Watch case for wristwatch with musical or chiming mechanism comprising a bottom with 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

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch case for a wristwatch, having a lidded 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 lidded back. State of the art

[0002] Covers were used to protect the crystals of pocket watches, but they also provided surfaces for engraving or guilloché work. When watches moved from pockets to wrists, watchmaking naturally lost the use of covers. However, several watch brands now offer wristwatches with a hinged cover on the back of the case to revive this tradition. Pressing the crown releases the cover, which conceals the transparent case back and reveals the movement. An engraving or other ornamental motif may also be present on the hidden side of the cover. This ornamental motif is therefore only visible when the cover is opened.

[0003] The user can thus wear a wristwatch in a discreet and elegant style containing an exceptional mechanical caliber whose handcrafted finishes, requiring a high degree of expertise, can be admired when the wristwatch is removed from the wrist and the opening of the watch case cover is activated by a simple press on the crown.

[0004] We also know of musical or chiming wristwatches whose movement includes, for example, a minute repeater or grande sonnerie mechanism.

[0005] As an example, EP3009895 discloses a musical or chiming wristwatch equipped with an acoustically radiating arrangement. The wristwatch comprises a watch case having a case middle, a case back fixed to the case middle, and a crystal for closing the case on the dial side. The acoustically radiating arrangement includes a support and connection piece fixed to the case bottom between a case back bezel and a case back crystal, and an annular cavity defined around the entire circumference of the support piece opposite an inner surface of the case back bezel. The case back bezel has several lateral openings. Membranes with small holes cover the lateral openings to allow air to pass through while preventing dirt from entering the annular cavity.

[0006] By covering the side openings with small-perforated membranes, it's possible to allow sound to escape from the watch case while preventing the case back from becoming soiled over time by dust particles entering the openings. However, although these small-perforated membranes can be effective at trapping dust and other impurities, they eventually become clogged and dirty, thus muffling or reducing the sound's diffusion from the watch case. Furthermore, once clogged, these membranes become difficult to clean.

[0007] EP3812845 discloses a timepiece equipped with a vibration-generating device designed to produce sound and comprising a chamber. This chamber is delimited by a membrane and a glass through which the time is displayed by means of hands. The chamber has at least one opening directed to the outside of the piece. This opening is protected by a permeable and impermeable filter to prevent impurities from entering the chamber. This filter is also subject to fouling due to the accumulation of impurities.

[0008] CN111596539 discloses a striking timepiece with a hinged protective cover on the case that folds down against a crystal on the dial side. This crystal has a sound transmission hole, while the cover has a sealing element designed to close the sound transmission hole when the protective cover is folded down against the crystal. The sound is therefore transmitted outside the watch case only when the protective cover is pivoted so that the user can view the striking mechanism.

[0009] We also know of DE9415102U1 as a travel or pocket alarm clock featuring a hinged lid on the back. This lid is attached to the case by a snap-fit ​​mechanism so that it can serve as a stand for the alarm clock.

[0010] One aim of the present invention is to provide a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism offering an alternative solution to the problems related to dust and dirt, and in particular a solution allowing to resolve at least in part the aforementioned problems.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a watch case, for a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism, configured to promote the lasting propagation of sound vibrations out of the watch case. Brief summary of the invention

[0012] These goals are achieved in particular by a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism, according to claim 1.

[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 includes a seal arranged between the bottom edge of the watch case and the acoustic membrane in order to ensure the watertightness 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 shape 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 lid in the closed position.

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

[0020] In one embodiment, the lid further comprises a rim surrounding the base and a base support configured such that the base of the lid is located at a distance from a general plane defined by the rim surrounding the base. At least one opening is located between the base and the rim of the lid.

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

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

[0023] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism includes an actuable slide for opening the lid.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the lid is hinged on the bottom edge.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cover is mounted hinged by means of a pivot, ball 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 given in the description illustrated by the accompanying figures, in which: there figure 1illustrates a perspective view of a watch case for a wristwatch with a musical or striking mechanism, having a transparent-bottomed cover in an open position, according to a preferred embodiment, the figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the watch case of the figure 1 according to a different orientation. Examples of embodiments of the invention

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

[0029] The watch case 10 comprises a case middle 12 and, on the back, an acoustic membrane 28 which is preferably transparent 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 completely through the acoustic membrane.

[0030] Preferably, a gasket (not visible in the figures) is arranged between the case back edge 30 and the periphery of the acoustic membrane 28 such that the assembly comprising the acoustic membrane 28, the case back edge 30, and the gasket ensures the case back is watertight. The outer surface of the membrane 28 and the outer surface of the case back edge 30 surrounding the membrane are preferably coplanar. In another embodiment, the outer surface of the membrane 28 could be located in a plane that is closer to the movement, namely the musical or striking mechanism, than the outer surface of the case back edge 30.

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

[0032] To vibrate freely, the acoustic diaphragm 28 of such a wristwatch must be isolated from the wearer's wrist. The watch case 10 includes a cover 14 for this purpose, designed to isolate the diaphragm 28 from the wrist. In a preferred embodiment, the cover 14 has one or more sound diffusion openings 24 arranged around the acoustic diaphragm to facilitate the diffusion of the sound, propagated by the diaphragm's vibration, outside the watch case 10. The cover 14 also includes a base 20, for example circular in shape, and an edge 22 surrounding the base 20 of the cover. The base 20 is preferably flat.

[0033] The edge 22 of the cover 14 is preferably hinged to the watch case, for example by means of a hinge 16 fixed to the base edge 30, so that the cover 14 can occupy a closed and an open position. In one embodiment, the cover can be hinged to the case 12. Other means of articulation can be considered instead of a 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 the cover 14 to pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of the acoustic membrane.

