Watch case back with code lock

Abstract

A code lock that can be fitted between a clockwork mechanism and a case back of a watch, or can be integrated into a watch case (2) back (1 ), comprising coding elementsthat can be operated from outside and the code setting can be checked from outside. The coding elements are code discs (17) containing code markings, and arranged rotatably between a base plate (6) and a cover plate (11 ), which, due to the position of their shaped channels (19), prevent or enable the rotation of a locking ring (8) provided with locking pins (22), in which letter case protrusions (10) of the locking ring (8) emerge from a locking groove of the watch case (2) and the case (2) back (1 ) becomes removable. The angular position of the code discs (17) can be adjusted from outside, and the code discs (17) can be set to their home position by the aid of an externally operated reset lever (22).

Description

[0001] Watch case back with code lock

[0002] The invention relates to a watch case back with a code lock, comprising a back releasably closing the watch case, as well as a locking mechanism that can be fitted into the watch case in a fixed manner. The watch back with a code lock according to the invention ensures that the back can only be opened by an authorized person in possession of the information and code known to him.

[0003] In the case of watch mechanisms, including watches, especially watches of greater value, there Is a strong demand from the watch owners that the watch can only be opened by an authorized person or persons in possession of predetermined information.

[0004] By default, and typically, watch case backs are not protected by anything, there is no protection associated with them, so the back can be easily opened from the watch case with one movement or by using a not too complicated special tool, and the structure of the watch becomes accessible.

[0005] The engineering solutions and theoretical proposalsthat serve to inhibit the operation of the clockwork mechanism, as well asto ensure owner identification and prevent damage from theft, have defined a new area in the field of watch industry innovations.

[0006] In the recent years, there have been attemptsto prevent simple opening, or more precisely, to ensure that the proposed solutions ensure watch functions and operation in a different way, but these technological solutions are not suitable for eliminating the shortcoming considered to be of utmost importance from adesigner's point of view. In order to ensure that the watch back can only be removed by personswho are aware of the locking mechanism'sopening possibilities, to our knowledge, some specific proposals have become known, but there is no known solution to prevent the manipulation of the watch mechanism, which, in accordance with the current production technology, would enable the fixing of a watch back in such a way that it is only can be opened with appropriate information, typically a code.

[0007] WO2021211007A1 describes a watch with a combination lock. The watch includes a watch case with a removable case back and a clockwork mechanism installed in the watch case, as well as an adjuster-winder mechanism, and is equipped with a combination lock that blocks the adjusterwinder mechanism and blocks the removal of the case back from the watch case to prevent the unjustified use of the watch. The shortcoming of the proposed solution is that in order to install and arrange the locking mechanism, the usual watch structure design common in the watch industry, the watch structure complication, must be amended to a very significant extent, new design and production technology developments must be implemented, additional manufacturer workstations must be created, and thisdevelopment generally does not even guarantee the water resistance of the watch. DE202005019590 U1 aims to improve the connection between the watch case and the back, as well as the mounting of the latter, but the document does not provide instructionson how to allow the removal of a back only if certain conditions are met.

[0008] US 10,222,755 B2 shows the design of an additional case that accommodates the watch's own case; however, this additional case also does not have features that could prevent the opening of the watch's own case.

[0009] Watches can typically be assembled, inspected and serviced by removing the watch case back, any intervention can be carried out in this manner. The invention works on a similar principle as a numerical lock safe with a mechanical combination numerical lock, so that only the person who has the number, letter or symbol combination assigned to the given lock can open it. The invention is based on the recognition that a locking mechanism can be inserted into the watch case between the watch mechanism and the minimally modified case back, which can be used as a code lock if properly designed and allows the removal of the case back only after the code is known and entered.

[0010] The invention aimsto provide a solution that allowsthe removal of the watch case back to access a watch mechanism only if predetermined conditions are met. Our goal is also that it can be integrated into the current widespread watchmaking technology as much as possible, without essential and significant amendments.

