Watches equipped with shock-absorbing fixing devices for watch movements

Abstract

We provide a watch that includes a case for housing the watch movement. [Solution] The watch movement 2 is held in the case 4 by a shock-absorbing fixing device 10, the shock-absorbing fixing device comprising at least two blades 3, each blade having two opposite ends 3c, 3d that are directly or indirectly attached to the case and the watch movement by fixing elements 7 that engage with a first anchor point on the watch movement and a second anchor point on the case. The first anchor point on the watch movement is located on a first circle C1, the second anchor point is located on a second circle C2, the first circle and the second circle are concentric, and the first and second anchor points are not radially aligned.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a shock absorption fixing device for a timepiece movement, which can reduce the influence of an impact on the timepiece movement.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, two or three casing clamps are used to assemble or fix a timepiece movement inside a case, particularly inside a case body (middle case).

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fixing device for fixing a timepiece movement inside a case. This fixing device fixes the timepiece movement by a plurality of flexible casing clamps. These casing clamps have a support portion connected to the timepiece movement and a fixing portion inserted into a notch formed in the inner circumference of the case body.

[0004] In particular, this notch can be shaped such that the casing clamp can induce an appropriate pre-tension (pre-pressure) on the timepiece movement. As a result, the timepiece movement is clamped and held at a predetermined position inside the case body.

[0005] It is rare that these fixing devices are dimensionally designed to withstand the influence caused by an impact on the case. Such an impact may lead to loosening or bending of the clamp in the case body. As a result, the acceleration received by the timepiece movement is amplified, and damage to the timepiece movement may be caused.

[0006] To overcome this drawback of clamp loosening due to impact, Patent Document 2 proposes suspending the watch movement within the case using a support structure comprising a plate of the watch movement and multiple suspension triangular members with their ends attached to the case. However, such a solution becomes hyperstatic in dynamic mode, resulting in little damping effect on the watch movement and increased stress at the anchor points (fixed points).

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to improve shock-absorbing and fixing devices with damping effects for watch movements. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Swiss Patent No. 315649 [Patent Document 2] Swiss Patent No. 720282 [Overview of the project]

[0009] For this purpose, the present invention provides a watch equipped with a shock-absorbing fixing device for a watch movement, which makes it possible to eliminate at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0010] The present invention provides a flexible and shock-absorbing fixing solution for damping the force transmitted to the movement during impact, while simultaneously controlling and limiting the axial displacement of the watch movement within the case. Compared with prior art solutions, the present invention provides a solution that allows addressing constraints related to the maximum allowable axial displacement of the watch movement within the case in order to avoid the acceleration amplification effect in the watch movement.

[0011] In particular, the present invention provides a watch equipped with a shock-absorbing fixing device for a watch movement, designed to hold the watch movement within the watch case. This device provides a damping effect to reduce the acceleration experienced by the watch movement in the event of an impact to the case or glass.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention includes a watch equipped with a shock-absorbing and fixing device that offers improved reliability and robustness compared to prior art solutions, ensuring proper functioning even in the event of repeated shocks.

[0013] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a watch comprising a case for housing a watch movement. The watch movement is held in the case by a shock-absorbing fixing device. The shock-absorbing fixing device comprises at least two blades. Each blade has two opposite ends that are directly or indirectly attached to the case and the watch movement by fixing elements that engage with a first anchor point on the watch movement and a second anchor point on the case. The present invention is characterized in that the first anchor point on the watch movement is located on a first circle and the second anchor point is located on a second circle, and the first circle and the second circle are concentric, and further characterized in that the first and second anchor points are radially offset with respect to the centers Z of circles C1 and C2, and as a result the first anchor point is not radially aligned with the second anchor point.

[0014] The shock-absorbing fixing device according to the present invention enables the connection of a watch movement to a case while providing a damping effect to reduce or control the acceleration experienced by the watch movement during an impact.

[0015] Preferably, the blade is positioned between the watch movement and the case such that, when the blade is elastically deformed, it allows for a relative rotational displacement of the watch movement with respect to the case, around a rotation axis passing through the center Z of circles C1 and C2. Thus, the shock-absorbing fixing device according to the present invention enables damping by combining axial movement along a central axis passing through center Z and rotational movement around a central axis passing through Z.

[0016] The watch movement is dampened, particularly at the winding stem, while ensuring the water resistance of the case. To allow axial and rotational movement of the watch movement without degrading the winding stem or the case's water resistance at the winding stem, it may be necessary to provide a detachable winding stem. Detachment can be performed at the connection between the watch movement and the winding stem, or between the winding stem and the case.

[0017] Preferably, the winding stem has a certain degree of flexibility sufficient to allow the watch movement to rotate in the event of an impact and / or to allow the watch movement to move axially in the event of an impact.

