Horological or jewellery hinge assembly

Abstract

To provide a horological or jewelry hinge assembly.SOLUTION: A horological or jewelry hinge assembly includes an outer hinge with a first and a second knuckle and an inner hinge with a single knuckle, which pivot about a screw passing through a guide tube 4 insertable and indexed rotatably into the first knuckle and a tube-nut 3 insertable into the second knuckle, and axially immobilized by a head in the guide tube and including a thread cooperating with an internal thread of the tube-nut, for adjusting the axial clearance or airtightness between the outer hinge and the inner hinge, the tube-nut being indexable rotatably in the second knuckle, the tube-nut or the guide tube being advantageously made of polyamide 11 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high-density polyethylene.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention comprises, on the one hand, an outer hinge with a first knuckle and a second knuckle, which are integrated with an outer base plate and each include a first hole and a second hole aligned along an axis, and, on the other hand, an inner hinge with a single knuckle, which is integrated with an inner base plate and can be inserted between the first and second knuckles with minimal clearance and which includes, in an operating position, a third hole that is alignable along the axis together with the first and second holes, and in an operating position, the outer hinge includes, on the one hand, a complementary first angle that the outer hinge includes in the first knuckle for a screw intended to be inserted into the first hole. The present invention relates to a hinge assembly for a watch or jewellery, in which the outer hinge and the inner hinge are mounted on one hand through a guide tube comprising first angular indexing means intended to cooperate with an indexing means, and on the other hand through a tube nut intended to be inserted into the second hole, so as to pivot relative to one another around the screw, the screw comprising a head for its axial fixation in the guide tube and a thread intended to cooperate with an internal thread comprised by the tube nut, the cooperation of which makes it possible to adjust the axial gap or the tightness between the outer hinge and the inner hinge.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of hinge assemblies for watches or jewellery, and in particular to safety hinges. [Background technology]

[0003] Miniature hinges are known, including double knuckle outer hinges and single knuckle inner hinges, where the friction of the hinge can be increased by tightening the hinge screws that hold the outer and inner hinges together and form the pivot guide shaft.

[0004] Very small hinges, such as those used in the watch and jewellery industries, where the diameter of the guide body at the knuckle is less than 2 millimetres, often cannot withstand fatigue. Typically the outer hinge forms a U-shape, but the bending stress zone at the inner apex of the U means that the hinge must be made large, which is not necessarily compatible with the watch or jewellery parts that contain it.

[0005] Moreover, in addition to bending stresses in the plane passing through the hinge axis, torsional stresses arise due to the cooperation of the axial screw with its nut. Finally, friction in the knuckle holes quickly leads to wear, which should not be overlooked, especially in the case of the finest and most expensive parts, which may have moving parts made of measurable materials, in particular gold and / or platinum alloys or similar, as well as precious stones and other jewels.

[0006] The aim is to ensure long-term operational reliability of such hinges. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge of very small dimensions which is resistant to bending, twisting and wear and which is completely reliable for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention comprises, on the one hand, an outer hinge with a first knuckle and a second knuckle, which are integrated with an outer base plate and each include a first hole and a second hole aligned along an axis, and, on the other hand, an inner hinge with a single knuckle, which is integrated with an inner base plate and can be inserted between the first knuckle and the second knuckle with a minimum gap and which includes, in an operating position, a third hole that is alignable along the axis together with the first hole and the second hole, and in the operating position, the outer hinge includes, on the one hand, a complementary first angle that the outer hinge includes in the first knuckle for the screw intended to be inserted into the first hole. The present invention relates to a hinge assembly for a watch or jewellery, in which the outer hinge and the inner hinge are mounted on one hand through a guide tube comprising a first angle indexing means intended to cooperate with a degree indexing means and on the other hand through a tube nut intended to be inserted into the second hole, in such a way that they pivot relative to one another around the screw, the screw comprising a head for its axial fixation in the guide tube and a thread intended to cooperate with an internal thread contained in the tube nut, the cooperation of which makes it possible to adjust the axial gap or the tightness between the outer hinge and the inner hinge.

