One-piece part for attaching watch parts to a support element

Abstract

To provide an attachment monolithic part with a high holding torque to facilitate / simplify the mounting work of an assembly of an attachment monolithic part-horological component assembly with a support element, as well as to guarantee that it is held in position in the plane during the life of the component.SOLUTION: An attachment monolithic part 1 for fastening a horological component 2 on a support element 3 is provided, including an opening 7 into which the support element 3 could be inserted, the attachment part 1 including elastic arms 4 contributing to ensuring elastic clamping of the support element 3 in the opening 7, each arm 4 consisting of a contact portion 5a provided with a through-hole 6 and a connecting portion 5b, the contact portion 5a including a receiving region 12a provided with a bearing area 13 intended to come into contact with the support element 3 and the connecting portion ensuring elastic connection with another one of the arms 4 of the part 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting part, such as a collet, for fastening a watch part to a support element.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a mounted one-piece watch component assembly, such as a one-piece balance spring and collet assembly. [Background technology]

[0003] In the prior art, mounting parts such as watch collets are known which are responsible for assembling the hairspring on the balance shaft in a watch movement, hence by means of an elastic clamp.

[0004] However, such mountings have the major drawback that they have a low and limited holding torque on the balance shaft, making such an assembly a complex, lengthy and expensive installation procedure. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome all or part of the above mentioned drawbacks, in particular by providing an integral part with a large retention torque, which facilitates / simplifies the assembly of the watch part assembly and the support element, while ensuring sufficient retention and guaranteeing its angular position to ensure that it is held in the correct position in a plane throughout the part's life. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a mounting part for fastening a watch part to a support element, comprising an opening into which said support element can be inserted, the mounting part comprising a number of elastic arms contributing to ensuring elastic clamping of the support element in the opening, each arm consisting of a contact part provided with a through hole and a connection part, said contact parts comprising a receiving area provided with a bearing area intended to come into contact with the support element, said connection parts ensuring elastic connection with the other of said arms of the part.

[0007] In another embodiment, The contact portion of each arm is configured such that the variable volume defined by the through hole is reduced when this portion is stressed by the support element. Each contact portion includes two lateral regions, a receiving region and an outer region, which together surround the through hole. The regions are configured to deform in different ways when they are stressed by a support element. Said regions have deformation coefficients whose respective values ​​decrease as they move away from the bearing area of ​​the receiving region. The through holes occupy 20% to 80% of the entire body of the contact area of ​​each arm. The arms are connected to each other at one end of their connection portion. The connection part is configured to undergo a double elastic deformation. The contact parts and the connection parts are arranged in succession and alternating fashion on the mounting part. · The integral mounting parts include mounting points for the watch parts. The mounting part is a collet for fastening a watch part, such as a hairspring, to a support element, such as a balance shaft. The mounting components are made from a silicone-based material.

[0008] The invention also relates to a mounting integral timepiece assembly for a timepiece movement of a timepiece including such a mounting part.

[0009] Advantageously, the assembly is monolithic.

[0010] The invention also relates to an assembly for a clock movement of a timepiece, comprising the above-mentioned mounted integral clock part assembly, said assembly being fastened to a support element.

[0011] The invention also relates to a clock movement including at least one such assembly.

[0012] The invention also relates to a timepiece including such a timepiece movement.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for carrying out such an assembly of a watch part assembly with a support element, the method comprising the steps of: a step of inserting a support element into an opening of a mounting part of said assembly, the step including a sub-step of elastically deforming said mounting part, comprising a step of moving an elastic arm of said mounting part, which provides an elastic deformation of the contact part of each arm and a double elastic deformation of the connection part of said arm of the mounting part; a step of fastening the mounting part to the support element, the step including a sub-step of radially elastically clamping the mounting part to the support element; The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] Other particularities and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of a one-piece part for mounting a watch part on a support element according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a timepiece including a timepiece movement provided with at least one assembly including a mounted integral timepiece part assembly fastened to a support element according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] The method of performing such an assembly with the support element of the mounting integral part watch part assembly is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a mounting part 1 for a watch part 2, which makes it possible to ensure the fastening, attachment and assembly of the watch part 2 to a support element 3. For example, this mounting part 1 can be a collet which contributes to the fastening of the watch part 2, such as a hairspring, to a support element 3, such as a balance shaft.

