Device for producing sound for a clock movement comprising a striking or wake-up mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a sound production device, intended to be arranged in a timepiece case (1) in relation to a watch movement (6) comprising a striking or alarm mechanism, the device (12) comprising: - at least one external connecting member intended to make it integral with the timepiece case, - a sound production member (24) comprising a heel (30) carrying at least one vibrating member (32) made in one piece with it, the sound production device (12) being characterized by the fact that it also comprises a damping member (26), integral with the sound production member (24) and intended to define an assembly interface between the latter and the watch movement (6), and by the fact that it comprises one or more internal connecting members, arranged exclusively on the damping member (26) and intended to make the device (12) integral with the watch movement (6).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound production device, intended to be arranged in a timepiece case in relation to a watch movement comprising a striking or alarm mechanism, the sound production device comprising: at least one external connecting member intended to make it integral with the watch case, a sound production member comprising a heel carrying at least one vibrating member made in one piece with it.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case housing such a sound production device, in which this device is associated with a clock movement with a striking or alarm mechanism. State of the art

[0003] Generally speaking, a known problem in the production of timepieces with a striking or alarm mechanism lies in the sound radiation, outside the corresponding case, of the sound produced by a sound production device arranged inside the case. Most of the time, until relatively recently, the sound production device included, for example, at least one striking gong connected to the plate of the corresponding watch movement via a heel or gong holder. Thus, much research has been carried out to optimize the transmission of the sound produced from the gong(s) to the case, and then through the case.

[0004] Patent application CH 700102 A2 illustrates one of the avenues explored by describing the production of a watch case in which one or more striking gongs can be made directly from a single piece with the caseband. Since the gongs are no longer carried by the plate of the watch movement but directly by the caseband itself, the transmission of the sound from the gongs to the case no longer presents the loss typical of conventional constructions.

[0005] However, it is sufficient to examine the illustrations of this patent application to understand that the production of such a caseband is not obvious from the point of view of the machining conditions. Furthermore, such a construction does not offer any obvious possibility of adjustment with regard to the relative orientation between the hammers carried by the watch movement and the gongs, in particular if we consider that other general constraints apply to define the relative orientation between the watch movement and the caseband, in particular the positioning of control members passing through the caseband and cooperating with mechanisms of the watch movement.

[0006] It therefore seems preferable to plan the design of a sound production device which is not directly made from one piece with the body.

[0007] Thus, examples of the embodiment of sound production devices meeting the characteristics mentioned above have already been disclosed in the state of the art.

[0008] Patent EP 2942674 B1 describes an assembly for generating a chime in connection with a striking mechanism for a watch, this assembly being made in the form of a ring with which striking gongs are made in one piece. Thus, this approach offers better access to the different portions of the assembly and therefore allows for simplified manufacture of the latter with reference to the case of the previous document. The ring is preferably driven into the caseband of the corresponding watch, to optimize the transmission of the sound waves produced from the gongs to the caseband. It is then possible to adjust to a certain extent the relative orientation between the ring and the watch movement which is, for its part, positioned in abutment against a shoulder of the caseband, in such a way that the hammers are located opposite the gongs.

[0009] Although this approach requires some adaptations to the case compared to a conventional construction, it offers greater simplicity in the production of the case and the stamps than the construction described previously.

[0010] Other similar types of construction have already been proposed, for example the production of a gong and its heel from a single piece of sapphire with the crystal of a watch, in patent CH 708597 A1. In this case, the dimensions of the gong are however limited by those of the crystal, the latter having a smaller diameter than the caseband.

[0011] Thus, it still seems possible to propose a construction that is advantageous compared to known constructions, to ensure the production and assembly of a sound production device in a watch case, in a manner that is simple, reliable and robust. Disclosure of the invention

[0012] A main object of the present invention is to propose an alternative construction of a sound production device, intended to be arranged in a timepiece case in connection with a watch movement comprising a striking or alarm mechanism, of relatively simple construction, involving only a minimum of modifications to be made to a standard timepiece case, to allow the assembly of the sound production device, and making it possible to ensure optimized propagation of the sound produced in - and outside - the associated timepiece case.

