CH691202A5

CH691202A5 - Device for attachment of a circular adornment of non-metallic precious material to the bezel of a traditionally constructed watch, by use of elastic elements that also serve as shock absorbers and sealing elements

Info

Publication number: CH691202A5
Application number: CH00001/99A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Eric Bouille
Original assignee: G & E Bouille Sa Fabrique De M
Priority date: 1999-01-04
Filing date: 1999-01-04
Publication date: 2001-05-15
Also published as: ATE304187T1; HK1037240A1; EP1084460B1; WO2000041040A1; DE60000129T2; AU1676700A; ES2248038T3; DE60000129D1; EP1084460A1

Abstract

The mounting assembly (I) comprises an adornment (5) of a precious non-metallic material that is arranged around the bezel (4) of a traditional watch. The bezel (4) is separated from the adornment (5) by elastic means that also serve to absorb shocks and obviate the need for precise adjustment tolerances between bezel and adornment. At the same time full waterproofness is guaranteed.

Description

       

  
 



  La présente invention a pour objet d'adapter des matériaux très différents dans la conception et le décor des boîtiers (carrures) de montre. En effet la tendance de la mode veut que la carrure de la montre soit parfois conçue dans une matière incompatible avec les moyens classiques de fabrication et les exigences de tolérances d'usinage tel que le cristal, le bois, la pierre, le carbone, le saphir, ou toutes autres matières donnant éclat à la montre. De telles réalisations sont de véritables prouesses techniques qui justifient le prix de ces objets à haute valeur ajoutée. 



  L'invention consiste donc à utiliser de telles matières, mais elles ne sont que le décor extérieur donnant l'illusion que le boîtier en est une pièce unique. Cela permet de mouler tailler, fraiser, meuler, percer, polir par des moyens conventionnels cette matière dans une géométrie compatible avec la fabrication en très grande série et de supporter des écarts de cotes qui n'ont rien à voir avec la fabrication d'un boîtier de montre. La parure ainsi réalisée enveloppe la carrure de la montre donnant à celle-ci son aspect définitif. La liaison mécanique entre parure et carrure est assurée par un dispositif élastique absorbant les chocs et variations de cotes.

   Ce dispositif permet de conjuguer l'absorption des chocs, des différences de cotes et d'obtenir une très bonne étanchéité. 


 Description des figures 
 
 
   La fig. 1 représente une demi-coupe à 12 heures de la montre montrant l'originalité de l'invention. 
   La fig. 2 représente un détail de l'angle inférieur de la parure et du joint plat logé sous la carrure. 
   La fig. 3 représente une vue en coupe du montage du fond sur la carrure. 
   La fig. 4 représente une vue de dessus de la montre avec sa parure. 
   La fig. 5 représente une coupe au niveau du montage de la tige de remontoir. 
 



  On y distingue le calibre (1) (mouvement), le cercle d'emboîtage (2) positionnant le calibre, le verre (3), la carrure (4), la parure (5), le support de bracelet (6) la vis de fixation (7), le fond (8). La parure (5) dispose d'une surface d'appui inférieure (5a), en appui sur le fond (8), un flanc intérieur (5b) en appui sur la carrure (4) et une surface extérieure (5c). 



  La fig. 3 nous montre une coupe partielle à 8 heures de la liaison élastique formée par le joint (9) ceinturant l'extérieur de la carrure (4) positionné dans sa gorge et du joint plat (10) occupant toute la surface de la montre laissant le passage pour les vis de fixation (11). 



  L'étanchéité entre carrure (4) et fond (8) est assurée par serrage des vis de fixation provoquant une pénétration d'une valeur (h) (fig. 2 détail A). Ce joint plat (10) dépasse également les flans de la carrure (4) donnant l'autre assise à la parure (5) évitant aussi le contact entre fond (8) et carrure (4). 



  Le joint (9) installé dans son logement provoque une réaction perpendiculaire à la surface du chanfrein de la parure (5) assurant l'espace nécessaire tout autour de la carrure (4) et donnant une liberté suffisante pour éviter le contact entre carrure (4) et parure (5) absorbent ainsi tous déplacements en cas de choc. 



  Le joint (14), solution 1 ou (15) solution 2, assure l'étanchéité entre carrure (4) et tige de couronne (12) (fig. 5). La couronne (13) permet la mise à l'heure et les autres fonctions que le calibre autorise. 



  La fig. 4. nous montre la parure (5) installée sur la montre. Il est bien évident que les formes présentées sur le dessin fig. 4 ne sont que des exemples et que d'autres formes peuvent être utilisées du moment que la parure soit suspendue par le principe de l'invention. 