[0016] This mounting integral part 1, also called mounting part 1 in this embodiment, can be seen in Fig. 2 and can be included in a mounting watch part assembly 120 intended to be placed in a watch movement 110 of a watch 100. Such an assembly 120 can be of one-piece construction and made of a so-called "fragile" material, preferably a material that can be micromachined. Such materials can include silicon, quartz, corundum or ceramics.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, this fitting 1 has a thickness comprised between 50 and 150 μm. Preferably, such thickness is of the order of 100 μm.

[0018] It should be noted that in one variant of this assembly 120, only the mounting part 1 can be made of such a so-called "fragile" material, the watch part 2 being consequently manufactured from another material.

[0019] This assembly 120 can be part of an assembly 130 for a watch movement 110, for example by being fastened to a support element 3 by means of an elastic clamp. It should be noted that this assembly 130 is envisaged for use in the watchmaking industry, although the invention can perfectly well be implemented in other fields such as the aviation, jewellery or automotive industries.

[0020] Such a mounting part 1 comprises preferably flat upper and lower surfaces 10 respectively contained in a first and a second plane P1 and P2 parallel to each other visible in FIG.

[0021] The fitting 1 comprises an outer peripheral wall 9a and an inner peripheral wall 9b. The outer peripheral wall 9a comprises a surface which externally bounds the contour of the fitting 1. The outer peripheral wall gives the fitting 1 an essentially hexagonal shape. As for the inner peripheral wall 9b, it has a surface which bounds an opening 7 in the fitting 1. The opening 7 defines a volume in the fitting 1 which is smaller than the volume of the connection part of one end of the support element 3 which is intended to be placed in the fitting 1. It should be noted that this connection part has a circular cross section and includes all or part of the contact part formed on the peripheral wall 8 of the support element 3.

[0022] As will be seen later, this inner circumferential wall 9 b comprises a bearing area 13 intended to come into contact with the support element 3 .

[0023] 1, a mounting part 1 includes a number of elastic arms 4, here three arms 4. Each arm 4 of this part is configured to regain its original shape after being deformed. In other words, each elastic arm 4 is reversibly deformable.

[0024] Such an arm 4 is formed by two parts 5a, 5b, namely a first part called the contact part 5a with the support element and a second part called the elastic connection part 5b with the other arm 4 of the mounting part 1.

[0025] The contact portion 5a of each arm 4 is formed by two lateral regions 12b, a receiving region 12a and an outer region 12c, which together define the peripheral boundary of the through hole 6 of this portion 5a.

[0026] In this configuration, the receiving area 12a is included between the inner circumferential wall 9b of the mounting part 1 and a part of the periphery of the through hole 6, being connected to the two lateral areas 12b of this contact portion 5a. This receiving area 12a is provided with an inner surface 14 which includes a bearing area 13 of each elastic arm 4. This inner surface 14 is formed by a part of the inner circumferential wall 9b of the arm 4 which is included in this contact portion 5a. In this configuration, the bearing area 13 is a rounded or convex surface disposed between two hollow or concave portions of the inner surface 14, or · Planar or essentially planar surfaces may have the following structure:

[0027] The bearing area 13 comprises a substantially hollow or substantially concave portion in which two contact areas are included. These two contact areas can cooperate with corresponding convex contact parts of the support element 3. Such contact areas are defined / included in a surface of the bearing area 13, extending substantially over the entire or part of the thickness of the mounting part 1. These contact areas are also flat and each include a fully or partially planar surface. In the bearing area 13, the two contact areas are each included in different planes that together form an obtuse angle. These two contact areas are separated by being spaced apart from each other. In other words, the bearing area 13 comprises a connection area of ​​the two contact areas. Preferably, this connection area has a rounded shape.

