A control member for controlling at least one function of a clock movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a control member 1 for controlling at least one function of a timepiece movement, said control member 1 comprising a crown 2 with a head 6 and a central rod 10 rigidly connected to said head 6, intended to be rigidly connected to the control rod, and a guide tube 4 having a longitudinal axis A and mounted such that said central rod 10 can rotate axially according to said axis A, said crown 2 being arranged such that it can rotate axially in at least one direction between at least one stable neutral angular position and at least one unstable angular operating position, said first function being operable via said control rod. The control member 1 includes an automatic return device for automatically returning the crown 2 from its operating position to its neutral position, the automatic return device comprising a first tubular cam 30 mounted around the central rod 10 so as to be rigidly connected to the central rod 10, and a second tubular cam 32 housed in the guide tube 4, mounted so as to be free to translate axially on the central rod 10, essentially able to slide axially within the guide tube 4 and arranged so as to be able to cooperate with a spring 34 provided within the guide tube 4, the first and second cams 30, 32 being arranged so as to be able to automatically return the crown 2 from its operating position to its neutral position, at least when the crown 2 is in its neutral position. The crown 2 has actuating surfaces 30a, 32a arranged in contact with each other, the actuating surfaces 30a, 32a having a profile obtained by intersecting at least one plane inclined on axis A with the first and second cams 30, 32, so that, by cooperation of the actuating surfaces 30a, 32a, the axial rotation of the first cam 30 by rotation of the crown 2 into its actuating position results in an axial translation of the second cam 32 compressing the spring 34, and the axial translation of the second cam 32 returned by the spring 34 when the rotation into the actuating position stops results in an axial rotation of the first cam 30 which automatically returns the crown 2 to its neutral position. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such control member.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control member for controlling at least one first function of a timepiece movement, said control member comprising a crown with a head and a central rod rigidly connected to the head, intended to be rigidly connected to the control rod, and a guide tube having a longitudinal axis A and mounted such that said central rod can rotate at least axially according to said axis A, said crown being arranged to occupy at least one unpressed position, in which said crown can rotate axially in at least one direction between at least one stable neutral angular position and at least one unstable angular operating position, and in which at least one unstable angular operating position said first function can be actuated via the control rod.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such control member. [Background technology]

[0003] Such a control member is used, for example, in the timepiece described in the application WO2022 / 175002 filed by the applicant, which timepiece in particular comprises a moon display mechanism and whose first function is the moon correction function. To activate the moon correction function, the control member in the non-pressed position can be rotated axially, for example over an angle of about 60°, in one direction between its central stable angular position and a first unstable angular operating position corresponding to a fast correction of moon +1, and in the other direction, over an angle of about 60°, between its central stable angular position and a second unstable angular operating position corresponding to a fast correction of moon -1.

[0004] The timepiece described in application WO2022 / 175002 also comprises a chronograph mechanism, the control member being arranged such that it can translate axially, depending on pressure, between its unpressed position and a pressed position in which a second function, i.e. one of the chronograph functions, more particularly a reset-to-zero or flyback function, is activated, the control member automatically returning to the unpressed position after release of pressure on the control member, like a push button.

[0005] The return of the control member to its central stable angular position during the lunar correction is ensured by a mechanism comprising a cam-heart-piece, which is kinematically linked to the control member and which is returned to its central position by a spring when the torque applied to the control member is released and the correction is made.

[0006] However, this mechanism is not always sufficiently effective to ensure that the control member will automatically return from one of its unstable corrective positions to its stable central position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] WO2022 / 175002 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a control member which can ensure that it is automatically returned to a neutral position after being pivoted into an unstable position in order to activate a function of the timepiece movement, such as quick correction.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to propose a single control member which makes it possible to quickly control a first function by rotating the control member with automatic return to a neutral position, like a quick control rod, and also makes it possible to activate a second function different from the first function by pressing said control member with automatic return to a non-pressed position, like a push button. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a control member for controlling at least one function of a timepiece movement, said control member comprising a crown with a head and a central rod rigidly connected to the head, intended to be rigidly connected to the control rod, and a guide tube having a longitudinal axis A and mounted such that said central rod can rotate at least axially according to said longitudinal axis A, said crown being arranged to occupy at least one unpressed position, in which said crown can be axially rotated in at least one direction between at least one stable neutral angular position and at least one unstable angular operating position, and in which at least one unstable angular operating position said first function can be actuated via the control rod.

