EP3805870B1 - Watch case with adjustable threaded crown - Google Patents

Description

Scope of the invention

A watch case is described, comprising a case body with at least one through-hole for receiving a screw-in orientable crown, said screw-in orientable crown is arranged to cooperate with said housing and seal it tightly, said screw-in orientable crown having a motif on one end face or in its vicinity, said screw-in orientable crown having, axially movable in an axial direction relative to each other, on the one hand a subassembly comprising a crown body manipulable by a user and having said motif, and on the other hand a tube arranged to be screwed or driven into said housing in said axial direction.

A timepiece, particularly a watch, is still described as having such a case.

The invention relates to a method of assembling such a steerable screw-on crown.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a screw-on, swiveling crown on a watch case.

Background of the invention

Screw-down crowns are commonly used on watches to improve their water resistance at the point where a control mechanism, such as a winding or regulating stem, passes through. This type of crown has the unique characteristic of being able to assume a screw-down position, in which the watch can be wound, set, adjusted, or otherwise operated, and a screw-down position, in which the crown is screwed and locked onto a tube driven or screwed into the watch case to compress a gasket, thus improving the watch's water resistance. The screw-down position is therefore the normal position when the watch is worn and remains relatively constant, except for wear on the gasket. The document EP 2 592 500 A1 shows this type of screw-down crown.

The manufacture and assembly of these screw-on crowns on watch cases are well known. However, the assembly methods for these crowns are poorly suited to screw-on crowns that bear an inscription or design on their end face, for example a logo, trademark, or similar symbol, or even a raised design, or to crowns that are not of revolution, whereas it is desirable that the user, or at least an after-sales service, can proceed with the angular indexing adjustment of such a crown, in screwed position, according to a particular desired orientation.

Indeed, current mounting methods generally do not allow the crown to be positioned in a specific orientation relative to the case after it has been screwed in, which can detract from the case's aesthetics. This situation is obviously unacceptable when these crowns are used on luxury and high-quality products.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims in particular to overcome the various drawbacks of these known techniques.

More specifically, a screw-on orientable crown is described, adaptable to any watch case with a crown housing, for the orientation of this screw-on crown, made according to a simple and economical construction.

A more reliable, orientable screw-on crown than existing ones is also described.

A watch case is described, comprising a case body with at least one through-hole for receiving a swiveling screw-in crown, according to claim 1.

A timepiece, particularly a watch, is still described as having such a case.

The invention relates to a method of assembling such a steerable screw-on crown.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a screw-on, swiveling crown on a watch case.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale, d'une boîte de montre comportant un logement avec une cannelure femelle, pour la réception d'une couronne vissée orientable comportant une cannelure mâle, cette couronne comportant un arrêt axial par rapport à la carrure de la boîte;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'extérieur de la boîte, montrant la carrure de la boîte de montre avec sa cannelure femelle, et la présentation d'un tube cannelé, que comporte la couronne, pour l'indexation angulaire de cette dernière par rapport à la boîte, et d'un sous-ensemble comportant un corps de couronne manipulable par l'utilisateur, qui renferme un canon fixe destiné à être vissé dans le tube, ce canon fixe renfermant un canon mobile prévu pour coopérer avec le mécanisme interne de la montre destiné à être commandé et/ou réglé par la couronne ;
• la figure 3 est une perspective similaire à la figure 2, où le corps de couronne, solidaire en rotation du canon fixe, est vissé à fond dans le tube, et où le motif que porte ce corps de couronne est en position indexée par rapport à la boîte ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de l'intérieur de la boîte, montrant l'extrémité distale du tube, et un moyen d'arrêt, ici un circlips, préparé pour arrêter axialement ce tube par rapport à la carrure ;
• la figure 5 est une perspective similaire à la figure 4, où le circlips est en position d'arrêt, clipé dans une gorge que comporte l'extrémité distale du tube ;
• la figure 6 représente, en coupe longitudinale, le montage de la couronne, dans une position où un ressort de canon, qui tend à éloigner le canon mobile du corps de couronne, est dans son élongation maximale (alors qu'il est en compression maximale dans la position de la figure 1) ;
• la figure 7 est une vue dévissée de la couronne, le filetage du canon fixe étant présenté face au taraudage du tube de carrure, mais non encore vissé ;
• la figure 8 est une vue dévissée et tirée de la couronne, avec la course maximale du canon fixe par rapport au tube de couronne ;
• la figure 9 est un schéma-blocs représentant une montre comportant une boîte munie d'une couronne vissée orientable selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying figures, among which:

• there figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a watch case having a housing with a female groove, for receiving a swiveling screw-on crown having a male groove, this crown having an axial stop relative to the case middle;
• there figure 2 is a perspective view of the outside of the case, showing the case body with its female fluting, and the presentation of a fluted tube, which includes the crown, for the angular indexing of the latter relative to the case, and a sub-assembly including a crown body manipulable by the user, which contains a fixed barrel intended to be screwed into the tube, this fixed barrel containing a movable barrel intended to cooperate with the internal mechanism of the watch intended to be controlled and/or set by the crown;
• there figure 3 is a perspective similar to the figure 2 where the crown body, rotationally fixed to the fixed barrel, is screwed fully into the tube, and where the motif on this crown body is in an indexed position relative to the case;
• there figure 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the box, showing the distal end of the tube, and a means of stopping, here a circlip, prepared to stop this tube axially relative to the case;
• there figure 5 is a perspective similar to the figure 4 , where the circlip is in the stop position, clipped into a groove in the distal end of the tube;
• there figure 6 represents, in longitudinal section, the crown assembly, in a position where a barrel spring, which tends to move the moving barrel away from the crown body, is at its maximum extension (whereas it is at maximum compression in the position of the figure 1 ) ;
• there figure 7 is an unscrewed view of the crown, the thread of the fixed barrel being presented opposite the tapping of the case tube, but not yet screwed in;
• there figure 8 is a view unscrewed and pulled from the crown, with the maximum stroke of the barrel fixed relative to the crown tube;
• there figure 9 is a block diagram representing a watch comprising a case equipped with a screw-on crown that can be rotated according to the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

A watch case 100 is described, comprising a case 9 with at least one through-hole 90 for receiving a crown, and more particularly for receiving a screw-mounted swiveling crown 10, and a screw-mounted swiveling crown 10 arranged to cooperate with the hole 90 and seal it tightly.

The swiveling screwed crown 10 has a motif 19 on an end face 18 or in its vicinity.

This orientable screw-on crown 10 comprises, axially movable in an axial direction D relative to each other, on the one hand a sub-assembly 20 comprising a crown body 1 manipulable by a user and comprising the motif 19, and on the other hand a tube 8 arranged to be inserted into the housing 90 in the axial direction D.

This tube 8 has an indexing relief 82, which extends along the axial direction D and which is arranged so that, in the inserted position in the housing 90, it cooperates in a complementary way with a complementary indexing relief 92 which is part of the housing 90 and which extends along the axial direction D. The cooperation between the indexing relief 82 and the complementary indexing relief 92 defines a discrete number of possible relative indexing positions corresponding to as many relative orientations of the motif 19 with respect to the box 100.

The subassembly 20 and the tube 8 are arranged to cooperate by screwing over a part of their relative axial stroke up to a stop position corresponding to a fully screwed position of the subassembly 20 in the tube 8.

The box 100 includes a removable axial stop means 7, which is arranged to, fixed to the tube 8, stop axially, in the axial direction D, the tube 8 relative to the case 9. More particularly, this axial stop is made by trapping the case 9 between, on the one hand, a first stop bearing surface 87 of the tube 8 arranged to cooperate in axial stop bearing with a first external stop surface 97 of the case, and on the other hand, a second stop bearing surface 76 which includes the axial stop means 7 and which is arranged to cooperate in axial stop bearing with a second internal stop bearing surface 96, which includes the case 9 on the side opposite to the first external stop surface 97.

More particularly, the subassembly 20 comprises, axially movable along the axial direction D against elastic return means 4 in a chamber 39 in which it is captive mounted, a movable barrel 3 comprising fixing means 31 arranged for fixing the orientable screwed ring 10 to a control element housed in the box 100. This movable barrel 3 is limited in its axial stroke by a cooperation between a stop surface 38, which it comprises, with a complementary stop surface 28 which comprises the fixed tube.

