Watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or ringing mechanism having a bottom with a cover

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch case (10) for a wristwatch with a musical or ringing mechanism, the case being configured to have an acoustic diaphragm (28) held, by its periphery, at a bottom of the watch case (10). The watch case (10) comprises a cover (14) comprising a bottom (20). The cover (14) is pivotably mounted between an open position and a closed position in which the bottom (20) of the cover (14) covers an outer face of the acoustic diaphragm (28) so as to ensure that the diaphragm can vibrate freely. The watch case (10) also comprises at least one opening for distributing sound (24).

Description

Watch case for wristwatch with musical or striking mechanism, including a lidded base Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch case for a wristwatch, having a cover back. The watch case is configured to include an acoustic membrane and a movement comprising a musical or striking mechanism. The present invention also relates to a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, comprising the watch case having the cover back. State of the art

[0002] Lids were used to protect the crystals of pocket watches, but also provided expressive surfaces for engraving or guilloché work. When the watch moved from the pocket to the wrist, watchmaking naturally lost the use of lids. However, various watch brands offer wristwatches with a hinged lid on the back of the watch case to revive this tradition. Pressing the crown releases the lid, which hides the transparent back of the watch case, revealing the movement. An engraving or other ornamental motif may also be present on the hidden side of the lid. The ornamental motif is therefore only visible when the lid is opened.

[0003] The user can thus wear a wristwatch in a discreet and elegant style containing an exceptional mechanical caliber whose artisanal finishes, requiring a high degree of know-how, can be contemplated when the wristwatch is removed from the wrist and The watch case cover is opened by simply pressing the crown.

[0004] There are also musical or chiming wristwatches whose movement includes, for example, a minute repeater or grand chime mechanism.

[0005] For example, EP3009895 discloses a musical or striking wristwatch provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement. The wristwatch comprises a watch case having a caseband, a back fixed on the caseband and a crystal for closing the case on the dial side. The acoustic radiation arrangement comprises a support and connection part fixed in the case back between a back bezel and a back crystal as well as an annular cavity defined on the entire periphery of the support part opposite an inner surface of the back bezel. The back bezel comprises several lateral openings. Membranes with small holes cover the lateral openings to allow the passage of air while preventing dirt from entering the annular cavity.

[0006] By covering the side openings with small-hole membranes, it is possible to let the sound escape from the watch case while preventing the back glass from becoming dirty over time due to the deposit of dust particles entering the openings. However, although this small-hole membrane can be effective in retaining dust or other impurities, it ends up becoming dirty and blocked in the long term, thus muffling or reducing the diffusion of sound outside the watch case. In addition, once dirty, this membrane becomes difficult to clean.

[0007] EP3812845 discloses a timepiece equipped with a vibration generating device intended to produce a sound and comprising a chamber. This chamber is delimited by a membrane and a crystal through in which the time display by means of hands is visible. The chamber has at least one opening directed towards the outside of the room. This opening is protected by a permeable and waterproof filter to prevent impurities from entering the chamber. This filter also encounters the problem of clogging due to the accumulation of impurities.

[0008] CN111596539 discloses a striking timepiece comprising a protective cover hinged on the caseband so as to fold against a dial-side glass. This glass has a sound transmission hole while the cover has a sealing element intended to close the sound transmission hole when the protective cover is folded against the glass. The sound is therefore transmitted to the outside of the watch case only when the protective cover is pivoted so that the user can view the striking mechanism.

[0009] Also known from DE9415102U1 is a travel or pocket alarm clock with a hinged lid on the bottom. This lid is connected to the case by a snap-on mechanism so that it can be used as a stand for the alarm clock.

[0010] An aim of the present invention is to propose a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism offering an alternative solution to problems related to dust and dirt, and in particular a solution making it possible to resolve at least in part the aforementioned problems.

[0011] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a watch case, for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, configured to permanently promote the propagation of sound vibrations outside the watch case. Brief summary of the invention

[0012] These aims are achieved in particular by a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, configured to include an acoustic membrane held at its periphery in a base of the watch case. The watch case includes a cover comprising a base. The cover is mounted hinged between an open position and a closed position in which the base of the cover makes it possible to cover an outer face of the acoustic membrane to ensure that the membrane can vibrate freely. The watch case further includes at least one sound diffusion opening.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the watch case has several openings distributed around the acoustic membrane.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the width of all the openings represents at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or even at least 95% of the perimeter of the acoustic membrane.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the acoustic membrane is held by a bottom edge covering the periphery of the acoustic membrane, more precisely the periphery of the outer face of the acoustic membrane.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the watch case further comprises a seal arranged between the bottom edge of the watch case and the acoustic membrane in order to ensure the sealing of the watch case on the bottom side.

