HK1099089B - Timepiece - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a watch part with a case and movement with at least one control accessible from outside the movement and intended to operate at least one function.

These watches are known to have the start/stop and reset functions of a chronograph watch, and usually have push-buttons protruding on the side of the watch case, usually at 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock.

An example of prior art is US 3 759 033 describing a watch part with at least one sliding pusher which can be operated indirectly by a pivoting lever mounted on the watch part case, or US 2 679 135 describing a pocket watch or wristwatch of the type of a simplified chronograph with actuators on the edge of the case.

These push buttons increase the overall bulk of the watch and have the disadvantage of being a hook-up element. They are not easy to handle, especially when the user wears gloves. Their protruding shape can be unpleasant to wear and are massive and unsightly.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to create a watchpiece without visible external push-buttons, in which the functions integrated into the movement, such as the chronograph functions, can be operated very easily, even with gloves, and in which the function controls have a well-defined and very precise operation and a solid and long-lasting construction. The watchpiece according to the invention includes the features in claim 1, namely that the case consists of a moving part mounted and fixed in a pivoting manner on the fixed part following a pivot axis to a pivot base to perform a movement of the moving part relative to the fixed base, with at least one movement of the moving part being performed by the base of the movement of the moving part, and at least one movement of the moving part being performed by the base of the movement of the moving part by means of a pivot axis.

These features eliminate external push-buttons and make it easier to operate the controls of the movement functions even with gloves. e claimed features allow a construction of great strength and durability, precise operation thanks to a tilting movement around a given pivot axis, while providing great comfort of wearing and aesthetic appearance.

The movement is preferably equipped with a first and second controls accessible from the outside and designed to operate at least one of the first and second functions, such as the start/stop and reset functions of the chronograph, the watch part having two actuating mechanisms, one of which is arranged to operate the first and the second control when the moving part is tilted in one direction or in the opposite direction.

These features allow for very precise control of at least two function controls, in particular the functions of a chronograph watch.

In a favourable way of execution, the fixed part consists of a stretcher made up of two pieces of horns and a chassis which is fitted with two diametrically opposed pivot portions designed to cooperate with the movable part to allow tilting movement in two opposite directions.

The resulting construction is particularly reliable and stronger and longer lasting.

The moving part has the advantage of a carcass mounted on the stretcher by means of two pivot pieces, which encircles the movement and is sealed tightly downwards by a bottom and upwards by a glass and a glass.

These features give the car a very compact and strong construction, while also providing unexpected anti-collision properties.

In a preferred mode of execution, at least one such actuating mechanism is mounted in the carriage and comprises at least one first element cooperating with the stretcher and connected to at least one second element cooperating with at least one movement control.

These features allow for highly precise operation, robust construction and easy assembly.

The watch part shall preferably include selection devices mounted in a movable manner on the movable part and designed to prevent the movable part from tilting in the first and/or second directions when it is at least in a predetermined position.

This can prevent any unwanted activation of a control function.

The selection means preferably include a slide mounted in a movable manner on the frame and have a face designed to cooperate with at least one portion of the stretcher, the face and portion being so shaped as to allow either a tilting motion of the movable part in two opposite directions in a first position of the slide, or a tilting motion of the movable part in one direction in a second position of the slide, or no tilting motion of the movable part in a third position of the slide.

Other advantages are shown by the features expressed in the dependent claims and by the description of the invention in more detail below, using drawings which represent schematically and by way of example a method of execution.

Figure 1 is a close-up view of this mode of execution in the form of a push-buttonless chronograph.

Figure 2 is a split view of this chronograph.

Figures 3A, 3B, 3C are cut-off views according to line III-III of Figure 1 showing the chronograph in rest position 3A, in start/stop position 3B, and in reset position 3C.

Figures 4A, 4B, 4C are plane views of chronograph features in resting positions 4A, start/stop control 4B and reset 4C.

Figures 5 and 6 are cut-out views according to lines V-V and VI-VI of Figure 1 and show particularities.

Figure 7 is a cut-out view according to lines VII to VII of Figure 1 and represents the means of selection.

