Watch crown with combination locking mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lockable crown (10) for a watch component comprising a case (100) incorporating a housing (102) open on a lateral side (101) of the case and communicating, via an opening (106), with a central space (103) for a cage. The lockable crown (10) comprises a crown (12), a shaft (14) integral with the crown (12), a tube (20) mounted on the shaft (14) and intended to be fixed in the opening (106) of the case (102), and a locking mechanism (30) intended to be mounted in the housing (102) of the case (100) around the tube (20). The locking mechanism (30) includes a lock (40), an actuator (48) and a lock (50) with several combination elements (60, 70, 80) mounted pivotally around the tube (20) and actuated in rotation by the crown (12) when the latter is mounted on the case (100) and turned in one direction and the other.The lock (40) is configured to assume a locked position and an unlocked position in which it respectively locks and releases the crown (12) during translation. The lock (40) is intended to be actuated by the actuator (48) from the locked position to the unlocked position when all the combination elements (60, 70, 80) are arranged in a predetermined angular position. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising the lockable crown (10).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch crown, in particular a winding crown, provided with a combination locking mechanism. This mechanism is intended to prevent axial movement of the crown when it is locked. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a caseband provided with a housing open on a lateral flank of the caseband and a lockable crown whose mechanism is mounted inside this housing. State of the art

[0002] Watches already exist with a combination locking mechanism to prevent the crown from moving axially. The crown must therefore be manipulated by the user according to a specific sequence corresponding to the combination to unlock the crown. Setting the time, winding the watch, or even correcting the date, day of the week, or moon phase indication can typically no longer be done without knowing the watch's own combination. This has the advantage of rendering stolen watches, particularly valuable watches with several complications, useless, thus preventing the circulation of these watches on a parallel market.

[0003] For example, CH716712 discloses a watch comprising a case with a removable back. The watch is equipped with a combination locking mechanism used, on the one hand, to block the time-setting and winding mechanism and, on the other hand, to prevent removal of the case back to prevent unauthorized use of the watch.

[0004] The main disadvantage of this mechanism is that it is bulky and integrated into the watch case, at least partly in the space dedicated to the movement. The watch movement must therefore be developed according to the characteristics of the locking mechanism.

[0005] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a watch crown provided with a combination locking mechanism which is space-saving.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to propose a watch crown whose combination locking mechanism is intended to be mounted in an open housing on the lateral flank of the caseband of a timepiece on the crown side. Preferably, this housing does not encroach on the casing of the watch case. This has the advantage of being able to replace a conventional crown of already existing watches by only producing a housing on the side of the caseband to house the combination locking mechanism according to the invention.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece equipped with such a crown. Brief summary of the invention

[0008] These aims are at least partly achieved in particular by a lockable crown for a timepiece comprising a caseband incorporating a housing open on a lateral flank of the caseband and communicating, via an opening, with a central space dedicated to a cage. The lockable crown comprises a crown, an axis secured to the crown, a tube mounted on the axis and intended to be fixed in the opening of the caseband, and a locking mechanism intended to be mounted in the housing of the caseband around the tube. The locking mechanism comprises a latch, an actuator and a lock with several combination elements pivotally mounted around the tube and rotatable by the crown when the latter is mounted on the caseband and turned in one direction and the other. The latch is configured to adopt a locking position and an unlocking position in which it blocks, respectively releases, the crown in translation.The lock is intended to be operated by the actuator from the locked position to the unlocked position, when all the combination elements are arranged in a predetermined angular position.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the combination elements of the lock are in the form of annular discs each having a cutout on their external diameter. The actuator of the lock is an elastic member. The lock comprises a contact pad intended to cooperate with the external diameter of at least one of the combination discs in the locking position. The contact pad is intended to be brought into the cutouts of the combination discs under the action of the elastic member when said cutouts are aligned, thus causing the lock to move into the unlocking position.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the combination elements of the lock comprise at least a first disc secured to the crown as well as a second and a third disc bearing on the tube. The second disc is arranged between the first and third discs.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first and second discs each comprise on their facing side a drive element so that the rotation of the first disc by the actuation of the crown can drive the second disc in rotation. The second and third discs each comprise on their facing side a drive element so that the rotation of the second disc can drive the third disc in rotation.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the second and third discs each comprise n indexing means distributed around their circumference. The locking mechanism further comprises an indexing part arranged between the second and third discs and fixed to the tube. The indexing part comprises on two opposite sides a complementary indexing means arranged to cooperate with the n indexing means respectively of the second and third discs in order to be able to position said second and third discs in n indexed angular positions corresponding to indications of the combination of the lock.

