Portable watch case with rotating bezel

Abstract

We offer a portable watch case fitted with a rotating bezel that offers improved reliability and durability. [Solution] The present invention relates to a portable watch case (2) comprising a ceramic middle section (3), a bezel (4) rotatably mounted on the surface (5) of the middle section, and a ball click (8) that indexes the position of the bezel (4) relative to the middle section (3), wherein the ball click (8) is located in a non-through hole (9) in the middle section (3). According to the present invention, the ball click (8) has a body (80) with a collar (82) and a distal end (81) located near the back of the non-through hole (9), and the collar (82) is configured to be located on the surface (5) of the middle section near the non-through hole (9) that receives the ball click (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a case of a portable timepiece (e.g., a wristwatch, a pocket watch) including a middle part made of ceramics to which a rotating bezel is attached.

Background Art

[0002] In a generally used rotating bezel system, one (or a plurality of) ball clicks are attached so as to engage with the rotating bezel and enable the bezel to fit in a predetermined position. By fitting the rotating bezel in the predetermined position in this way, for example, it becomes possible to accurately rotate the rotating bezel on the middle part of the portable timepiece case. When the middle part is made of ceramics, the middle part usually has a cylindrical outer edge with a non-through hole for receiving the ball click. However, in this case, when the middle part is processed, a bent part remains at the bottom of the non-through hole. Such a bent part is inevitable because it is caused by a milling cutter used for processing the non-through hole. In such a system including a middle part made of ceramics, when the ball click contacts the bent part at the bottom of the hole, a problem occurs in that the ball click does not come into close contact and abut against a flat position in the hole. As a result, the connection between parts becomes unstable, looseness and mechanical fatigue occur, and the rotating bezel system wears out prematurely.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention solves the above problems by providing a portable timepiece case including a middle part made of ceramics to which a rotating bezel is attached, and ensures correct positioning through the ball click in the hole of the middle part of the portable timepiece case made of ceramics, thereby reducing mechanical wear of parts and improving the reliability and durability of the assembly.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a portable watch case comprising a ceramic middle section, a ceramic bezel rotatably mounted on the surface of the middle section, and a ball click for indexing the position of the bezel relative to the middle section, wherein the ball click is located in a non-through hole in the middle section.

[0005] According to the present invention, the ball click has a body with a collar and a distal end located near the back of the non-through hole, and the collar is configured to be located on the surface of the middle portion near the non-through hole that receives the ball click.

[0006] Other advantageous variants of the present invention have the following characteristics: - The diameter of the collar is greater than the diameter of the non-through hole. - The distance between the collar and the distal end of the ball click is shorter than the depth of the non-through hole. - The distal end of the ball click is frustoconical. - The ball of the ball click engages with the teeth of the bezel.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the description of the following preferred embodiments, which are given as examples.

[0008] The objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following description based on at least one embodiment shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a portable watch case fitted with a rotating bezel system equipped with a ball click according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the portable watch case. [Figure 3]This is a cross-sectional view of a portable watch case fitted with a rotating bezel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Figures 1-3 show, as an example, a portable watch 1 with a portable watch case 2 attached. The portable watch case 2 typically has a ceramic middle section 3. The portable watch case 2 further includes a rotating bezel system 4 and a timekeeping movement, although the timekeeping movement is not shown for simplicity. The rotating bezel system 4 is rotatably mounted on the middle section 3. Preferably, the rotating bezel system 4 is formed by a separate module.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the middle section 3 is annular. The middle section 3 has a cylindrical outer surface 6, which defines the boundary of a part of the middle section 3 called the chimney. The middle section 3 also has an annular surface 5 on its cylindrical outer circumference. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the annular surface 5 is configured to receive at least one ball click.

[0012] The middle section 3 may be made as a single unit, or it may consist of multiple parts attached to one another, and one of the outer surfaces of the middle section 3 is provided with an annular surface 5, which typically faces away from the wearer's wrist when the portable watch is being worn. As shown in Figure 1, the annular surface 5 is formed by an annular groove.