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are views of this mode of operation in resting positions 8A, start/stop control 8B and reset 8C.

The design shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a chronograph-type watch, consisting of a watch case 9 with a fixed part 10 and a movable part 11 pivoting on the fixed part 10.

This movable part 11 comprises a carcase 21 closed down tightly by a bottom 22 screwed with a seal 19.

The following elements are mounted on the carriage and can be seen in Figure 2 from bottom to top: a movement 23, a dial 24, indicator organs 25, an inner bezel 26 screwed on the carriage, a plastic handle 27, an ice seal 28 and an ice 29, and a crown 33 of ordinary construction.

The body 21 is mounted pivoting on the stretcher 20 by means of two screws 30 designed to cooperate with two pivot portions 31 provided on the chassis 12 at the positions 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock.

The movement 23 comprises two controls 40, 41 (Figure 4) accessible from outside the movement and designed to operate at least two functions, here the start/stop and chronograph reset functions.

To activate these two functions, the watch movement is equipped with two identical actuating mechanisms 44, 45 which cooperate with the fixed and moving parts 10, 11 to transform the tilting movement of the moving part 11 into an action on either of the controls 40, 41.

The two actuators 44, 45 are mounted in carriage 21 and each comprise a piston 46 (Fig. 3A, 3B) mounted seamlessly in carriage 21 and fitted with a spring 47 and a sealing seal 48. The lower end of piston 46 cooperates with a groove 49 provided in the cradle 20, while the head of the piston 46 is in contact with a first return 50 which is mounted rotating around a 51 screw arranged horizontally in carriage 21.

This first 50 drive drives a second 52 drive mounted by means of a ball bearing on a vertical 53 shaft of the frame (Fig. 4A). The second 52 drive drives a lever 54 mounted on a vertical 55 shaft of the frame via a ball bearing. The curved 56 end of the lever 54 is intended to drive the movement command 40 or 41 23. The two 44 drive mechanisms have identical and symmetrical construction with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through 3 hours and 9 hours, one 44 stopping the action command 40 start/stop, the other 45 at the chronograph reset command 41 zero.

The tilting movement of the movable part 11 in the opposite directions is limited by two adjustable buttons 60 screwed into the stretcher at 20 to 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock (Figure 5).

The range of motion of the levers 56 is limited by bolted screws 61 mounted on the carriage 21 (Figure 4B).

To stabilize and balance the moving part 11 in its tilting motion, carriage 21 is fitted with two balancing pushers 62 (Figures 2 and 6) mounted next to the two pistons 46 and designed to cooperate elastically with grooves 63 provided in the cradle 20.

The watch part also includes a selection mechanism 66 (Figures 2 and 7) mounted on the cartridge 21 and comprising a slider 67 intended to be operated by the user and a slider 68 screwed on the slider.

The lower face of slide 68 has a groove 69 and is intended to cooperate with three pins 70, 71, 72 cast into the struts of the stretcher 20 to select the movements of the moving part (11).

In the mid position shown in Figure 7, no pins are in contact with the slide 68 and the movable part 11 can therefore be rotated in both directions to control the two chronograph start/stop and reset functions.

When the cursor 67 is pushed to the right in Figure 7, the right pin 72 is in contact with the slide 68 and the moving part 11 can therefore only make a counterclockwise tilting motion around the pivot axis 32.

By placing the cursor to the left in Figure 7, pins 70 and 71 are in contact with slide 68 and the movable part 11 cannot be tilted, so no chronograph control function can be performed.

Figure 7 shows the assembly of the parts of the 20th support, comprising the two portions of the 14th and 15th horns, screwed to the 12th chassis by means of the 16th screws. The 75/76 face of the 20th support and the moving part 11 are machined to form cylindrical surfaces with a spherical base with a very small gap allowing one to slide relative to the other when tilting around the pivot axis 32 which is the central axis of the cylindrical surfaces.

In Figures 8A, 8B and 8C, this tilting movement is barely visible because of the very small gap between the fixed and the movable parts 10.11.