[0013] To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a sound production device of the type indicated above, characterized by the fact that it also includes a damping member, integral with the sound production member and intended to define a mechanical assembly interface between the latter and the watch movement, and by the fact that it includes one or more internal connecting members, arranged exclusively on the damping member and intended to make the sound production device integral with the watch movement.

[0014] Thanks to its specific characteristics, the sound production device according to the invention allows optimal transmission of the sound produced to the case of the timepiece with which it is associated, while allowing the establishment of a precise relative orientation between the sound production device and at least one hammer included in the associated watch movement. In addition, the fact of implementing a mechanical connection between the sound production member and the watch movement by means of a damping member advantageously makes it possible to limit the transmission of vibrations from or to the watch movement.Thus, particularly in the case of a striking mechanism with a mechanical contact speed regulating member (for example a flywheel with rollers rubbing on a cylindrical braking surface or an anchor system), the transmission of parasitic operating noise from the regulating member to the case of the timepiece is limited thanks to the presence of the damping member.

[0015] Preferably, it can be provided that at least one external connecting member is arranged on the sound production member in order to be able to make the latter directly attached to the timepiece case.

[0016] Generally speaking, it can be expected that the sound production organ will be made of a material chosen from the group comprising metallic glasses and metallic materials (copper, titanium, bronze, etc.), in particular steels, precious metals (silver, gold, platinum, palladium) and their alloys.

[0017] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide that the shock-absorbing member is made of elastomer or any suitable plastic material, in particular a material chosen from the group comprising polyamides, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyurethanes.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, it is advantageous to provide that the sound production member and the damping member have general shapes such that together they define a closed fitting circle, preferably of general annular shape.

[0019] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide that the sound production and damping members are made integral with each other by at least two assembly members arranged at a distance from each other.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, it is advantageous to provide that the sound production member comprises a striking portion located between the heel and the vibrating member, intended to be struck by a striking or alarm hammer of the watch movement.

[0021] In this case, it is preferable to provide, according to a first preferred embodiment, that the vibrating member is a gong extending, substantially from the striking portion, over an angle of between 180 and 720 degrees with reference to a central axis of the sound production device.

[0022] Furthermore, it is then possible to provide that the sound production organ comprises at least one additional timbre made in one piece with the heel and, more preferably, that the timbres extend in two opposite directions with reference to the heel. Furthermore, it is then possible to provide that the timbres are at least partially superimposed.

[0023] According to a second preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the vibrating organ is a tuning fork having two branches extending substantially from the striking portion.

[0024] Generally, it can be provided that the vibrating member is at least partially superimposed on the damping member along the direction of the thickness of the sound production device.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide that the sound production device according to the invention has at least one oblong through opening oriented in a radial direction to define a passage for an external control member of the associated timepiece.

[0026] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case housing a watch movement with a striking or alarm mechanism, in which the watch movement is assembled to the case by means of a sound production device having all or part of the characteristics which have just been explained, the latter being arranged to be able to cooperate with at least one striking or alarm hammer of the watch movement to produce a sound.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the timepiece is made in such a way that the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for the case, generally the caseband, and for the sound production member is less than the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for the sound production member and for the damping member. Thanks to these additional specific characteristics, transmission of the vibrations produced by the sound production member to the case rather than to the watch movement is encouraged, and thus it is ensured that a limited proportion of the vibrations produced are transmitted to the watch movement, given that a large part of them should be reflected at the interface between the two members. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting example and in which: there Figure 1 represents a simplified front view of a timepiece, seen from the back side, comprising a sound production device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; the Figure 2 represents a simplified perspective view of a construction detail of the sound production device illustrated in the Figure 1 ; THE Figures 3 and 4 represent similar, simplified perspective views of the sound production device illustrated in the Figure 1 , from first and second observation points located substantially opposite each other, and the Figure 5represents a simplified and partially transparent perspective view of a construction detail of the timepiece of the Figure 1 , seen from its dial side. Method(s) of carrying out the invention

[0029] There Figure 1 represents a simplified front view of a part of a timepiece 1, seen from the back side, the latter comprising a sound production device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0030] The timepiece 1 comprises a case comprising a middle 4 housing a watch movement 6 comprising a striking or alarm mechanism, such a mechanism being recognizable here due to the presence of a hammer 8 intended to strike a vibrating organ to produce a sound, in a conventional manner.