[0011] According to the invention, the control member comprises an automatic return device for automatically returning the crown from its operating position to its neutral position, the automatic return device comprising a first tubular cam mounted around the central rod so as to be rigidly connected to the central rod, and a second tubular cam housed in a guide tube, mounted so as to be free to translate axially on the central rod, and arranged so as to be essentially able to slide axially within said guide tube and to cooperate with a spring provided within the guide tube, said first and second cams being arranged such that at least the crown is in a neutral position when the first and second cams are in a neutral position when the second cams are in a neutral position when the second cams are in a neutral position when the second cams are in a neutral position, said first and second cams being arranged so as to be free to translate axially on the central rod, and arranged so as to be able to essentially slide axially within said guide tube and to cooperate with a spring provided within the guide tube, said first and second cams being arranged so as to be able to move axially within said guide tube when the second cams are in a neutral position ... It has actuating surfaces arranged to come into contact when in its neutral position, said actuating surfaces having a profile obtained by intersecting at least one plane inclined on axis A with said first and second cams, so that, through cooperation of the actuating surfaces, axial rotation of the first cam by rotation of the crown into its actuating position results in axial translation of the second cam compressing the spring, and, through cooperation of the actuating surfaces, axial translation of the second cam returned by the spring when rotation into its actuating position stops results in axial rotation of the first cam which automatically returns the crown to its neutral position.

[0012] The invention therefore makes it possible to ensure that the crown is automatically returned to its neutral position after the rapid control of the first function has been carried out.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the central rod is also mounted so that it can translate axially within the guide tube, so that the crown is also arranged so that it can translate axially between its unpressed and pressed positions in response to pressure on said crown, in which a second function different from the first function can be actuated via the control rod, so that, by cooperation of the actuating surfaces, the axial translation of the first cam results in the axial translation of the second cam compressing the spring, and when the pressure on the crown is removed, by cooperation of the actuating surfaces, the axial translation of the second cam returned by the spring to return to its unpressed position results in the axial translation of the first cam to return the crown to its unpressed position.

[0014] The invention thus enables two different functions, e.g. two functions of different complications independent of each other, to be controlled by a single control member, one of which is controlled by the control member in a non-depressed position, such as a quick control rod, and the other of which is controlled by the control member in a depressed position, such as a push button.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the first function is the lunar correction of the lunar display mechanism and the second function is the zero or flyback function of the chronograph mechanism.

[0016] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one control member as described above.

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a control member according to the invention, the crown of said control member being in an undepressed and neutral position. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a control member according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a control rod that can be firmly connected to a control member of the present invention, the control rod being arranged to control the zero or flyback function of the chronograph mechanism of a timepiece and the lunar correction mechanism of the lunar display mechanism, the control member in its unpressed and neutral positions. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an automatic return device according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the first female cam of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the second male cam of FIG. [Figure 7a]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the control member with the crown in its neutral undepressed position. [Figure 7b] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the control member with the crown in its unstable undepressed angular operating position. [Figure 7c] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the control member with the crown in its depressed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] With reference to figures 1 to 3, the invention relates to a control member 1 for controlling at least one, advantageously several different functions of a timepiece movement, said control member 1 comprising a crown 2 intended to be rigidly connected to a control rod 3 arranged to actuate said functions. The control member 1 is mounted in a central part of the watch case of the timepiece (not shown) such that said crown 2 protrudes from said central part. For this purpose, the control member 1 comprises a guide tube 4 intended to be fixed by screwing or pressing in at the central part. Preferably, the guide tube 4 can have a rotational symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis A which generally constitutes the axis of rotation of the crown 2 and preferably also the translation axis.

[0020] The crown 2 is arranged to occupy an unpressed or rest position shown in FIG. 1, in which position said crown 2 can rotate axially in at least one direction between at least one stable neutral angular position and at least one unstable angular operating position, in which a first function can be actuated via the control rod 3, said first function being, for example, a quick compensation function of the mechanism, and in which the at least one unstable angular operating position typically corresponds to a compensation position of the mechanism.