[0011] The task to be solved by the invention is to create a lock structure, ideally a code lock structure, which provides acontrolled connection between the watch case and the watch back.

[0012] The set task has been solved with a watch case back with a code lock, comprising a locking mechanism that can movement free be fitted into a watch case, and characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises a base plate, where the base plate has a geometrical design that provides a non-rotating fixation with respect to the watch case when the base plate is inserted in the watch case, a locking ring laid on the base plate, said locking ring can be rotated relative to the base plate and in its rotated position ensures a closed position of the locking mechanism, where a circumferential design of the locking ring isthe same as the circumferential design of the base plate, a cover plate arranged over the locking ring and attached to the base plate, where the circumferential design of the cover plate is identical with the circumferential design of the base plate, at least two rotatable code discs arranged in a space between the base plate and the locking ring, where a rotational axis of a code disc is rotatably mounted in holes of the base plate and the cover plate, said holes coincide in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the base plate. Each code disc is designed with a toothing running around its circumference, each code disc has a radial, curved channel, each code disc isprovided with code elements on itsside that isvisible through a window formed in the case back of the watch, where the number of the code elements is identical with the number of teeth of the toothing running around the circumference of the code disc, and a pointer is assigned to the window on the case back of the watch, or each code disc is provided with a rotation angle position indicator on its side that is visible through a windows formed in the case back of the watch, and code elementssurrounding the window are formed on the case back of the watch, where the number of the code elements is identical with the number of teeth of the toothing running around the circumference of the code disc, further the locking ring has spokes, the number of spokes isthe same asthe number of code discs, the spokes run corresponding to the arrangement of the code discs, the spokes have locking pins, said locking pins are arranged to coincide with channels of the code discs and the locking pins are formed to be freely movable in the channels of the code discs, where the locking pins are positioned outside the channels of the code discs in the closed position of the locking mechanism , and are positioned in the channels of the code discs in the open position of the locking mechanism , and the locking mechanism further comprises fixing elementsfor fixing the set angular positions of the code discs in relation to the base plate, a setting mechanism, which is associated with each code disc and, when operated, rotates the code disc via the toothing of the code disc by a predetermined rate corresponding to one or more teeth, where the setting mechanism is mounted in the watch case accommodating the lock mechanism in such a way that its linkages can be moved along a line tangential to the associated code disc to its initial position in a resilient manner, a shaped code disc operating element formed in the locking ring, said operating element can be operated from the outside through the case back of the watch, a circumferential groove, which isformed in the watch case in the same plane asthe plane of the rotatable locking ring of the inserted locking mechanism, the depth of the circumferential groove is chosen so that the locking mechanism in the closed position receives the peripheral protrusionsof the locking ring.

[0013] Some of the preferred embodimentsof the watch case back with a code lock have been disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0014] The invention will be described in more detail below with the help of an exemplary embodiment of the watch case back with a code lock, with reference to the attached drawing, in which

[0015] Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of the code-locked watch back according to the invention in a position lifted out the watch case, without the case back,

[0016] Figure 2 is a view of a base plate of the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 ,

[0017] Figure 3 is a view of a locking ring of the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 ,

[0018] Fig. 4 is a view of a cover plate of the locking mechanism according to Fig. 1 ,

[0019] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a code disc used in the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 , Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a reset lever used to reset the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 and a reset piece cooperating with the reset lever,

[0020] Figure 7 is a view of the locking element promoting to maintain the set position of the code disc,

[0021] Figure 8 shows a code page design with a pointer that cooperates with the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 , and

[0022] Figure 9 is a view of the watch case including the locking mechanism outlined in Figure 1 and the case back closing the watch case.

[0023] The presented solution refers to an embodiment where a locking device according to the invention is essentially integrated with a watch back, short back 1 , and the locking device contains an element that mechanically cooperates with a counter piece formed in a watch case 2 to ensure that the back

[0024] 1 cannot be removed in any position, under any circumstances. In accordance with the presented design, this counter-piece is a recess, ideally a groove, running around the inner circumference of the watch case 2 or intermittently formed along the inner circumference of the watch case 2, which thus forms a locking groove into which one or more locking elements of the back 1 can engage, and can prevent the 1 back from being removed.