More specifically, the subassembly 20 comprises a fixed barrel 2 fixed inside the crown body 1, and carrying a thread 23 arranged to cooperate with a thread 83 which includes the tube 8 in which the fixed barrel 2 is mounted movably. More particularly, the sub-assembly 20 is non-removable.

In a particular non-limiting embodiment, illustrated by the figures, the fixed barrel 2 is monobloc with the crown body 1, at the level of a laser weld 29, or a bonding, or similar.

More specifically, the indexing relief 82 and the complementary indexing relief 92 have additional grooves.

More specifically, the crown body 1 has at least one internal annular groove 17 for receiving a first sealing gasket 5 arranged to cooperate with a first bearing surface 86 that comprises the tube 8.

More specifically, the tube 8 has at least one external annular groove 89 for receiving a second sealing gasket 6 arranged to cooperate with a sealing surface 91 that has the body 9.

More specifically, the axial stop means 7 is a nut having a nut thread arranged to cooperate with a thread in the tube 8 near its end intended to be enclosed in the case 9.

More specifically, the axial stop means 7 is a nut having a nut thread arranged to cooperate with a distal tapping in the tube 8 near its end intended to be enclosed in the case 9.

More particularly, and in the variant illustrated by the figures, the axial stop means 7 is a circlip 71 housed in a circlip groove 85 which is provided in the tube 8 near its end intended to be enclosed in the case 9.

We are still describing a timepiece, in particular a 1000 watch, having such a 100 case.

• préparer le sous-ensemble 20 et équiper intérieurement le corps de couronne 1 d'un premier joint d'étanchéité 5 ;
• préparer le tube 8 et l'équiper extérieurement d'un deuxième joint d'étanchéité 6 ;
• visser à fond le sous-ensemble 20 sur le tube 8 ;
• insérer le groupe ainsi formé par le sous-ensemble 20 et le tube 8 axialement selon la direction axiale D dans le logement 90 de la carrure 8, dans la carrure 100, dans une première position angulaire;
• mesurer l'écart d'orientation angulaire du motif 19 par rapport à la position désirée, et déterminer le nombre de pas de correction d'indexation ;
• retirer le groupe ;
• présenter le groupe dans l'indexation calculée, et l'insérer dans le logement 20 ;
• réitérer les opérations d'insertion et mesure, et répéter le cycle d'ajustement d'indexation jusqu'à obtention de l'orientation angulaire désirée ;
• après l'atteinte de l'orientation angulaire désirée, fixer au tube 8 le moyen d'arrêt axial 7 sur le côté de la carrure 9 opposé au corps de couronne 1.

The invention relates to a method for assembling such a box 100, comprising the following steps:

• prepare sub-assembly 20 and internally equip the crown body 1 with a first sealing gasket 5;
• prepare the tube 8 and equip it externally with a second sealing gasket 6;
• screw sub-assembly 20 fully onto tube 8;
• insert the group thus formed by the sub-assembly 20 and the tube 8 axially along the axial direction D into the housing 90 of the case 8, in the case 100, in a first angular position;
• measure the angular orientation deviation of pattern 19 from the desired position, and determine the number of indexing correction steps;
• remove the group;
• present the group in the calculated indexing, and insert it into housing 20;
• repeat the insertion and measurement operations, and repeat the indexing adjustment cycle until the desired angular orientation is obtained;
• after achieving the desired angular orientation, fix the axial stop means 7 to the tube 8 on the side of the case 9 opposite the crown body 1.

More specifically, during the preparation of the subassembly 20, elastic return means 4 are enclosed in a chamber 39 delimited by the juxtaposition of the crown body 1 and a fixed barrel 2, tending to push back a movable barrel 3 having fastening means 31 arranged for the fixing of the orientable screwed crown 10 to a control element housed in the box 100, the movable barrel 3 being also held captive in the chamber 39, then the fixed barrel 2 is irreversibly fixed to the crown body 1 to make the subassembly 20 non-removable.