[0031] The timepiece 1 also comprises two external control members 10, here crown stems, by way of non-limiting illustration, intended to allow a user to act on the operation of the watch movement 6 through the caseband 4, also in a conventional manner.

[0032] It emerges from the general view of the Figure 1 that the watch movement 6 is assembled to the caseband 4 by means of a casing ring 12, on a shoulder (not visible) from which it rests, and being held in place by two screws 14, in a non-limiting illustrative manner.

[0033] The casing ring 12 is itself made integral with the caseband 4 by being arranged to rest on a shoulder (not visible) of the latter and by being held in place by the cooperation of several metal tabs 16, screwed onto the casing ring 12 by screws 18, and engaged in one or more grooves (not visible) adapted to the caseband 4, in a conventional manner. In addition, one or more additional screws 20, here three in number for non-limiting illustration purposes, are directly screwed into the caseband 4 by being arranged through the casing ring 12.

[0034] Of course, the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in implementing other internal connecting members, between the casing ring 12 and the watch movement 6, and other external connecting members, between the casing ring 12 and the caseband 4, adapted to his specific needs, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, it may for example be provided, as an alternative, that the casing ring 12 is driven into the caseband 4 as described in the prior art (in this case, at least a portion of the peripheral envelope of the casing ring fulfills the role of external connecting member).

[0035] It will be noted here that, advantageously, each of the screws 14 has an extended flat head, which could be replaced by a washer as an alternative, bearing on the casing ring 12 while being positioned inside a milling 22 whose extent in the plane is greater than that of the head of the screw 14. Thus, the relative angular orientation between the watch movement 6 and the casing ring 12 can be adjusted by moving the screws 14 along the millings 22, when they are not completely screwed in, in particular to allow precise adjustment of the relative positioning between the casing ring 12 and the hammer 8 (or the hammers where appropriate) as will emerge from the remainder of this description.

[0036] Indeed, we will now describe in more detail how the casing ring 12 according to the present invention simultaneously constitutes a sound production device, thanks to the fact that it comprises a sound production member 24 and a damping member 26 integral with each other in a manner which will emerge more clearly from the illustrations of the figures 2 to 5 .

[0037] There Figure 2 represents a simplified perspective view of the sound production organ 24 alone.

[0038] The sound production member 24 has a generally annular shape so that it can be associated with a round-shaped watch movement, but it could of course have a different general shape to be adapted to "shaped" watch movements (i.e. of a shape other than round in conventional watchmaking language) without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0039] The sound production member 24 comprises a rigid portion defining a heel 30 carrying a vibrating member 32 here having the shape of a double gong for non-limiting illustration purposes.

[0040] Conventionally, the heel 30 is intended to allow the mounting of the vibrating organ 32 in the case of the timepiece 1. Also, the heel 30 has three holes 34 (only one of which is visible on the Figure 2 ) through which the screws 20 for fixing to the middle 4 are arranged, and two holes 36 (only one of which is visible on the Figure 2 ) to receive assembly parts 38 (here screws visible only on the figures 1 And 3 ) from the sound production organ 24 to the damping organ 26.

[0041] Preferably, the sound production member 24 can be made of a material chosen from the group comprising metallic glasses and metallic materials (copper, titanium, bronze, etc.), in particular steels, precious metals (silver, gold, platinum, palladium) and their alloys.

[0042] Depending on the material chosen, the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in producing the sound production member 24 by implementing any suitable known manufacturing method, for example by molding, machining or 3D printing (or additive manufacturing technique). It is also possible to consider the use of hardened steel, in which case the sound production member can be placed in a mold for the hardening operation, in order to avoid the occurrence of deformations.

[0043] A recess 40 is provided in the heel 30, either directly during manufacturing by molding or by 3D printing, or by milling or laser ablation in the context of manufacturing by machining. The recess 40 makes it possible to free a junction between the heel 30 and the vibrating member 32 of intermediate transverse dimensions, in particular to define a striking portion 42 intended to cooperate with the hammer 8 of the striking or alarm mechanism.