[0013] According to one embodiment, indexes corresponding to the indications of the combination are arranged on the lateral flank of the case around the housing.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the n indexing means of the second and third discs are in the form of cavities, preferably partially spherical. The indexing part is of generally annular shape and comprises two diametrically opposed balls arranged on two flexible portions to cooperate with the cavities of the second and third discs respectively.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the indexing part comprises internal teeth engaged with a toothed portion of the tube in order to block said indexing part in rotation.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lock comprises a body surrounding a hollow portion inside which said lock with several combination elements is mounted. The lock further comprises a central opening intended to be crossed by the tube.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the opening in the case middle of the timepiece is a tapped hole. The tube comprises a threaded portion intended to be screwed into the tapped hole in the case middle.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the watch crown comprises a circular groove concentric with the axis. The lock comprises a locking element in the form of a tongue, preferably partially circular, intended to be arranged in the groove in the locking position.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism is intended to be fully mounted in the housing of the case.

[0020] Another aspect of the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a case middle provided with a housing open on a lateral flank of the case middle and communicating via an opening with a central space dedicated to a cage. The timepiece further comprises the lockable crown according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments, the locking mechanism of which is mounted inside the housing and the tube of which is fixed in the opening.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the width of the housing in the general plane of the case is substantially identical to the width of the lock. The height of the housing in a direction orthogonal to the general plane of the case is greater than the height of the lock so that the latter can move from the locking position to the unlocking position while being guided by the side walls of the housing.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the actuator is mounted inside the housing between the latch and an upper wall of the housing in order to cooperate with said wall and a side of the latch. Brief description of the figures

[0023] Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: there figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a case middle of a timepiece with an exploded representation of the crown provided with a combination locking mechanism, according to one embodiment; figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the watch crown with the combination lock mounted around the tube; the Figure 3a illustrates a perspective view of the crown comprising one of the elements of the combination lock of the locking mechanism; the Figure 3b illustrates a front view of the crown of the figure 2, on the side of the crown axis; the figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the tube intended to be screwed into the case; the Figures 5a and 5b illustrate perspective views of both sides of another of the elements of the combination lock of the locking mechanism; Figures 6a and 6b illustrate perspective views of both sides of another of the elements of the combination lock of the locking mechanism; Figures 7a and 7b illustrate perspective views of both sides of an indexing member intended to cooperate with the two combining elements of the Figures 5a-5b and 6a-6b ; there figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the lock mechanism latch; Figures 9a and 9b respectively illustrate a top and side view of a timepiece comprising the watch crown in a first axial position and in a locked configuration; the figure 10 illustrates a sectional view of the Figure 9a according to AA; the figure 11illustrates a sectional view of the figure 10 according to BB; the figure 12 illustrates a sectional view of the figure 10 according to CC; the figure 13 illustrates a top view of the timepiece including the watch crown in a second axial position and in an unlocked configuration. figure 14 illustrates a sectional view of the figure 13 according to DD, and the figure 15 illustrates a sectional view of the figure 14 according to EE. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0024] According to a preferred form and with particular reference to figures 1 to 8, the timepiece comprises a caseband 100 and a lockable crown 10. The lockable crown 10 essentially comprises a watch crown 12, in particular a winding crown, a tube 20 and a locking mechanism 30. The watch crown is configured to be able to be moved in rotation and in axial translation. The locking mechanism 30 is mounted around the tube 20 in a housing 102 open on a lateral flank 101 of the caseband on the side of the crown 12. The latter comprises a shaft or axis 14 as well as an annular cavity 18 surrounding this axis. The latter is pivotally mounted inside the tube 20 while the crown 12 is rotatably mounted on the tube 20 by means of a cylindrical wall 19 of the cavity 18 around a first portion 28 of the tube 20. This first portion 28 acts as a support portion for the cylindrical wall 19 of the crown 12.

