Horological assembly for regulating member provided with rate adjustment means

Abstract

To provide a horological assembly for a regulating member provided with efficient and accurate rate adjustment means.SOLUTION: A horological assembly 10 for a horological regulating member comprises a balance spring 25 having a flexible strip, the flexible strip includes rigid adjustment means, the adjustment means includes a flexible element 5 arranged in series with a strip, the flexible element 5 connects one end 4 of the strip to a rigid support 17, the adjustment means includes prestressing means 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the flexible element 5 so as to vary rigidity of the flexible element 5, the horological assembly 10 includes a stud-holder 1 configured to suspend the balance spring 25, the stud-holder 1 includes a main body 30 connected to the flexible element 5 and a sub-body 33 connected to the prestressing means 6, the sub-body 33 is movable relative to the main body 30, and the sub-body 33 is connected to the main body 30 by a flexure bearing 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clock assembly for an adjustment member provided with a step adjustment means.

[0002] The present invention further relates to an adjustment member provided with such a clock assembly.

Background Art

[0003] Most mechanical clocks today are equipped with a spring-type template and a Swiss lever escapement. The spring-type template constitutes the time base of the wristwatch. This is also called a resonator.

[0004] The escapement mainly has two functions. That is, to maintain the reciprocating motion of the resonator and to count such reciprocating motions.

[0005] To constitute a mechanical resonator, an inertial element, a guide, and an elastic return element are required. Conventionally, the hairspring has acted as an elastic return element for the inertial element constituted by the template. This template is rotationally guided by a pivot that rotates inside a sliding ruby bearing.

[0006] In order to improve the accuracy of a wristwatch, it is generally necessary to adjust the hairspring. For this purpose, means for adjusting the rigidity of the hairspring, such as an index for changing the effective length of the hairspring, are used. Therefore, its rigidity is changed to adjust the accuracy of the step of the wristwatch. However, the effect of the conventional index assembly for step adjustment is limited and is not always effective for making a sufficiently accurate adjustment on the order of several seconds to several tens of seconds per day.

[0007] Adjusting means are also incorporated in other beard razors. In these beard razors, the step length is adjusted not by changing the effective length of the beard razor, but by applying a force or torque to a flexible element arranged in series with the beard razor. In this way, the rigidity of the flexible element, and thus the rigidity of the entire beard razor, can be changed. By adjusting the rigidity of the beard razor, the step length of the adjustment member can be adjusted. A beard razor provided with such a flexible element is described, for example, in patent applications EP4009115 and CH0700385 / 2021.

[0008] In such cases, the normal mechanism cannot be used because it is not compatible with the beard razor adjustment device. Furthermore, since it is necessary to adjust the step length very finely, it is essential that there is no play between the location where the beard razor and the index assembly interact. More specifically, if this were not the case, there would be a risk that the step length would be changed if, when there is an impact, the beard razor does not reposition itself in exactly the same way after the impact.

[0009] To use such a beard razor, an index mechanism is described in patent applications EP22177059.7 and CH000678 / 2022. This index mechanism comprises a stud holder with two parts movable relative to each other, each part comprising a stud with a flexible element attached to one side and prestressing means acting on the flexible element on the other side. Thus, by moving the two parts relative to each other, the force or torque applied to the flexible element is changed in order to adjust the rigidity of the beard razor.

[0010] However, this index mechanism is complex to implement. Also, it occupies a lot of space on the adjustment member. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to overcome some or all of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a timepiece assembly for an adjustment member provided with efficient and accurate step adjustment means.

[0012] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a clock assembly for a clock adjustment member, said clock assembly comprising a hairspring having a flexible strip wound around itself a plurality of times, said strip having a predefined stiffness, said hairspring comprising means for adjusting said stiffness, said adjusting means comprising a flexible element arranged in series with said strip, said flexible element connecting one end of said strip to a rigid support, said flexible element preferably having a stiffness greater than that of said strip, said adjusting means comprising prestressing means for applying a variable force or torque to said flexible element so as to vary the stiffness of said flexible element, said clock assembly comprising a stud holder configured to suspend said hairspring, said stud holder comprising a main body connected to said flexible element and a secondary body connected to said prestressing means, said secondary body being movable relative to said main body.