[0009] According to the invention, the tube nut includes second angular indexing means arranged to cooperate with complementary second angular indexing means that the outer hinge includes in the second knuckle.

[0010] Another aspect of the invention relates to the manufacture of tube nuts and / or said guide tubes from polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a hinge according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hinge assembly 100 for a watch or piece of jewelry according to the present invention.

[0014] The hinge assembly 100 includes, on the one hand, an outer hinge 1 integrated with an outer base plate 10 and having a first knuckle 11 and a second knuckle 110, each of which includes a first hole 12 and a second hole 120 aligned along an axis D, and, on the other hand, an inner hinge 2 integrated with an inner base plate 20 and having a single knuckle 21 that can be inserted between the first knuckle 11 and the second knuckle 110 with minimal gap.

[0015] This single knuckle 21 includes a third hole 26 which, in the operating position, is alignable along the D axis with the first hole 12 and the second hole 120, and in the operating position, the outer hinge 1 and the inner hinge 2 are mounted so as to pivot relative to one another around the screw 5, on the one hand via a guide tube 4 for the screw 5 arranged to be inserted into the first hole 12, and on the other hand via a tube nut 3 arranged to be inserted into the second hole 120.

[0016] The guide tube 4 comprises a first angular indexing means 43 arranged to cooperate with a complementary first angular indexing means 13 comprised in the outer hinge 1 at the first knuckle 11. The screw 5 has a head 51 for fixing the screw axially in the guide tube 4 and a thread 55 arranged to cooperate with an internal thread 35 in the tube nut 3. The cooperation of the thread 55 with the internal thread 35 makes it possible to adjust the axial clearance or tightness between the outer hinge 1 and the inner hinge 2. More specifically, the head 51 of the screw 5 has a flat seat 52 arranged to abut and cooperate with a counterbore 42 formed in the bottom of the recess 41 around a hole 44 formed in the guide tube 4 for the passage of the screw 5. Preferably, in the operating position, the outer surface of the screw head 51 is set back from or flush with the front surface of the guide tube 4, which itself is set back from or flush with the first front surface 17 of the outer hinge 1. Similarly, the front surface 37 of the tube nut 3 is set back from or flush with the second front surface 117 of the outer hinge 1. In the free state, without the screw, the first inner front surface 48 of the guide tube 4 is spaced from the second inner front surface 38 of the tube nut 3, and as the screw 5 is tightened within the internal threads 35, any contact between the screw 5 and the internal threads 35 prevents damage to the hinge by preventing further tightening.

[0017] According to the invention, the tube nut 3 includes, at the second knuckle 110, a second angular indexing means 33 arranged to cooperate with a complementary second angular indexing means 133 included in the outer hinge 1.

[0018] More specifically, the guide tube 4 includes, at the first knuckle 11, a first axial stop means 430 arranged to cooperate with a complementary first axial stop means 130 included in the outer hinge 1.

[0019] More specifically, the guide tube 4 includes a first cylindrical body 46 insertable into a first hole 12 in the first knuckle 11, and the first angular indexing means 43 includes a first radial boss of the guide tube 4, protruding radially relative to the first cylindrical body 46 and positioned to cooperate with a first radial notch in the first knuckle 11 included by a complementary first angular indexing means 13.

[0020] More specifically, the first radial boss carries a first axial stop means 430 at its front and the complementary first axial stop means 130 of the first knuckle 11 includes a first front bearing surface at the inner end of a first radial notch in the first knuckle 11, the notch being blind.

[0021] More specifically, the tube nut 3 includes a second cylindrical body 36 insertable into a second hole 120 in the second knuckle 110, and the second angular indexing means 33 includes a second radial boss of the tube nut 3, protruding relative to the second cylindrical body 36 and positioned to cooperate with a second radial notch in the second knuckle 110 including a complementary second angular indexing means 133.

