Extra-flat timepiece

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece (1), a horizontal surface of which is cut into four horizontal circular sectors of substantially the same size. A hour dial (6) and / or an hour wheel (18) substantially occupy a first sector, a minute dial (7) and / or a timer wheel (17) substantially occupy a second sector, a barrel (10) substantially occupies a third sector, and a balance (20) substantially occupies a fourth sector.

Description

[0001] Extra-flat timepiece

[0002] The present invention relates to an ultra-thin timepiece. It also relates to a method of assembling or manufacturing a timepiece.

[0003] To create an extra-flat mechanical timepiece, a technical problem arises: how to best arrange the different components of the watch movement in a minimal space.

[0004] A general object of the present invention is to propose an arrangement of the different components of a timepiece, particularly the movement, in order to minimize the volume occupied by these components in order to be able to manufacture an extra-flat timepiece.

[0005] To this end, the invention is based on a timepiece comprising a case, characterized in that a horizontal surface of the timepiece is divided into four horizontal sectors of substantially the same size, and in that it comprises an hour dial and / or an hour wheel occupying a first sector, a minute dial and / or a minute wheel occupying a second sector adjacent to the first, a barrel occupying a third sector, and a balance occupying a fourth sector.

[0006] By occupying a sector, we mean that the area of ​​the sector is occupied. The component considered extends substantially globally from a first boundary to a second boundary of the sector. In other words, it occupies a significant area of ​​the total area of ​​the sector, in particular at least a third of this area, or even at least half of this area.

[0007] The timepiece may comprise at least two independent functional modules. The independent functional modules may comprise components mounted between an upper bridge and a lower bridge.

[0008] Thus, the timepiece can include a balance wheel module and a finishing gear module.

[0009] The balance module may further comprise an escapement and the finishing gear module may comprise at least three, or even at least four, wheels.

[0010] The timepiece may comprise a winding wheel arranged near the barrel, connected to the barrel by a winding train, and / or a time-setting wheel arranged between the hour dial and / or the hour wheel and the minute dial and / or the minute wheel, connected by a connecting device to an hour wheel and / or a minute wheel.

[0011] The winding wheel and / or the time-setting wheel may be arranged under the lower surface of the timepiece.

[0012] The timepiece may include a minute wheel positioned below a minute dial and an hour wheel positioned below an hour dial.

[0013] The timepiece may include a finishing gear arranged between the barrel, the balance wheel and the hour wheel and / or the minute wheel.

[0014] The timepiece may have a total thickness less than or equal to 2 mm, or even less than or equal to 1.9 mm, or even less than or equal to 1.85 mm, and / or may have a diameter greater than or equal to 30 mm, or even greater than or equal to 30 mm, and / or a diameter less than or equal to 45 mm, or even less than or equal to 40 mm.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method of mounting a timepiece as described above, characterized in that it comprises mounting in four horizontal sectors of substantially the same size, an hour dial and / or an hour wheel occupying a first sector, a minute dial and / or a minute wheel occupying a second sector adjacent to the first sector, a barrel occupying a third sector, and a balance occupying a fourth sector.

[0016] The method of mounting a timepiece may comprise a step of mounting at least two independent functional modules on the timepiece.

[0017] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the appended drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 represents a top view of a timepiece according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Figure 2 represents an exploded perspective view of a part of the movement of the timepiece according to the embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a finishing gear module of the timepiece according to the embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a balance and escapement module of the timepiece according to the embodiment of the invention.

[0021] To simplify the description, we will conventionally use the terms "horizontal direction" for any direction parallel to the crystal and / or a bridge and / or a plate and / or a dial of the timepiece. We will use the "vertical direction" for any direction perpendicular to the crystal of the timepiece. We will use the adjectives "upper" and "lower" to designate elements or surfaces with reference to the perpendicular direction, respectively positioned on the side of the gaze of the user of the timepiece and on the opposite side, for example on the wrist of a wearer in the case of a wristwatch.

[0022] According to the invention, the size of the components of a mechanical timepiece is minimized by the following two complementary and combined approaches:

[0023] - The various mechanical functions are organized in the form of several independent modules, mounted outside the timepiece, in a compact form, which facilitates their assembly by module in a timepiece which has little space to receive them; and / or

[0024] - The various components are positioned in an optimized manner relative to each other in space, so as to minimize their size and reduce the void.