[0021] The crown 2 is advantageously arranged so as to be axially rotatable in one direction between a stable neutral angular position defining a stable, preferably central, angular position and a first unstable angular operating position, and so as to be axially rotatable in the other direction between said neutral position and a second unstable angular operating position. When the first function is a compensation function of the mechanism, the first unstable angular operating position typically corresponds to a first compensation position of the mechanism and the second unstable angular operating position typically corresponds to a second compensation position of the mechanism.

[0022] The crown 2 can advantageously rotate axially in each direction of rotation through an angle of less than 360°, preferably less than 180°, more preferably 70° or less.

[0023] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the crown 2 is also arranged so that it can translate axially between its unpressed or rest position and a pressed position as shown in Fig. 1 depending on the pressure on said crown 2, in which a second function different from the first function, for example that of a chronograph mechanism, can be activated via the control rod 3 in order to return to its unpressed or rest position once the pressure on the crown 2 is removed. In this specification, the "rest position" or "unpressed position" is defined in terms of the axial translation movement of the crown 2, the rest or unpressed position being then defined as the position that the crown assumes when it is not subjected to any axial force or pressure, in which the first function can be activated, and the rest or unpressed position indicating the state in which the crown is placed when it is not subjected to any external force in its central part.

[0024] The crown 2 comprises a head 6, an axial skirt 8 which is rigidly connected to the head 6, and a central rod 10 which is connected or rigidly connected to the head 6. The assembly formed by the crown 2 and the central rod 10 has rotational symmetry about an axis A. The central rod 10 is mounted so that it can rotate axially and preferably translate axially according to said longitudinal axis in the guide tube 4. The head 6 and the skirt 8 are mounted so that they can rotate, preferably translate, about the guide tube 4 according to the axis A.

[0025] The central rod 10 is intended to be rigidly connected to the control rod 3 by means of a female driving square 12 fixed, for example by screwing, to the free end of the central rod 10 and intended to fit into a male square 14 (see FIG. 3) provided at the end of the control rod 3. During assembly of the movement in the case, the square end of the control rod 3 is slid into the female driving square 12 through its open face. Once fitted, the female square 12 of the crown 2 permanently rotates the male square of the control rod 3. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment in which the crown 2 also functions as a push button, the back of the driving square 12 can, when pressure is applied to the crown 2, translate the end of the control rod 3 axially into a pressed position. The control rod 3 has its own return spring which keeps its square end in the pushing square 12 in order to return the control rod 3 to its rest position when the pressure is removed. It is clear that pushing the control rod by a square can be replaced by a pushing device having any other suitable shape, such as a triangle, or two flat parts or any other polygonal shape.

[0026] Thus, the crown 2 with its central rod 10 and the control rod 3 once mounted on the central rod 10 are always rigidly connected (rotationally and translationally) in the movement. They can rotate about axis A like the control rods and, in the preferred embodiment in which the crown 2 also functions like a push button, they can be translated axially according to axis A into a pressed position by the user to control two different functions of the watch, more precisely those of two different complications, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0027] More specifically, the watch comprises a first complication, and a first function is associated with this first complication, which can be, for example, a quick correction function of the mechanism, and the unstable angular operating positions correspond to one or more correction positions of the mechanism. For example, the watch can comprise a moon display mechanism or a chronograph mechanism, and the first function is a moon correction function, or at least one function of the chronograph, such as a start / stop function, a reset to zero or a flyback function, respectively, preferably a reset to zero or a flyback function. It is clear that any other complication that can be corrected by a quick rotation of the crown 2, such as the moon, can also be used.

[0028] The watch can be equipped with a second complication such as a chronograph mechanism, the second function being one of the chronograph functions such as start / stop function, reset to zero or flyback function. Obviously, any other complication that can be corrected by pressure on the crown 2 can also be used, such as the day of the week or the week.

[0029] For example, a timepiece may have a moon display mechanism and a chronograph mechanism, the first function being a moon correction function and the second function being one of the chronograph functions, preferably a reset-to-zero or flyback function.

[0030] Any other suitable complications may be used.

