Watch bezel with a cavity for containing fluid

Abstract

To provide a watch bezel having a cavity for containing fluid. [Solution] One aspect of the present invention relates to a bezel for a timekeeping device, wherein the bezel is - A cavity for containing fluid, the cavity having an annular cross-section and comprising two protruding edges in the form of an inner arch and an outer arch that form an inner contact surface and an outer contact surface, - A bezel glass having an annular cross-section, wherein the bezel glass closes the upper part of the cavity and contacts the inner contact surface and the outer contact surface, - An inner bonding body located on the inner peripheral portion of the glass and in contact with the inner contact surface, - An outer bonding body located on the outer peripheral portion of the glass and in contact with the outer contact surface It is equipped with.

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of timekeeping devices, and more particularly to the field of bezels for wristwatches. The present invention also relates to a method of waterproofing a bezel such that the bezel can contain a fluid.

Background Art

[0002] Watch bezels are well known in the art and are generally solid, which means that the bezel contains no voids. A solid bezel within the scope of the present invention is a bezel without voids or removal parts, or a bezel with solid material filled in the removal parts, thereby making the bezel solid. Next, generally, a bezel glass is fastened to the bezel with an adhesive. In addition to adhesive fastening, the glass can also be pressed onto the bezel with the joint on the outer peripheral part of the glass.

[0003] Watch bezels can serve a number of different roles both decoratively and functionally. For example, gems can be installed on the bezel using various techniques, or the bezel can be provided with graduations indicating minutes or other data. The rotating bezel on a well-known diver's watch is used to measure the elapsed time since the start of a dive. Thus, watch bezels can come in a wide range of shapes and perform all kinds of functions.

[0004] Preferably, when pressing the watch glass onto the bezel, the bezel must be fastened to the watch case in a waterproof manner so as to avoid any penetration into the case. For example, European Patent No. 0628895 describes a watch bezel having a double O-ring between the bezel and the watch case. [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​[Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Currently, there is genuine interest in optimizing the function of watch bezels, making them more efficient, and giving them a variety of uses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a watch bezel having a cavity for containing a fluid, which may be a liquid or a gas. The present invention also aims to provide a water-resistant bezel that ensures the fluid is kept inside the bezel.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a bezel in which the upper glass closes the cavity while allowing the user to see inside.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention relates to the development of a method for waterproof fastening a cavity in a watch bezel to accommodate a fluid.

[0010] The present invention is illustrated by the examples shown in the following drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional plan view of an example of a hollowed-out watch bezel according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged view of Figure 1, where the bezel and glass are sealed in a water-resistant manner by a double-joint structure. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of Figure 1, where the bezel and glass are sealed in a water-resistant manner by a double-joint structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the bezel 2 in the present invention comprises a cavity 3 recessed within the bezel 2. The purpose of this cavity 3 is to contain any type of fluid, whether liquid or gas. The cavity 3 preferably has an arched cross-section, because the cavity 3 recesses into the entire bezel 2, which itself is annular in shape. If the bezel 2 is recessed to a certain depth, and then a solid is filled into the depth of the recess over a portion of that depth so that a fluid can be filled, leaving a void on top of the solid, then the cavity 3 within the meaning of the present invention corresponds to a recess without solid.

[0013] Furthermore, the cavity 3 is provided with two protruding rims on the upper portion of the cavity 3, i.e., the portion of the cavity on the dial side of the watch 1. The protruding rims are in the form of an inner arch and an outer arch that form an inner contact surface 7 and an outer contact surface 8, respectively, and as shown in Figure 2, fasten the bezel glass 4, close the cavity 3, and allow the fluid to be kept inside. The bezel glass 4 also preferably has an annular shape that closes the annular cavity 3 of the bezel 2.

[0014] Therefore, the connection between the cavity contact surfaces 7 and 8 and the bezel glass 4 must be water-resistant against gases and liquids. Since the bezel 2 that contains the fluid has not been disclosed in the prior art, the water resistance problem between the bezel and the bezel glass has never occurred before.

[0015] According to the present invention, the contact surfaces 7 and 8 correspond to the inner and outer arch portions on the protruding rim of the cavity 3. The inner side of the glass 4, i.e., the portion with the smallest diameter, is in contact with the contact surface 7, and the outer side of the glass 4, i.e., the portion with the largest diameter, is in contact with the contact surface 8.