[0028] In particular, these contact areas are intended to cooperate with the contact portions according to a planar-convex or planar-cylindrical contact configuration when the cylindrical shape of the support element 3 is taken into account. In this configuration, the planar surface of each contact area cooperates with a corresponding convex-shaped contact portion of the support element 3. It should be pointed out here that this convex shape of each contact portion 10 is assigned to a planar surface of each corresponding contact area opposite which this portion 10 is arranged. It should be noted that this planar surface of each contact area forms a plane tangent to the diameter of the support element 3. In other words, the planar surface is perpendicular to the diameter of the support element and therefore perpendicular to the radius.

[0029] In this configuration, the presence of two flat contact areas on each bearing area 13 of the mounting part 1 makes it possible to realize a contact pressure between the mounting part 1 and the support element 3 when performing a mechanical connection between the mounting part 1 and the support element 3, which in turn significantly reduces the intensity of stresses in these contact areas and in the corresponding contact parts of the support element 3 when assembling and / or fastening the mounting part 1 and the support element 3. These stresses are likely to damage the mounting part 1 by the appearance of fractures / cracks or cracks.

[0030] In this configuration, the presence of this bearing area 13 on the inner surface 8 of each contact portion 5a makes it possible to realize a contact pressure between the mounting part 1 and the support element 3 when forming a mechanical connection between them, which in turn significantly reduces the intensity of stresses in the corresponding contact portion of this bearing area 13 and the support element 3 when assembling and / or fastening the mounting part 1 and the support element 3, which stresses are likely to damage said mounting part by the appearance of fractures / cracks or cracks.

[0031] As can be seen, these contact parts 5a therefore only comprise bearing areas 13 with the support element 3 of the mounting part 1, which can be defined on all or part of the inner surface of these contact parts 5a. With reference to Figure 1, these bearing areas are three in number and can contribute to achieving an accurate centering of the watch part 2, for example the balance spring, in the watch movement 110.

[0032] Each contact portion 5a also includes an outer region 12c which is included between the outer peripheral wall 9a of the fitting part 1 and a part of the periphery of the through hole 6, while also being connected to two lateral regions 12b.

[0033] This contact portion 5a also includes two lateral regions 12b, each included between one end of the elastic connecting portion 5b and a part of the outer peripheral wall 9a and a part of the periphery of the through hole 6. It should be noted that these two lateral regions 12b connect the receiving region 12a and the outer region 12c to each other.

[0034] Thus, in this mounting part 1, the contact portion 5a of each arm 4 includes a through hole 6, also called a cavity, defined throughout the thickness of this mounting part 1. This through hole 6 opens both on the upper and on the lower face 10 of the mounting part 1. It can also be said that this through hole 6 opens at one end on the upper face of the contact part 5a and at the other end on the lower face 10 of this part 5a. This hole 6 thus extends from the upper face towards the lower face 10 or vice versa according to the direction of the axis of rotation A. In other words, this through hole 6 connects these two faces to each other. This through hole 6 defines a free or empty volume. This volume should therefore be understood to correspond to a variable or settable volume. This volume includes an open enclosure bounded by the peripheral wall of this hole 6. Such a through hole 6 occupies approximately 20% to 80% of the body of the contact portion 5a of the arm 4. Preferably, this through hole 6 occupies 30% of this body.

[0035] It should be noted that under these conditions, each contact portion 5 a is configured to change the volume defined by its through hole when this contact portion 5 a is stressed by the support element 3 .

[0036] As mentioned above, each arm 4 further comprises a contact portion 5a and a resilient connecting portion 5b. This connecting portion 5b makes it possible to connect each arm 4, and in particular the contact portions 5a of these arms 4, to one another. This connecting portion 5b has an elongated shape and thus connects the contact portions 5a to one another. In other words, this connecting portion 5b extends longitudinally between the two contact portions 5a.