[0031] In order to be able to control a first function via the control rod 3 by rotation of the crown 2 and preferably a second function via said control rod 3 by pressure on the crown 2, the control rod 3 is arranged to rotate and be rigidly connected to a first actuator of the first function and, preferably, arranged to cooperate with a second actuator of the second function during movement of the crown 2 into its pressed position, whilst being free to translate axially relative to the first actuator.

[0032] Details of such a control rod 3 are provided in the application WO2022 / 175002. For this reason, it is briefly described here that a first actuation device comprises an intermediate wheel 16 mounted on a square section 18 of the control rod 3 so as to be rigidly connected to said control rod 3 in rotation, preferably so as to only be able to slide one way relative to the other, said intermediate wheel 16 being arranged to actuate a first function, for example the moon correction function of the moon display mechanism. The intermediate wheel 16, like the crown 2 and the control rod 3, moves between three angular positions, namely a first neutral position and a first unstable angular quick correction position of +65° relative to the neutral position, for example corresponding to the addition of the moon, and a second unstable angular quick correction position of -65° relative to the neutral position, for example corresponding to the removal of the moon. In the example shown, the first actuation device also comprises a centering lever 20 of the control rod 3 and a centering spring 22 of the control rod 3, arranged to act on a heart piece 24 articulated to the intermediate wheel 16 in order to reposition the control rod 3 in a central position.

[0033] The control rod 3 is also advantageously provided with a groove 26 and a second actuator comprising a pull-out piece 28 pivotally mounted on an element of the frame, engaged in said groove 26 and arranged to activate a second function, for example a reset function of the chronograph mechanism, resulting in an axial translation of the control rod 3 during pressure on the crown 2.

[0034] In the illustrated example, during rapid rotation of the crown 2 and thus the control rod 3, the spring 22 and the centering lever 20 act on the heart piece 24. As soon as the torque transmitted to the control rod 3 is released, the spring 22 and the centering lever 20 act on the walls of the heart piece 24 in order to reposition them, in particular with the control rod 3, and thus the crown 2 in its stable central neutral angular position.

[0035] According to the invention, the control member 1 is provided with its own automatic return device for automatically returning the crown 2 from its unstable operating position to its stable neutral position.

[0036] In the illustrated example, the automatic return device to a stable position integrated in the control member according to the invention is used to reinforce the automatic return device of the control rod 3. However, it is clear that the automatic return device to a stable position integrated in the control member according to the invention can also be provided alone, without any return device or equivalent provided in particular on the control rod.

[0037] Said automatic return device of the control member 1 comprises a first tubular cam 30 mounted around the central rod 10 so as to be rigidly connected to said central rod 10 at the side of its base 10a which is rigidly connected to the head 6 of the crown 2, so that the first cam 30 rotates with the central rod 10 according to the axis A when the crown 2 in its unpressed position is rotated in one direction or the other. In a preferred embodiment in which the crown 2 also functions as a push button, the first cam 30 is also translated with the central rod 10 according to the axis A when pressure is applied to the crown 2.

[0038] The automatic return device also comprises a second tubular cam 32, which is housed within the guide tube 4 and is mounted so as to be free to translate axially on the central rod 10 and is arranged so as to be able to slide axially within said guide tube 4 while being essentially, or in fact solely, guided primarily axially within said guide tube 4, its rotation relative to said guide tube 4 being minimal, if not impossible, due to cooperation with a spring 34 which is provided within the guide tube 4 and wound around the central rod 10 between the back of the guide tube 4 and the second cam 32.

[0039] Referring more particularly to Figures 4 to 6, the first cam 30 and the second cam 32 have operating surfaces 30a, 32a at their opposing ends, respectively, arranged so as to be in direct contact with each other, at least when the crown 2 is in its neutral position, as shown in Figures 1 and 7a, said operating surfaces 30a, 32a having a profile obtained by intersecting at least one plane inclined on the axis A, i.e. not perpendicular to the axis A, with the first and second tubular cams 30, 32. Thus, by cooperation of the operating surfaces 30a, 32a, the axial rotation of the first cam 30 along the axis A due to the rotation of the crown 2 into one of the unstable operating positions results in an axial translation of the second cam 32 within the guide tube 4 compressing the spring 34, and by cooperation of the operating surfaces 30a, 32a, the axial translation of the second cam 32 along the axis A which is returned or pushed by the spring 34 results in an opposite axial rotation of the first cam 30 and thus of the central rod 10, when the rotation of the crown 2 in said operating position stops, returning the crown 2 to its stable neutral position, and automatically so.