[0013] In the present invention, it is characterized in that said secondary body is connected to said main body by a flexure bearing.

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention provides adjustment means that are easier to implement and have limited dimensions. More specifically, it comprises a stud holder with two bodies connected by a flexure bearing. The main body is connected to the flexible element and the secondary body is connected to the prestressing means. By simply changing the position of the secondary body relative to the main body, the prestressing means can be actuated and the pitch of the adjustment member can be adjusted.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, said flexure bearing comprises a pivot provided with non-intersecting blades including two flexible blades connecting said main body and said secondary body.

[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexure bearing is configured to move the sub-body substantially in a first direction, and the first direction D1 is preferably circular.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexure bearing is arranged to prevent the sub-body from moving substantially in a second direction.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0019] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the main body includes a first stud to which the flexible element is attached.

[0020] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the sub-body includes a second stud to which the prestressing means is attached.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the prestressing means includes a lever connected to the flexible element.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the lever has an end that is movable in the first direction D1, and the end is attached to the second stud.

[0023] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the clock assembly includes an actuator for moving the sub-body relative to the main body.

[0024] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is a screw.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is a cam.

[0026] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible element includes a flexible blade.

[0027] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the torque or force can be continuously adjusted by prestressing means.

[0028] The present invention further relates to an adjusting member, in particular an adjusting member for a watch movement, which comprises such a watch assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after reading several embodiments which are provided for illustrative purposes only with reference to the accompanying drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 4 schematically show an embodiment of a watch assembly 10 comprising a stud holder 1 and a hairspring 25 for an adjusting member intended to be arranged in a watch movement (not shown).

[0031] Such a watch movement comprises, for example, a plate provided with a recess for receiving the adjusting member, an inertial mass provided on the adjusting member, and an elastic return element for the inertial mass configured to oscillate the inertial mass.

[0032] The adjusting member further comprises an annular template 23 as an inertial mass, a template shaft 18, and a template receiver (not shown). For example, the template 23, the hairspring 25, and the template receiver are stacked from bottom to top.

[0033] The template shaft is arranged at the center and passes through the centers of the template 23, the beard clipper 25, and the template receiver. The template shaft 18 is held by two shock-resistant bearings (not shown) arranged at both ends of the template shaft 18. The first bearing (not shown) is arranged under the template 23 and the template receiver, and the second bearing is held by the template receiver. The template receiver is provided with, for example, a through hole, and the second bearing is held inside it. The stud holder 1 is attached to the template receiver, for example, and is arranged along the central axis of the template shaft.

[0034] The beard clipper 25 preferably extends substantially in a plane. The beard clipper 25 includes a flexible strip 2 wound around itself several times, and the strip 2 has a predefined rigidity. The inner end 9 of the strip 2 is integral with or assembled to a support 3 generally called a collet. The support 3 is substantially triangular in shape here and is intended to be screwed around the axis of the template.

[0035] The beard clipper 25 further includes means for adjusting its rigidity. For example, the adjusting means can be actuated by the user, especially when the adjusting member is attached to the watch movement.

[0036] The adjusting means includes a flexible element 5 arranged in series with the strip 2, that is, following the strip, preferably as an extension thereof. This flexible element 5 connects the outer end 4 of the strip 2 to a rigid support 17. The flexible element 5 is integral with the outer end 4 of the strip 2. The flexible element 5 is a different element from the strip 2.

[0037] The flexible element 5 adds additional rigidity to the strip 2. The flexible element 5 is preferably harder than the strip 2. In this case, the flexible element 5 is arranged as an extension of the strip 2. Preferably, the adjusting means and the strip 2 are integral or made of the same material, such as silicon.