[0044] The vibrating member 32 extends, substantially from the striking portion 42, here in the form of a double gong having two branches 44 extending asymmetrically with reference to the junction of the vibrating member 32 with the striking portion 42. Each branch 44 comprises a first portion directed along the direction of the thickness of the watch movement 6, followed by an elbow ensuring the junction with an annular turn extending over almost 360 degrees. The two turns are therefore partially superimposed on each other and are also partially superimposed on the heel 30, by way of non-limiting illustration.

[0045] Of course, the person skilled in the art will be able to implement any other form of the vibrating member without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, or even other forms of the sound production member. Indeed, it is possible, for example, as an alternative, to provide a sound production member comprising one or more gongs with a single branch, a double gong in the form of a curved tuning fork (therefore with the two turns extending in the same direction on either side of the heel along the direction of the thickness, being superimposed over the entire length of at least one of the branches, or even both branches in the case of branches of the same length), or even two gongs extending on either side of the heel along its longitudinal direction.It is also possible to provide at least two gongs whose respective lengths are adjusted relative to each other in such a way that their simultaneous actuation generates vibrations giving rise to a beating phenomenon, leading to the emission of a sound of improved depth. Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to provide that at least two branches of a gong or that at least two gongs have different respective masses, possibly by being made with different respective sections, in particular to be able to produce a beating phenomenon, or in general. In general again, it is possible to provide that the gong(s) typically extend over an angle of between 180 and 720 degrees with reference to the central axis of the sound production device or casing circle 12, or even that a gong or that each gong has the shape of a closed ring, such rings then being connected to each other or not.Generally speaking, it is also possible to provide that the stamp(s) have any type of suitable cross-section, in particular round or substantially square, or even rectangular, with a constant or variable surface area, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0046] THE Figures 3 and 4 represent similar simplified perspective views of the sound production device 12, from first and second observation points located substantially opposite each other, and make it possible to better illustrate how the sound production members 24 and damper 26 are associated with each other.

[0047] The damping member 26 also has a generally substantially annular shape and is made integral with the sound production member by means of the screws 38 as mentioned above.

[0048] The shock-absorbing member is preferably made of an elastomer or any suitable plastic material, in particular a material chosen from the group comprising polyamides, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyurethanes.

[0049] Each of the sound production members 24 and shock absorber 26 preferably has an angular extent of less than 360 degrees, such that it comprises free ends cooperating with the free ends of the other member to ensure their assembly. The members 24 and 26 may advantageously have opposing surfaces, some of which are oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the general plane of the timepiece 1, to ensure good relative support in the direction of the thickness of the timepiece 1, and others in a plane substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the timepiece 1, to ensure good relative angular positioning. Here, one of the members has cutouts in its free ends whose shapes are complementary to those of the free ends of the other member. Thus, the two members 24 and 26 together define a complete or closed ring.Alternatively, it may be provided that the two members together define an open ring, in particular in the case where the sound production device or casing ring 12 is made integral with the middle 4 by driving.

[0050] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the figures, by way of non-limiting illustration, the damping member 26 has an angular extent greater than that of the sound production member 24.

[0051] Indeed, the sound production device 12 according to the invention aims to achieve several objectives. Not only does it simplify the assembly of a watch movement with a striking or alarm mechanism in a timepiece case, but it is intended to ensure optimal transmission of the sound produced by its vibrating member to the timepiece case, with the aim of ensuring its good radiation towards the outside of the case.

[0052] To achieve these latter objectives, it is first necessary to optimize the transmission of sound waves from the vibrating member 32 to the case 4.

[0053] For this purpose, the vibrating member 32 is made in one piece with the heel 30, the latter being made integral with the middle 4 by the contact of relatively large transmission surfaces between the heel 30 and the middle 4. The external peripheral wall of the heel 30 can advantageously be positioned in abutment against a surface of complementary shape of the middle 4, while the installation of the three additional fixing screws 20 ensures the maintenance of permanent close contact between the heel 30 and the middle 4 in a plane substantially parallel to the general plane of the middle 4. In addition, it is advantageously provided that the materials used for the sound production member 24 and for the middle 4 have specific acoustic impedance values ​​close to each other to guarantee good impedance matching and therefore good transmission from the sound production member 24 to the middle 4.