[0040] The actuating surfaces 30a, 32a are advantageously in direct contact with each other when the crown 2 is in its neutral position and are preferably on a cam profile assembly.

[0041] Advantageously, the first cam 30 is a female cam and the second cam 32 is a male cam, so that the second male cam 32 penetrates and preferably fits into the first female cam 30 when they are sufficiently close to each other, and the operating surface 32a at the end of the second male cam 32 facing towards the first female cam 30 can then come into engagement with the operating surface 30a at the end of the first female cam 30.

[0042] The working surface 30a of the first female cam 30 has a profile obtained by intersecting said first cam 30 with at least one plane inclined on the axis A, preferably at an angle of |30°| to |45°|, and may have an opening angle of the first cam of, for example, 70° + / - 10°. The working surface 32a of the second male cam 32 preferably has a profile of a complementary shape, so that the working surface 32a of the second male cam 32 can come into engagement with the working surface 30a of the first female cam 30.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the working surfaces 30a, 32a of the first and second cams 30, 32 have a profile obtained by intersecting said first and second cams 30, 32 with two planes P1 and P2 inclined on and symmetrical with respect to the axis A, as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0044] Thus, the first cam 30 is preferably a female cam, whose working surface 30a has a profile obtained by intersecting with said first cam 30 two planes P1, P2 inclined on the axis A, one plane here P1 preferably at an angle between 30° and 45°, and the other plane here P2 preferably at an angle between -45° and -30°, said planes P1 and P2 being symmetrical with respect to said axis A. The second cam 32 is a male cam, whose working surface has a profile of complementary shape such that the working surface 32a of the second male cam 32 can come into engagement with the working surface 30a of the first female cam 30.

[0045] The first cam 30 preferably has, at its end facing towards the second cam 32, an actuating surface 30a whose profile comprises, for example, two planes symmetrically inclined on the axis A, giving the first cam 30 a V-notched cylindrical shape. At its end opposite the actuating surface 30a, the first cam 30 has a circular section 30b perpendicular to the axis A, so that it rests on the base 10a of the central rod 10.

[0046] The second cam 32 has at its end facing towards the first cam 30 an actuating surface 32a, the profile of which comprises, for example, two planes symmetrically inclined on the axis A, giving this second cam 32 a complementary shape to the profile of the first cam 30 provided by the actuating surface 30a. At its end opposite to the actuating surface 32a, the second cam 32 has a shoulder 32b arranged to be received in the guide tube 4 and to cooperate with a spring 34 provided at the back of the guide tube 4.

[0047] The second cam 32 is arranged to be slidably received within the guide tube 4 whilst being blocked from rotation therein.

[0048] For this purpose, the inner wall of the guide tube 4 typically has a longitudinal flute 36 as shown in FIG. 4 and the shoulder 32b of the second cam 32 has a periphery having a shape substantially complementary to said flute, for example a polygonal periphery.

[0049] In the preferred embodiment in which crown 2 also functions as a push button, spring 34 is also advantageously a spring which serves to return crown 2 from its depressed position to its undepressed position when pressure exerted from the outside on the central portion of crown 2 ceases.

[0050] In fact, when pressure is applied to the crown 2, by the cooperation of the actuating surfaces 30a, 32a, which preferably remain in contact on the cam profile assembly, the first cam 30 translated according to the axis A by means of the central rod 10, brings about an axial translation of the second cam 32 in the guide tube 4 which compresses the spring 34. Thus, when the pressure exerted from the outside on the crown 2 is removed, by the cooperation of the actuating surfaces 30a, 32a, which remain in contact, the axial translation of the second cam 32, which is pushed back or pushed by the spring 34, brings about an axial translation of the first cam 30 and thus of the central rod 10, which by axial translation returns and restores the crown 2 to its unpressed position.

[0051] Referring to Figures 7a to 7c, the operation of the automatic return to stable position rotation device integrated in the control member according to the present invention is as follows.