[0016] These available contact surfaces 7 and 8 are considerably smaller compared to the entire surface of a solid bezel in conventional technology that does not have a cavity. As a result, if the glass 4 were only attached to these minimal surfaces with adhesive, the mechanical strength, impact resistance, and chemical resistance would be too low, compromising the reliability of the system.

[0017] Accordingly, the present invention provides a double joint that contacts the contact surfaces 7, 8 of the bezel 4, namely, an inner joint 5 on the inner peripheral portion of the glass 4 and an outer joint 6 on the outer peripheral portion of the glass 4. This double joint is preferably a press-in joint used in a system for pressing the glass so as to improve water resistance and ensure sufficient mechanical resistance, chemical resistance, and impact resistance.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity 3 may also include a filling port 9. This filling port 9 is preferably located at the lower level of the cavity 3. Therefore, even when the bezel 2 is already closed by the glass 4 so that the bezel 2 is water-resistant, fluid can be filled through this port 9. The filling port 9 is sealed by a screw 10 and an O-ring 11 around the filling port 9 so that the filling port 9 is water-resistant. The port 9 can be opened and closed using this screw 10, for example, to exchange the fluid. If the cavity does not include the filling port 9, the cavity 3 can also be filled with fluid before closing the cavity 3 with the glass 4.

[0019] The pressure applied to the glass 4 in the pressing step is preferably included between 1,500 and 2,500 N, more preferably between 1,800 and 2,300 N, and even more preferably between 1,900 and 2,100 N.

[0020] The type of joint used in the present invention corresponds to any type of joint used in the field of timepieces, particularly the i-ring joint made from Hytrel, Zytel, Arnitel, etc.

[0021] The method of fastening the cavity by pressing the bezel-glass 4 can advantageously be carried out by immersion.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the joints 5 and / or 6 may be provided in the form of an adhesive-bonded joint that secures the glass 4 to the bezel 2 while ensuring water-resistant fastening of the cavity 3.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0023] 1 Watch 2 bezels Holes recessed within 3 bezels 4 bezel glass 5 inner joint 6 outer joint 7 inner contact surface for bezel glass 8 outer contact surface for bezel glass 9 filling port 10 fastening screw for filling port 11 water-resistant O-ring for fastening filling port

Claims

1. A bezel (2) for a timekeeping device, wherein the bezel (2) is - A cavity (3) for containing fluid, the cavity having an annular cross-section and comprising two protruding edges in the form of an inner arch and an outer arch that form an inner contact surface (7) and an outer contact surface (8), - A bezel glass (4) having an annular cross-section, wherein the bezel glass (4) closes the upper part of the cavity (3) and contacts the inner contact surface (7) and the outer contact surface (8), - An inner bonding body (5) located on the inner peripheral portion of the glass (4) and in contact with the inner contact surface (7), - An outer joint (6) located on the outer peripheral portion of the glass (4) and in contact with the outer contact surface (8) The bezel (2) is equipped with this feature.

2. The bezel (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner joint (5) and the outer joint (6) are "push-in" joints.

3. The bezel (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner joint (5) and the outer joint (6) are "I-ring" joints.

4. The bezel (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (3) is provided with a filling port (9), and the filling port (9) is detachably closed by an assembly comprising a screw (10) and an O-ring (11).

5. A timekeeping device comprising the bezel (2) described in claim 1.

6. A method for fastening a bezel (2) according to claim 1 in a water-resistant manner, wherein the method is: - The step of fitting the inner joint (5) onto the inner contact surface (7), - The step of fitting the outer joint (6) onto the outer contact surface (8), - The step of fastening the cavity (3) by fastening the glass (4) to the contact surfaces (7, 8) using a technique of pressing the glass (4) in, A method characterized by including

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that it includes the step of filling the cavity (3) with fluid.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the pressure applied to the glass (4) when pressing the glass (4) is between 1,500 and 2,500 N, preferably between 1,800 and 2,300 N, and more preferably between 1,900 and 2,100 N.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the closure can be performed by immersion in a fluid.

Images