[0017] According to one embodiment, said at least one opening consists of one or more holes of circular or oblong shape, preferably in the form of a slot.

[0018] According to one embodiment, said at least one opening is constituted by one or more gaps located between the bottom edge and the cover in the closed position.

[0019] According to one embodiment, said at least one opening is constituted by one or more radial grooves provided on the surface of the bottom edge.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the lid further comprises an edge surrounding the bottom and a bottom support configured so that the bottom of the lid is located at a distance from a general plane defined by the edge surrounding the bottom. Said at least one opening is located between the bottom and the edge of the lid.

[0021] According to one embodiment, at least one of the bottom of the cover and the acoustic membrane is opaque, at least partly transparent or at least partly translucent.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the watch case further comprises a mechanism for locking the cover in said closed position.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a slide operable for opening the cover.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the cover is hingedly mounted on the bottom edge.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cover is mounted articulated by means of a pivot, ball joint or slide joint.

[0026] Another aspect of the invention relates to a wristwatch comprising the aforementioned watch case. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which: - figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, comprising a cover with a transparent bottom in an open position, according to a preferred embodiment, - figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the watch case of figure 1 in another orientation. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0028] According to a preferred form illustrated by figures 1 and 2, the wristwatch with musical or striking mechanism comprises a watch case 10 inside which a watch movement (not illustrated) is intended to be mounted. This watch movement comprises a musical or striking mechanism, for example a grand sonnerie or minute repeater movement.

[0029] The watch case 10 comprises a case middle 12 and, on the back side, an acoustic membrane 28 which is preferably transparent in order to make the movement visible, in particular the hammers and the gong of the musical or striking mechanism. The acoustic membrane is preferably in the form of a disc whose periphery is typically held between a back edge 30 and the case middle 12 of the watch case. The back edge 30 is fixed against the case middle 12, preferably by means of several screws 31 which pass right through the acoustic membrane.

[0030] Preferably, a seal (not visible in the figures) is arranged between the bottom edge 30 and the periphery of the acoustic membrane 28 so that the assembly comprising the acoustic membrane 28, the bottom edge 30 and the seal ensures the sealing of the watch case on the bottom side. The external surface of the membrane 28 as well as the external surface of the bottom edge 30 surrounding the membrane are preferably coplanar. According to another embodiment, the external surface of the membrane 28 could be located in a plane which is closer to the movement, namely the musical or striking mechanism, than is the external surface of the bottom edge 30.

[0031] The acoustic membrane 28 must be able to vibrate freely to ensure good sound transmission between the inside and the outside of the watch case 10. To provide a good dynamic response, the acoustic membrane is preferably flat and made of a light and rigid material, for example in the form of a sapphire, mineral glass or plexiglass plate. In the case where the acoustic membrane does not need to be transparent, it can be made from another material, for example based on metallic glass, titanium, steel or a copper material.

[0032] To be able to vibrate freely, the acoustic membrane 28 of such a wristwatch must be isolated from the wearer's wrist. For this purpose, the watch case 10 comprises a cover 14 intended to isolate the membrane 28 from the wrist. In a preferred embodiment, the cover 14 comprises one or more sound diffusion openings 24 arranged around the acoustic membrane to promote the diffusion of the sound, propagated by the vibration of the membrane, outside the watch case 10. The cover 14 further comprises a bottom 20, for example of circular shape, and an edge 22 surrounding the bottom 20 of the cover. The bottom 20 is preferably flat.

[0033] The edge 22 of the cover 14 is preferably connected in a pivoting manner to the watch case, for example by means of a hinge 16 fixed to the bottom edge 30, so that the cover 14 can occupy a closed position and an open position. According to a variant, the cover can be mounted articulated on the middle 12 of the watch case. Other articulation means can be envisaged instead of the hinge, for example a ball joint, a sliding joint, or even another pivot joint whose axis of rotation is orthogonal to the general plane of the acoustic membrane in order to allow pivoting of the cover 14 in a plane parallel to the plane of the acoustic membrane.