[0052] When the crown 2 is in the unpressed and neutral position, the first and second cams 30 and 32 are positioned on the central rod 10 fitted inside each other such that their actuating surfaces 30a, 32a are in direct contact with each other, typically on a cam profile assembly, as shown by FIG. 7a.

[0053] In this position, when the crown 2 is rotated in one direction or the other in one of its unstable angular operating positions, for example through an angle of ±65° in order to perform a quick correction of ±1 month, for example, the axial rotation of the crown 2 results in an axial rotation of the first cam 30, which is rigidly connected to the central rod 10, so that the operating surface 30a of the first cam 30 presses against the operating surface 32a of the second cam 32, which is blocked or essentially blocked from rotating within the guide tube 4, but moves away from the first cam 30 by sliding along the central rod 10 towards the back of the guide tube 4, and the shoulder 32b of the second cam 32 compresses the spring 34 at the back of the guide tube 4, as shown in Figure 7b.

[0054] At the same time, the central rod 10, which is rotated by the crown 2, rotates the control rod 3 via the squares 12 and 14, so as to carry out the required rapid correction in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the crown 2.

[0055] When the quick correction is completed and the user releases the crown 2, there is no torque transmitted to the central rod 10 to rotate it into the unstable operating position. The second cam 32, no longer constrained by the first cam 30, is returned by the spring 34 by sliding along the central rod 10 towards the first cam 30. The actuating surface 32a of the second cam 32 engaging with the actuating surface 30a of the first cam 30 thus rotates the actuating surface 30a and thus the central rod 10 in the opposite direction until the first and second cams 30, 32 again engage. Rotation of the central rod 10 in the opposite direction returns the crown 2 to its neutral position, as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment in which the crown 2 also functions as a push button, it is possible to activate a second function, e.g. resetting the chronograph mechanism, by applying pressure to the crown 2 when it is in its stable angular position, as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0057] During its axial movement following pressure on the crown 2, the central rod 10 translates the first cam 30 axially together with the crown 2, and the first cam 30, remaining engaged with the second cam 32 blocked or essentially blocked from rotation within the guide tube 4, presses against the second cam 32 essentially or actually only by sliding the second cam 32 within the guide tube 4, and the shoulder 32b of the second cam 32 compresses the spring 34 at the back of the guide tube 4, as shown in Figure 7c.

[0058] At the same time, the axially translating central rod 10 also translates axially via the squares 12 and 14, thus activating a second function, for example zeroing the chronograph. After release of pressure on the crown 2 and thus on the central rod 10, the second cam 32, pushed by the spring 34, slides outwards in the guide tube, itself pushing against the first cam 30 and thus the central rod 10, so that the central rod 10 and the crown 2 return to the unpressed position shown in Figure 7a.

[0059] A timepiece may be equipped with one or more control members of the invention arranged to activate different primary and secondary functions, in particular the functions of several complications.

[0060] The invention makes it possible to control at least one function of a clock movement by rotating a control member, such as a rapid control rod, which ensures automatic return to a neutral position once the function is activated.

[0061] Furthermore, the invention also advantageously makes it possible to control, by a single control member, two different functions which are independent of each other, in particular functions of different complications, one of which is controlled by said control member such as a push button and the other of which is controlled by said control member such as a rapid control rod, and in which, once the function is activated, the automatic return to the neutral position is reliable and thus guaranteed.

[0062] Although a single control member combining rotary and pressure control is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that the control member of the present invention can be used with only rotary control, without the push button function.