[0025] Figure 1 represents a top view of a timepiece 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a case 2 which comprises horns 3 provided for the attachment of bracelet strands, not shown. According to this embodiment, the timepiece is a wristwatch. The case 2 comprises a back or plate and a middle, and a bezel 4 arranged on the middle on the periphery of the case 2. Alternatively, any other architecture of the case 2 is conceivable. A glass not shown is intended for mounting on the upper surface of the timepiece.

[0026] The case 2 delimits a volume in which all the components of the mechanical timepiece 1 must be housed, that is to say mainly the movement and the dials. According to the embodiment, the timepiece 1 is an extra-flat wristwatch, of very low thickness. There is therefore little space in such a timepiece 1 to distribute components in the vertical direction, and their distribution in the horizontal plane, visible in figure 1, is therefore very important to be able to succeed in minimizing the overall volume of the timepiece 1, and therefore to propose the flattest possible timepiece 1. Thus, this optimal horizontal distribution provides a first response to minimizing the overall size of the timepiece 1.

[0027] Depending on the embodiment, the total thickness of the timepiece 1 is less than or equal to 2 mm, or even less than or equal to 1.9 mm, or even less than or equal to 1.85 mm. This thickness may be greater than or equal to 1.7 mm.

[0028] In Figure 1, we first distinguish four main subassemblies, called "main" in relation to their large surface area, considering the horizontal plane of the timepiece. As a note, the solution being adapted to an extra-thin watch, it seeks to limit the superpositions of functions or components in the vertical direction. According to a simplified approach, the analysis of its movement can thus be done by considering a horizontal plane by a two-dimensional vision, in which the maximum number of components and functions are arranged, which makes it possible to minimize the height of the movement in the vertical direction.In other words, in the embodiment, the four sub-assemblies occupy, that is to say fill or present, the four largest surfaces within the case 2, and therefore represent the most significant constraints in terms of size, for their positioning in said horizontal plane of the timepiece. According to the embodiment, each sub-assembly is substantially in the form of a disc (at least in a horizontal section). Alternatively, other shapes would be conceivable. The four discs of the four main sub-assemblies respectively are distributed around the periphery of the timepiece. Indeed, each of these four main sub-assemblies comprises an end which is positioned at the border of the horizontal plane of the timepiece, that is to say at the edges of the bezel 4 and / or the middle of the case 2 of the timepiece 1.

[0029] A first subset is a 6-hour dial, on which an 8-hour hand indicates the hour. A second, neighboring subset is a 7-minute dial, on which a 9-minute hand indicates the minutes. By the adjective "neighboring," we therefore mean that these subsets are positioned in neighboring sectors, according to the division into sectors explained previously. As a note, it is advantageous to divide these two indications into two separate dials, to minimize the overall height, in comparison with a traditional embodiment in which a single dial could combine the indication of the hours and minutes by two separate hands superimposed in the vertical direction.

[0030] In addition, a third subassembly is formed by a barrel 10, the diameter of which depends on the desired power reserve. Finally, a fourth subassembly is formed by a balance wheel 20. Finally, these four subassemblies are each distributed in substantially a different quarter of the overall horizontal surface of the timepiece 1. By this construction, these four subassemblies do not overlap in the vertical direction, which makes it possible to minimize the overall height of the movement and the thickness of the timepiece. In other words, this surface can be divided into four sectors of substantially the same size, forming the four aforementioned quarters. According to the embodiment shown, the barrel 10 occupies a surface which goes slightly beyond one of the sectors of this surface, while the other three subassemblies 6, 7, 20 occupy a surface slightly smaller than one of the four sectors of this surface.Naturally, the relative surfaces of these four sub-assemblies are likely to vary. In addition, their relative positions can be modified, the two dials 6, 7 remaining advantageously close. As a note, dials 6, 7 could be removed, for example in a skeleton-type variant of the timepiece. In this case, an hour wheel and a minute wheel would occupy the first and second sectors respectively.

[0031] Advantageously, the first two sectors are distributed on a left or right side of the watch, to cooperate with a first wheel which will be described later, and the other two sectors are distributed on the other side.