[0037] The connecting portion 5b of each arm 4 has a constant or nearly constant cross section over the entire body of the resilient arm 4, whereas the cross section of the contact portion 5a of this arm 4 is not constant / variable.

[0038] This connection portion 5b is configured to realize a dual deformation, that is, a first deformation called "torsional elastic deformation" and a second deformation called "tensile deformation" or "extension elastic deformation".

[0039] During this first deformation, the connection part 5b of each arm 4 is driven at both ends according to the same rotational direction B4 by the moving contact parts 5a to which they are connected. It will be noticed that only a part of the body of the connection part 5b, here the end of this part 5b, is torsionally deformable. In particular, such a first deformation contributes to improving the insertion of the support element 3 into the opening 5 of the mounting part 1, while avoiding the destruction of this part 1 and / or the appearance of cracks in this part 1 during the assembly of this part 1 with the support element 3.

[0040] During the second deformation, the connecting portion 5b of each arm 4 is pulled at its two ends in opposite directions according to the longitudinal direction B3 by the moving contact portion 5a to which it is connected. In particular, such a second deformation contributes to storing a large amount of elastic energy in the mounting part 1.

[0041] It should be noted that these first and second elastic deformations of the connecting portions 5b of the arms 4 can be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously or successively or substantially successively. It should be noted that when the first and second deformations are performed simultaneously, this is called a toroidal twisting deformation with radial expansion.

[0042] As mentioned above, the mounting part 1 comprises a number of resilient arms 4, in particular three resilient arms 4 in the embodiment described herein. In other words, this mounting part 1 comprises three receiving regions 12a including bearing areas 13 intended to come into contact with said support element 3 in their corresponding contact portions. These bearing areas 13 are arranged over the periphery of the opening 7 of this mounting part 1. Each of these receiving areas 12a, and therefore each of the bearing areas 13, is configured to perform a radial movement relative to the axis of rotation A of the body of the mounting part 1, while causing a reduction in the volume defined by the through hole 6, the thickness of this body, when said contact portions 5a are stressed by the support element 3.

[0043] Moreover, in each contact portion 5a, the two lateral regions 12b, the receiving region 12a and the outer region 12c bound / surround / delimit the through hole 6. More specifically, these regions 12a-12c are configured to deform in different ways when they are stressed by the insertion of the support element 3 in the opening 7 of said part 1. In fact, for each contact portion 5a, each of these regions 12a-12c has a deformation coefficient C rr , C rl , C re As the regions 12a, 12b, 12c move away from the bearing area 13 of the receiving region 12a, the deformation coefficient C rr , C rl , C re In other words, the value of the deformation average coefficient C of the receiving area 12a decreases. rr Also called the deformation coefficient C rr is the coefficient C of the two lateral regions 12b, i.e. rl and the coefficient C of the outer region 12c reThe coefficients C of the two lateral regions 12b are higher than the value of rl is the coefficient C of the outer region 12c re In other words, the average coefficients of deformation C of these regions 12a, 12b, and 12c have similar values ​​or substantially similar values. rr , C rl and C re The relationship can be defined by the following formula: C rr >C rl >C re

[0044] It should be noted that the deformation of these regions 12a, 12b, 12c induces radial movements of the respective regions with respect to the axis of rotation A. Naturally, the amplitude / intensity of these radial movements is determined by the average deformation coefficient C of these regions 12a, 12b, 12c. rr , C rl , C re is determined by.

[0045] In this configuration, the elasticity or flexibility of the mounting part 1 is determined by the combination of the deformations of the contact part 5a and the connection part 5b, more specifically compared to the intensity of these deformations when a force F is applied to the bearing area of ​​this part 1.

[0046] It should be noted that the through holes 6 of the arms 4 of the mounting part 1 are configured to inhibit and, in particular, reduce the movement of the contact parts 5a, which, in cooperation with the connecting parts 5b, are able to store as much elastic energy as possible when driving the mounting part 1 on the support element 3 and thus to increase the holding of this part 1 on the support element 3.