  Il faut noter que la dureté shore des joints (9), (10) est suffisamment faible pour assurer l'étanchéité, absorber les chocs et tolérances de fabrication. 



  
 



  The object of the present invention is to adapt very different materials in the design and decoration of watch cases. Indeed the fashion trend wants that the middle of the watch is sometimes designed in a material incompatible with the conventional means of manufacture and the requirements of machining tolerances such as crystal, wood, stone, carbon, sapphire, or any other material giving luster to the watch. Such achievements are real technical prowess which justifies the price of these objects with high added value.



  The invention therefore consists in using such materials, but they are only the external decoration giving the illusion that the case is a single piece of it. This makes it possible to mold to cut, to mill, to grind, to drill, to polish by conventional means this material in a geometry compatible with manufacturing in very large series and to support deviations in dimensions which have nothing to do with the manufacture of a watch case. The adornment thus produced envelops the middle of the watch, giving it its final appearance. The mechanical connection between adornment and middle part is ensured by an elastic device absorbing shocks and variations in dimensions.

   This device makes it possible to combine shock absorption, differences in dimensions and obtain a very good seal.


 Description of the figures
 
 
   Fig. 1 shows a half-section at 12 o'clock of the watch showing the originality of the invention.
   Fig. 2 shows a detail of the lower corner of the set and of the flat seal housed under the middle.
   Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the mounting of the base on the middle.
   Fig. 4 shows a top view of the watch with its adornment.
   Fig. 5 shows a section through the assembly of the winding stem.
 



  We can distinguish the caliber (1) (movement), the casing circle (2) positioning the caliber, the glass (3), the middle (4), the adornment (5), the bracelet support (6) the fixing screw (7), the bottom (8). The adornment (5) has a lower bearing surface (5a), bearing on the bottom (8), an inner flank (5b) bearing on the middle (4) and an outer surface (5c).



  Fig. 3 shows us a partial section at 8 o'clock of the elastic connection formed by the seal (9) surrounding the outside of the middle (4) positioned in its groove and of the flat seal (10) occupying the entire surface of the watch leaving the passage for fixing screws (11).



  The tightness between middle part (4) and bottom (8) is ensured by tightening the fixing screws causing a penetration of a value (h) (fig. 2 detail A). This flat seal (10) also exceeds the sides of the middle part (4) giving the other seat to the set (5) also avoiding contact between the bottom (8) and the middle part (4).



  The seal (9) installed in its housing causes a reaction perpendicular to the surface of the chamfer of the trim (5) ensuring the necessary space all around the middle (4) and giving sufficient freedom to avoid contact between the middle (4 ) and adornment (5) thus absorb any movement in the event of an impact.



  The seal (14), solution 1 or (15) solution 2, seals between the middle part (4) and the crown stem (12) (fig. 5). The crown (13) allows the time setting and the other functions that the caliber allows.



  Fig. 4. shows us the set (5) installed on the watch. It is obvious that the shapes shown in the drawing fig. 4 are only examples and other forms can be used as long as the adornment is suspended by the principle of the invention.



  It should be noted that the shore hardness of the seals (9), (10) is sufficiently low to ensure sealing, absorb shocks and manufacturing tolerances.

Claims

1. Watch case comprising a set (5) placed annularly around a middle part (4), said middle part comprising a bottom (8) ensuring the tightness of the watch case, said set (5) comprising a surface of lower support (5a), an inner side (5b) and an outer surface (5c), said device comprising elastic means between adornment (5) and middle (4), characterized in that said elastic means comprise a first elastic means ( 10) which extends over at least part of the bottom (8) and compresses the lower bearing surface (5a), and a second elastic means (9) holding said ornament (5) in its position.

2.

Watch case according to claim 1, characterized in that the first elastic means (10) extends over at least part of the lower bearing surface (5a) and that the second elastic means (9) exerts pressure in the meeting area of the outer surface (5c) and the inner flank (5b).

3. Watch case according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first elastic means (10) being under the middle (4) and seals the watch case.

4. Watch case according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second elastic means (9) is placed in a peripheral groove of the middle part (4) and exerts an oblique force on the adornment (5).

5.

Watch case according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ornament (5) and the middle part (4) have an orifice for a winding stem (12) and in that the middle part (4) comprises a seal. O-ring (14) placed in a multi-storey housing at the entrance to the hole in the middle (4).

6. Watch case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (8) is screwed onto the middle part, and that it extends on either side of the watch case to support the fasteners of the bracelet (6).

7. Watch comprising a watch case according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adornment (5) and the middle part (4) have an orifice crossed by a winding stem (12) and in that this stem (12) comprises a groove in which is placed an O-ring seal (15), said seal ensuring the seal along the orifice of the middle part (4).