[0032] The previous arrangement frees up sufficient space to distribute the following complementary functions of the timepiece 1:

[0033] - A winding wheel 11, arranged so as to partially protrude from the case 2 to be manipulated by a user. This winding wheel 11 is positioned close to the barrel 10, and connected to the barrel 10 by a winding train 12, comprising for example a ratchet wheel and a winding return;

[0034] - A time-setting wheel 15, arranged between the two dials 6, 7, arranged so as to partially protrude from the case 2 to be manipulated by a user. This time-setting wheel 15 is connected to at least one of the hour and minute wheels by a connecting device 16, not detailed, but arranged at least partially between the two dials 6, 7;

[0035] - A finishing gear module 30, more particularly represented by Figure 3, generally connects the barrel 10, the balance 20 and the hour and minute wheels, visible in Figure 2. This finishing gear module 30 extends substantially in the central part of the timepiece 1, substantially between the four main subassemblies mentioned above. It can be considered as forming a fifth subassembly of the movement, the shape of which is more irregular than the four subassemblies described above, so as to occupy the intermediate space left free by these four subassemblies. As described above, we mean by "occupying the space" occupying the surface of the space, therefore occupying substantially all of the space or a significant surface of this space.

[0036] The main components of the movement of the timepiece 1 are more particularly visible in Figure 2 in exploded perspective. In this figure, there is a minute wheel 17, intended for positioning substantially under the minute dial 7, and hour wheel 18, intended for positioning substantially under the hour dial 6, wheels forming a connecting device 16, in particular of the differential type, between the time-setting wheel 15 and the minute wheels 17 and hour wheels 18. There is also the winding wheel 11, substantially diametrically opposite the time-setting wheel 15, the balance wheel 20, the winding train 12, the barrel 10 and the finishing train 30.

[0037] According to the invention, several functions of the movement are also presented in the form of independent modules, to facilitate their assembly in the reduced space of the timepiece 1, since all the components are brought together as much as possible to minimize the bulk. Such a module comprises several components of the movement, for example several wheels, which are mounted between two bridges, so as to form an independent assembly which can be transported, stored and assembled independently and easily.

[0038] Thus, according to the embodiment, the timepiece 1 comprises a first finishing train module 30, represented by FIG. 3. It comprises an upper bridge 35, superimposed on a lower bridge 36 that is not very visible, between which several wheels are arranged to rotate. According to this exemplary embodiment, the finishing train module thus more particularly comprises a barrel return 31, intended to cooperate on the one hand with the barrel 10 and on the other hand with the connecting device 16, which meshes with a large middle wheel 32, which meshes with a middle wheel 33, which meshes with a second wheel 34, intended to cooperate with the balance module 20 which will be described below. The bridges 35, 36 are provided with through openings 37 for their attachment, preferably removable, in the timepiece 1.Alternatively, the finishing gear module 30 could comprise another architecture, for example with three wheels, four, or five wheels (or more generally other elementary monobloc components).

[0039] The timepiece further comprises a balance module 20, represented by FIG. 4. It comprises an upper bridge 25 and a lower bridge 26 between which the balance shaft is fixed, and the balance assembly 20, in particular a spiral spring and a felloe, and between which an escape wheel 21 is fixed.

[0040] Alternatively, the preceding modules could be presented in a different architecture than that described, for example with other components. Alternatively, other functional modules than those described above could be presented in modular form, in addition to or replacing the modules described previously. Thus, the timepiece comprises at least two functional modules, and may comprise three, four, five or more.

[0041] A functional module can be attached to the timepiece by screwing or by any other means of attachment.

[0042] As a remark, the preceding description shows that the components of the timepiece 1 , in particular the movement, are distributed over a few superimposed planes, to minimize the thickness. To further reduce the overall thickness, it is advantageous according to the embodiment of the invention to position at least one of the two wheels among the winding wheel 11 and the time-setting wheel 15 at the level of the lower surface of the timepiece, that is to say under the bottom of the timepiece 1 . For this, it is connected to the movement by a rod or a substantially vertical axis, which passes through an opening in the bottom of the timepiece 1 . The bottom may have a recessed, non-planar shape, at the level of this wheel, so that the wheel comes substantially in continuity with the lower surface of the timepiece.

[0043] By this means, the invention makes it possible to achieve the surprising result of forming an extra-flat mechanical timepiece, in the format of a wristwatch, comprising all the essential mechanical functions for efficient time indication. The timepiece 1 thus has, for example, a diameter greater than or equal to 30 mm, or even greater than or equal to 35 mm. It also has a diameter less than or equal to 45 mm, or even less than or equal to 40 mm. Its outline may be circular. Alternatively, it may have any other shape, square, rectangular, ellipsoidal, etc. In all cases, its area may remain within the same values ​​as those resulting from the aforementioned diameter range.

