Watch and method for fastening the dial of the watch

Abstract

The watch comprises a case (1), a bezel (2), and a dial (3), the bezel being attached to the case by fastening means, for example, by screws. The dial (3) is held along its periphery between the case and the bezel. In addition, an axial damping element (4) made of flexible material is disposed and partially compressed between the dial (3) and the bezel (2). The damping element may be in the form of a toroidal ring, installed between a peripheral stop (13) on the inner wall of the bezel (2) and a peripheral portion (15) on the front face of the dial. The axial damping element (4) reduces the effect of frontal impacts on the watch, thus decreasing the risk of cracks or other damage to the dial. The fact that the dial (3) is held between the bezel and the case makes it possible to integrate the dial fastening into the watch assembly process.

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking. The invention relates in particular to means for attaching the dial of a watch. Technological background

[0002] In the watchmaking industry, dials are often secured using locking or key-operated systems that attach the dial to the movement's mainplate. The rigidity of these fastening systems makes the dial susceptible to damage from impacts. Virtually all the energy, particularly from frontal impacts, is transmitted to the dial, which can cause it to crack.

[0003] It would therefore be desirable to have a solution that better protects the dial from shocks to the watch. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to provide a solution to the problems described above. This objective is achieved by a watch and by the assembly methods according to the attached claims.

[0005] A watch according to the invention comprises a case, a bezel, and a dial, the bezel being attached to the case by fastening means, for example, by screws. The dial is held along its periphery between the case and the bezel. In addition, an axial damping element made of flexible material is disposed and partially compressed between the dial and the bezel. The damping element may take the form of a toroidal ring, installed between a peripheral stop on the inner wall of the bezel and a peripheral portion of the front face of the dial. The axial damping element reduces the effect of frontal shocks on the watch, thus decreasing the risk of cracks or other damage to the dial. The fact that the dial is held between the bezel and the case makes it possible to integrate the dial fastening into the watch assembly process.

[0006] Depending on specific execution forms, the watch also includes lateral damping elements to protect the dial from lateral shocks to the watch. Brief description of the figures

[0007] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which: there figure 1 represents an exploded view of a number of components of a watch according to one embodiment of the invention, the figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of all the components of the figure 1 after the assembly of said components, the figure 3 is a detail of the cross-sectional view shown in the figure 2 To illustrate the position of the axial damping element, the figures 4a and 4brepresent bottom views of the entire dial and bezel according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising auxiliary elements for orienting the dial relative to the bezel, the figure 5 represents a detail of an execution form comprising lateral damping elements. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] There figure 1 represents the components which contribute to the characteristic aspects of an embodiment of the invention, in particular the case 1 of the watch, the bezel 2 and the dial 3, as well as the axial damping element 4 disposed between the bezel and the dial.

[0009] There figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly obtained by combining components 1 to 4. At the figure 1As shown in the diagram, the bezel 2 has feet 5 on its rear face. These feet 5 are positioned in corresponding holes 6 that pass through the case 1. The feet 5, for example, have threaded holes that allow the bezel 2 to be screwed against the front face of the case 1.

[0010] There figure 2 and the detail shown in the figure 3demonstrate that the dial 3 is held, along its periphery, between the case 1 and the bezel 2. In the form shown, the dial 3 comprises a flat rear face 10 which abuts against the front face 11 of the case 1. The inner wall 12 of the bezel 2 is provided with a peripheral stop 13 which is visible and accessible (when looking at the bezel without the other components) from the rear face 14 of the bezel 2. The axial damping element takes the form of a toroidal 'O' ring 4 disposed between the stop 13 of the bezel 2 and a peripheral portion 15 of the front face of the dial 3. According to the embodiment shown, the peripheral portion 15 takes the form of a narrow area which is parallel to the rear face 10 of the dial, while the remainder 16 of the front face of the dial is slightly concave.The dial section can nevertheless have other shapes provided that these shapes allow the introduction of a damping element between the dial and the bezel.