[0025] The locking mechanism 30 comprises a latch 40 and a lock 50. Opposite the figure 2 , the lock 50 comprises several combination elements 60, 70, 80 pivotally mounted around the tube 20. The combination elements of the lock 50 are, in the present example, three in number and are in the form of three discs of generally annular shape. It will be understood that a different number of discs, in particular a number greater than three, could be envisaged. For the sake of simplification, the present description will essentially be based on three discs, the number of which is taken as an example in no way limiting.

[0026] As clearly visible on the Figure 3b in particular, a first disc 60 of these three discs has on its external diameter a cutout 62 having for example an arcuate profile. According to the Figures 3a and 3b, the first disc 60 is integral with the crown 12. This first disc can be fixed to the crown 12. According to a variant, the disc and the crown can form a single piece. The rotation of the crown 12 can thus actuate the first disc 60 in one direction or the other around the support part 28 of the tube 20.

[0027] Among these three discs, a second and a third disc 70, 80 bear on the tube 20. More particularly, the second disc 70 is preferably mounted pivoting around a second portion 23 of the tube 20 while the third disc 80 is preferably mounted pivoting around a third portion 26 of the tube 20 ( figure 4 ). The second and third discs 70, 80 each comprise a cutout 72, 82 of a shape identical or similar to the cutout 62 of the first disc 60, preferably having a profile in the shape of an arc of a circle.

[0028] The second disc 70 is mounted between the first and third discs 60, 80. These three discs have on one and / or the other of their flanks drive elements, which extend in the axial direction of the crown, so that the rotation of the crown 12 can drive each of these discs in rotation around the tube 20 in one direction or the other. In other words, two adjacent discs form a pair of discs each having, on their side facing each other, a drive element so that the rotation of one of the discs of this pair can, by the rotational actuation of the crown 12, drive in rotation the other disc of this pair. This makes it possible to bring each of these discs into a predefined angular position according to which the cutouts of the three discs are aligned, namely superimposed.

[0029] More particularly, with particular reference to Figures 3a and 3b, the first disc 60 comprises a drive element 64 arranged on the side of the disc arranged opposite the second disc 70. This drive element is a projection 64, for example in the form of a boss. As illustrated in the Figures 5a and 5b , the second disc 70 comprises a first and a second drive element 74a, 74b arranged respectively on the first and second sides of the disc.

[0030] These two drive elements are projections 74a, 74b also in the form of bosses. As illustrated in the Figure 6a , the third disc 80 comprises a single drive element 84 arranged on the side of the disc located at a glance of the second disc 70. According to the example illustrated, the shape of the bosses of the three discs are identical, preferably oblong and slightly curved, typically stretching along an arc of a circle of less than 45°.

[0031] Thus the rotation of the crown 12 makes it possible to actuate the second disc 70 in rotation in both directions by contact with the drive elements 64, 74a of the first and second discs while the rotation of the second disc 70 makes it possible to actuate the third disc 80 in rotation in both directions by contact with their respective drive element 74b, 84. The same would then apply for a number of discs greater than three.

[0032] With particular reference to the Figures 5a to 7a , the locking mechanism comprises an indexing system in order to be able to position the second and third discs 70, 80 in indexed angular positions. In the example shown in figures 1 And 9b , ten indexed angular positions corresponding to ten indexes 104 arranged on the lateral flank 101 of the case 100 around the opening of the housing 102 and the crown 12.

[0033] These indexes or markers make it possible to match the angular position of each of the two discs 70, 80 to a portion of the combination of the lock 50. Such a portion may typically be a digit or a number, or even another alphanumeric character or a symbol. For this purpose and according to the embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the two discs 70, 80 each comprise on their flank facing one another ten indexing means 76, 86 distributed at regular intervals around their entire circumference. These indexing means are preferably in the form of cavities 76, 86, for example partially spherical. The number of indexing means could be other than ten, but of course remains a natural whole number n.