[0034] The cover 14 further comprises a bottom support 18 mounted on the external side 14a of the cover 14 and configured so that the bottom 20 of the cover 14 is located at a distance from the general plane defined by the edge 22. In the closed position, the edge 22 of the cover 14 is preferably in abutment against the bottom edge 30 of the watch case. The bottom 20 of the cover 14 being distant from the edge 22 which is located at the level of the acoustic membrane 28, a space of the order of several tenths of a millimeter can thus be created between the bottom 20 and the acoustic membrane 28. The latter is then protected and can vibrate freely under the action of the musical or striking mechanism.

[0035] The bottom support can for example act as a spacer(s) and comprise several tabs 18 spacing the edge 22 from the bottom 20. As illustrated in Figure 2, these tabs 18 are integral with the edge 22 and a circular portion 21 of the bottom 20 of the cover. In the closed position, the cover preferably has a convex shape so that the distance separating the plane of the membrane 28 from the plane of the bottom 20 is greater than that which separates the plane of the membrane 28 from the plane in which the edge 22 is located. Sound diffusion openings in the form of slots 24 are thus created in the thickness of the cover, in particular between the tabs.

[0036] The number and position of the tabs may vary depending on the chosen construction to define the number of slots and their respective lengths around the perimeter of the bottom 20. The various slots could be sized to extend along circular arcs around the bottom 20, and consequently around the acoustic membrane 28 when the lid 14 is in the closed position. Together, these slots or openings could represent or extend over at least 200°, preferably at least 300°, or even at least 340° of the circumference of the bottom 20 or the acoustic membrane. At least one of these slots 24 may extend over at least 30°, or even 60° or even 90° of the circumference of the bottom of the lid.

[0037] More generally, in particular if the bottom 20 or the elastic membrane 28 are not circular in shape, it will be mentioned that all of the openings 24 have a width representing at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or even at least 95% of the perimeter of the acoustic membrane 28 or that of the bottom 20.

[0038] According to another embodiment not illustrated, the openings are circular in shape and preferably distributed around the perimeter or circumference of the bottom 20 or the acoustic membrane 18, preferably in a regular manner.

[0039] According to another embodiment not illustrated, one or more sound openings are formed at the interface between the edge 22 of the cover 14 and the bottom edge 30 of the watch case when the cover is in the closed position. In this case, the cover 14 is devoid of a sound diffusion opening. On the other hand, the surface of the bottom edge 30, intended to come into contact with the edge 22 of the cover 14 when the latter is brought into the closed position, may comprise at least one radial groove extending radially from an inner edge to an outer edge of the bottom edge 30 and acting as an opening 24 for the diffusion of sound out of the watch case.

[0040] According to another example not illustrated, at least one opening could be created by a gap located between the bottom edge 30 and the cover 14 when the latter is in the closed position. To do this, a plurality of bosses or other projections could act as spacers preventing the edge 22 of the cover from coming directly into contact with the bottom edge 30. These projections could be integral with the edge 22 and / or the bottom 30.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, a cover locking mechanism could hold the bottom edge 22 at a distance from the bottom edge 30 in order to create, between these two parts, at least one gap acting as an opening 24 when the cover is, in the closed position, locked to the middle 12 or to another part of the watch case.

[0042] According to another example, the edge 22 of the cover 14 is mounted in an articulated manner, for example pivoting, on the bottom edge 30 or on the middle 12 of the watch case.

[0043] According to a non-illustrated variant embodiment, the bottom support 18 could be in the form of a ring provided with at least one radial sound diffusion opening 24. In one embodiment, the bottom support 18, the edge 22 and the circular portion 21 of the bottom 20 are made in one piece, for example by molding or galvanic growth.

[0044] In the open position of the cover 14, the external surface (or outer face) of the acoustic membrane 28, the bottom 20 on the internal side 14b of the cover and, where appropriate, the openings 24 formed in the bottom support 18 or on the surface of the bottom edge 30 are advantageously directly accessible to the user. The user can thus regularly and easily clean not only these openings 24 but also the interior of the bottom 20 of the cover and the external surface of the acoustic membrane 28 in order to avoid an accumulation of dirt particles which would hinder the visual appearance of the bottom of the movement as seen through the bottom of the cover and the membrane.Furthermore, cleaning the acoustic membrane prevents it from becoming clogged over time by the deposit of particles which would prevent optimal vibration of the membrane with an impact on the sound quality of the sound diffused outside the watch case through one or more sound openings.

