Watch bezel with cavity for containing a fluid

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a watch bezel comprising: - a cavity for containing a fluid, said cavity having an annular cross-section and comprising two projecting edges in the form of an inner ring and an outer ring forming an inner contact surface and an outer contact surface; - a bezel glass with an annular cross-section, closing the upper part of the cavity and being in contact with said inner contact surface and said outer contact surface; - an inner seal on the inner perimeter of the glass and in contact with said inner contact surface; and - an outer seal on the outer perimeter of the glass and in contact with said outer contact surface.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking and more particularly to the field of bezels for wristwatches. The present invention also relates to a method of sealing the bezel to allow it to contain a fluid. Technological background

[0002] Watch bezels are well known in the prior art and are generally solid, meaning they contain no voids. A solid bezel, as defined in the present invention, is either a bezel without any voids or recesses, or a bezel with a recess filled with a solid material, thus making the bezel solid. Generally, a bezel crystal is then attached to the bezel by gluing. It is also possible for the crystal to be pressed onto the bezel with a gasket around its outer perimeter, in addition to gluing.

[0003] Watch bezels can serve many different purposes, both decorative and functional. For example, they can be set with stones using various techniques or include graduations to indicate minutes or other information. The well-known rotating bezel on a dive watch allows the wearer to measure the time elapsed since the start of the dive. Watch bezels are therefore available in a wide variety of shapes and with all sorts of features.

[0004] Preferably, when the watch crystal is pressed into the bezel, the bezel should be securely fixed to the watch case to prevent any water from seeping into the case. For example, document EP0628895 describes a watch bezel with a double gasket between the bezel and the watch case.

[0005] There is currently a real interest in optimizing the functions of watch bezels in order to make them more efficient and to give them different uses. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention aims to provide a watch bezel comprising a cavity containing a fluid, which may be a liquid or a gas. The objective of the present invention is to provide a watertight bezel to ensure that the fluid remains inside it.

[0007] Another objective of the invention is to provide a scope with a top glass to close the cavity while allowing visibility inside it by the user.

[0008] Another aspect of the invention relates to the development of a method for the airtight closure of the watch bezel cavity in order to contain the fluid. Brief description of the figures

[0009] The present invention is illustrated by an example shown in the following figures: there figure 1 is a cross-sectional plane of an example of a hollowed-out watch bezel according to the present invention; the figures 2 And 3 are an enlargement of the figure 1 , with the presence of the lens glass sealing the cavity tightly thanks to the presence of a double seal. Detailed description of the invention

[0010] As illustrated on the figure 1The telescope 2 of the present invention comprises a cavity 3 hollowed out within it. This cavity 3 is intended to contain a fluid of any type, whether liquid or gas. The cavity 3 preferably has a ring-shaped cross-section, as it is hollowed out throughout the entire telescope 2, which itself has an annular shape. In the case where the telescope 2 is hollowed out to a certain depth and then filled with a solid at the bottom of the hollow to a portion of its depth, leaving a void above the solid to be filled with a fluid, the cavity 3 in the sense of the present invention corresponds to the hollow without solid material.

[0011] Furthermore, cavity 3 includes two projecting edges on its upper part, namely the part of the cavity located on the side of the watch dial 1. The projecting edges are in the form of an inner ring and an outer ring, forming internal 7 and external 8 contact surfaces which will allow the attachment of a bezel crystal 4, as shown in the figure 2 in order to close cavity 3 and retain the fluid. The lens 4 also preferably has an annular shape to close the annular cavity 3 of the lens 2.

[0012] The junction between the contact surfaces 7, 8 of the cavity and the lens 4 must therefore be gas- and liquid-tight. Since a lens 2 containing a fluid has never been disclosed in the prior art, the problem of sealing between the lens and the lens has therefore never arisen.

[0013] According to the present invention, the contact surfaces 7, 8 correspond to the inner and outer rings of the protruding edges of the cavity 3. The inner side of the glass 4, namely the part with the smaller diameter, is in contact with the contact surface 7 and the outer side of the glass 4, namely the part with the larger diameter, is in contact with the contact surface 8.

