Assembly formed by a dial and a clock movement

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a dial (1), a support (2; 2') intended to equip a clock movement, one of the two comprising at least one foot (11) and the other at least one corresponding housing (21; 21') arranged to receive a respective foot (11) and elastic locking means (3).The assembly is arranged so that a sufficient rotation or translation of the dial (1) relative to the support (2) in a first direction causes, on the one hand, the displacement of the or each foot (11) in its respective housing (21; 21') from a first position where said foot is free in translation relative to its longitudinal axis to a second position in which it is retained in its housing (21; 21') in the direction of its longitudinal axis and, on the other hand, the actuation of the locking means (3) to lock at least one foot in its second position, a sufficient torque applied to the dial (1) and / or the support (2) being necessary to move the dial (1) relative to the support (2) in a second direction opposite to the first and to disengage the locking means (3) to return the or each foot (11) to its first position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly consisting of a dial and a clockwork movement.

[0002] Dial locking systems on a movement generally require access to the movement's periphery. Document CH 698 601 describes a dial with a peripheral skirt or collar that fits precisely onto the outer part of the movement. Elastic locking elements cooperate with the collar to hold the dial securely attached to the movement.

[0003] Document CH 717 686 describes a dial with at least two feet arranged to cooperate with respective housings of the movement. The first foot-housing pair forms a bayonet locking system, while the second foot-housing pair forms a latch locking system. This latch locking system therefore includes a locking mechanism—a latch—operated from the periphery of the movement and movable by a user to a position in which it locks the foot into its housing.

[0004] In some cases, depending on the configuration of the watch movement, its periphery or surroundings are only slightly or not at all accessible, and it is also not possible to access the feet, position locking mechanisms, or operate locking mechanisms.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a dial and watch movement assembly that allows the dial to be mounted blindly, that is, without access from the periphery or edge of the dial. Another aim of the present invention is to provide a dial locking device for a watch movement that is easy to implement and offers precise dial positioning and secure locking.

[0006] The present invention relates to a clock dial and movement assembly according to claim 1 and to a clock part comprising said assembly.

[0007] The attached figures schematically illustrate, by way of example, two embodiments of a clock dial and movement assembly according to the invention. There figure 1 illustrates the dial of the assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, viewed from below. figure 2 illustrates the part of the watch movement that serves as a support for the dial of the figure 1 Top view. The figure 3 illustrates the support of the figure 2 with elastic locking mechanisms. The figure 4 illustrates an elastic locking mechanism for the assembly of figures 1 à 7c . THE figures 5a And 5b illustrate the elastic locking mechanism in its open position ( figure 5a ) and closed, retaining one foot of the dial ( figure 5b ). THE figures 6a And 6b These are cross-sectional views without the dial of a foot in the open position, respectively locked in its housing of the support comprising an elastic locking mechanism. figures 7a à 7c illustrate the different geometries of the three housings of the support of the figure 3 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The figure 8 illustrates the support for a second embodiment of the invention.

[0008] In the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 1 à 7c The dial 1 of the assembly according to the invention comprises three feet 11, 12, 13 placed under said dial 1. The clock movement comprises a support 2 fixed by any means on said movement and comprising three housings 21, 22, 23 each intended to receive one of the feet 11, 12, 13 of the corresponding dial 1.

[0009] Each foot 11, 12, 13 comprises a body 111, 121, 131 extending perpendicularly to the dial 1 and its end a head 112, 122, 132. The feet 11, 12, 13 may be made from a single piece and / or from a single piece with the dial or be made up of several elements attached to each other and / or attached to the dial or a combination of the two options.