[0047] Such a configuration of the elastic arms 4 allows the mounting part 1 to store more elastic energy for the same clamp compared to a conventional mounting part 1. Such an amount of elastic energy stored in this part 1 makes it possible to obtain a larger holding torque of the mounting part 1 relative to the support element 3 in the assembly 130 with this support element 3 of the mounting part watch part assembly 120. Additionally, it should be noted that such a configuration of the mounting part 1 makes it possible to store an elastic energy ratio that is 6 to 8 times larger than the elastic energy ratio of the mounting parts of the prior art.

[0048] It will also be noted that the arrangement of the elastic arms 4 in the mounting part 1 makes it possible to deform each elastic arm 4 during insertion by the clamp and to adapt the deformation of the mounting part 1 as a whole to the geometric shape of the connection part of the support element 3 to which the assembly is to be made.

[0049] With reference to figure 3, the invention also relates to a method for performing the assembly 130 of a mounting integral watch part assembly 120 with a support element 3. This method comprises a step 20 of inserting the support element 3 into an opening 7 of the mounting part 1. During this step 20, an end of the support element 3 is set at the entrance of the opening 7 defined in the underside 10 of the mounting part 1, in preparation for inserting the connection part of this support element 3 into the volume defined by this opening 7. This step 20 comprises a sub-step 21 of elastic deformation of the mounting part 1, in particular of a central area of ​​this mounting part 1 comprising said opening 7, caused by the application of a contact force F by the contact part of the peripheral wall 8 of the connection part of the support element 3 to the bearing area 13 of the elastic arm 4. This elastic deformation of the central area therefore causes a deformation of the underside 10 of the mounting part 1, in particular of the part of this underside 10 included in the central area of ​​the mounting part 1, this deformation being characterized by an essentially concave shape. In other words, when the central area of ​​the mounting part 1 is deformed, its underside 10 is no longer planar and is no longer completely contained in the second plane P2.

[0050] As explained before, this elastic deformation of the mounting part 1 is caused by the application of a contact force F by the contact portion of the peripheral wall 8 of the support element 3 to the bearing area 13 of the elastic arm 4. Such a sub-step 21 of deformation comprises a stage 22 of displacing the elastic arm 4, in particular the contact portion 5a, by the action of the contact force F applied to the elastic arm 4. Such a displacement of the elastic arm 4 is performed according to a direction comprised between a radial direction B1 relative to an axis of rotation A common to the support element 3 and the mounting part, and a direction B2 coinciding with this axis A. It should be noted that this direction B2 is perpendicular to the direction B1 and is oriented according to a direction defined from the lower surface 10 towards the upper surface. Preferably, the contact force F is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to said bearing area 13. It should be noted that in connection with the implementation of the sub-step of deformation, each elastic arm 4 undergoes a triple deformation: a deformation of its contact portion 5a and a double deformation of its connection portion 5b. This triple elastic deformation is performed simultaneously or successively.

[0051] The method then comprises a step 23 of fastening the mounting part 1 to the reinforcing element 3. Such fastening step 23, in particular by radially elastic clamping, comprises a sub-step 24 of effecting radially elastic clamping of the mounting part 1 to the support element 3. It should therefore be understood that in such a stress state the mounting part 1 stores a large amount of elastic energy which contributes to providing the mounting part 1 with a considerable holding torque enabling an optimal fixing, in particular by elastic clamping.

Claims

1. A mounting part (1) for fastening a watch part (2) to a support element (3), comprising: The mounting part (1) comprises an opening (7) into which the support element (3) can be inserted, the mounting integral part (1) comprises a number of elastic arms (4) which contribute to ensuring elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (7); Each elastic arm (4) comprises a contact portion (5a) having a through hole (6) and a connection portion (5b); said contact portion (5a) comprises a receiving region (12a) provided with a bearing area (13) intended to come into contact with said support element (3); The connecting portion ensures an elastic connection of the elastic arms (4) of the mounting integral part (1) with other elastic arms, the connecting portion (5b) is adapted to undergo a double elastic deformation consisting of a first deformation and a second deformation, performed simultaneously or successively; the first deformation is a torsional deformation caused by the movement of the contact portion (5a) to which both ends of the connection portion (5b) are connected, causing the connection portion (5b) to be driven in the same rotational direction (B4) around the longitudinal direction of the connection portion (5b); The second deformation is a tensile deformation caused by the connection portion (5b) being pulled in the opposite direction (B3) along the longitudinal direction of the connection portion (5b) due to movement of the contact portion (5a) to which both ends of the connection portion (5b) are connected, the integral mounting part (1).