Claims (12)

1. A watchcase (100) comprising a middle (9) with at least one through bed (90) for holding an orientable screw-down crown (10), and an orientable screw-down crown (10) arranged to engage with said bed (90) and to close it so that it is water-resistant, said orientable screw-down crown (10) comprising a pattern (19) on an end face (18) or in the vicinity thereof, said orientable screw-down crown (10) comprising, axially mobile in an axial direction (D) relative to each other, on one hand a subassembly (20) comprising a crown body (1) that can be manipulated by a user and comprising said pattern (19), and on the other hand a tube (8) arranged to be inserted into said bed (90) in said axial direction (D), said tube (8) comprising an indexing relief (82) that extends in said axial direction (D) and that is arranged so that, when in its inserted position in said bed (90), it engages in complementary manner with a complementary indexing relief (92) comprised in said bed (90) and extending in said axial direction (D), the engagement between said indexing relief (82) and said complementary indexing relief (92) defining a discrete number of potential relative indexing positions corresponding to as many relative directions of said pattern (19) relative to said case (100), said subassembly (20) and said tube (8) being arranged to engage by screwing over part of their relative axial travel up to a stop position corresponding to a position in which said subassembly (20) is completely screwed into said tube (8), said case (100) comprising a detachable axial stop means (7) arranged so that, when fastened to said tube (8), it stops said tube (8) axially in said axial direction (D) relative to said middle (9) by trapping said middle (9) between, on one hand, a first stop support surface (87) on said tube (8) arranged to engage as an axial stop support with a first external stop surface (97) on said middle, and on the other hand a second stop support surface (76) comprised by said axial stop means (7) and which is arranged to engage as an axial stop support with a second inner stop support surface (96) on said middle (9) on the side opposite to said first outer stop surface (97).
2. The case (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said subassembly (20) cannot be disassembled and comprises, axially mobile in said axial direction (D) against the action of resilient return means (4) in a chamber (39) in which it is permanently fitted, a mobile pipe (3) comprising fastening means (31) arranged for fastening said orientable screw-down crown (10) to a control organ embedded in said case (100).
3. The case (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said subassembly (20) comprises a fixed pipe (2) fastened to the inside of said crown body (1) and carrying a threading (23) arranged to engage with a tapping (83) in said tube (8) in which said fixed pipe (2) is fitted so as to be mobile.
4. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said indexing relief (82) and said complementary indexing relief (92) have complementary flutes.
5. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said crown body (1) comprises at least one inner annular groove (17) for a first seal (5) arranged to engage with a first shoulder (86) on said tube (8).
6. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said tube (8) comprises at least one outer annular groove (89) for a second seal (6) arranged to engage with a sealing shoulder (91) on said middle (9).
7. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said axial stop means (7) is a nut comprising a nut tapping arranged to engage a threading in said tube (8) near its end intended to be enclosed in said middle (9).
8. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said axial stop means (7) is a nut comprising a nut threading arranged to engage a distal tapping in said tube (8) near its end intended to be enclosed in said middle (9).
9. The case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said axial stop means (7) is a circlip (71) embedded in a circlip groove (85) in said tube (8) near its end intended to be enclosed in said middle (9).
10. A watch (1000) comprising a case (100) according to any of claims 1 to 9.
11. A method for assembling a case (100) according to claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps:

    - preparing said subassembly (20) and fitting the inside of said
    crown body (1) with a first seal (5);

    - preparing said tube (8) and fitting it on the outside with a second seal (6);

    - screwing said subassembly (20) all the way onto said tube (8);

    - inserting the group thus formed by said subassembly (20) and said tube (8) axially in said axial direction (D) into said bed (90) of said middle (9), in the middle (9), in a first angular position;

    - measuring the deviation in angular direction of said pattern (19) relative to the desired position, and determining the number of index correction steps;

    - removing said group;

    - presenting said group in the calculated index and inserting it into said bed (90);

    - repeating the insertion and measurement operations and repeating the indexing adjustment cycle until the desired angular direction is obtained;

    - once said desired angular direction has been obtained, fastening said axial stop means (7) to said tube (8) on the side of the middle (9) opposite said crown body (1).
12. The assembly method according to claim 11, characterised in that, when preparing said subassembly (20), resilient return means (4) for pushing back a mobile pipe (3) comprising fastening means (31) arranged for fastening said orientable screw-down crown (10) to a control organ embedded in said case (100) are enclosed in a chamber (39) formed by the juxtaposition of said crown body (1) and of a fixed pipe (2), said mobile pipe (3) also being trapped in said chamber (39), then permanently securing said fixed pipe (2) to said crown body (1) so that said subassembly (20) cannot be disassembled.