[0044] The invention relates to a timepiece as such, which may be extra flat, as described above. Naturally, the invention remains implementable on any other timepiece, not necessarily flat.

[0045] The invention also relates to a method of mounting a timepiece, characterized in that it comprises the mounting in four horizontal sectors of the same dimension, of an hour dial 6 occupying a first sector, of a minute dial 7 occupying a second sector adjacent to the first sector, of a barrel 10 occupying a third sector, and of a balance 20 occupying a fourth sector.

[0046] The method may comprise a step of mounting at least two independent functional modules on the timepiece.

[0047] Advantageously, the method comprises a step of adjusting the movement modules after their assembly within the timepiece. Alternatively, these modules can be temporarily dismantled for their adjustment outside the timepiece if necessary, before their reassembly. The disassembly / reassembly operation can be carried out several times if necessary.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Timepiece (1) comprising a case (2), characterized in that a horizontal surface of the timepiece is divided into four horizontal sectors substantially of the same size, and in that it comprises an hour dial (6) and / or an hour wheel (18) occupying an area of ​​a first sector, a minute dial (7) and / or a minute wheel (17) occupying an area of ​​a second sector adjacent to the first, a barrel (10) occupying an area of ​​a third sector, and a balance wheel (20) occupying an area of ​​a fourth sector, the hour dial (6) and / or the hour wheel (18), the minute dial (7) and / or the minute wheel (17), the barrel (10), and the balance wheel (20) each being distributed in a different quarter of the overall horizontal surface of the timepiece.

2. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least two independent functional modules.

3. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the independent functional modules comprise components mounted between an upper bridge and a lower bridge.

4. Watch part (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a balance wheel module (20) and a finishing gear module (30).

5. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the balance wheel module (20) further includes an escapement (21) and in that the finishing gear module (30) includes at least three, or even at least four, wheels.

6. A timepiece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a winding wheel (11) arranged near the barrel (10), connected to the barrel by a winding gear train (12), and / or a time-setting wheel (15) arranged between the hour dial (6) and / or the hour wheel (18) and the minute dial (7) and / or the minute wheel (17), connected by a linking device (16) to an hour wheel (18) and / or to a minute wheel (17).

7. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the winding wheel (11) and / or the time-setting wheel (15) is arranged under the lower surface of the timepiece (1).

8. Timepiece (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a minute wheel (17) positioned under a minute dial (7) and an hour wheel (18) positioned under an hour dial (6).

9. Timepiece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a finishing gear (30) arranged between the barrel (10), the balance wheel (20) and the hour wheel (18) and / or the minute wheel (17).

10. Timepiece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hour dial (6) and / or the hour wheel (18), the minute dial (7) and / or the minute wheel (17), the barrel (10), and the balance wheel (20) do not overlap each other to minimize the thickness of the timepiece.

1. A timepiece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the hour dial (6) and / or hour wheel (18), minute dial (7) and / or minute wheel (17), of the barrel (10), and of the balance wheel (20) includes an end which comes to be positioned at the boundary of the horizontal plane of the timepiece, that is to say near a bezel (4) and / or a case of the box (2) of the timepiece (1).

12. Timepiece (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hour dial (6) and / or the hour wheel (18), the minute dial (7) and / or the minute wheel (17), the barrel (10), and the balance wheel (20) present the four most important surfaces within the case (2).

13. A watch part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a total thickness less than or equal to 2 mm, or less than or equal to 1.9 mm, or less than or equal to 1.85 mm, and / or in that it comprises a diameter greater than or equal to 30 mm, or greater than or equal to 30 mm, and / or a diameter less than or equal to 45 mm, or less than or equal to 40 mm.

14. A method for assembling a timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises mounting, in four horizontal sectors of substantially the same dimensions, an hour dial (6) and / or an hour wheel (18) occupying a first sector, a minute dial (7) and / or a minute wheel (17) occupying a second sector adjacent to the first sector, a mainspring barrel (10) occupying a third sector, and a balance wheel (20) occupying a fourth sector.

15. Method of assembling a timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of mounting at least two independent functional modules on the timepiece.

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