[0045] In one embodiment, the cover 14 may be held in the closed position by a locking mechanism. According to the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the locking mechanism comprises a male element 32 and a housing 26. The male element 32 is located on the bottom edge 30, for example at the crown 34 (i.e. at 3 o'clock). This element male 32 is intended to cooperate with the housing 26 located, opposite, on the edge 22 of the cover, in particular on its internal side 14b. This cooperation makes it possible to lock the cover 14 to the middle 12, in particular to the bottom edge 30 secured to the middle.

[0046] In this example, the housing 26 is diametrically opposite the articulation 16 of the cover 14. The opening of the cover 14 can be done for example by means of a slide 35 located at the level of the crown 34. According to a variant, the opening of the cover could be done by actuating the crown in a predetermined axial position.

[0047] According to a preferred form, the bottom 20 of the cover 14 and the acoustic membrane 28 are transparent or partly transparent, in order to make the movement visible, on the bottom side, without having to open the cover. The bottom is for example a sapphire crystal. Alternatively, at least one of the bottom 20 and the acoustic membrane could be at least partly translucent or opaque. Alternatively or in addition to these different embodiments, at least one of the bottom 20 and the acoustic membrane 28 could include an ornament or an engraving for example.

[0048] The bottom of the watch case lid can have other visual aspects depending on the execution variants. The bottom can, for example, be a transparent glass with decals, markings preferably made by laser or any other pattern made by different processes. The use for the bottom of a frosted glass with or without transparent parts in places, a glass with a gradient from opaque to transparent, or even a smoked glass can also be considered. List of references Watch box 10 Size 12 Cover 14 External side 14a Internal side 14b Joint 16 (eg hinge) Background support 18 Background 20 Circular portion 21 Edge 22 Opening 24 Accommodation 26 Transparent membrane 28 Bottom edge 30 Screw 31 Male element 32 Crown 34 Slide 35

Claims

Claims 1. Watch case (10) for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, configured to comprise an acoustic membrane (28) held at its periphery in a bottom of the watch case (10), said case comprising a cover (14) comprising a bottom (20), the cover (14) being mounted hinged between an open position and a closed position in which the bottom (20) of the cover (14) makes it possible to cover an outer face of the acoustic membrane (28) to ensure that said membrane can vibrate freely, the watch case (10) further comprising at least one sound diffusion opening (24) when the cover (14) is in the closed position.

2. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising several openings (24) distributed around the acoustic membrane (28).

3. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which all of the openings (24) have a width representing at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or even at least 95% of the perimeter of the acoustic membrane (28).

4. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the acoustic membrane (28) is held by a bottom edge (30) covering the periphery of the acoustic membrane (28).

5. Watch case (10) according to claim 4, further comprising a seal arranged between the bottom edge (30) of the watch case (10) and the acoustic membrane (28) in order to ensure the sealing of the watch case on the bottom side.

6. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one opening (24) consists of one or more holes of circular or oblong shape, preferably a slot shape.

7. Watch case (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said at least one opening (24) consists of one or more gaps located between the bottom edge (30) and the cover (14) in the closed position.

8. Watch case (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said at least one opening (24) consists of one or more radial grooves provided on the surface of the bottom edge (30).

9. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (14) further comprises an edge (22) surrounding the bottom (20) and a bottom support (18) configured so that the bottom (20) of the cover (14) is located at a distance from a general plane defined by the edge (22) surrounding the bottom, said at least one opening (24) being located between the bottom (20) and the edge (22) of the cover.

10. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the bottom (20) of the cover (14) and of the acoustic membrane (28) is opaque, at least partly transparent or at least partly translucent.

11. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a mechanism for locking the cover (14) in said closed position.

12. Watch case (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the locking mechanism comprises a slide (35) operable to open the cover (14).

13. Watch case (10) according to one of claims 4, 5, 7 or 8 or according to one of claims 6, 9, 10, 11 or 12 combined with one of claims 4, 5, 7 or 8, in which the cover (14) is hingedly mounted on the bottom edge (30).

14. Watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (14) is mounted articulated by means of a pivot, ball joint or sliding joint (16).

15. Wristwatch comprising the watch case (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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