Claims

1. A control member (1) for controlling at least one first function of a watch movement, the control member (1) comprises a crown (2) having a head (6) and a central rod (10) firmly connected to the head (6), the crown (2) intended to be firmly connected to a control rod (3), and a guide tube (4) having a longitudinal axis A and mounted such that the central rod (10) can rotate at least axially along the longitudinal axis A, wherein the crown (2) is positioned to occupy at least one non-pressed position, in which the crown (2) can rotate axially in at least one direction between at least one stable neutral angular position and at least one unstable angular operating position, and in the at least one unstable angular operating position, the first function can be operated via the control rod (3), in the control member (1), The control member (1) is equipped with an automatic return device for automatically returning the crown (2) from its operating position to its neutral position, the automatic return device comprising a first tubular cam (30) mounted around the central rod (10) so as to be firmly connected to the central rod (10), and a second tubular cam (32) housed within the guide tube (4), the first cam (30) and the second cam (32) being mounted so as to be freely axially parallel to the central rod (10), and being arranged so as to be essentially axially slidable within the guide tube (4) and to be able to cooperate with a spring (34) provided within the guide tube (4), the first cam (30) and the second cam (32) being arranged to contact at least when the crown (2) is in its neutral position A control member (1) having a working surface (30a, 32a), wherein the working surface (30a, 32a) has a profile obtained by intersecting the first and second cams (30, 32) with at least one plane inclined on the axis A, and as a result, the working surface (30a, 32a) cooperate so that the axial rotation of the first cam (30) due to the rotation of the crown (2) into its working position results in an axial translation of the second cam (32) that compresses the spring (34), and the working surface (30a, 32a) cooperate so that the axial translation of the second cam (32) that is returned by the spring (34) when the rotation into the working position stops results in an axial rotation of the first cam (30) that automatically returns the crown (2) to its neutral position.

2. The control member (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first cam (30) is a female cam, and the operating surface (30a) of the first cam (30) has a profile obtained by intersecting the first cam (30) with at least one plane inclined on the axis A at an angle of |30°| to |45°|, and the second cam (32) is a male cam, and the operating surface (32a) of the second cam (32) has a profile of a complementary shape.

3. The control member (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating surfaces (30a, 32a) of the first and second cams (30, 32) have a profile obtained by intersecting the first and second cams (30, 32) with two planes (P1, P2) that are inclined on the axis A and symmetric with respect to the axis A.

4. The control member (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first cam (30) is a female cam, and the operating surface (30a) of the first cam (30) has a profile obtained by intersecting the first cam (30) with two planes (P1, P2) that are inclined on the axis A at an angle of -45° to -30° and the other at an angle of 30° to 45°, and the two planes (P1, P2) are symmetrical with respect to the axis A, and the second cam (32) is a male cam, and the operating surface (32a) of the second cam (32) has a profile of complementary shape.

5. The control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner wall of the guide tube (4) has longitudinal grooves (36), the second cam (32) has a shoulder portion (32b) housed in the guide tube (4) and arranged to cooperate with the spring (34) provided on the back of the guide tube (4), and the shoulder portion (32b) has a peripheral edge having a shape that substantially complements the grooves (36).

6. The control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first function is a mechanism correction function, and the at least one unstable angular operating position corresponds to the correction position of the mechanism.

7. The control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the crown (2) is arranged to rotate axially in one direction between the stable neutral angular position and the first unstable angular operating position, and to rotate axially in the other direction between the neutral position and the second unstable angular operating position.

8. The control member (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first function is a mechanism correction function, the first unstable angular operating position corresponds to a first correction position of the mechanism, and the second unstable angular operating position corresponds to a second correction position of the mechanism.

9. The central rod (10) is mounted so as to be able to move axially within the guide tube (4), and the crown (2) is also positioned so as to be able to move axially between a non-pressed position and a pressed position in response to pressure on the crown (2), and in the pressed position a second function different from the first function can be activated via the control rod (3), and as a result the cooperation of the working surfaces (30a, 32a) causes the axial plane of the first cam (30) to move. The control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movement causes an axial translation of the second cam (32) that compresses the spring (34), and when the pressure on the crown (2) is released, the axial translation of the second cam (32) returned by the spring (34) to return it to its unpressed position by the cooperation of the operating surfaces (30a, 32a) causes an axial translation of the first cam (30), thereby returning the crown (2) to its unpressed position.

10. The control member (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second function is one of the chronograph functions.

11. The control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the central rod (10) has a female mold-recessed square portion (12) at its free end, and the female mold-recessed square portion (12) is intended to fit into a male mold-recessed square portion (14) provided at the end of the control rod (3).

12. A clock comprising at least one control member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

13. The watch according to claim 12, wherein the watch comprises a month display mechanism or a chronograph mechanism, and the first function is a month correction function, or at least one function of the chronograph, respectively.

14. A watch comprising at least one control member (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes a month display mechanism and a chronograph mechanism, the first function being a month correction function, and the second function being one of the chronograph mechanisms.

15. The watch according to claim 13, characterized in that the second function is a chronograph reset or flyback function.

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