Watch cases for watches with musical or chiming mechanisms, with covered bottoms

Abstract

To provide a watch case that emits sound, which is easy for a user to clean and can continuously propagate sound. [Solution] The present invention relates to a watch case (10) for a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism, the case being constructed with an acoustic membrane (28) held at its periphery at the bottom of the watch case (10). The watch case includes a cover (14) with a bottom (20). The cover (14) is mounted for movement between an open position and a closed position, with the bottom (20) of the cover (14) covering the outer surface of the acoustic membrane (28), allowing the membrane to vibrate freely in the closed position. The watch case (10) further includes at least one acoustic diffusion opening (24).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch case for a wristwatch with a back cover with a cover, which is designed to house an acoustic membrane and a movement with a musical or chiming mechanism.The present invention also relates to a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism, which comprises a watch case with a back cover with a cover. [Background technology]

[0002] The covers were originally used to protect the crystal of pocket watches, but they were also used as a surface for engraving and guilloching. When watches moved from the pocket to the wrist, the use of covers naturally fell away in watchmaking. However, various watch brands have revived this tradition by offering watches with hinged covers attached to the back of the watch case. When the crown is pressed, the cover, which covers the transparent back, opens to reveal the movement. The underside of the cover can feature engraving or other decorative designs. As a result, the decorative designs are only visible when the cover is open.

[0003] In this way, the wearer can wear the watch in an understated and elegant style, equipped with an exceptional mechanical movement that has been hand-finished with highly skilled craftsmanship, which can be admired by simply removing the watch from the wrist and gently pressing the crown to open the watch case cover.

[0004] Musical or chiming watches are also known, which include, for example, minute repeater (which tells the time by sound) or grand sonnerie (which chimes every hour and every quarter hour) mechanisms.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 (EP3009895) discloses a musical or chiming watch equipped with an acoustic dissipation device. The watch comprises a watch case including an intermediate case, a back cover fixed to the intermediate case, and a crystal that closes the case on the dial side. The acoustic dissipation device comprises a support and a connecting piece fixed within the back cover, between the back cover bezel and the back cover crystal, and an annular cavity defined around the entire periphery of the support and facing the inner surface of the back cover bezel. The back cover bezel has multiple side openings. Perforated diaphragms cover the side openings, allowing air to pass through while preventing dust from entering the annular cavity.

[0006] Covering the side opening with a perforated membrane allows sound to escape from the watch case while preventing the back crystal from aging due to the accumulation of dust that enters through the opening. However, while this perforated membrane is effective at trapping dust and other impurities, it eventually becomes clogged over time, attenuating or reducing the diffusion of sound from the watch case. Furthermore, once clogged, the membrane is difficult to clean.

[0007] Patent Document 2 (EP3812845) discloses a timepiece equipped with a vibration generating device designed to produce sound, the device comprising a chamber. The chamber is surrounded by a membrane and glass, through which a time display using multiple hands is visible. The chamber further comprises at least one opening that opens to the outside of the timepiece. This opening is protected by a filter that allows air to pass through but not water to prevent impurities from entering the chamber. However, this filter also faces the problem of clogging due to the accumulation of impurities.

[0008] Patent document 3 (CN111596539) discloses a chiming watch with a protective cover hinged to the case so that it can be folded against the crystal on the dial side. The crystal has a sound transmission opening, while the cover has a sealing element designed to close the sound transmission opening when the protective cover is folded against the crystal. Therefore, only when the protective cover is pivoted can sound be transmitted outside the watch case, allowing the user to see the chiming mechanism.

[0009] Also, Patent Document 4 (DE9415102U1) discloses a travel or pocket alarm clock with a hinged cover on the back side, which is attached to the case by a snap connection and acts as a stand for the alarm clock. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3009895 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 3812845 [Patent Document 3] Swiss Patent No. 111596539 [Patent Document 4] German Utility Model No. 9415102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to propose a watch case for a wristwatch equipped with a musical or chiming mechanism, offering an alternative solution to the problems associated with dirt and dust, and in particular to provide a solution that at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to propose a watch case for a musical or chiming watch, adapted to continuously transmit acoustic vibrations to the outside of the watch case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] These objects are achieved in particular by a watch case for a wristwatch equipped with a musical or chiming mechanism, which comprises an acoustic membrane held to the bottom of the watch case by a peripheral edge of the acoustic membrane. The watch case comprises a cover with a bottom. The cover is mounted so as to be articulatable between an open position and a closed position, in which the bottom of the cover covers the outer surface of the acoustic membrane, thereby allowing the acoustic membrane to vibrate freely. The watch case further comprises at least one sound diffusion opening.