[0034] The indexing system further comprises an indexing part 90 ( Figure 7a), of generally annular shape, which is arranged between the second and third discs 70, 80 and is integral in rotation with the tube 20. The indexing part 90 may for example comprise internal teeth 93. The tube 20 may comprise a toothed portion 24 comprising teeth of complementary shape in order to be engaged with the indexing part 90. During assembly, the latter is positioned around the tube 20 then translated relative to the tube in order to come into engagement with its toothed portion 24.

[0035] This part 90 is thus locked in rotation. In the case where the lock 50 would include a fourth disc, a second indexing part, similar or identical to the indexing part 90, would be arranged between the third and the fourth disc. In general, it will be mentioned that the indexing system typically includes a number of indexing parts equivalent to the number of discs minus one, and that each indexing part is arranged between two discs without however being adjacent to the first disc 60.

[0036] The indexing part 90 comprises on each of its sides a complementary indexing means 96 arranged to cooperate with the ten indexing means 76, 86 respectively of the second and third discs 70, 80. These complementary indexing means are for example in the form of at least two diametrically opposed balls 97 and each arranged on a flexible portion 98 to cooperate respectively with the cavities 76, 86 of the second and third discs 70, 80. The flexible portions 98 are arranged to flex in the axial direction of the tube 20 and act as pawls.

[0037] According to the figure 8, the lock 40 comprises a body 42 comprising two lateral sides 42a, 42b, an upper side 42c and a lower side 42d surrounding a recessed portion 44. A central opening 45 is present in the bottom of the recessed portion 44. The lock body 42 further comprises at an upper portion a contact pad 43 and at a lower portion a locking element 46. The contact pad 43 has a profile of shape complementary to the profile of the cutouts 62, 72, 82 of the three discs 60, 70, 80 of the lock, for example partially circular. The cutouts of the three discs may have other types of profile to receive therein a profile complementary to the contact pad of the lock.

[0038] The locking element 46 of the lock 40 may for example be in the form of a tongue, preferably partially circular. This tongue 46 is intended to be inserted into a circular groove 16 arranged at the level of the crown 12 as can be seen in particular in the Figure 3a in order to be able to lock the axial movement of the crown 12 independently of its angular position.

[0039] The lock body 42 is preferably fitted into the housing 102 of the case 100. As illustrated in the Figures 11 and 14 , this housing 102 is delimited by two side walls 102a, 102b, an upper wall 102c and a lower wall 102d. In the example illustrated in figure 11, the housing 102 has a substantially oblong shape whose width in the general plane of the case 100 is substantially identical to the width of the lock body. On the other hand, the height of the housing 102 in a direction orthogonal to the general plane of the case 100 is greater than the height of the lock body so that the latter can move from a locking position to an unlocking position. There is play between the lateral sides 42a, 42b of the body 42 and the respective lateral walls 102a, 102b of the housing 102 so that the lock 40 can slide between the locking and unlocking positions along these walls.

[0040] The small size of the locking mechanism 30 of the combination lockable crown 10 advantageously makes it possible to replace a conventional crown of existing watches by simply creating a housing, such as the housing 102, on the lateral flank of the caseband on the crown side to house the locking mechanism without having to modify the interior of the watch case containing the movement.

[0041] As illustrated in the figure 10 , preferably the entire locking mechanism 30 can advantageously be housed in the thickness of the vertical section of the caseband located between the caseband and the surround or casing of the caseband. Thus, the locking mechanism 30 preferably does not encroach on the central space 103 usually reserved for the movement, or only slightly encroaches on this space.

[0042] With particular reference to the figure 10, the three-disc lock 60, 70, 80 described as an example is mounted inside the hollowed-out portion 44 of the lock while the tube 20 passes through the central opening 45 with a threaded portion 22 screwed into a tapped hole 106 present in the middle 100 and opening into the housing 102. The upper side 42c of the body 42 comprises a housing 47 ( figure 8 ) in which an actuator 48 is arranged, typically an elastic member which may for example be a leaf spring.