[0022] More particularly, the tube nut 3 includes a second axial stop means 330 arranged to cooperate with a complementary second axial stop means 1300 included in the outer hinge 1 at the second knuckle 110. The hinge is therefore more resistant to twisting, which is distributed over the solid area of ​​the knuckle.

[0023] More specifically, the second radial boss carries a second axial stop means 330 at its front and a complementary second axial stop means 1300 of the second knuckle 110 includes a second front bearing surface at an inner end of a second radial notch in the second knuckle 110, where the notch is blind.

[0024] More specifically, the outer hinge 1 includes, between the first knuckle 11 and the second knuckle 110, a first lug 170 that projects axially from a first inner front face 19 of the first knuckle 11 and includes a first rotation abutment surface 14, and a second lug 171 that projects axially from a second inner front face 190 of the second knuckle 110 and includes a second rotation abutment surface 140, which face each other. The first rotation abutment surface 14 and the second rotation abutment surface 140 are arranged to cooperate with complementary first rotation abutment surface 24 and complementary second rotation abutment surfaces 240 that the inner hinge 2 includes on both sides of the single knuckle 21, respectively, in the abutment position when the inner hinge 2 is in the same angular position relative to the outer hinge 1. More specifically, the first lug 170 includes a first lug guide surface 16 arranged to guide the guide tube 4, and the second lug 171 includes a second lug guide surface 160 arranged to guide the tube nut 3.

[0025] More specifically, the first and second rotary abutment surfaces 14, 140 are contiguous with one another, and the complementary first and second rotary abutment surfaces 24, 240 are contiguous with one another. More specifically, the complementary first and second rotary abutment surfaces 24, 240 are formed within the first and second gaps 29, 290 and limit the angular movement of the first and second lugs 170, 171, respectively.

[0026] Advantageously, to reduce stress and wear, the tube nut 3 and / or the guide tube 4 are made of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

[0027] More specifically, the first hole 12 and the second hole 120 of the outer hinge 1 have an inner coating of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

[0028] More specifically, the third hole 26 of the inner hinge 2 has an inner coating of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

[0029] In short, the hinge can be adjusted by screwing in a screw passing through it, which makes it possible to adjust the hardness or mechanical friction of this brake, as well as the special arrangement of the rotatably indexed guide tube and tube nut, which makes it possible to optimally distribute the stresses within the hinge without exceeding the bending and torsional limits, and improving wear resistance by selecting guide tubes and tube nuts made of or coated with a material with a very low coefficient of friction.

[0030] The result is an extremely compact, highly secure hinge that can be used in luxury watches and jewellery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Outer Hinge 2 Inner hinge 3 Tube Nuts 4 Guide tube 5 Screws 10 Outer Base Plate 11 First Knuckle 12 First Hole 13 complementary first angle indexing means 14 First rotating contact surface 16 First lug guide surface 17 First Front 19 First inner front 20 Inner base plate 21 Single Knuckle 24 complementary first rotational abutment surface 26 Third Hole 29 The First Gap 33 Second angle indexing means 35 Internal Threads 36 Second Cylinder 37 Front 38 Second Inner Front 41 Recess 42 Counterbore 43 First angle indexing means 44 holes 46 First Cylinder 48 1st Inner Front 51 Screw head 52 Seat 55 threads 100 Hinge Assembly 110 Second Knuckle 117 Second Front 120 Second Hole 130 complementary first axial stop means 133 complementary second angle indexing means 140 Second rotating contact surface 160 Second lug guide surface 170 First Lug 171 Second Lug 190 Second Inner Front 240 Complementary second rotating abutment surface 290 Second Gap 330 Second axial stop means 430 First axial stop means 1300 complementary second axial stop means D-axis