[0010] The three housings 21, 22, 23 have a first portion 211, 221, 231 configured to allow the passage of the head 112, 122, 132 of the feet 11, 12, 13, and a second portion 212, 222, 232 configured to allow the passage of the body 111, 121, 131 of the feet 11, 12, 13, but not the head 112, 122, 132. In particular, the housings 21, 22, 23 and the feet 11, 12, 13 are configured so that each foot 11, 12, 13 can be inserted into the first portion 211, 221, 223 of a corresponding housing 21, 22, 23, and that once in the housing, a rotation of the dial 1 in a first direction relative to the support 2 slides each foot 11, 12, 13 into the second portion 212, 222, 232 of its respective housing 21, 22, 23 in a position in which the foot 11, 12, 13 is then held in the housing 22, 22, 23 by its head 112, 122, 132 against the second portion 212, 222, 232.The combination of the feet of dial 1 and the housings of support 2 thus forms a bayonet assembly system.

[0011] The housings are arranged on a circle that determines the rotation required for the dial to lock the feet into the second portions of the housings on the support. Preferably, this circle formed by the housings is concentric with the support 2 and / or the clock movement.

[0012] To lock the feet 11, 12, 13 in their housings 21, 22, 23 and thus secure the dial 1 to the support 2 and therefore to the clock movement, the assembly according to the invention further comprises at least one locking member. Preferably, and as illustrated in the first embodiment, there are as many locking members as there are housings. Each locking member 3 is preferably identical and is designed to fit into a groove 213, 223, 233 of the corresponding housing 21, 22, 23 of the support 2. The locking member 3 may be integral with the housing, simply placed within it, or fixed or retained by any suitable means. The locking member 3 could, for example, include elastic means ensuring its retention in a housing 21, 22, 23.

[0013] The locking member 3 comprises a first portion 31 configured to allow the passage of the head 112, 122, 132 of the feet 11, 12, 13 and a second portion 32 configured to allow the passage of the body 111, 121, 131 of the feet 11, 12, 13 but not the head 112, 122, 132. Once in position in a housing 21, 22, 23, the first portion 31 of the locking member 3 is superimposed on the first portion 211, 221, 231 of said housing 21, 22, 23, and the second portion 32 of the locking member 3 is superimposed on the second portion 212, 222, 232 of said housing 21, 22, 23. The locking member 3 further comprises at least one but preferably two elastic arms 33 arranged to maintain a foot 11, 12, 13 in its locked position in the second portion 212, 222, 232 of its respective housing 21, 22, 23. In particular, when a foot 11, 12, 13 is inserted into the first portion 211, 221, 223 of a corresponding housing 21, 22, 23 ( figure 6a ) and that the dial 1 is rotated in a first direction relative to the support 2 and relative to the center of the circle formed by the housings, said foot 11, 12, 13 slides and deforms the elastic arms 33 ( figure 5a ) before joining the second portion 212, 222, 232 of its respective housing 21, 22, 23. Once in this second portion 212, 222, 232, the elastic arms 33 resume a position in which they hold the body of the foot 11, 12, 13 in the second portion 212, 222, 232 ( figures 5b And 6b ). Dial 1 is thus locked onto support 2.

[0014] To unlock and remove the dial 1 from the support 2, it is necessary to rotate said dial 1 in a second direction opposite to the first with respect to the support 2 by applying a torque sufficient to overcome the elastic force exerted by the elastic arms 33 on the body 111, 121, 131 of the feet 11, 12, 13 so as to slide said feet 11, 12, 13 in the first portion 211, 221, 231 of their respective housing 21, 22, 23 in order to then be able to lift the dial 1 and move it away from the support 2.

[0015] According to the invention, at least two housings 21, 23 have specific geometries, one ensuring the centering of the dial 1 on the support 2 and the other ensuring the alignment of the dial 1 on the support 2. These two housings 21, 23 are preferably essentially diametrically opposed and oriented in the same direction on the circle they describe (i.e., their first portions 211, 231 do not follow each other directly along this circle). Indeed, the further apart the first portions 211, 231 are, the better the positioning accuracy. Furthermore, it should be noted that if the two housings 21, 23 are oriented in the same direction, a rotation is required to mount / dismount the dial, whereas if the housings 21, 23 are not oriented in the same direction, then a translation is required to mount / dismount the dial.