[0043] The shape of this leaf spring at rest may, for example, comprise a central part in the shape of an inverted V, the apex of which is arranged against the upper wall 102c of the housing 102 ( figures 14 And 15) and two tabs arranged on either side of the central part and resting in the housing 47 so as to force the contact pad 43 of the lock 40 against the three discs 60, 70, 80 of the lock. According to a variant, this leaf spring can be replaced by one or more compression springs or by any elastic member. In all cases, the force developed by such an elastic member must be sufficient to allow the lock 40 to be moved into its unlocking position when all the cutouts of the discs are aligned.

[0044] In reference to the Figures 9a to 12 , when the crown 12 is in a locked axial position, the contact pad 43 of the lock 40 is held in contact against the external diameter of at least one of the discs 60, 70, 80 in the locking position, under the action of the elastic member 48. According to the figure 10, the contact pad 43 extends over almost the entire thickness of the lock 40 in order to be able to bear against the external diameter of the three discs 60, 70, 80.

[0045] The lock 40 is therefore held in the locking position by the external diameter of the three discs. In this position, the upper side 42c of the lock body 42 is in contact against the upper wall 102c of the housing 102 with the spring blade 48 being in a flattened configuration. The locking tab 46 of the lock 40 is at this moment in the groove 16 present on the crown 12. The latter is therefore blocked in translation. It is thus not possible to access a function of the watch requiring axial movement of the crown. For example, functions such as setting the time, winding the barrel as well as correcting the date, day of the week or moon phase indication for a timepiece with several complications cannot be selected and therefore cannot be activated.

[0046] In reference to the figures 13 to 15, the three discs 60, 70, 80 were actuated in rotation by a sequence of manipulations of the crown 12 corresponding to the combination of the lock 50. This sequence of manipulations, which will be described in more detail later, aims to bring the cutouts 62, 72, 82 of the three discs opposite the contact pad 43 of the lock. The latter is inserted into the three cutouts, under the action of the spring blade 48 whose legs exert pressure against the housing 47 of the lock, which causes the movement of the lock 40 into the unlocking position. The lower side 42d of the lock 40 is thus brought against the lower wall 102d of the housing 102 and the locking tongue 46 is released from the groove 16 of the crown. This can therefore be pulled into any axial position, typically allowing the time to be set, the movement to be wound and the correction of the aforementioned functions for a timepiece with several complications.

[0047] With reference to the preferred embodiment of the figure 1 , the crown 12 further comprises a mark or indicator 15 so that the user can know the angular position of the crown relative to the ten indexes or indications such as numbers 104 arranged around the crown 12 on the lateral flank 101 of the case 100.

[0048] In order to unlock the crown 12, the user turns it, for example, clockwise by at least two complete turns so that the drive element 64 of the first disc 60 bears against the first drive element 74a of the second disc 70 and the second drive element 74b of the second disc 70 bears against the drive element 84 of the third disc 80. This makes it possible, by means of the drive elements of the discs, to position all the discs in a reference position from which each disc is brought into a predetermined angular position depending on the code of the lock necessary to unlock the crown.

[0049] The crown is then manipulated by a sequence of rotations where the first rotation is carried out for example in a clockwise direction and where each subsequent rotation is typically carried out in the opposite direction to the previous rotation. This sequence of rotations aims to align the indicator 15 opposite the index or number corresponding successively to the three digits of the code, namely to the three portions of code which successively form the code of the combination.

[0050] In the present case, after having completed the two complete turns in the clockwise direction, the crown 12 is first turned in the clockwise direction in order to position the indicator 15 opposite the index or the number corresponding to the first digit of the code, which is typically associated with the disc furthest from the crown, namely the third disc 80 in the present example. Since for each disc the angular position of its cutout or its driving element is related to a portion of the code such as a number of this code, the rotation of the third disc 80 makes it possible to position its cutout 82 opposite the contact pad 43 of the lock by the action of the second driving element 74b of the second disc 70 on the driving element 84 of the third disc 80.