Claims

1. The outer hinge (1) comprises, on the one hand, an outer base plate (10) and a first knuckle (11) and a second knuckle (110) including a first hole (12) and a second hole (120), respectively, aligned along an axis (D), and, on the other hand, an inner base plate (20) and an inner hinge (20) that is insertable with a minimum gap between said first knuckle (11) and said second knuckle (110), and that in the operating position includes said first hole (12) and and an inner hinge (2) with a single knuckle (21) including a first hole (120) and a third hole (26) alignable along said axis (D) with said second hole (120), and in an operating position includes a first angular indexing means (43) arranged to cooperate with a complementary first angular indexing means (13) included in said first knuckle (11) of said outer hinge (1), for a screw (5) arranged to be inserted into said first hole (12).

1. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery, characterized in that the outer hinge (1) and the inner hinge (2) are mounted so as to pivot relative to one another around the screw (5) via a guide tube (4) and then via a tube nut (3) intended to be inserted into the second hole (120), the screw (5) comprising a head (51) for axial fixation in the guide tube (4) and a thread (55) intended to cooperate with an internal thread (35) in the tube nut (3), the cooperation of which makes it possible to adjust the axial gap or tightness between the outer hinge (1) and the inner hinge (2), the tube nut (3) comprising second angular indexing means (33) arranged to cooperate with complementary second angular indexing means (133) that the outer hinge (1) comprises in the second knuckle (110).

2. 2. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide tube (4) comprises first axial stop means (430) arranged to cooperate with complementary first axial stop means (130) that the outer hinge (1) comprises in the first knuckle (11).

3. 3. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the guide tube (4) comprises a first cylindrical body (46) insertable into the first hole (12) in the first knuckle (11), and the first angular indexing means (43) comprises a first radial boss of the guide tube (4), protruding radially relative to the first cylindrical body (46) and arranged to cooperate with a first radial notch in the first knuckle (11) comprised by the complementary first angular indexing means (13).

4. 4. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first radial boss bears the first axial stop means (430) at its front and the complementary first axial stop means (130) of the first knuckle (11) comprises a first front bearing surface at the inner end of the first radial notch in the first knuckle (11), which notch is blind.

5. 2. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewelry as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tube nut (3) comprises a second cylindrical body (36) insertable into the second hole (120) in the second knuckle (110), and the second angular indexing means (33) comprises a second radial boss of the tube nut (3), protruding relative to the second cylindrical body (36) and arranged to cooperate with a second radial notch in the second knuckle (110) comprised by the complementary second angular indexing means (133).

6. 2. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube nut (3) comprises second axial stop means (330) arranged to cooperate with complementary second axial stop means (1300) comprised by the outer hinge (1) at the second knuckle (110).

7. 7. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewelry as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the second radial boss bears the second axial stop means (330) at its front and the complementary second axial stop means (1300) of the second knuckle (110) comprises a second front bearing surface at an inner end of the second radial notch in the second knuckle (110), which notch is blind.

8. The outer hinge (1) includes, between the first knuckle (11) and the second knuckle (110), a first lug (170) that protrudes axially from a first inner front surface (19) of the first knuckle (11) and includes a first rotational abutment surface (14), and a second lug (171) that protrudes axially from a second inner front surface (190) of the second knuckle (110) and includes a second rotational abutment surface (140), which face each other.

2. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner hinge (2) (14) and the second rotational abutment surface (140) are arranged to cooperate, respectively, with a complementary first rotational abutment surface (24) and a complementary second rotational abutment surface (240) that the inner hinge (2) comprises on either side of the single knuckle (21) in a rest position when the inner hinge (2) is in the same angular position relative to the outer hinge (1).

9. Hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery item according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube nut (3) and / or the guide tube (4) are made of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

10. 2. A hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that the first hole (12) and the second hole (120) of the outer hinge (1) have an inner coating of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

11. 2. Hinge assembly (100) for a watch or jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that the third hole (26) of the inner hinge (2) has an inner coating of polyamide 11 or polyamide 6-6 or polytetrafluoroethylene or high density polyethylene.

Images