[0054] Conversely, it is preferable to limit as much as possible the transmission of the sound waves produced by the sound production member 24 to the watch movement 6. In this respect, the damping member 26 not only fulfills a role of damping, interposed between the caseband 4 and the watch movement 6, to protect the latter in the event of external shocks, but it also reduces the transmission of the sound waves from the sound production member 24 to the watch movement 6. Indeed, the sound production member 24 is not directly linked to the watch movement 6 as described above, but it is made integral with the latter via the damping member 26. The damping member 26 is therefore preferably made of a material having a specific acoustic impedance value substantially different from that of the sound production member 24, in order to reduce the transmission of the sound waves at their interface.Preferably, it can be provided that the timepiece 1 is made in such a way that the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for the caseband 4 and for the sound production member 24 is less than the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for the sound production member 24 and for the damping member 26. This promotes transmission of the vibrations produced by the sound production member 24 to the caseband 4 rather than to the watch movement 6, and ensures that a limited proportion of the vibrations produced are transmitted to the watch movement 6, given that a large part of them should be reflected at the interface between the two members 24 and 26.Additionally, it can also be provided that the material constituting the damping member 26 has a high attenuation in the transmission of acoustic waves, in order to limit the portion of the sound waves transmitted to it which then reach the watch movement 6, the corresponding vibrations being likely to cause operating or adjustment problems in the watch movement 6 in the long term.

[0055] As already indicated above, the interposition of the damping member 26 between the watch movement 6 and the caseband 4 also makes it possible to filter out any parasitic noises that might be generated by the operation of the watch movement 6, in particular by a mechanical type strike regulation device (for example with an anchor or a variable inertia flywheel giving rise to friction), by limiting the corresponding vibrations that would reach the caseband 4 and could therefore emit a parasitic sound towards the outside of the caseband 4.

[0056] It is understood from the preceding explanations that it is preferable to provide a greater angular extent for the damping member 26 than for the sound production member 24, given that the damping member 26 ensures the mechanical retention of the watch movement 6 in the caseband 4, while it is sufficient to ensure good quality contact between the sound production member 24 and the caseband 4, to allow good radiation of the sounds produced outside the case of the timepiece 1, and that it is preferable to limit direct contacts between the sound production member 24 and the watch movement 6. Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the relative extents of the sound production and damping members according to their own needs without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0057] Generally speaking, it is preferable and advantageous to provide that the vibrating member 32 is partially superimposed on the damping member 26, which makes it possible to limit the overall size of the sound production device 12 according to the invention.

[0058] There still appear Figures 3 and 4 that recesses 46 are preferably provided on the damping member 26 to ensure the positioning of the metal tabs 16 for connection with the caseband 4, improve their mechanical stability on the damping member 26, and allow them to be released from the caseband 4, by rotation, without having to completely remove the screws 18 which hold them on the damping member 26.

[0059] Finally, we still see on the Figures 3 and 4that the damping member 26 has two through openings 48, preferably oblong, oriented in radial directions to define passages for the external control members 10 of the timepiece 1. The fact that these openings 48 are slightly oblong makes it possible to offer a greater margin of adjustment of the relative angular orientation of the watch movement 6 with reference to the caseband 4, in particular to ensure the correct positioning of the hammer 8 opposite the striking portion 42 of the sound production member 24, as illustrated in the detailed perspective view of the Figure 5 .

[0060] It will also be noted that the striking portion 42 can advantageously be made so as to have a more or less significant radius of curvature rather than a right angle, as visible in the figures 2 , 4 And 5Such a characteristic allows the possible implementation of a fine adjustment of the angular orientation between the clockwork movement 6, therefore of the position of the hammer 8, and the sound production member 24, according to an angular range in which the strike will be possible, but the distance between the hammer 8 and the striking portion 42 can be adjusted to modulate the quality of the sound produced.