[0018] In addition to the features described in the previous paragraph, the clock according to the present invention may have one or more of the following features, individually or in any technically possible combination. • At least two blades ensure damping of the watch movement by the elastic deformation of the at least two blades. • At least two blades are positioned to allow relative displacement of the watch movement to the case in response to impact, which is achieved by the elastic deformation of the at least two blades causing the watch movement to rotate around an axis of rotation passing through the centers of the first circle C1 and the second circle C2. • At least two blades are positioned around the watch movement, at equal angular distances from each other. · At least two blades form a circular repeating pattern symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation passing through the centers Z of circles C1 and C2 in a clockwise movement. · At least two blades extend in a tangential or substantially tangential direction with respect to the first circle C1, and one direction is considered to be tangential or substantially tangential if it forms an angle of 90° ± 5° with the radius of circle C1 at any point on circle C1. · At least two blades have the same dimensions and / or mechanical properties. · At least two blades have different dimensions and / or the same mechanical properties. · At least two blades are made of a material selected from steel, spring steel, superelastic shape memory alloy, amorphous metal, nickel-based superalloy, iron-nickel-based superalloy, cobalt-based superalloy, spring steel, composite material, or a mixture or combination thereof. · The fixing element includes at least one screw. · The anchor point on the clock movement is placed directly on the floor of the clock movement. · The clock movement includes a casing support attached to the floor of the clock movement, and the anchor point on the clock movement is placed on the casing support. · Each blade is formed by a stack of several superimposed blades.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. is an exploded perspective view of a clock movement and a shock-absorbing fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the shock-absorbing fixing device includes four stacks and a casing support to which the clock movement is clamped (fastened). [Figure 2]A perspective view similar to FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration of a timepiece movement and a shock-absorbing fixing device. [Figure 3] A perspective view presenting the assembly shown in FIG. 2 above the accommodating part in the case of the timepiece. [Figure 4] A top view of a timepiece provided with a timepiece movement incorporated in a case using the shock-absorbing fixing device according to the present invention.

[0021] For clarity, the same or similar elements in different embodiments are labeled with the same reference numerals in all figures.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a shock-absorbing fixing device 10 for a timepiece movement 2 designed to hold the timepiece movement 2 within a case 4 of a timepiece 1.

[0023] The shock-absorbing fixing device 10 according to the present invention enables the timepiece movement 2 to be connected to the case 4 while damping the timepiece movement 2 when an impact occurs. The shock-absorbing fixing device 10 according to the present invention particularly enables the reduction or control of the acceleration that the timepiece movement 2 receives during an impact.

[0024] According to the illustrated embodiment, the shock-absorbing fixing device 10 includes a casing support 5. The timepiece movement 2 is attached to the casing support 5, for example, by a holding clamp 51. The casing support 5 is, for example, a casing circle (connecting ring). The casing support 5 is any element that facilitates the casing (incorporation) of the timepiece movement 2. However, according to the present invention, it is also possible to directly case the timepiece movement 2 in the case 4 without using an intermediate casing support 5 as shown.

[0025] The shock-absorbing fixing device 10 according to the present invention comprises at least two blades 3 that function as a casing clamp for a watch movement and as an damper for the watch movement in the event of an impact.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the shock-absorbing and fixing device 10 comprises four blades 3. However, the shock-absorbing and fixing device 10 may comprise at least two blades 3, for example, up to six blades 3.

[0027] The various blades 3 in the shock-absorbing fixing device 10 may have different dimensions and / or mechanical properties, for example, in terms of width and / or thickness, and / or Young's modulus.

[0028] The various blades 3 in the shock-absorbing fixing device 10 may have the same dimensions and / or the same mechanical properties.

[0029] In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 4, these blades 3 have the same dimensions.

[0030] The number of blades 3 is selected in response to a given shock, depending on the desired damping and displacement of the watch movement relative to the case 4.

[0031] Preferably, the material of the blade 3 is selected from the following list: steel, elastic steel, superelastic shape memory alloy, amorphous metal, nickel-based superalloy, iron-nickel-based superalloy, cobalt-based superalloy, spring steel, composite material, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

[0032] Preferably, the blade 3 is made from a superelastic shape memory material, such as a nickel-titanium alloy like nitinol.

[0033] Nitinol is a superelastic shape memory alloy. The composition of Nitinol (i.e., the percentages of nickel and titanium) is selected so that Nitinol is in the austenite phase and therefore superelastic within the temperature range in which the watch is used (e.g., -10°C to 50°C).

[0034] In this specification, "superelastic alloy" refers to an alloy having a yield strain of more than 2%, more than 5%, or more than 8%.

[0035] For example, blade 3 may have one or more of the following characteristics: namely, a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 2 mm, a width in the range of 2 to 6 mm, and a length in the range of 8 to 25 mm.

[0036] Each blade 3 has two opposing ends, namely a first case-side end 3c and a second movement-side end 3d. Each end 3c, 3d has an axial or cylindrical hole suitable for passing a fixing element 7 through. Thus, each blade 3 is attached to the case 4 and the watch movement 2 (via the casing support 5, if there is a casing support), thereby casing (integrating) the watch movement 2 into the case 4.

[0037] The fixing element 7 is configured to pass through holes in the ends 3c, 3d of the blade 3, and is further configured to engage with a first anchor point 8a located on the casing support 5 (or directly on the base plate 9 of the watch movement 2 if there is no casing support 5), and a second anchor point 8b located on the case 4.