[0038] The flexible element 5 of the beard trimmer 25 comprises a first flexible blade 19 extending from the outer end 4 of the strip 2 and is connected to the first flexible blade 19. The first flexible blade 19 is also connected to a rigid support 17.

[0039] The rigid support 17 is L-shaped, and the first leg 46 of the L-shape functions as a connection part to the first flexible blade 19, and the second leg 47 of the L-shape faces away from the first flexible blade 19 so that it can be assembled to the stud holder 1.

[0040] The means for adjusting the beard trimmer 25 further includes prestressing means 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the flexible element 5. In this way, the rigidity of the beard trimmer can be adjusted. The torque or force can be continuously adjusted thanks to the prestressing means 6. In other words, the torque or force is not limited to discrete values. Therefore, the rigidity of the flexible element 5 can be adjusted very precisely.

[0041] The prestressing means 6 comprises a second flexible blade 21 arranged as an extension of the first flexible blade 19 on the other side of the outer end 4.

[0042] The other end of the second flexible blade 21 is connected to a curved lever 14 running around the strip 2. The lever 14 is connected to a semi-rigid structure 27 attached to the rigid support 17 in addition to the second flexible blade 21. The semi-rigid structure 27 deforms partly when the lever 14 is actuated by a force or torque. The semi-rigid structure 27 comprises a flexible curved blade 28 connecting the lever 14.

[0043] The force or torque acts on the free end 15 of the lever 14. In this way, the lever 14 of the prestressing means 6 transmits the force or torque to the flexible element 5 via the second flexible blade 21 and via the curved blade 28 of the semi-rigid structure 27, and corrects the rigidity of the beard trimmer 25.

[0044] The stud holder 1 is configured to be able to suspend the beard trimmer 25 and operate the adjusting means.

[0045] For this purpose, the stud holder 1 comprises a main body 30 intended to be attached to the template receiver and connected to the flexible element 5.

[0046] The stud holder 1 further includes a sub - body 33 movable relative to the main body 30. The sub - body 33 is connected to the prestressing means 6.

[0047] The main body 30 includes a first stud 12 to which the flexible element 5 of the beard trimmer 25 is attached, while the sub - body 33 includes a second stud 13 to which the end 15 of the lever 14 of the prestressing means 6 is attached.

[0048] The main body 30 includes a central ring 29 and a first arm 31. The first stud is attached to the first arm 31, preferably at its end.

[0049] The sub - body 33 includes a protrusion 32 provided with an opening to which the second stud 13 is attached. The protrusion 32 extends from the inside of the arc of a circle.

[0050] The first stud 12 and the second stud 13 extend perpendicular to the plane of the stud holder 1 and hold the beard trimmer 25 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the stud holder 1.

[0051] Therefore, by moving the sub - body 33 relative to the main body 2, the lever 14 of the prestressing means 6 is actuated.

[0052] The actuator 7 is configured to move the sub - body 33 relative to the main body 30. Such an actuator 7 is, for example, a screw or a cam (not shown) and is configured to apply a displacement force to the sub - body 33.

[0053] For example, the screw is attached to a support for a clock movement (not shown). This support is configured such that the screw can move substantially in direction D1.

[0054] The screw is oriented in the first direction D1 in which the sub-body 33 moves. Thus, when the screw is actuated, the sub-body 33 moves in this direction D1. Direction D1 is substantially circular.

[0055] As a result, the end 15 of the lever 14 of the prestressing means 6 moves substantially in direction D1, modifying the torque or force acting on the flexible element 5, and thus changing the stiffness and pitch of the adjusting member.

[0056] According to the invention, the sub-body 33 is connected to the main body 30 by a flexure bearing, whereby it is possible to change the position of the sub-body 33 relative to the main body 30, particularly in the first direction D1.