[0061] Based on the above description, it is understood how it is possible to produce a sound production device with optimized acoustic properties and simultaneously fulfilling the mechanical function of a casing ring. Thanks to the characteristics of the invention, this sound production device is of relatively simple construction and manufacture, of limited size, and it can easily be adapted to pre-existing watch cases and watch movements without requiring substantial modification of the latter.

[0062] The implementation of the present invention is not limited to certain characteristics specifically described and / or illustrated, in particular the shape of the vibrating member or the number of vibrating members implemented, in particular depending on whether the watch movement comprises a striking or alarm mechanism, the shape of the heel, the fact that the striking portion is implanted between two rigid portions of the latter allowing its assembly to the caseband. It could indeed be provided as an alternative that the striking portion is simply arranged in the extension of the heel, from one of its ends, even if the mechanical retention of the heel on the caseband would be slightly less good in this case.

[0063] Generally speaking, the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching to the implementation of a sound production device for a timepiece meeting his specific needs, while being in accordance with the present invention, that is to say comprising a sound production member connected only to the corresponding caseband and to a damping member which is at least connected to the watch movement and possibly also to the caseband, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached set of claims.

Claims

1. Sound production device (12), intended to be arranged in a timepiece case (1) in relation to a watch movement (6) comprising a striking or alarm mechanism, the sound production device (12) comprising: - at least one external connecting member intended to make it integral with the timepiece case, - a sound production member (24) comprising a heel (30) carrying at least one vibrating member (32) made in one piece with it, the sound production device (12) being characterized in that it also comprises a damping member (26), integral with said sound production member (24) and intended to define a mechanical assembly interface between the latter and the watch movement (6), and in that it comprises one or more internal connecting members, arranged exclusively on said damping member (26) and intended to make the sound production device (12) integral with the watch movement (6).

2. Device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one external connecting member is arranged on said sound production member (24) to be able to make the latter directly integral with the timepiece case.

3. Device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said sound production member (24) is made of a material chosen from the group comprising metallic glasses and metallic materials, in particular steels, precious metals and their alloys.

4. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said damping member (26) is made of a material chosen from the group comprising elastomers and plastics, in particular polyamides, polyoxymethylene (POM) and polyurethanes.

5. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatsaid sound production member (24) and said damping member (26) have general shapes such that they together define a closed fitting circle, preferably of general annular shape.

6. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sound production members (24) and shock absorber (26) are made integral with each other by at least two assembly members (38) arranged at a distance from each other.

7. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sound production member (24) comprises a striking portion (42) located between said heel (30) and said vibrating member (32), intended to be struck by a striking or alarm hammer (8) of the watch movement (6).

8. Device (12) according to claim 7, characterized in thatsaid vibrating member (32) is a timbre extending, substantially from said striking portion (42), over an angle of between 180 and 720 degrees with reference to a central axis of the sound production device (12).

9. Device (12) according to claim 8, characterized in that said sound production member (24) comprises at least one additional timbre made in one piece with said heel.

10. Device (12) according to claim 9, characterized in that said stamp and said additional stamp extend in two opposite directions with reference to said heel.

11. Device (12) according to claim 7, characterized in that said vibrating member (32) is a tuning fork having two branches (44) extending substantially from said striking portion (42).

12. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatsaid vibrating member (32) is at least partially superimposed on said damping member (26) along the direction of the thickness of the sound production device (12).

13. Device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one oblong through opening (48) oriented in a radial direction to define a passage for an external control member (10) of the timepiece.

14. Timepiece (1) comprising a case housing a watch movement (6) with a striking or alarm mechanism, in which said watch movement (6) is assembled to said case by means of a sound production device (12) according to one of claims 1 to 13, the latter being arranged to be able to cooperate with at least one striking or alarm hammer (8) of said watch movement (6) to produce a sound.

15. Timepiece (1) according to claim 14, in which said case is assembled to said sound production device (12) by means of a caseband (4), characterized in that the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for said case (4) and for said sound production member (24) is less than the difference between the specific acoustic impedances of the materials used for said sound production member (24) and for said damping member (26).

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