[0011] The dimensions of the described components are designed such that the axial damping element 4 is partially compressed between the bezel 2 and the dial 3 when the bezel 2 is attached to the case 1. Partial compression is defined in this description as compression that maintains the damping element in a flexible state, allowing it to absorb frontal shocks while keeping the dial on the case. The degree of compression depends on the dimensions of the components and the choice of material for the damping element. An example of a material usable within the scope of the invention is Hytrel® 7246 from the manufacturer Celanese.

[0012] Thanks to the elasticity of the damping element 4, the risk of cracks in the dial due to frontal impacts on the watch is reduced.

[0013] According to embodiments of the invention, auxiliary elements are provided for orienting the dial. In the embodiment shown in the figure 1 These elements include two pins 20 fixed to the front face of the case 1 as well as two blind holes (not visible to the figure 1 ) on the rear face of the dial 3, configured to receive the pins 20 in their respective holes. Preferably, one of the blind holes is circular (in cross-section) and configured to receive one of the pins with essentially no play between the pin and the inner wall of the hole, while the other hole is oblong. This configuration allows for slight adjustment of the dial's orientation and ensures that the dial is fixed without introducing stresses that could damage it.

[0014] Other auxiliary elements for orienting the dial are possible without going beyond the scope of the invention. Instead of orienting the dial relative to the case, auxiliary elements could, for example, be used to orient the dial relative to the bezel. This could be achieved as shown in the diagram. figures 4a and 4b . Two radial notches 25 are machined in the inner wall 12 of the bezel 2. The dial 3 is provided with radial pins 26 fixed to or integral with the dial, which fit into the notches 25 to obtain the correct orientation.

[0015] The number of auxiliary elements for the orientation of the dial is preferably two, for example two axial pins 20 or two radial pins 26, but it is not excluded from the scope of the invention to have more than two auxiliary elements for the orientation of the dial.

[0016] Assembling components 1 to 4 to obtain the assembly shown in the figure 2 This can be achieved by following these steps: Place the case 1 on a support surface, preferably horizontal. The watch movement (not shown in the figures) can already be mounted in the case at this point. Next, place the dial 3 on the case and orient the dial relative to the case. According to the embodiment illustrated in the figure 1 The correct orientation is obtained by positioning the dial 3 so that the pins 20 fit into the blind holes provided on the back face of the dial. Then, place the bezel 2 on the dial 3, with the axial damping element positioned between the two. For the embodiment shown in figures 1-3For example, the toroidal ring 4 can be placed in contact with the stop 13 of the bezel. The outer diameter of the ring 4 is preferably chosen to be slightly larger than the diameter of the inner wall 12 of the bezel. This allows the bezel to be handled with the ring installed, and the entire bezel and ring assembly to be placed on the dial 3. Then, the bezel 2 is fixed to the case 1 using the feet 5 and the holes 6, thus partially compressing the damping element 4 and securing the dial 3.

[0017] If auxiliary elements are applied to orient the dial relative to the bezel, such as the pins 26 and radial notches 25 shown in figures 4a and 4b, first the bezel and the dial must be assembled using these auxiliary elements 25,26 for the orientation of the dial, and with the damping element installed between the dial and the bezel, and then this assembly must be placed on the case, for fixing the bezel to said case.

[0018] Attaching the dial and fitting and securing the bezel are part of the watch assembly process. Because the dial is held between the bezel and the case by the axial damping element, its attachment is integrated into the assembly process. This method requires fewer steps and fewer components than traditional key- or lock-type dial attachment systems.