[0025] In Fig. 1 , the structure of the locking mechanism of the case 2 back 1 of the watch with a code lock according to the invention, shown in a top view without a cover plate 1 1 , only as a possible and advantageous embodiment, will be disclosed in more detail with the help of the additional figures, in which the watch case 2 containing the locking mechanism , as well as a crown 3 for winding the watch are marked with a dashed line. The case 2 back 1 of the watch itself can only be seen in Figure 9, but this does not hinder the understanding and feasibility of the solution for a person skilled in the art .

[0026] The lock structure shown in the figures is adapted to the most common, round, or polygonal watches, mostly to the watch cases of wristwatches. Fixing the locking mechanism and hindering its turning or rotating in the watch case 2 can be ensured by itsgeometric design, in this case it hasfour circumferential depressions 4 (this can be seen in Figure 2), while the watch case 2 is equipped with protrusions 5 or ribs of a complementary design cooperating with the depressions 4, which are symbolically marked with a dashed line in Figure 1 . This is, of course, in the case when the watch case

[0027] 2 has a shape that in itself prevents the locking mechanism from turning, for example in the case of a non-round, square shape, it is not mandatory, although it does not constitute an obstacle, just as the number and location of the depressions 4 and 5 are not decisive factor.

[0028] Figure 2 shows a view of a base plate 6 of the locking mechanism according to Figure 1 . The 6 base plate is adapted to the housing of the most common, circular watches, and their circumference is large enough to fit into the watch case 2 comprising the clockwork mechanism. The base plate 6 shown in Figure 2 isformed with four circumferential recesses 4, which cooperate with the protrusions 5 or ribsformed in the watch case 2, and also comprises six circumferential protrusions? arranged evenly along its circumference, which play a role in locking and unlocking the locking mechanism aswill be explained later.

[0029] The locking ring 8, which is another essential element of the described locking mechanism and is also shown in the top view in Figure 3, isthe same size asthe base plate 6, and is in the assembled state of the locking mechanism rotatably and coaxially arranged around a symbolically indicated axis 9 centrally connected to the base plate 6. As can be seen, this locking ring 8 also has peripheral protrusions 10 of the same size, design, and arrangement as the protrusions 7 of the base plate 6, so when rotated to the appropriate position, the protrusions 10 of the locking ring 8 completely coincide with the protrusions ? of the base plate 6. The two basic elements mentioned so far are covered by an additional cover plate 11 attached to the base plate 6 and having in the embodiment shown adesign, which is identical to the design of the locking ring 8 except for a few details, i.e., the same protrusions 12 are formed on itscircumference, and it is arranged coaxially with the base plate 6 and locking ring 8.

[0030] The base plate 6, locking ring 8, cover plate 11 can be manufactured from materials used in the watch industry with standard strength parameters, and their thickness is also determined by the fact that the back 1 hasthe smallest possible additional height in the assembled state to ensure that the watch case 2 needs to be modified as little as possible.