[0038] For example, the fixing element 7 is a screw having a threaded body designed to pass through the hole at the end of the blade 3, and the anchor points 8a and 8b are female threads (tapping) designed to hold the threaded body of the screw.

[0039] In this way, the ends 3c and 3d of the blade 3 are rigidly and reversibly screwed to the casing support 5 (or the base plate 9 of the watch movement 2) and the case 4. The blade 3 may also be attached by other equivalent means known to those skilled in the art.

[0040] According to the present invention, a first anchor point 8a on a clock movement is located on a first circle C1, a second anchor point 8b is located on a second circle C2, and the first circle C1 and the second circle C2 are concentric circles having center Z.

[0041] Preferably, anchor points 8a and 8b are positioned between the watch movement 2 and the case 4 so that when the blade 3 is elastically deformed, the blade 3 generates a relative rotational displacement of the watch movement 2 with respect to the case 4 around a rotation axis passing through the center Z. In this way, the shock-absorbing fixing device 10 according to the present invention combines axial movement and rotational movement along the axis passing through the center Z when the blade 3 is elastically deformed.

[0042] The first anchor point 8a and the second anchor point 8b are radially offset from the centers of circles C1 and C2, and as a result, the first anchor point is not radially aligned with the second anchor point.

[0043] Preferably, the blades 3 are arranged around the clock movement 2 at equal angular distances from each other.

[0044] Preferably, the various blades 3 form a circular repeating pattern around the clock movement 2, which is preferably symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation passing through the centers Z of circles C1 and C2.

[0045] Preferably, the blade 3 is positioned to extend tangentially with respect to the first circle C1.

[0046] Next, referring to Figures 3 and 4, after the blade 3 is fixed to the watch movement 2 (either directly to the base plate 9 or via the casing support 5), the assembly formed by the watch movement 2 and the blade 3 is fitted into a seat within the case body 4.

[0047] In the example shown, case 4 has surfaces for holding and supporting the case-side end 3c of the blade 3. Preferably, anchor points 8b for case 4 are provided on these holding surfaces. Of course, case 4 has at least the same number of holding surfaces as the blade 3 for securing the watch movement 2.

[0048] The proposed configuration is compact and reliable, minimizing displacement while dampening the watch movement during shocks to protect it.

[0049] Furthermore, the shock-absorbing and fixing device according to the present invention prevents the watch movement from coming off the case in the event of an impact.

[0050] According to the modified embodiment, each blade 3 in the shock-absorbing fixing device 10 is formed by a laminate of several overlapping blades.

[0051] Preferably, the shock-absorbing fixing device may include one or more of the following manufacturing processes: water jet cutting, 3-axis machining, machining, turning, laser cutting, and stamping.

[0052] The above description of the present invention is given as an example. It will be understood that those skilled in the art may arrive at different modifications of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A clock (1) comprising a case (4) for housing a clock movement (2), The watch movement (2) is held within the case (4) by a shock-absorbing fixing device (10), the shock-absorbing fixing device (10) comprises at least two blades (3), each blade (3) having two opposite ends (3c, 3d) that are directly or indirectly attached to the case (4) and the watch movement (2) by a fixing element (7) that engages with a first anchor point (8a) on the watch movement (2) and a second anchor point (8b) on the case (4). The features are, The first anchor point (8a) on the clock movement is located on the first circle (C1), the second anchor point (8b) is located on the second circle (C2), and the first circle (C1) and the second circle (C2) are concentric. The first anchor point (8a) and the second anchor point (8b) are not aligned in the radial direction. A clock (1) is located here.

2. The watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) ensure damping of the watch movement by the elastic deformation of the at least two blades (3).

3. The watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades are arranged such that, in response to an impact, the elastic deformation of the at least two blades (3a, 3b) causes the watch movement (2) to rotate around a rotation axis passing through the center (Z) of the first circle (C1) and the second circle (C2), thereby allowing a relative displacement of the watch movement (2) with respect to the case (4).

4. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) are arranged around the clock movement (2) at equal angular distances from each other.

5. The clock (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) form a repeating circular pattern around the clock movement (2) that is symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation passing through the centers (Z) of the first circle (C1) and the second circle (C2).

6. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) extend tangentially with respect to the first circle (C1).

7. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) have the same dimensions and / or the same mechanical properties.

8. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) have different dimensions and / or mechanical properties.

9. The watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two blades (3) are made from a material selected from steel, elastic steel, superelastic shape memory alloy, amorphous metal, nickel-based superalloy, iron-nickel-based superalloy, cobalt-based superalloy, spring steel, composite material, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

10. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing element (7) includes at least one screw.

11. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchor point (8a) on the clock movement (2) is directly positioned on the base plate (9) of the clock movement (2).

12. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clock movement (2) comprises a casing support (5) attached to the base plate (9) of the clock movement (2), and the anchor point (8a) on the clock movement (2) is positioned on the casing support (5).

13. The clock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each blade (3) is formed by a laminate of several overlapping blades.

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