[0051] The crown 12 is then turned counterclockwise in order to position the indicator 15 opposite the index or number corresponding to the second digit of the code which is associated with the second disc 70. This makes it possible to position the cutout 72 of the second disc 70 opposite the contact pad 43 of the lock by the action of the drive element 64 of the first disc 60 on the first drive element 74a of the second disc 70. Finally, the crown 12 is turned clockwise in order to position the indicator 15 opposite the index or number corresponding to the third digit of the code and thus to place the cutout 62 of the first disc 60 opposite the contact pad 43 of the lock.

[0052] By this sequence of manipulations, the cutouts of the three discs are thus aligned, which allows the contact pad 43 to be housed in them under the action of the spring blade 48 and to bring the lock 40 into the unlocking position.

[0053] The instructions for unlocking the crown are typically defined by the manufacturer. These instructions correspond to the lock code, which can be customized for each locking mechanism. Each portion of the code, such as a constituent number, depends on the position of the cutouts relative to the drive element of its disc. A timepiece with a unique code can thus be designed by choosing a unique combination of the position of the cutouts relative to the drive elements of the discs.

[0054] To relock the crown 12, it is first sufficient to push it into the axial locking position, then to turn it clockwise or counterclockwise. The user will feel a resistance caused by the force exerted by a portion of the cutout 62 of the first disc 60 against the contact pad 43 of the lock 40. This makes it possible to simultaneously disengage the contact pad 48 from the three cutouts 62, 72, 82 of the respective discs 60, 70, 80. The lock 40 is thus returned to its locking position. The user will then turn the crown 12 clockwise and counterclockwise by one or more turns in order to position the different discs in different angular positions so as to avoid untimely unlocking of the crown. Reference list

[0055] Locking crown 10 Crown 12 Axis 14 Indicator 15 Groove 16 Annular cavity 18 Cylindrical wall 19 Tube 20 Threaded part 22 Second portion 23 Second toothed 24 Third portion 26 Third portion 26 (e.g. grooved portion) First portion 28 (e.g. support portion) Locking mechanism 30 Lock 40 Body 42 Lateral sides 42a, 42b Upper and lower side 42c, 42d Contact pad 43 Hollowed part 44 Central opening 45 Locking element 46 Housing 47 Actuator 48 (e.g. elastic member) Combination lock 50 First element 60 (e.g. disc) Cutout 62 Driving element 64 (e.g. pad) Second element 70 Cutout 72 Driving element 74a, 74b Indexing means 76 (eg cavities) Third element 80 Cutting 82 Drive element 84 Indexing means 86 (egcavities) Indexing part 90 Teeth 93 Indexing means 96 Ball 97 Flexible portion 98 Middle 100 Lateral flank 101 Housing 102 Side walls 102a, 102b Upper and lower wall 102c, 102d Central space 103 Index 104 Opening 106 (eg Tapped hole).

Claims

1. Lockable crown (10) for a timepiece comprising a caseband (100) incorporating a housing (102) open on a lateral flank (101) of the caseband and communicating, via an opening (106), with a central space (103) dedicated to a cage, the lockable crown (10) comprising a crown (12), an axis (14) integral with the crown (12), a tube (20) mounted on the axis (14) and intended to be fixed in the opening (106) of the caseband (102), and a locking mechanism (30) intended to be mounted in the housing (102) of the caseband (100) around the tube (20), the locking mechanism (30) comprising a latch (40), an actuator (48) and a lock (50) with several combination elements (60, 70, 80) pivotally mounted around the tube (20) and rotatable by the crown (12) when the latter is mounted on the case (100) and turned in one direction and the other,the lock (40) being configured to adopt a locking position and an unlocking position in which it blocks, respectively releases, the crown (12) in translation, the lock (40) being intended to be actuated by the actuator (48) from the locking position to the unlocking position, when all the combination elements (60, 70, 80) are arranged in a predetermined angular position., 2. Lockable crown (10) according to claim 1, in which the combination elements (60, 70, 80) of the lock are in the form of annular discs each comprising on their external diameter a cutout (62, 72, 82), the actuator (48) of the lock (40) being an elastic member, the lock (40) comprising a contact pad (43) intended to cooperate with the external diameter of at least one of the combination discs (60, 70, 80) in the locking position, the contact pad (43) being intended to be brought into the cutouts (62, 72, 82) of the combination discs (60, 70, 80) under the action of the elastic member (48) when said cutouts are aligned, thus causing the movement of the lock into the unlocking position.