The control positions of the start/stop function (Fig. 8B) by pressure at 12 o'clock and the reset function (Fig. 8C) by pressure at 6 o'clock are hardly distinguishable from the intermediate rest position of the moving part 11 (Fig. 8A).

Figures 3C and 7 show that the lower face of the cradle facing the wrist of the user has a concave middle section 80 which provides a high degree of wear comfort.

It is understood that the method of manufacture described above is not restrictive and can be modified as desired within the framework defined by claim 1. In particular, the movement controls may be of any other nature, such as a repeater clock, a bell clock, a catch clock, a counter clock, a clock with two or more time zones, etc. The crankcase and the moving part may have a completely different construction.

The watch could also have a double cross-pivoting barrel allowing tilting movements around two perpendicular pivoting axes.

Claims (9)

1. Timepiece including a case (9) and a movement (23) fitted with at least one control organ (41, 41) that is accessible from outside the movement and intended to activate at least one function, the case (9) comprising a fixed part (10) and a mobile part (11) mounted onto the fixed part so as to be able to swivel about a swivel axis (32), thanks to at least one pivot (31) in order to realise a tilting motion of the mobile part (11) relative to the fixed part (10), at least one actuating mechanism (44, 45) cooperating with the fixed and mobile parts in order to transform the tilting motion of the mobile part (11) into an action upon said at least one control organ (40, 41), the tilting motion being realised by pressing at least one segment (21, 29) of the mobile part (11).
2. Timepiece of claim 1, characterised in that the movement (23) comprises a first and a second control organs (40, 41) accessible from outside and intended to activate at least one first and one second functions such as the start/stop and zero-reset functions of a chronograph, the timepiece including two actuating mechanisms (44, 45) of which a first one (44) and a second one (45), respectively, are arranged so as to activate the first (40) and the second control organ (41), respectively, while the mobile part (11) performs a tilting motion in a first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first direction, respectively.
3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the fixed part (10) comprises a bracket (20) consisting of two horn pieces (14, 15) and a frame (12), and provided with two pivot segments (31) diametrically opposite, and intended to cooperate with the mobile part (11) so as to enable the tilting motion in two opposite directions.
4. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterised in that the mobile part (11) comprises a middle (21) mounted pivotingly onto the bracket (20) through the two pivot pieces (31), this middle (21) surrounding the movement (23) and being sealed off downwardly by a bottom (22) and upwardly by a bezel (26) and crystal (29).
5. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that said at least one actuating mechanism (44, 45) is mounted into the middle (21) and comprises at least one first element (46) cooperating with the bracket (20) and linked with at least one second element (50, 52, 54) cooperating with said at least one control organ (40, 41) of the movement (23).
6. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterised in that said first element consists of a piston (46) mounted slidingly into the middle (21), a first end of it cooperating with the bracket (20) and a second end of it cooperating with a first intermediate wheel (50) pivoted about a first arbor (51) of the middle and cooperating with a second intermediate wheel (52) pivoted about a second arbor (53) of the middle and cooperating with a lever (54) pivoted about a third arbor (55) of the middle, one of its ends (56) cooperating with said at least one control organ (40, 41).
7. Timepiece according to claim 6, characterised in that associated with said piston (46) it comprises a push piston (62) slidingly mounted into the middle (21) and intended to poise the mobile part (11) in its tilting motion.
8. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises selection means (66) mounted in mobile fashion onto the mobile part (11) and intended to inhibit a tilting motion of the mobile part (11) in said first and/or second directions when it stays in at least one predetermined position.
9. Timepiece according to claims 4 and 8, characterised in that the selection means (66) comprise a slide (68) mounted in mobile fashion onto the middle (21) and including a face intended to cooperate with at least one segment (70, 71, 72) of the bracket (21), the face and segment being shaped so as to allow, either a tilting motion of the mobile part (11) in two opposite directions in a first position of the slide (68), or a tilting motion of the mobile part (11) in only one direction in a second position of the slide (68), or no tilting motion of the mobile part (11) in a third position of the slide (68).