[0014] In one embodiment, the watch case comprises a plurality of openings distributed around the periphery of the acoustic membrane.

[0015] In one embodiment, the total width of all openings corresponds to at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or at least 95% of the circumference of the acoustic membrane.

[0016] In one embodiment, the acoustic membrane is held in place by a bottom edge that covers the periphery of the acoustic membrane, more particularly the periphery of the outer surface of the acoustic membrane.

[0017] In one embodiment, the watch case further comprises a sealing portion disposed between the bottom edge of the watch case and the acoustic membrane to seal the bottom side of the watch case.

[0018] In one embodiment, said at least one opening comprises one or more holes of circular or oval shape, preferably in the form of a slot.

[0019] In one embodiment, the at least one opening comprises one or more gaps located between the bottom edge and the cover in the closed position.

[0020] In one embodiment, the at least one opening comprises one or more radial grooves formed in the surface of the bottom edge.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cover further comprises an edge surrounding the bottom and a bottom support such that the bottom of the cover is spaced from a general plane defined by the edge surrounding the bottom, and the at least one opening is located in the cover between the bottom and the edge.

[0022] In one embodiment, at least one of the bottom of the cover and the acoustic membrane is opaque, at least partially transparent, or at least partially translucent.

[0023] In one embodiment, the watch case further comprises a fastening mechanism for securing the cover in the closed position.

[0024] In one embodiment, the fastening mechanism comprises a slider that can be operated to open the cover.

[0025] In one embodiment, the cover is hinged to the bottom edge.

[0026] In one embodiment, the cover is articulated via a joint in the form of a pivot joint, or a ball and socket joint, or a sliding joint.

[0027] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a wristwatch including the above-described watch case.

[0028] The following description, illustrated by the accompanying figures, sets forth several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a watch case of a musical or chiming wristwatch with a transparent bottom cover in an open position according to a preferred embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the watch case of FIG. 1 seen from a different direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a wristwatch with a musical or chiming mechanism comprises a watch case 10 within which a watch movement (not shown) is mounted. The watch movement comprises a musical or chiming mechanism such as a grande sonnerie or minute repeater movement.

[0031] The watch case 10 comprises an intermediate case 12 and an acoustic membrane 28 on its bottom side, which is preferably transparent to allow viewing of the movement, in particular the hammers and gongs of the musical or striking mechanism. The acoustic membrane is preferably disc-shaped, and its periphery is typically held between a bottom edge 30 of the watch case and the intermediate case 12. The bottom edge 30 is preferably fixed to the intermediate case 12 by a number of screws 31 that pass through the acoustic membrane from one side to the other.

[0032] A seal (not visible in the figures) is preferably arranged between the bottom edge 30 and the peripheral edge of the acoustic membrane 28, so that the assembly comprising the acoustic membrane 28, bottom edge 30 and seal ensures a seal on the bottom side of the watch case. The outer surface of the acoustic membrane 28 and the outer surface of the bottom edge 30 surrounding the acoustic membrane are preferably coplanar. In another embodiment, the outer surface of the membrane 28 may be arranged in a plane closer to the movement, i.e., the musical or striking mechanism, than the outer surface of the bottom edge 30.

[0033] The acoustic membrane 28 must be able to vibrate freely to ensure proper sound transmission between the interior and exterior of the watch case 10. To provide good dynamic response, the acoustic membrane is preferably flat and made of a lightweight, rigid material, such as in the form of a sapphire, mineral glass, or Plexiglas sheet. If the acoustic membrane does not need to be transparent, it may be made of another material, such as metallic glass, titanium, steel, or a copper-based material.

[0034] In order to vibrate freely, the acoustic membrane 28 of such a watch must be separated from the wearer's wrist. For this purpose, the watch case 10 is provided with a cover 14 designed to separate the membrane 28 from the wrist. In a preferred embodiment, the cover 14 is provided with one or more sound diffusion openings 24 arranged around the periphery of the acoustic membrane to facilitate the diffusion of sound propagated by the vibration of the acoustic membrane out of the watch case 10. The cover 14 further comprises a base 20, for example circular, and an edge 22 surrounding the base 20 of the cover. The base 20 is preferably flat.

[0035] The edge 22 of the cover 14 is preferably pivotally connected to the watch case by a hinge 16, for example fixed to the bottom edge 30, so that the cover 14 can occupy a closed position and an open position. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the cover may be pivotally attached to the intermediate case 12 of the watch case. Instead of a hinge, other articulation mechanisms may be considered, such as a ball joint, a sliding joint, or another pivot joint with an axis of rotation perpendicular to the general plane of the acoustic membrane, so that the cover 14 can pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of the acoustic membrane.