3. Lockable crown (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the combination elements of the lock (50) comprise at least a first disc (60) secured to the crown (12) as well as a second and a third disc (70, 80) bearing on the tube (20), the second disc (70) being arranged between the first and third discs (60, 80).

4. Lockable crown (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the first and second discs (60, 70) each comprise on their facing side a drive element (64, 74a) so that the rotation of the first disc (60) by the actuation of the crown (12) can drive the second disc (70) in rotation, and in which the second and third discs (70, 80) each comprise on their facing side a drive element (74b, 80) so that the rotation of the second disc (70) can drive the third disc (80) in rotation.

5. Lockable crown (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second and third discs (70, 80) each comprise n indexing means (76, 86) distributed around their circumference, the locking mechanism further comprises an indexing part (90) arranged between the second and third discs (70, 80) and fixed on the tube (20), the indexing part (90) comprising on two opposite sides a complementary indexing means (96) arranged to cooperate with the n indexing means (76, 86) respectively of the second and third discs (70, 80) in order to be able to position said second and third discs (70, 80) in n indexed angular positions corresponding to indications of the combination of the lock.

6. Lockable crown (10) according to the preceding claim, in which indexes (104) corresponding to the indications of the combination are arranged on the lateral flank (101) of the case (100) around the housing (102).

7. Lockable crown (10) according to claim 5 or 6, in which the n indexing means (76, 86) of the second and third discs (70, 80) are in the form of cavities, preferably partially spherical, and in which the indexing part (90) is of generally annular shape and comprises two diametrically opposed balls (97) arranged on two flexible portions (98) to cooperate with the cavities (76, 86) respectively of the second and third discs (70, 80).

8. Lockable crown (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the indexing part (90) comprises internal teeth (93) engaged with a toothed portion (24) of the tube (20) in order to block said indexing part (90) in rotation.

9. Lockable crown (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lock (40) comprises a body (42) surrounding a hollow part (44) inside which is mounted said lock (50) with several combination elements (60, 70, 80), the lock further comprising a central opening (45) intended to be crossed by the tube (20).

10. Lockable crown (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the opening (106) of the case middle (100) of the timepiece is a tapped hole and in which the tube (20) comprises a threaded portion (22) intended to be screwed into the tapped hole (106) of the case middle (100).

11. Lockable crown (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the watch crown (12) comprises a circular groove (16) concentric with the axis (14), the lock (40) comprising a locking element (46) in the form of a tongue, preferably partially circular, intended to be arranged in the groove (16) in the locking position.

12. Lockable crown (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the locking mechanism (30) is intended to be fully mounted in the housing (102) of the caseband (100).

13. Timepiece comprising a case middle (100) provided with a housing (102) open on a lateral flank (101) of the case middle and communicating via an opening (106) with a central space (103) dedicated to a cage, the timepiece further comprising the lockable crown (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the locking mechanism (30) of which is mounted inside the housing (102) and the tube (20) of which is fixed in the opening (106).

14. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, in which the width of the housing (102) in the general plane of the case middle (100) is substantially identical to the width of the lock (40), the height of the housing (102) in a direction orthogonal to the general plane of the case middle (100) being greater than the height of the lock (40) so that the latter can move from the locking position to the unlocking position while being guided by the side walls (102a, 102b) of the housing (102).

15. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, in which the actuator (48) is mounted inside the housing (102) between the lock (40) and an upper wall (102c) of the housing (102) in order to cooperate with said wall (102c) and a side (42c) of the lock (40).

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