[0031] In the example shown, a central part 13 of the base plate 6 surrounding the axis 9 is connected to its wider peripheral part 15 via four crosswise spokes 14. Each of the spokes 14 has a pin 16 fixed by its one end. Pins 16 serve as rotation axes for code discs 17 shown in Figure 5, which are rotatably mounted on these pins 16. A circumferential toothing 18 of the code discs 17 enables the adjustment of the code discs 17, and in the case of the shown embodiment, a curved channel 19 isformed in each code disc 17. In the example shown, the four spokes 14 are accompanied by four code discs 17, which can rotate essentially freely on the pins 16. According to a version of the design, the pins 16 are designed as rotation axes integrated with the code discs 17, and their rotation is ensured by suitable holes in the base plate 6. In thiscase, the shaft 9 fixed in the base plate 6 isshouldered so that the locking ring 8 arranged on it provides space for the code discs 17 arranged below it and enablestheir rotation. Smilarly, in the assembled state, the cover plate 11 is also arranged on the axis 9 in such away asto provide the possibility of rotation for the locking ring 8 located below it. The locking ring 8 is also connected to its peripheral part 21 by meansof four spokes 20, and in the spokes 20 each a locking pin 22 is fixed by itsone end. In the assembled, operating position, the pins 16 of the base plate 6 extend in the direction of the locking ring 8 from the base plate 6, and the locking pins 22 of the locking ring 8 extend toward the base plate 6. The locking pins 22 are arranged in such a way that, in the case of a mounted case 2 back 1 , they extend into the free space between the code discs 17 in the locking mechanism, and in the closed position of the code discs 17, which will be detailed later, they collide with the toothed edge of the code discs 17 when attempting to remove the case 2 back 1 by turning it. When the code discs 17 are set to the open position, however, the locking pins 22 sink unhindered into the channels 19 of the code discs 17, thanks to which the locking ring 8 becomes rotatable to such an extent that its protrusions 10 coincide with the protrusions 7, 12 of the base plate 6 and the cover plate 11 , i.e. emerge from said locking groove of the watch case 2, and the case 2 back 1 together with the integrated locking mechanism can be lifted from the watch case 2, enabling accessto the clockwork mechanism of the watch. Function of the cover plate 11 isto ensure the mechanical unity and strength of the structure, and also to secure the other end of the pins 16 of the base plate 6. For this purpose, the spokes 23 of the cover plate 11 have holes 24 aligned with the pins 16. The channels 19 in the code discs 17 which form the essential elementsof the solution are apparently not straight, but curved, so that the locking pins 22 of the locking ring 8 rotated around the axis 9 do not get caught or stuck in the channels 19. It isobviousto a person skilled in the art that the locking mechanism may contain a different number of code discs 17 than the four code discs 17 shown here, even with different toothing 18, and in such a case the design of the base plate 6, locking ring 8, cover plate 11 and, where appropriate, the design of the back 1 of the watch case is also aligned with the number of the code discs 17.

[0032] To assemble the locking mechanism, the code discs 17 arranged on the pins 16 of the base plate 6 must be reset so that the locking ring 8 can be placed on the base plate 6 and code discs 17, and the locking pins 22 can sink into the channels 19. For resetting the code discs 17, shaped operating elements i.e., a reset lever 25 and a reset piece 26 operated by the reset lever 25 are provided as an example. The essentially cross-shaped reset lever 25, which is also rotatably mounted on the axis 9, together with the shaped reset pieces 26 connected to the individual code discs 17, ensuresthat, when turned, the reset pieces 26 set the code discs 17 to a predetermined and default angular position, which is considered to be the default starting point, in which position the locking pins 22 of the locking ring 8 can sink into the channels 19 of the code discs 17, so that the locking ring 8 can be rotated to the correct position and does not prevent the case 2 back 1 from being imposed onto the watch case 2.

[0033] Angular movement, i.e., rotation of the code discs 17 into a required angular position can be carried out from the outside of the watch case 2. In the example shown, this is achieved by a setting mechanism comprising several spring-loaded pushbutton 27 linkages assigned to corresponding code discs 17 - not shown separately in the Figures for the sake of clarity - and installed in the watch case 2 in a way usual in the watch production for providing adjustment possibility. Each linkage can be pushed from outside of the case 2 and isassociated with a spring forced it return to its initial position due to the spring force. The outer ends of the linkages are connected to respective pushbuttons 27 that can be operated from outside. The inner endsof the linkages engage tangentially in the toothing 18 of the code discs 17 and, through their actuation, cause an angular displacement of the corresponding code discs 17 by a value that corresponds to a tooth or a preset number of teeth. The externally operated pushbutton 27 embodiment mentioned here isonly one option, a person skilled in the art can carry out the task with routine activities based on his knowledge. After adjusting the code discs 17 and fitting the locking mechanism into place, the locking ring 8 can be rotated from the outside with a master tool or other known tool suitable for twisting / turning, for this purpose a rotatable grooved element 28 formed in the center of the back 1 in Figure 9 is provided.