[0019] Depending on the embodiment, lateral damping is provided in addition to axial damping. A non-exhaustive method of implementing these embodiments is illustrated in the figure 5, which shows a cross-sectional view of one of the orienting pins 20 fixed to the case 1 and inserted into one of the blind holes 21 of the dial 3. A peripheral groove 30 is provided in the lateral wall of the pin 20 and a toroidal ring 31 made of flexible material is installed in the groove 30. The dimensions of the components shown and of the hole 21 are designed so that the toroidal ring 31 is partially compressed between the bottom of the groove 30 and the wall of the blind hole 21. This arrangement, applied to each of the orienting pins 20, makes it possible to dampen the effect of lateral shocks to the watch.

[0020] In the execution form shown in the figure 5 By applying two blind holes 21 and two orienting pins 20, the two blind holes 21 are preferably circular (section view). The lateral damping elements 31 will automatically center the pins 20 in the holes 21 without risk of stress.

Claims

1. A watch comprising a watch case (1), a bezel (2) attached to the case and a dial (3), the bezel as well as the dial and the case having a front face and a back face, characterized in that - the dial (3) is held along its periphery between the case (1) and the bezel (2), - an axial damping element (4) made of a flexible material is disposed between the dial (3) and the bezel (2), the damping element being partially compressed between the dial and the bezel.

2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein the axial damping element (4) is a toroidal ring disposed along the periphery of the dial (3).

3. A watch according to claim 1 or 2, in which the bezel (2) is attached to the case (1) by screwing.

4. A watch according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: - the bezel (2) comprises an inner wall (12) provided with a peripheral stop (13), - the axial damping element (4) is held and partially compressed between said stop (13) and a peripheral portion (15) of the front face of the dial (3).

5. A watch according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising auxiliary elements for achieving the orientation of the dial (3) with respect to the case (1) or with respect to the bezel (2).

6. A watch according to claim 5, comprising auxiliary elements for achieving the orientation of the dial (3) relative to the case (1), said auxiliary elements comprising at least two pins (20) fixed on the front face (11) of the case (1), the pins being inserted into respective blind holes (21) provided in the rear face (10) of the dial (3).

7. A watch according to claim 5, comprising auxiliary elements for achieving the orientation of the dial (3) relative to the bezel (2), said auxiliary elements comprising at least two radial pins (26) fixed on or integral with the dial (3) and notches (25) in the inner wall (12) of the bezel (2), the radial pins (26) being inserted into the respective notches (25).

8. A watch according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more lateral damping elements (31) arranged between the case (1) and the dial (3).

9. A watch according to claim 8, in which: - the case (1) is provided with at least two orienting pins (20) fixed on the front face (11) of the case, the orienting pins (20) being inserted into respective blind holes (21) provided in the rear face (10) of the dial (3), - each of the orienting pins (20) is provided with a peripheral groove (30), - a lateral damping element (31) is disposed in each of the grooves (30), the lateral damping element being partially compressed between the bottom of the groove and the inner wall of the blind holes (21).

10. A watch according to claim 9, in which the blind holes (21) have a circular section in a plane perpendicular to the orienting pins (20).

11. A method for assembling the case (1), the bezel (2) and the dial (3) of a watch according to claim 6, the method comprising the following steps: - placing the case (1) on a support surface, preferably horizontal, - then, placing the dial (3) on the case and orienting the dial relative to the case by inserting the pins (20) on the front face of the case into the blind holes (21) in the rear face of the dial, - then, placing the bezel (2) on the dial (3), with the axial damping element (4) disposed between the two, - then, fixing the bezel (2) to the case (1), thus performing the partial compression of the damping element (4).

12. A method for assembling the case (1), the bezel (2) and the dial (3) of a watch according to claim 7, the method comprising the following steps: - placing the case (1) on a support surface, preferably horizontal, - orienting the dial (3) relative to the bezel (2), with the axial damping element (4) disposed between the two, by inserting the radial pins (26) of the dial into the notches (25) of the bezel, - then, placing the bezel (2) and the dial (3) assembly onto the case (1), - then, fixing the bezel (2) to the case (1), thereby partially compressing the damping element (4).

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