Musical or striking watch

Abstract

The invention relates to a musical or chiming watch (100), comprising a watch case consisting of at least a bezel (1), a case middle (2), a back (3), a dial (4) and a crystal (5), the crystal (5) being integral with the bezel (1), the crystal (5) and the dial (4) defining an internal chamber (8) of an initial volume (V), a movement (6) and a chiming mechanism (7), characterized in that the bezel (1) is telescopic and moves between a closed position in which the crystal (5) is in a first plane (P1) parallel to the plane (Pc) of the dial, to a second position in which the crystal (5) is in a second plane (P2) distant from the first plane (P1) and parallel to the plane (Pc) of the dial so as to increase the initial volume (V) of the internal chamber (8).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of mechanical watchmaking. More particularly, it concerns a musical or chiming watch equipped with a special arrangement for acoustic radiation. Technological background

[0002] A watch may contain a striking mechanism to generate a sound or music. For this purpose, the chime of a chiming watch or the keyboard of a musical watch is generally housed within the watch case. The vibrations of the chime or the keyboard are then transmitted to various components. These components include, for example, the case middle, the bezel, the crystal, and the case back. These larger components then radiate sound into the air as a result of the transmitted vibrations. When a sound is produced either by one or more chimes struck by a hammer, or by one or more vibrating keyboard keys, these components are able to radiate the sound into the air.

[0003] A membrane can be placed inside the watch case and configured to improve the acoustic level of the generated sound or music. Other watch components can also be adapted for optimal sound reproduction, particularly at low frequencies. However, it is difficult to optimize the acoustic performance of the watch case back, which often remains a virtually acoustically inactive component.

[0004] Another drawback is that when the watch is worn on the wrist, the vibration of the underside of the case back is dampened by the contact with the wrist. In this case, one solution for creating sound or music emanating from the case back is to use side vents. However, the sound emanating from these vents remains weak because several parts surrounding them are rigid. Furthermore, if the case back has a crystal for viewing the movement from below, dirt can enter through the vents and accumulate inside the watch. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by providing a musical or chiming watch, which is equipped with a telescopic bezel to improve the acoustic level on the dial side of the watch.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a musical or chiming watch, comprising a watch case consisting of at least a case body, a back, a dial, a bezel and a crystal, the crystal being integral with the bezel, the crystal and the dial defining an internal chamber of an initial volume, a movement and a chiming mechanism, characterized in that the bezel is telescopic and moves between a closed position in which the crystal is in a first plane parallel to the plane of the dial, to a second position in which the crystal is in a second plane distant from the first plane and parallel to the plane of the dial so as to increase the initial volume of the internal chamber.

[0007] In accordance with other advantageous variants of the invention: The bezel comprises an upper portion arranged to receive the crystal and a lower portion connected to the case, the lower and upper portions being delimited by a flange to which the crystal is fixed; the bezel comprises at least one through-hole to connect the internal chamber with the exterior of the watch case and to diffuse the chime or music; at least one hole is located on the lower portion of the bezel; the lower portion of the bezel comprises at least one guide groove for moving the bezel from the closed position to the deployed position and vice versa; the case comprises an annular groove to receive the lower portion of the bezel and to close at least one hole when the bezel is in the closed position; the annular groove comprises projecting pins arranged to cooperate with at least one guide groove;The case includes a sealing gasket suitable for cooperating with the bezel when the bezel is in the closed position; at least one through-hole has a micro-perforated film to prevent the entry of dust or impurities; the micro-perforated film is made of paper, textile, metallic material or composite material; the dial forms an acoustic membrane; the telescopic bezel is mounted on the back of the watch. Brief description of the figures

[0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 represents an exploded perspective view of a watch according to the invention; the figure 2a represents a perspective view of a bezel equipping a watch according to the invention; the figure 2b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the telescope of the figure 2a ; THE figures 3a and 3b illustrate cross-sectional views of a watch according to the invention, the bezel being respectively in the closed position and in the deployed position. Detailed description of the invention

[0009] There figure 1 illustrates a watch according to the invention comprising a watch case consisting of at least a bezel 1, a case middle 2, a case back 3, a dial 4 and a crystal 5. The watch case also includes a watch movement 6 associated with a striking mechanism 7.

[0010] The clock movement and the striking mechanism are known in themselves and are schematically represented. The striking mechanism is designed to vibrate at least one gong or at least one blade, for example once or several times at regular intervals, every hour, or following manual activation, or at an adjustable time during the day, in the case of an alarm clock.

[0011] As can be seen in figures 3a and 3b, the watch case includes an internal chamber 8 delimited by the dial 4 and the crystal 5, the internal chamber 8 forming an acoustic cavity of an initial volume V.

[0012] The dial divides the watch case into two superimposed spaces, which are a closed housing 8 receiving the movement and striking mechanism, and the internal chamber 80 forming the acoustic cavity.

[0013] In the illustrated embodiment, the dial constitutes an acoustic membrane, the dial extending in a plane Pc.

[0014] According to the invention, the scope 1 is mounted telescopically on the case and can move between a closed position and a deployed position to increase the initial volume V of the internal chamber.

[0015] As can be seen in figures 2a and 2bThe bezel 1 comprises an upper portion 10 arranged to receive the crystal 5 and a lower portion 11 connected to the case 2. The lower portion 11 and the upper portion 10 are delimited by a flange 12 on which the crystal 5 rests. The crystal lies in a first plane P1 parallel to the plane Pc of the dial. As illustrated in the figures, plane P1 is the plane formed by the upper edge of the flange on which the crystal 5 rests.

[0016] As seen on the figure 1 , the lower portion 11 of the bezel is arranged to rest in an annular groove 20 of the case 2, and cooperate with the case 2 to move from the closed position to the deployed position.