[0034] The cover 14 further includes a base support 18 mounted on the external side 14a of the cover 14 and configured so that the base 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 contact with the base edge 30 of the watch case. Since the base 20 of the cover 14 is distanced from the edge 22, which is located at the level of the acoustic diaphragm 28, a gap of several tenths of a millimeter can thus be created between the base 20 and the acoustic diaphragm 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 include several legs 18 spacing the edge 22 from the bottom 20. As illustrated in the figure 2These tabs 18 are fixed to the edge 22 and to a circular portion 21 of the base 20 of the lid. In the closed position, the lid preferably has a convex shape so that the distance separating the plane of the membrane 28 from the plane of the base 20 is greater than that separating 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 lid, in particular between the tabs.

[0036] The number and position of the tabs can vary depending on the chosen design to define the number of slots and their respective lengths around the perimeter of the base 20. The individual slots could be sized to extend along arcs around the base 20, and consequently around the acoustic membrane 28 when the cover 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 base 20 or the acoustic membrane. At least one of these slots 24 can extend over at least 30°, or even 60° or 90° of the circumference of the base of the cover.

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

[0038] According to another unillustrated embodiment, 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 shown, 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 has no sound diffusion opening. However, 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 include 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 shown, at least one opening could be created by a gap between the bottom edge 30 and the lid 14 when the latter is in the closed position. To achieve this, a plurality of bosses or other projections could act as spacers, preventing the lid edge 22 from coming into direct contact with the bottom edge 30. These projections could be integral with the edge 22 and / or the bottom 30.

[0041] Alternatively or in addition, a cover locking mechanism could hold the bottom edge 22 away 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 case 12 or to another part of the watch case.

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

[0043] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the base support 18 could be in the form of a ring having at least one radial sound diffusion opening 24. In one embodiment, the base support 18, the edge 22 and the circular portion 21 of the base 20 are formed as a single piece, for example by molding or electroplating.

[0044] In the open position of the cover 14, the outer surface (or face) of the acoustic membrane 28, the inner side 14b of the cover's base 20, and, where applicable, the openings 24 formed in the base support 18 or on the surface of the base edge 30 are advantageously directly accessible to the user. This allows the user to regularly and easily clean not only these openings 24 but also the inside of the cover's base 20 and the outer surface of the acoustic membrane 28, thus preventing the accumulation of dirt particles that would impair the visual appearance of the movement's bottom as seen through the base 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 a repercussion 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 can be held in the closed position by a locking mechanism. According to the example illustrated in the figure 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 male element 32 is designed to cooperate with the housing 26 located opposite it on the edge 22 of the cover, specifically on its inner side 14b. This interaction allows the cover 14 to be locked to the case 12, specifically to the bottom edge 30 which is integral with the case.

[0046] In this example, the housing 26 is diametrically opposite the hinge 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 an alternative, the opening of the cover could be done by actuating the crown in a predetermined axial position.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the base 20 of the cover 14 and the acoustic membrane 28 are transparent or partially transparent, so that the movement is visible from the base without having to open the cover. The base is, for example, made of sapphire crystal. Alternatively, at least one of the base 20 and the acoustic membrane could be at least partially translucent or opaque. As an alternative or in addition to these different embodiments, at least one of the base 20 and the acoustic membrane 28 could include an ornament or an engraving, for example.

[0048] The case back of a watch can have various visual appearances depending on the design. For example, it can be a transparent glass with decals, markings preferably laser-etched, or any other motif created using different techniques. The use of frosted glass with or without transparent sections, glass with a gradient from opaque to transparent, or even smoked glass for the case back can also be considered. List of references

[0049] Watch case 10 Case middle 12 Cover 14 External side 14a Internal side 14b Joint 16 (e.g., hinge) Back support 18 Back 20 Circular portion 21 Rim 22 Opening 24 Housing 26 Transparent membrane 28 Back rim 30 Screw 31 Male element 32 Crown 34 Slide 35

Claims

1. Watch case (10) for a wristwatch with a musical or ringing mechanism, configured to comprise an acoustic diaphragm (28) held by its periphery at a bottom of the watch case, said case comprising a cover (14) having a bottom (20), wherein the bottom (20) of the cover (14) covers an outer face of the acoustic diaphragm (28) so as to ensure that said diaphragm can vibrate freely, characterized in that the cover (14) is articulated mounted between an open position and a closed position and in that the watch case (10) further comprises at least one sound diffusion opening (14) when the cover (14) is in the closed position.

2. Watch case (10) according to claim 1, comprising multiple openings (24) distributed around the acoustic diaphragm (28).

3. Watch case (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the combined width of all the openings (24) represents at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or even at least 95% of the perimeter of the acoustic diaphragm (28).

4. Watch case (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the acoustic diaphragm (28) is held in place by a bottom edge (30) covering the periphery of the acoustic diaphragm (28).

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

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

7. Watch case (10) according to claim 4 or 5, said at least one opening (24) consists of one or more interstices 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 formed on the surface of the bottom edge (30).

9. Watch case (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein 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 spaced 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 any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the bottom (20) of the cover (14) and the acoustic diaphragm (28) is opaque, at least partially transparent, or at least partially translucent.

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

12. Watch case (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a slider (35) that can be operated 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, wherein the cover (14) is hinge-mounted on the bottom edge (30).

14. Watch case (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover (14) is mounted articulated via an articulation (16) in the form of a pivot-joint, a ball-and-socket joint, or a slider.

15. Wristwatch comprising the watch case (10) according to any preceding claim.

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