relatively large elastic deformation capacity, and the front end 115 is substantially non-deformable. By way of illustration, the figure 2 schematically represents the rear end 114 and the figure 3schematically represents the rear end 114 in a position constrained in compression by the strap of the watch 20. Thanks to the characteristics of the invention in this exemplary embodiment, the installation of the watch 20 on the support 11 is very easy and the central element 110 can adapt to all dimensions of the strap of the watch 20.

[0031] In particular, in order to install the watch 20 on the support 11, it is sufficient to close the strap of the watch 20, then to compress the rear end 114 of the central element 110 with the strap, and to engage the strands 21 in each of the recesses 118 so as to rest the case 22 of the watch 20 against the front end 115 of the central element 110, as shown in the figure 3. Such an operation can advantageously be carried out with a single hand. The watch 20 is therefore held by the friction forces to which the strands 21 are subjected and by an elastic return force generated on the bracelet by the rear end 114 which tends to return to its rest position.

[0032] Thanks to the recesses 118 defined by the lateral elements 111 and the central element 110, it is also possible for the bracelet of the watch 20 to be left open, as shown in figure 1 , in which case the watch 20 will only be held by the friction forces to which the strands 21 are subjected.

[0033] Alternatively, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures 4 and 5, the central element 110 may comprise a stop 116 forming the rear end 114 and configured to be fixed to the base 12 in a removable manner so as to occupy at least two discrete positions. Among these discrete positions, one is further than the other from the front end 115. Thus, the support 11, and in particular the central element 110, can adapt to all dimensions of the watch strap 20.

[0034] In a particular embodiment shown in the Figure 5 , the stop 116 is connected by extensible links 117 to a fixed part of the central element 110 comprising the front end 115, as illustrated in the Figure 5 The extensible links 117 are arranged on either side of the central element 110 and are formed for example by elastically deformable strips of material having a wavy shape.

[0035] The stop 116 may be secured to the base 12 by any suitable removable fastening solution. For example, the stop 116 may be provided with a pin for engagement in one of several holes extending into the base 12, as shown in figure 4 . The stop 116 can, in this case, occupy as many positions as the base 12 has holes. In particular, in the example shown in the figure 4 , the base 12 has three holes arranged at different distances from the front end 115 of the central element 110, the stop 116 can therefore occupy three distinct positions.

[0036] The installation of the watch 20 on the support 11 is carried out in the same manner as that described previously for the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures 2 and 3In other words, the bracelet is closed and then brought to bear against the stop 116, each of the strands 21 then being engaged in a recess 118 until the watch case 22 is applied against the front end 115 of the central element 110.

[0037] In a manner similar to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures 2 and 3 , the strap of the watch 20 can be left open, in which case the watch 20 will only be held by the frictional forces to which the strands 21 are subjected.

[0038] The present invention thus ensures, in all of its exemplary embodiments, that the watch 20 is held in position in the support 11, during operation of the device 10, whatever the type of strap it has, and whatever the length of its strap.

[0039] Furthermore, when the watch 20 is installed in the support 11 with its bracelet closed, the latter is intended to be tensioned by the central element 110 to the extent that the size of its periphery is variable, continuously in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures 2 and 3 , or discreetly in the example embodiment shown in the Figures 4 and 5 . Thus, thanks to these characteristics, the invention further guarantees that the watch is kept in position during operation of the device 10.

[0040] The base 12 defines an internal volume in which is housed an electronic module 13, such as an integrated circuit, configured to drive a motor 14 kinematically connected to a drive member connected to the support 11 to rotate a winding member of the watch 20 in order to wind its watch movement.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the drive member of the winding apparatus 10 may be formed by a movable part 120 of the base 12, as shown in the figures 1 And 4 à 6 , said moving part 120 being intended to drive in rotation an oscillating mass of the watch 20 in order to wind its watch movement.

[0042] More specifically, the movable part 120 of the base 12 may be arranged in a cradle of which it has a complementary shape, the cradle being formed by a fixed part 121 of the base 12. The fixed part 121 has an internal volume in which the electronic module 13 and the motor 14 are housed. The movable part 120 may be driven by any suitable motion transmission solution as such within the reach of those skilled in the art. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the movable part 120 of the base 12 is driven in alternating rotation in an angular displacement of less than 180 degrees, preferably of approximately 90 degrees, around an axis parallel to a central axis of the case 22 of the watch 20 when it is installed in the support 11, as visible in the figure 6 .

[0043] Alternatively, the drive member of the winding apparatus 10 may be formed by a connecting member 122, for example a bell, as shown in the figure 7 , intended to rotate a winding crown of the watch 20 in order to wind its watch movement. In this case, it is obvious that when it is installed in the support 11, the watch 20 must be arranged so that the winding crown is oriented opposite the base 12 in order to be able to cooperate with the bell.

[0044] More generally, it should be noted that the methods of implementation and embodiment considered above have been described as non-limiting examples, and that other variants are consequently conceivable.

[0045] In particular, the central element 110 may have a cross section of circular or elliptical shape, the front 115 and rear 114 ends then being of substantially identical dimensions. In general, the central element 110 may have a cross section of any shape suitable for carrying out the invention, in particular for generating forces making it possible to ensure the clamping of the strand(s) 21 in the recesses 118.

[0046] Finally, the invention is compatible with subjecting the watch 20 installed in the support 11 to a periodic excitation oscillation of precise frequency, the electronic module 13 comprising for this purpose a rate measurement sensor arranged in the base 12, for example of the microphone type, intended to be in contact with the winding crown of the watch 20 as shown schematically in figure 6 .

Claims

1. Apparatus (10) for winding a watch movement of a watch (20), comprising an electronic module (13) configured to drive a motor (14) kinematically connected to a drive member intended to rotate a winding member of the watch (20), the apparatus (10) being characterized in thatit comprises a support (11) for the watch (20) formed by a body having a central element (110) and two lateral elements (111) between which said central element (110) is interposed, the lateral elements (111) being arranged relative to the central element (110) so as to form two recesses (118) each intended to receive a strand (21) of a strap of the watch (20), said central element (110) and said lateral elements (111) being adapted to apply friction forces on said strands (21) so as to ensure their retention in said recesses (118), the central element (110) having an end called the “rear end” (114) opposite an end called the “front end” (115), the front end (115) of the central element (110) being arranged between two opposite ends of the lateral elements (111) and being intended to receive a case (22) of the watch (20) as support,the apparatus (10) comprising a base (12) on which the support (11) is arranged, the central element (110) comprising a stop (116) forming the rear end (114) and being configured to be fixed to the base (12) in a removable manner so as to occupy at least two discrete positions in each of which the stop (116) is arranged at a different distance from the front end (115)., 2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the recess (118) is defined by an internal flank (112) of the lateral element (111) having a concave cross section and by an external flank (113) of the central element (110) having a convex cross section.

3. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive member is formed by a movable part (120) of the base (12) arranged in a cradle formed by a fixed part (121) of the base (12), said fixed part (121) having an internal volume in which the electronic module (13) and the motor (14) are housed, the movable part (120) of the base (12) being connected to the motor (14) so ​​as to be driven in an alternating rotational movement.

4. Apparatus (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the drive member is formed by a connecting member (122) intended to drive in rotation a winding crown of the watch (20) in order to wind its watch movement.

Images