[0017] The lower portion 11 includes a shoulder designed to rest against the case 2 when the bezel is in the closed position. The shoulder also has a groove designed to receive a sealing gasket 18 so that the watch is watertight when the bezel is closed, the gasket 18 being pressed against the case 2. The gasket 18 can also be mounted inside the case 2.

[0018] The lower portion 11 also includes at least one guide groove 14, and preferably at least two guide grooves 14 to limit play once the scope 1 is assembled on the case 2. The at least one guide groove 14 allows the scope to be guided from the closed position to the deployed position, the guide groove 14 comprising two straight portions 140, 141 parallel to each other and connected by a ramp 142.

[0019] The parallel straight portions 140, 141 of the groove 14 define the closed and deployed positions of the scope 1, and the ramp 142 allows the transition between the two positions.

[0020] At least one groove 14 is arranged to cooperate with at least one pin 21 mounted projecting into the annular groove 20, the pin being fixed and the groove movable relative to the pin / frame. As can be seen in the figure 1 , at least one pin can be mounted from the outside of the case 2 to facilitate the mounting of the scope 1. It can also be provided that at least one pin can be mounted from the inside of the case.

[0021] According to an embodiment not illustrated in the figures, each flat portion 140, 141 has a bump near its distal end so as to form a hard point when the pin 21 passes through the groove 14 and thus ensure the locking of the closed or deployed position of the scope 1.

[0022] Moving the bezel 1 from the closed to the deployed position increases the distance between the dial 3 and the crystal 5, as the bezel and crystal move relative to the dial 3. As can be observed in figures 3a and 3b , in closed position the plane of the dial Pc and the first plane P1 of the glass are separated by a distance h1, and in deployed position the plane of the dial Pc and the second plane P2 of the glass are separated by a distance h2, the distance h2 being greater than the distance h1.

[0023] It is therefore understood that such an arrangement of the scope 1 on the case 2 allows the initial volume V of the internal chamber 8 to be varied. In this case, the volume of the internal chamber 8 is increased when the scope 1 is in the deployed position.

[0024] As can be seen in the figures, the bezel 1 includes at least one through orifice 13 to connect the internal chamber 8 with the outside of the watch case and to diffuse the chime or music, the at least one orifice 13 being located on the lower portion 11 of the bezel 1. The combination of the increased volume of the internal chamber 8 and the at least one orifice 13 thus makes it possible to amplify and diffuse the sound of the chime or music outside the watch.

[0025] It will be noted that when the telescope is in the closed position, the lower portion 11 of the telescope rests in the annular groove 20, which allows at least one orifice 13 to be closed.

[0026] The lower portion 11 may include one or more openings 13, the opening(s) 13 being able to take different shapes and orientations. As illustrated in the figures, the through-holes 13 have an oblong shape and are inclined towards the case. One could also imagine through-holes of rectangular shape, the openings extending in a plane parallel to the plane PC of the dial and the plane P1 of the crystal.

[0027] Advantageously, at least one through-hole 13 has a micro-perforated film to prevent dust or impurities from entering the watch. This micro-perforated film can, for example, be made of paper, textile, metallic material, or composite material.

[0028] Such an arrangement of the watch, and in particular of the bezel, is particularly advantageous because the wearer can easily change the position of the bezel to improve the acoustic level on the dial side of the watch.

[0029] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the telescopic sight is mounted on the bottom side of the box in an arrangement identical to the sight mounted on the front side of the box.

[0030] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example and is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Musical or chiming watch (100), comprising a watch case consisting of at least a bezel (1), a case middle (2), a back (3), a dial (4) and a crystal (5), the crystal (5) being integral with the bezel (1), the crystal (5) and the dial (4) defining an internal chamber (8) of an initial volume (V), a movement (6) and a chiming mechanism (7), characterized in that the bezel (1) is telescopic and moves between a closed position in which the glass (5) is in a first plane (P1) parallel to the plane (Pc) of the dial, to a second position in which the glass (5) is in a second plane (P2) distant from the first plane (P1) and parallel to the plane (Pc) of the dial so as to increase the initial volume (V) of the internal chamber (8).

2. Watch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe bezel (1) includes an upper portion (10) arranged to receive the crystal (5) and a lower portion (11) in connection with the case (2), the lower (11) and upper (10) portions being delimited by a rehaut (12) on which the crystal (5) is fixed.

3. Watch (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bezel (1) includes at least one through orifice (13) to connect the internal chamber (8) with the outside of the watch case and to diffuse the chime or music.

4. Watch (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one orifice (13) is located on the lower portion (11) of the telescope.

5. Watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower portion (11) of the scope includes at least one guide groove (14) for moving the scope (1) from the closed position to the deployed position and vice versa.

6. Watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the case (2) includes an annular groove (20) to receive the lower portion (11) of the scope and to close at least one orifice when the scope (1) is in the closed position.

7. Watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the annular groove (20) includes projecting pins (21) arranged to cooperate with at least one guide groove (14).

8. Watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bezel (1) includes a sealing gasket (18) suitable for cooperating with the case (2) when the bezel (1) is in the closed position.

9. Watch (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the case (2) includes a sealing gasket (18) suitable for cooperating with the bezel (1) when the bezel (1) is in the closed position.

10. Watch according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in thatat least one through orifice (13) has a micro-perforated film to prevent the entry of dust or impurities.

11. Watch according to claim 9, characterized in that The micro-perforated film is made of paper, textile, metallic material or composite material.

12. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dial (4) forms an acoustic membrane.

13. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The telescopic bezel (1) is mounted on the back side of the watch.

Images