[0034] In order for the code discs 17 to keep their angular position set with the pushbutton 27 linkages and not to accidentally turn, in the embodiment shown, each code disc 17 is assigned a spring-loaded locking element 29 shown in Figure 7. The locking elements29, being caught in the toothing 18 of the code discs 17, enable the code discs 17 to be turned in one, dedicated direction, but prevent the code discs 17 from being turned in the opposite direction, and, being caught in the toothing 18, ensure that the code discs 17 do not turn by themselves. Ratchets manufactured and used for such a purpose are known in the field of the invention. According to another possible design, the elements that fix the adjusted position of the code discs 17 relative to the base plate 6 are braking elements formed on the base plate 6 and connected to the code discs 17 in away that preventstheir displacement by friction.

[0035] The toothing 18 of the code discs 17 and the number of teeth can be chosen freely within the limits given by the mechanical dimensions, it is advisable to provide as many teeth as possible, to allow as many angular position adjustments as possible, i.e., to allow a greater number of combinations. In this example, the angular position of the code discs 17 is shown by means of pointers 30 formed on the code discs 17, for example shown in Figure 8, which, as shown in Figure 9, isformed in one or more openingsof the back 1 of the watch at the appropriate location or locations aligned with the code discs 17, practically the position can be observed through windows 31 of the back 1 . As shown in Figure 9, on the back 1 , the windows31 are surrounded by code elements32, which here can be letters but also numbers, allowing the user to make sure that the correct code has been set, and the case 2 back 1 of the watch can be removed from the case 2. An equivalent solution is if the code elements 32 are indicated on the code discs 17 and the pointers 30 are provided on the back 1 adjacent to the windows 31 . Alternatively, in the back 1 of the watch one or more indicator windows 31 can be formed through which only single code element 32 is visible. According to a further possible design, the same number of code elements 32 asthe number of teeth of the toothing 18 running around the circumference of the code discs 17 are formed on code sheets33 attached to the code discs 17, which allows the code elements 32 to be easily replaced if necessary.

[0036] The case 2 back 1 of the watch can only be removed without damage if a code is known that is generated by the manufacturer of the watch and only communicated to the owner or to a registered watch maker authorized by the owner. The order of magnitude of variation depends on the number of the code discs 17 and on the number of teeth of the code discs 17. An essential element of the watch's protection complication isthat the watch can only be opened by knowing the code dedicated by the manufacturer.

[0037] List of reference signs:

[0038] 1 back

[0039] 2 case

[0040] 3 crown

[0041] 4 recess

[0042] 5 protrusion

[0043] 6 base plate

[0044] 7 protrusion

[0045] 8 locking ring

[0046] 9 axis

[0047] 10 protrusion

[0048] 11 cover plate

[0049] 12 protrusion

[0050] 13 central part

[0051] 14 spoke

[0052] 15 peripheral part

[0053] 16 pin

[0054] 17 code disc

[0055] 18 toothing

[0056] 19 channel

[0057] 20 spoke

[0058] 21 peripheral part

[0059] 22 locking pin

[0060] 23 spoke

[0061] 24 hole 25 reset lever

[0062] 26 reset piece

[0063] 27 pushbutton

[0064] 28 grooved element 29 locking element

[0065] 30 pointer

[0066] 31 window

[0067] 32 code element

[0068] 33 code sheet

Claims

Claims1 . Watch case (2) back (1 ) with code lock (2), comprising: a locking mechanism that can movement free be fitted into a watch case (2), characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises:- a base plate (6), where the base plate (6) has a geometrical design that provides a non-rotating fixation with respect to the watch case (2) when the base plate (6) is inserted in the watch case (2),- a locking ring (8) laid on the base plate (6), said locking ring (8) can be rotated relative to the base plate (6) and in its rotated position ensures a closed position of the locking mechanism, where a circumferential design of the locking ring (8) is the same asthe circumferential design of the base plate (6),- a cover plate (11 ) arranged over the locking ring (8) and attached to the base plate (6), where the circumferential design of the cover plate (11 ) is identical with the circumferential design of the base plate (6),- at least two rotatable code discs (17) arranged in a space between the base plate (6) and the locking ring (8), where a rotational axis of a code disc (17) is rotatably mounted in holes of the base plate (6) and the cover plate (11 ), said holes coincide in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the base plate (6), the locking mechanism is also characterized in that- each code disc (17) is designed with a toothing (18) running around its circumference,- each code disc (17) has a radial, curved channel (19),- each code disc (17) is provided with code elements on its side that is visible through a window (31 ) formed in the case (2) back (1 ) of the watch, where the number of the code elements is identical with the number of teeth of the toothing (18) running around the circumference of the code disc (17), and a pointer (30) is assigned to the window (31 ) on the case (2) back (1 ) of the watch, or- each code disc (17) is provided with a rotation angle position indicator on itsside that is visible through a windows (31 ) formed in the case (2) back (1 ) of the watch, and code elements (32) surrounding the window (31 ) are formed on the case (2) back (1 ) of the watch, where the numberof the code elements (32) is identical with the number of teeth of the toothing (18) running around the circumference of the code disc (17), further- the locking ring (8) has spokes (20), the number of spokes (20) is the same as the number of code discs (17), the spokes (20) run corresponding to the arrangement of the code discs (17), the spokes (20) have locking pins (22), said locking pins (22) are arranged to coincide with channels (19) of the code discs (17) and the locking pins (22) are formed to be freely movable in the channels (19) of the code discs (17), where the locking pins (22) are positioned outside the channels (19) of the code discs (17) in the closed position of the locking mechanism, and are positioned in the channels (19) of the code discs (17) in the open position of the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism further comprises- fixing elements for fixing the set angular positions of the code discs (17) in relation to the base plate (6),- a setting mechanism , which is associated with each code disc (17) and, when operated, rotates the code disc (17) via the toothing (18) of the code disc (17) by a predetermined rate corresponding to one or more teeth, where the setting mechanism is mounted in the watch case (2) accommodating the lock mechanism in such a way that its linkagescan be moved along a line tangential to the associated code disc (17) to its initial position in a resilient manner,- a shaped code disc (17) operating element formed in the locking ring (8), said operating element can be operated from the outside through the case (2) back (1 ) of the watch,- a circumferential groove, which is formed in the watch case (2) in the same plane as the plane of the rotatable locking ring (8) of the inserted locking mechanism, the depth of the circumferential groove ischosen so that the locking mechanism in the closed position receivesthe peripheral protrusions (10) of the locking ring (8).

2. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is integrated with the case (2) back (1 ).

3. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises four code discs (17).

4. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing elements fixing the adjusted angular position of the code discs (17) relative to the base plate (6) comprise locking elements (29) fixed on the base plate (6) and cooperating with the toothing (18) of the code discs (17).

5. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing elements fixing the adjusted angular position of the code discs (17) relative to the base plate (6) comprise braking elements formed on the base plate (6) and connected to the code discs (17) in a way that prevents the movement of the code discs (17) by friction.

6. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the same number of code elements (32) as the number of teeth of the toothing (18) and running around the circumference of the code discs (17) are formed on code sheets (33) attached to the code discs (17).

7. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in case of a circular watch, the base plate (6) comprises at least two circumferential recesses (4) and the watch case (2) comprises at least two circumferential protrusions (5), preferably the base plate (6) comprises four circumferential recesses (4) and the watch case (2) comprises four circumferential protrusions (5), where the circumferential recesses (4) of the base plate (6) are of a complementary design with the circumferential protrusions (5) formed inside the watch case (2).

8. The watch case (2) back (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the toothing(18) of the code disc (17) comprises thirty teeth determining thirty angular position of the code disc (17).

Images