EP1179192B1 - Hinged electronic watch - Google Patents

Abstract

An articulated watch includes two juxtaposed cases, each containing an electronic movement, and a connector for mechanically joining the two cases in an articulated manner and allowing the two movements to be connected using electrical conductors. The connector is formed of two bars that are arranged on either side of the cases. The bars include an internal channel for the passage of the electrical conductors and have ends that are mounted so as to rotate freely but are locked in translation in four holes arranged in the middle parts of the cases along two substantially parallel axes.

Description

The present invention relates to an articulated electronic watch, that is to say comprising two juxtaposed boxes which are assembled to each other articulated way.

A watch of this type is described in patent CH 647 916. The funds of the two boxes are hinged to each other by means of simple hinges. Enter the bottom and the middle of each box is, sandwiched, a joint seal connected to the seal of the adjacent box, at the point of articulation, by an isthmus of the same material, the whole thus forming a seal in one piece. Electrical conductors are arranged inside the isthms to connect together the electronic components of the two boxes.

Such a solution makes it possible to make a watch that can occupy a surface relatively large on the wrist of the wearer, while marrying well form. However, it has the disadvantage of requiring joints occupying virtually the entire width of the housing. This results in some aesthetic heaviness. Moreover, the effect provided by the presence of two movements in two separate boxes is little highlighted.

The present invention aims to allow the realization of a watch with several boxes clearly separated, but with an appearance particularly light, allowing many variations, easily adaptable to the wearer's arm and making it possible to ensure watertightness by simple means.

• deux boítes juxtaposées, renfermant chacune un mouvement électronique et comprenant un fond, une carrure et une glace, et
• des moyens de liaison pour assembler mécaniquement les deux boítes de manière articulée et permettre de relier les deux mouvements à l'aide de conducteurs électriques.

More specifically, the invention relates to an articulated watch of the type comprising:

• two boxes juxtaposed, each enclosing an electronic movement and comprising a bottom, a middle and an ice, and
• connecting means for mechanically assembling the two boxes in an articulated manner and to connect the two movements using electrical conductors.

This watch is characterized in that said connecting means are formed of two bars which are arranged on both sides of the boxes, which include an internal channel for the passage of electrical conductors and whose ends are mounted free to rotate, but locked in translation, in four holes made in the middle of the boxes along two substantially parallel axes, at the rate of two coaxial bores per box.

Advantageously, the ends of the bars are provided with a seal sealing arrangement disposed within a groove in their part which crosses the piercing of the middle part, while the ends of the channels opening in the boxes are closed tightly. Canals can also be filled with an organic material in which are embedded electrical conductors.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ends of each bar have a terminal portion overflowing inside the boxes which has a groove cooperating with a key to prevent a axial displacement of the bar. In addition, this terminal portion comprises also means for limiting the rotational movement of the bar.

Each bar is advantageously formed of a hollow middle portion and two end parts which consist of a cylindrical tube attached to the middle part. This has a bottom provided with two holes in which the tubes are fixed, walls substantially perpendicular to the bottom and a hood surrounding these walls.

• la figure 1 représente une vue d'ensemble d'une montre selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente, selon une coupe dans l'épaisseur de la montre de la figure 1, une barrette de liaison avec les parties de boítes dans lesquelles ses extrémités sont engagées; et
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues partielles agrandies de la figure 2 respectivement selon les lignes III-III et IV-IV.

Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents an overall view of a watch according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows, in a section through the thickness of the watch of Figure 1, a connecting bar with the box parts in which its ends are engaged; and
• Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged partial views of Figure 2 respectively along lines III-III and IV-IV.

The electronic watch 10 represented in FIG. 1 comprises two boxes identical, one upper 12, the other lower 14 substantially shaped of a semicircle, with a rounded portion 16 and a rectilinear portion 18. They each contain an analog quartz movement (no represent).

The rectilinear portions 18 of the two boxes are parallel to one another but not in contact, so that there remains between them an empty space 20 large enough, typically 1 to 2 mm, to show that is two boxes completely separate and independent.

The boxes 12 and 14 are joined by two lateral bars 22 which are perpendicular to their rectilinear portions 18 and are fixed symmetrically, in an articulated manner, around two parallel axes A, by each of their ends, in four holes formed on the rounded portions 16, to because of two coaxial holes per box. In such a watch, he is very desirable, indeed, that the connection between the two boxes is hinged of so that it marries at best the shape of the wrist. The bars 22 serve, in addition, to pass between the two boxes of the son drivers providing the electrical connection between their respective movements. They will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Boxes 12 and 14 each comprise, in a conventional manner, a pair of horns 24 serving respectively for fixing the two strands of a bracelet 26.

Each box 12 and 14 has an ice cream, not visible in the drawing, coated internally, in its portion adjacent to the rectilinear portion 18, of a mask 28 whose usefulness will appear later.

The upper box 12 is equipped with a half-dial 30 in front of which is find an hour hand 32 and a minute hand 34. Of the same way, the lower box 14 is equipped with a half-dial 36 at the front which are an hour hand 38 and a minute hand 40. The upper half-dial 30 has marks for the display of time between 9 and 3 o'clock, while the lower half-dial 36 has marks for time display between 3 and 9 o'clock. Together, they therefore constitute the normal dial of a watch.

Each of the analog movements placed in the boxes includes, for the training of each needle, a motor and a cog. One of them contains the electronic circuit controlling the four motors in a coordinated way, while the other contains the battery for the power supply of the whole.