[0014] These available contact surfaces 7 and 8 are very small compared to the full surface area of ​​a solid, prior art lens that does not include a cavity. Therefore, if the glass 4 were only bonded to these minimal surfaces, it would compromise the system's reliability due to insufficient mechanical strength, impact resistance, and chemical resistance.

[0015] The present invention therefore provides for a double seal, namely an internal seal 5 on the internal perimeter of the glass 4 and an external seal 6 on the external perimeter of the glass 4, in contact with the contact surfaces 7, 8 of the bezel 4. This double seal is preferably a pressed seal, implemented by a glass pressing system to improve sealing and guarantee sufficient mechanical and chemical resistance as well as shock resistance.

[0016] As depicted on the figure 1The cavity 3 may also include a filling port 9. This is preferably located at its lower level. In this way, the bezel 2 can be filled with fluid via this port 9 even if it has already been sealed by the lens 4. The filling port 9 is sealed by means of a screw 10 and an O-ring 11 around it. The port 9 can be opened and closed by means of this screw 10, for example, to change the fluid. The cavity 3 can also be filled with fluid before being sealed with the lens 4, in cases where the cavity does not include a filling port 9.

[0017] The pressure applied to ice 4 during the chasing stage is preferably between 1500 and 2500 N, preferably between 1800 and 2300 N, and even more preferably between 1900 and 2100 N.

[0018] The type of seals used in the present invention corresponds to any type of seal used in watchmaking, in particular i-ring seals, in Hytrel, Zytel, Arnitel, etc...

[0019] The method of closing the cavity by driving out the 4-glass lens can advantageously be done while immersed.

[0020] As an alternative embodiment, the seals 5 and / or 6 may be considered in the form of an adhesive seal which ensures the watertight closure of cavity 3 and the retention of the glass 4 on the bezel 2. Nomenclature

[0021] 1. Watch 2. Bezel 3. Cavity in the bezel 4. Bezel crystal 5. Internal gasket 6. External gasket 7. Internal contact surface for the bezel crystal 8. Internal contact surface for the bezel crystal 9. Filling port 10. Screw for closing the filling port 11. O-ring for sealing the filling port

Claims

1. Bezel (2) for a watch component comprising: - a cavity (4) for containing a fluid, said cavity having an annular cross-section and comprising two projecting edges in the form of an inner ring and an outer ring forming an inner contact surface (7) and an outer contact surface (8); - a bezel crystal (4) with an annular cross-section, closing the upper part of the cavity (3) and being in contact with said inner contact surface (7) and said outer contact surface (8); - an inner seal (5) on the inner perimeter of the crystal (4) and in contact with said inner contact surface (7) and - an outer seal (6) on the outer perimeter of the crystal (4) and in contact with said outer contact surface (8).

2. Glasses (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal (5) and external (6) seals are "pressed" seals.

3. Glasses (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe internal (5) and external (6) seals are of the I-ring type.

4. A spectacle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (3) includes a filling orifice (9), removably closed by an assembly comprising a screw (10) and an o-ring seal (11).

5. Timepiece comprising a bezel (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. Method of sealing the bezel (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that It includes the following steps: - placement of an internal seal (5) on the internal contact surface (7); - placement of an external seal (6) on the external contact surface (8); - closure of the cavity (3) by fixing the glass (4) on said contact surfaces (7, 8) by a glass-chasing technique (4).

7. Method of sealing the bezel (2) according to claim 6 characterized in that it includes a step of filling the cavity (3) with a fluid.

8. Method of sealing the bezel (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the pressure applied to the ice (4) during the chasing stage is between 1500 and 2500 N, preferably between 1800 and 2300 N, and even more preferably between 1900 and 2100 N.

9. Method of sealing the bezel (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 8 characterized in that The closure can be achieved by immersion in a fluid.

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