2. 2. The mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion (5a) of each resilient arm (4) is configured such that the variable volume defined by the through hole decreases when the contact portion (5a) is subjected to stress by the support element (3).

3. 2. An integral mounting part (1) according to claim 1, wherein each contact portion (5a) comprises the receiving area (12a), two lateral areas (12b) and an outer area (12c) which together surround the through hole (6), the outer area (12c) being included between the outer contour of the integral mounting part (1) and a part of the periphery of the through hole (6), and the two lateral areas (12b) connecting the receiving area (12a) and the outer area (12c).

4. An integral mounting part (1) as described in claim 3, wherein the receiving region (12a), the two lateral regions (12b) and the outer region (12c) are configured to deform so as to move radially with different amplitudes relative to the rotation axis (A) of the integral mounting part (1) when the contact portion (5a) is subjected to stress by the support element (3).

5. The receiving region (12a), the two lateral regions (12b) and the outer region (12c) have a deformation coefficient (C) that decreases as each region (12a, 12b, 12c) moves away from the bearing area (13). rr , C rl , C re ) 4. An integral mounting part (1) according to claim 3, wherein the amplitude of the radial movement of the receiving area (12a), the two lateral areas (12b) and the outer area (12c) relative to the axis of rotation (A) of the integral mounting part (1) when the contact portion (5a) is stressed by the support element (3) is determined by the deformation coefficients (C rr , C rl , C re ) of the respective areas.

6. 2. The mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1, wherein said through holes (6) occupy 20% to 80% of the total body of said contact portion (5a) of each resilient arm (4).

7. 2. The mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic arms (4) are connected to each other at one end of a connecting portion (5b) of the elastic arms (4).

8. 2. The mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the contact portions (5a) and the connection portions (5b) are arranged in succession and alternating fashion on the mounting integral part (1).

9. 2. The mounting part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting part (1) comprises a mounting point (11) with the watch part (2).

10. 2. The mounting part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting part (1) is a collet for fastening the timepiece part (2), such as a hairspring, to a support element (3), such as a balance shaft.

11. The mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting integral part (1) is made of a silicon-based material.

12. A mounting integral part timepiece unit (120) for a timepiece movement (110) of a timepiece (100), comprising a mounting integral part (1) according to claim 1.

13. The mounting integral watch component unit (120) of claim 12, wherein said mounting integral watch component unit (120) is of one-piece construction.

14. Assembly (130) for a clock movement (110) of a clock (100), comprising a mounting integral clock part unit (120) according to claim 12, said mounting integral clock part unit (120) being fastened to a support element (3).

15. A timepiece movement (110) comprising at least one assembly (130) according to claim 14.

16. A timepiece (100) comprising a timepiece movement (110) according to claim 15.

17. A method of making the assembly (130) of claim 14, comprising the steps of: a step (20) of inserting said support element (3) into the opening (7) of the mounting part (1) of said mounting part timepiece unit (120), comprising a sub-step (21) of elastically deforming said mounting part (1) with a stage (22) of moving the elastic arms (4) of said mounting part (1) which provides an elastic deformation of the contact portion (5a) of each elastic arm (4) and of the connection portion (5b) of this elastic arm (4) of said mounting part (1); a step (23) of fastening said mounting part (1) to said support element (3), comprising a sub-step (24) of radially elastically clamping said mounting part (1) to said support element (3); The method includes:

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