[0057] Furthermore, the flexure bearing prevents the sub-body 33 from moving substantially in a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1 of the end 15 of the lever 14 and the actuator 7. Thus, the lever 14 is prevented from moving in this second direction D2, particularly to prevent the pitch adjustment from being distorted. Direction D2 is substantially radial.

[0058] More specifically, when the stud holder 1 and the beard trimmer 25 move relative to the actuator 7, the lever 14 may move laterally due to the friction caused by the contact between the actuator 7 and the stud holder 1, and as a result, an error may occur in the accuracy of the pitch adjustment.

[0059] In this embodiment, the flexure bearing 20 comprises a pivot having non-intersecting blades connecting the main body 30 and the sub-body 33.

[0060] The sub-body 33 is arc-shaped. The pivot with non-intersecting blades comprises two flexible blades 22, 24 that extend away from each other from the central ring 29 of the body 30 to the sub-body 33, preferably to the end of the sub-body 33.

[0061] Preferably, the two flexible blades 22, 24 are of substantially the same length.

[0062] Thanks to the flexure bearing 20, the sub-body 33 can move mainly in a first substantially circular direction D1, but not in a second substantially radial direction D2. This is because the flexible blades 22, 24 hold the sub-body 33 in this second direction D2, while allowing the lever to move in the first direction D1.

[0063] Furthermore, the present invention also relates in particular to an adjusting member for a timepiece movement. This adjusting member comprises a balance weight and a timepiece assembly 10 as described above.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the adjusting member described with reference to the figures, and it goes without saying that alternatives can be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A timepiece assembly for a timepiece adjusting member, comprising: The timepiece assembly (10) comprises a hairspring (25) comprising a flexible strip (2) wound around itself a number of times, said strip (2) having a predefined stiffness, said hairspring (25) comprising means for adjusting said stiffness, said means comprising a flexible element (5) arranged in series with said strip (2), said flexible element (5) connecting one end (4, 9) of said strip (2) to a rigid support (17), said flexible element (5) preferably having a stiffness greater than that of said strip (2). said adjusting means comprising prestressing means (6) for applying a variable force or torque to said flexible element (5) so as to vary said stiffness of said flexible element (5); said timepiece assembly (10) comprising a stud holder (1) arranged to suspend said balance spring (25), said stud holder (1) comprising a main body (30) connected to said flexible element (5) and a secondary body (33) connected to said prestressing means (6), said secondary body (33) being movable relative to said main body (30); A watch assembly, wherein said secondary body (33) is connected to said main body (30) by means of flexure bearings (20).

2. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible bearing (20) comprises a pivot provided with non-intersecting blades comprising two flexible blades (22, 24) connecting said main body (30) and said secondary body (33).

3. 2. A timepiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexure bearing (20) is configured to move said sub-body (33) substantially in a first direction (D1), said first direction being preferably circular.

4. 2. A timepiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexure bearing (20) is arranged to prevent said sub-body (33) from moving substantially in a second direction (D2).

5. 5. A clock assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second direction (D2) is substantially perpendicular to said first direction (D1).

6. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said main body (30) comprises a first stud (12) to which said flexible element (5) is attached.

7. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said secondary body (33) comprises a second stud (13) to which said prestressing means (6) is attached.

8. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said prestressing means (6) comprises a lever (14) connected to said flexible element (5) for applying said variable force or torque.

9. A clock assembly according to claims 7 and 8, wherein said lever (14) comprises an end (15) movable in said first direction (D1), said end (15) being attached to said second stud (13).

10. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, comprising an actuator (7) for moving said secondary body (33) relative to said main body (30).

11. 11. Clock assembly according to claim 10, wherein said actuator (7) is a screw.

12. 11. Clock assembly according to claim 10, wherein said actuator (7) is a cam.

13. 2. A watch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible element (5) comprises a flexible blade (19).

14. 2. A clock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said torque or force is continuously adjustable by said prestressing means (6).

15. A regulating member comprising a timepiece assembly (10) according to claim 1.

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