[0016] The second portion 212 of the alignment housing 21 has a right side 213 against which the body 111 of a foot 11 rests when the dial 1 is locked onto the support 2 ( figure 7b ). This support ensures the correct alignment of dial 1 on support 2 with respect to a first predefined axis.

[0017] The second portion 232 of the centering housing 23 ( figure 7c ) has a cutout 233 in the shape of a V in which the body 113 of a foot 13 rests when the dial 1 is locked onto the support 2. This support ensures the centering of the dial 1 on the support 2 or the alignment of the dial 1 on the support 2 with respect to a second axis perpendicular to the first.

[0018] Additional accommodation 22 ( figure 7a This feature is not essential, but in the first illustrated embodiment, it secures the dial 1 during a linear impact when said dial 1 is locked onto the support 2. Indeed, if, during a linear impact, the dial 1 is rotated in the second direction around the foot 13 locked in the centering housing 23, the locking member 3 of the alignment housing 21 could be stressed and risk releasing the foot 11 that it holds, and vice versa. For safety, the third housing 22 and the associated foot 11 of the dial 1 are arranged to prevent this rotation. Thus, the only way to unlock the dial 1 from the support 2 is to rotate it in the second direction relative to the center of the support 2 or to the center of the circle formed by the three housings 21, 22, and 23.Therefore, with the center of gravity of dial 1 as close as possible to support 2 and with the arrangement of housings 21, 22, 23, the linear shock required to unlock dial 1 should be very significant. The assembly is thus secure.

[0019] The above execution form has been described as an example.

[0020] Alternatively, there could be only two feet and two associated housings, the two housings preferably being essentially diametrically opposed. When the two housings are oriented in the same direction on the circle they describe, rotation is required for assembly / disassembly and the system is sensitive to angular shocks, whereas when the two housings are oriented in opposite directions, translation is required for assembly / disassembly and the assembly is sensitive to linear shocks.

[0021] Alternatively, a single locking device can also be provided in one of the housings.

[0022] In the execution form of the figure 8The dial comprises a single foot similar to foot 11 of the first embodiment and a pin (i.e., a simple headless rod). The pin is designed to fit into a corresponding hole 4 in the support 2', while the foot is designed to be received in a recess 21' of said support similar to recesses 21, 22, and 23 described in the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, a locking member similar to that described above is housed in a groove of the recess 21' and has the same characteristics and functions as before. In this second embodiment, during assembly, the pin is inserted into its hole 5 in the support 2' and the foot into the first portion 211' of its recess 21'.The dial must then be rotated with the pin as its center of rotation, until the foot 21' is positioned in the second portion 212' of its housing 21', and the locking mechanism that holds the foot in this position is actuated. In this configuration, the assembly is sensitive to linear and angular shocks.

[0023] The locking member can have any suitable shape, such as a circlip or other, and can be integral with the support or attached to the housing. Alternatively, the locking member can be offset and comprise several parts on either the dial or the support; that is, a first part is provided on the support 2, 2' elsewhere than in a housing and arranged to cooperate with a second part provided on the dial (a pin, for example).

[0024] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to feet and housings arranged on the periphery of the dial and the support.

[0025] Preferably, the dial 1 is arranged to cover the entire support 2 and the clockwork movement that carries said support. Alternatively, the dial could only partially cover said support and / or said movement, either due to its shape or its arrangement on said movement.

[0026] Alternatively, the position of one or more housings and / or feet could be adjustable on the dial or support / movement by means of fine adjustment such as an eccentric.

[0027] Finally, it goes without saying that the feet could be on the support or the movement and that the corresponding housings could be on the dial.