[0013] The bezel 4 has a lower surface 41 that is configured to be positioned opposite the annular surface 5 of the middle section 3.

[0014] In this document, "up" and "down" are defined based on the orientation of the portable watch 1 when it is placed on a horizontal surface with the bezel 4 facing upwards.

[0015] At least one groove 7 is formed to attach the bezel 4 to the middle section 3, and this groove 7 forms an axial locking means for the bezel 4 after the bezel 4 is positioned in a predetermined location on the middle section 3.

[0016] The bezel 4 has a body 40 and a set of teeth 43, the body 40 being in the form of a hollow cap, the upper surface 42 of the body 40 being intended to be visible to the user in the service position, and the set of teeth 43 being on the lower surface 41 of the body 40 and fixed to the lower surface 41. Alternatively, the body of the bezel 4 can be machined directly to form the teeth, making the bezel 4 integral with the teeth.

[0017] The 43rd set of teeth has multiple teeth that determine the various positions of the rotating bezel when it is moved clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0018] The angular position of the bezel 4 relative to the middle section 3 is determined by at least one locking element, which in this example is represented in the form of a ball click 8 extending in the direction of the surface 5. The ball click 8 is housed in a non-through hole 9 formed in an annular groove.

[0019] The ball click 8 has a body 80 with a spring built inside, and this body 80 has a collar 82, which is configured to be positioned on the surface of the middle section 3 near the non-through hole 9 that receives the ball click 8. The ball click 8 has a proximal end and a distal end 81, with a ball 83 protruding from the proximal end, and the distal end 81 positioned near the back of the non-through hole 9. Thanks to the collar 82, the ball click 8 can make flat contact with the annular surface of the middle section, and because there is a curved portion 90 at the back of the hole 9, if there were no collar, it would prevent the ball click 8 from being positioned flat, which would otherwise be the case.

[0020] The diameter of the collar 82 is larger than the diameter of the non-through hole 9, which ensures that the ball click is held firmly and stably within the hole 9.

[0021] Also, the length between the color 82 of the ball click 8 and the distal end 81 is shorter than the depth of the non-through hole 9.

[0022] Advantageously, the distal end 81 of the ball click is frustoconical to facilitate insertion into the non-through hole 9 during installation.

[0023] The ball click 8 meshes with the tooth row in the bezel, preventing the bezel 4 from rotating freely relative to the middle part 3.

[0024] A plurality of ball clicks 8 are provided to keep the bezel in its operating position without looseness.

[0025] Thanks to the configuration of this rotary bezel system 4 on the ceramic middle part 3, the ball clicks are properly arranged on the middle part, mechanical wear between components is reduced, and the reliability and durability of the assembly are surely improved. Also, the number of required parts is reduced, making it easier to fit the rotary bezel into the middle part.

Explanation of Signs

[0026] 1 Portable watch 2 Portable watch case 3 Middle part 4 Bezel 8 Ball click 9 Non-through hole 43 Tooth row 80 Body 81 Distal end 82 Color

Claims

1. The middle section (3) is made of ceramics, A bezel (4) is rotatably mounted on the surface (5) of the middle section, A portable watch case (2) comprising a ball click (8) that indexes the position of the bezel (4) relative to the middle section (3), The ball click (8) is located in the non-through hole (9) in the middle section (3), The ball click (8) has a body (80) with a collar (82) and a distal end (81) located near the back of the non-through hole (9). The collar (82) is configured to be positioned on the surface (5) of the middle portion near the non-through hole (9) that receives the ball click (8). Portable watch case.

2. The diameter of the collar (82) is larger than the diameter of the non-through hole (9). A portable watch case according to claim 1.

3. The length between the collar (82) and the distal end (81) of the ball click is shorter than the depth of the non-through hole (9). A portable watch case according to claim 1.

4. The distal end (81) of the ball click (8) is frustoconical. A portable watch case according to claim 1.

5. The ball of the ball click (8) engages with the teeth (43) of the bezel (4). A portable watch case according to claim 1.

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