The upper box 12 displays the hours between 9 and 3 and the minutes between 45 and 15, while the lower box 14 displays the hours between 3 and 9 and minutes between 15 and 45. Thus, the watch of Figure 1 displays 9 hours by means of the needle 32 of the box upper 12, and 20 minutes by means of the needle 40 of the lower box 14. The minute hand 34 and the hour hand 38 are then hidden by the masks 28.

When a needle reaches the end of the race, the electronic circuit brings it back quickly back, by a rotation slightly greater than 180 °, in a waiting position behind the mask 28. This is then the needle of the other box that takes over.

A detailed description of the means implemented to carry out the functions above is provided in the French patent application entitled "SECTORAL DISPLAY WATCH" filed by the plaintiff on same day as this application.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4 which represent the manner in which the bars 22 ensure not only the articulated mechanical connection between the two boxes while preserving their waterproofness, but also their connection electric providing passages for a plurality of lead wires 42.

The boxes 12 and 14 each have a bottom 44 and a middle part 46 which is breakthrough, along axis A, of a cylindrical channel receiving a bushing 48. It is necessary to note that this is not essential but that in its absence, the accuracy of the mechanism may be insufficient to ensure the watertightness of the passage.

The bar 22 is formed of a median portion 22a perpendicular to the axes A and two end portions 22b respectively coaxial with these axes. The middle portion 22a comprises a bottom 50 whose ends have a clearance taking place on the sockets 48, perpendicular walls 52 at the bottom 50, and a cap 54 surrounding the walls 52 on which it is glued or welded. A channel 56 is thus formed between the bottom 50 and the cap 54.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 3, each terminal portion 22b is consisting of a cylindrical tube 58 sealed away by its end in a hole made in the bottom 50. The tube 58 is itself engaged in the socket 48 inside which it is adjusted so as to to be able to turn freely. The tube 58 comprises, moreover, in its part median through the sleeve 48, a first groove receiving a seal 60 and at its other end, located inside the box, a second groove for the engagement of a key 62 which allows the fixation articulated of the bar.

As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 4, the tube 58 comprises, between the inner face of the sleeve 48 and the key 62, two dishes diametrically opposed 64 which cooperate with an elongated wafer 66 equipped with an oblong hole 68. This plate is held in place by a washer 70 interposed between it and the key 62. In order to achieve a limited amplitude joint, there is provided a groove 72 practiced in the inner face of the middle part, in which the plate 66 is engaged and the width is substantially greater than that of said wafer, which allows the pivot of the bar over a certain amplitude.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wires 42 pass from one box to the other by taking the channel 56. They are distributed in the two bars 22, one serving, for example, to power supply drivers and the other to control drivers.

The shape of the cap 54 may, for reasons of aesthetic effect, be quite complex, it is difficult to ensure a perfectly tight connection of the system. Also, is it advantageous to close the holes of the tubes 58, by example by means of a point of glue 74 disposed at the end of these holes inside the box. Alternatively, the bar can be simply filled with a organic material in which the electrical conductors are embedded.

The structure of the bars that have just been described makes it possible to ensure good security at the level of tightness, while offering a great diversity aesthetic. It suffices, in fact, to make caps 54 different from each other others by their shape or by the chosen material, to change considerably the overall appearance of the watch. We can thus realize two-tone pieces using gold caps, the cost of which remains modest and which give the watch a great elegance.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the electrical connection wires 42 can be simply soldered on printed circuits 76 that include both movements. It would also be possible to set lugs at the ends of the wires, these being then screwed onto the circuits printed. In another variant, the electrical connection could also be realized by means of a flexible printed circuit.

In the example described, the watch has a needle display in the two boxes. It would be so possible to place a needle display in a box and a display digital in the other, controlled by a single quartz, or to have in one of the boxes a source of energy provided with a generator and in the other a classic electronic movement.

Claims (8)

1. Articulated watch including:

   two juxtaposed cases (12, 14), each containing an electronic movement and including a back cover, a middle part and a crystal, and

   connecting means for mechanically joining the two cases in an articulated manner and allowing the two movements to be connected using electrical conductors (42),

   characterised in that said means are formed of two connecting bars (22) which are arranged on either side of the cases, which include an internal channel (56) for the passage of the electrical conductors and whose ends are mounted so as to rotate freely, but are locked in translation, in four holes arranged in the middle parts of the cases along two substantially parallel axes (A), there being two coaxial holes per case.
2. Articulated watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the ends of the bars are fitted with a sealing gasket (60) disposed within a groove arranged in the portion thereof which passes through the hole of the middle part.
3. Articulated watch according to claim 2, characterised in that the ends of the channels opening out into the cases are sealed in a watertight manner.
4. Articulated watch according to claim 2, characterised in that the channels are filled with an organic material in which said electrical conductors are embedded.
5. Articulated watch according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the ends of each bar have an end portion projecting into the inside of the cases and in that said portion includes a groove cooperating with a wedge (62) to prevent any axial movement of the bar.
6. Articulated watch according to claim 5, characterised in that said end portion also includes means for limiting the rotational movement of the bar.
7. Articulated watch according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each bar is formed of a hollow median portion (22a) and two end portions (22b) which constitute said ends and are formed of a cylindrical tube (58) fixed to said median portion.
8. Articulated watch according to claim 7, characterised in that said median portion includes a base (50) provided with two holes in which said tubes are fixed, walls (52) substantially perpendicular to said base and a cap (54) fixed to and covering said walls.

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