[0028] In general, the present invention relates to an assembly comprising a dial and a support intended to be part of a timepiece, one of the two comprising at least one foot and the other at least one corresponding housing arranged to receive said foot and elastic locking means.The assembly is arranged so that a rotation or translation of the dial relative to the support in a first direction causes, on the one hand, the movement of the or each foot in its housing from a first position where it is free in translation relative to its longitudinal axis to a second position in which it is retained in its housing in the direction of its longitudinal axis and on the other hand, the actuation of the locking means to lock the or each foot in its second position, a sufficient torque applied to the dial and / or the support being necessary to move (rotation or translation) the dial relative to the support in a second direction opposite to the first and disengage the locking means to return the or each foot to its first position.

[0029] Preferably, the locking means are entirely housed within at least one compartment. Preferably, each compartment includes locking means.

[0030] Preferably, the assembly includes at least two feet and at least two housings. One of the housings is arranged to ensure the centering of the dial on the movement along a first axis, while the second housing is arranged to ensure the alignment of the dial on the movement with respect to a second axis.

[0031] Alternatively, the assembly preferably includes a third housing and a third foot, the third housing being arranged on the circle formed by the first two housings and shaped to prevent a shock which would rotate the dial in the second direction relative to one of the other feet from causing the feet to move into their first position against the action of the locking means.

[0032] This creates a dial / support assembly in which the dial can be easily and securely attached to the support, even when the lateral periphery of the support or the watch movement is inaccessible. According to the invention, the dial can therefore be mounted blindly using a suitable tool that allows manipulation of the dial (rotation / translation relative to the support / movement) without damaging it.

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a dial (1), a support (2; 2') intended to equip a clock movement, one of the two comprising at least one foot (11) and the other at least one corresponding housing (21; 21') arranged to receive a respective foot (11) and elastic locking means (3), characterized by the fact thatThe assembly is arranged so that a sufficient rotation or translation of the dial (1) relative to the support (2) in a first direction causes, on the one hand, the displacement of the or each foot (11) in its respective housing (21; 21') from a first position where said foot is free in translation relative to its longitudinal axis to a second position in which it is retained in its housing (21; 21') in the direction of its longitudinal axis and, on the other hand, the actuation of the locking means (3) to lock at least one foot in its second position, a sufficient torque applied to the dial (1) and / or the support (2) being necessary to move the dial (1) relative to the support (2) in a second direction opposite to the first and to disengage the locking means (3) to return the or each foot (11) to its first position.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe locking means include at least one elastic clip (3) arranged in at least one of the housings.

3. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the locking means include an elastic locking member carried by one of the dial or support and a pin carried by the other of the dial or support and intended to be received and retained in said elastic locking member.

4. Together according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it includes at least two feet arranged to be received in at least two corresponding housings, said housings and said feet being arranged on a circle.

5. Together according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact thata first housing (21) comprises a right-hand side (213) against which the corresponding foot (11) rests in its second position, the side (213) and this support being arranged to ensure the alignment of the dial (1) on the support (2) with respect to a first axis; and by the fact that a second housing has a cutout (233) in the shape of a V in which the foot (13) rests in its second position, the cutout (233) and this support being arranged to ensure the centering of the dial (1) on the support (2) or the alignment of the dial (1) on the support (2) with respect to a second axis perpendicular to the first.

6. Together according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact thatIt includes an additional housing (22) arranged so that if, during a shock, the dial (1) is rotated in the second direction around the foot (13) which is in its second position in the second housing (23), this rotation does not cause the disengagement of the locking means 3 which maintain the feet (11, 12, 13) in their second position in their respective housing (21, 22, 23).

7. Together according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that It includes a foot arranged to be received in a housing and a pin carried by one of the dial or support and arranged to be received in a hole of the other of the dial or support, a rotation of the dial relative to the support centered on the pin allowing the foot to be moved from its first to its second position.

8. Together according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the feet are supported by the dial (1) and the housings are provided in the support (2).

9. Timepiece comprising an assembly according to one of the preceding claims.

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