[0036] The cover 14 further comprises a bottom support 18. The bottom support 18 is attached to the outer side 14a of the cover 14 and is arranged such that the bottom 20 of the cover 14 is spaced apart from the general plane defined by the edge 22. In the closed position, the edge 22 of the cover 14 preferably abuts the bottom edge 30 of the watch case. The bottom 20 of the cover 14 is offset from the edge 22, which is located at the height of the acoustic membrane 28, thereby creating a space of a few tenths of a millimeter between the bottom 20 and the acoustic membrane 28. This ensures that the membrane is protected and can vibrate freely under the action of the musical or ringing mechanism.

[0037] The bottom support may, for example, comprise a number of legs 18 which may act as spacers and which separate the edge 22 from the bottom 20. As shown in Figure 2, these legs 18 are integral with the edge 22 and with the circular portion 21 of the bottom 20 of the cover. In the closed position, the cover preferably has a raised shape such that the distance separating the plane of the membrane 28 from the plane of the bottom 20 is greater than the distance separating the plane of the membrane 28 from the plane in which the edge 22 lies. In this way, sound diffusion openings in the form of slits 24 are formed in the thickness of the cover, in particular between the legs.

[0038] The number and location of the legs may vary depending on the design selected to define the number and respective lengths of the slits around the base 20. The various slits may be sized to extend along an arc around the base 20, and consequently the acoustic membrane 28, when the cover 14 is in the closed position. These slits or extending openings may collectively cover or extend at least 200°, preferably at least 300°, or even at least 340°, of the circumference of the base 20 or acoustic membrane. At least one of these slits 24 may extend over at least 30°, or 60°, or 90° of the circumference of the cover's bottom.

[0039] More generally, it should be noted that the overall width of the opening 24 will be at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or even at least 95% of the circumference of the acoustic membrane 28 or the circumference of the bottom 20, particularly if the shape of the bottom 20 or the elastic membrane 28 is not circular.

[0040] In another embodiment not shown, the openings are circular and preferably regularly distributed around the periphery or circumference of the base 20 or the acoustic membrane 28 .

[0041] In another embodiment (not shown), one or more acoustic openings are formed at the interface between the edge 22 of the cover 14 and the bottom edge 30 of the watch case when the cover is in the closed position. In this case, the cover 14 does not have any sound diffusion openings. Instead, the surface of the bottom edge 30 that is intended to contact the edge 22 of the cover 14 when the cover 14 is brought into the closed position may be provided with at least one radial groove that extends radially from the inner edge to the outer edge of the bottom edge 30 and serves as an opening 24 for the diffusion of sound out of the watch case.

[0042] In another embodiment not shown, the at least one opening may be formed by a gap located between the bottom edge 30 and the cover 14 when the bottom edge 30 is in the closed position. To accomplish this, a plurality of protrusions or other projections may act as spacers to prevent the cover edge 22 from directly contacting the bottom edge 30. These protrusions may be integral with one or both of the edge 22 and the bottom edge 30.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, the fastening mechanism of the cover may form at least one gap between the two parts (edge ​​22 and bottom edge 30, which function as opening 24 when the cover is in the closed position and fastened to the intermediate case 12 or another part of the watch case) to hold edge 22 of the cover away from bottom edge 30.

[0044] In another example, the edge 22 of the cover 14 is pivotally attached, for example by rotation, to the bottom edge 30 of the watch case or to the intermediate case 12 .

[0045] In another example, the edge 22 of the cover 14 is pivotally attached, for example by rotation, to the bottom edge 30 of the watch case or to the intermediate case 12 .

[0046] In one variant not shown, the bottom support 18 could be in the form of a ring with at least one radial sound diffusing opening 24. In one embodiment, the bottom support 18, the rim 22 and the circular portion 21 of the bottom 20 are manufactured as a single piece, for example by molding or galvanic growing.

[0047] When the cover 14 is in the open position, the openings 24 formed in the outer surface (or exterior) of the acoustic membrane 28, the bottom 20 of the inner surface 14b of the cover, and, depending on the application, in the surface of the bottom support 18 or bottom edge 30, are advantageously directly accessible to the user. This allows the user to regularly and easily clean these openings 24, as well as the inside of the bottom 20 of the cover and the outer surface of the acoustic membrane 28, to prevent the accumulation of dirt particles that could interfere with the visual appearance of the back of the cover and the back of the movement as seen through the membrane. Furthermore, cleaning the acoustic membrane prevents it from becoming clogged over time with accumulated particles, which could prevent the membrane from vibrating optimally and affect the quality of the sound radiating from the watch case through one or more sound holes.

[0048] In one embodiment, the cover 14 can be held in the fastened position by a fastening mechanism. According to the example shown in Fig. 1, the fastening mechanism comprises a male element 32 and a slot 26. The male element 32 is arranged, for example, on the bottom edge 30 at the position of the crown 34 (i.e., at the 3 o'clock position). This male element 32 is intended to cooperate with the slot 26 arranged opposite the edge 22 of the cover, in particular on its inner side surface 14b. This cooperation allows the cover 14 to be fastened to the intermediate case 12, in particular to the bottom edge 30 integral with the intermediate case.

[0049] In this example, the slot 26 is radially opposed to the hinge 16 of the cover 14. Opening of the cover 14 can be achieved, for example, via a sliding mechanism 35 located at the crown 34. Alternatively, opening of the cover can be achieved by positioning the crown in a predetermined axial position.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom 20 and acoustic membrane 28 of the cover 14 are transparent or partially transparent, allowing the movement to be viewed from the bottom without having to open the cover. The bottom is made of, for example, sapphire glass. Alternatively, the bottom 20 and / or acoustic membrane may be at least partially translucent or opaque. Additionally or alternatively to this embodiment, the bottom 20 and / or acoustic membrane 28 could include, for example, decorations or engravings.

[0051] The bottom of the watch case cover can have other visual appearances depending on the different design variants. For example, the bottom could be clear glass with decals, marks, or other patterns, preferably made by laser. It is also conceivable to use frosted glass for the bottom, or to have transparent areas in places, or to use glass with a gradient from opaque to clear, or to use smoked glass. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] Watch Case 10 Intermediate case 12 Cover 14 External side 14a Inner side 14b Articulation mechanism 16 (e.g., hinge) Bottom support 18 bottom 20 Circular section 21 Edge 22 Opening 24 Slot 26 Transparent film 28 bottom edge 30 Screw 31 Male element 32 Crown 34 Sliding mechanism 35

Claims

1. A watch case (10) for a musical or chiming watch, said watch case comprising an acoustic membrane held to a bottom of said watch case by a periphery of said acoustic membrane, said case comprising a cover (14) with a base (20), said cover (14) mounted for articulation between an open position and a closed position; the bottom (20) of the cover (14) covers the outer surface of the acoustic membrane (28) so as to allow the membrane to vibrate freely; The watch case (10) further comprises at least one sound diffusion opening (14). Watch case (10).

2. 2. A watch case (10) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of openings (24) distributed around the periphery of the acoustic membrane (28).

3. A watch case (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the total width of all the openings (24) corresponds to at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, or at least 95% of the circumference of the acoustic membrane (28).

4. 4. A watch case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acoustic membrane (28) is held in place by a bottom edge (30) that covers the periphery of the acoustic membrane (28).

5. 5. A watch case (10) according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing portion arranged between the bottom edge (30) of the watch case and the acoustic membrane (28) to seal the bottom side of the watch case.

6. 6. A watch case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one opening (24) consists of one or more holes of circular or oval shape, preferably in the form of slots.

7. A watch case (10) as described in claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one opening (24) consists of one or more gaps located between the bottom edge (30) and the cover (14) in the closed position.

8. 6. A watch case (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one opening (24) comprises one or more radial grooves formed in the surface of the bottom edge (30).

9. the cover (14) further comprises an edge (22) surrounding the bottom (20), and a bottom support (18) configured to space the bottom (20) of the cover (14) from a general plane defined by the edge (22) surrounding the bottom (20); 9. A watch case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one opening (24) is located between the bottom (20) and the edge (22) of the cover.

10. A watch case (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the bottom (20) of the cover (14) and the acoustic membrane (28) is opaque, at least partially transparent, or at least partially translucent.

11. 11. The watch case (10) of claim 1, further comprising a fastening mechanism for securing the cover (14) in the closed position.

12. 12. A watch case (10) according to claim 11, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a slider (35) that can be operated to open the cover.

13. A watch case (10) according to any one of claims 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12, which is dependent on any one of claims 4, 5, 7 and 8, wherein the cover (14) is hingedly attached to the bottom edge (30).

14. 14. A watch case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cover (14) is articulated via a joint (16) in the form of a pivot joint, a ball-and-socket joint or a sliding joint.

15. A wristwatch comprising a watch case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

Images