HK40058331B - Elastic retaining member for attaching a timepiece component to a support element - Google Patents

Description

Elastic holder for fixing a timepiece component to a support element

Technical Field

The invention relates to an elastic holder for fixing a timepiece component to a support element.

The invention also relates to a resilient holder-timepiece-component unit and to an assembly formed by such a unit and a support element.

The invention also concerns a timepiece movement including at least such an assembly.

The invention also relates to a timepiece including such a movement.

Background

In the prior art, elastic holders are known, such as a timepiece collet, which facilitate the assembly of a balance spring in a timepiece movement on a balance staff by elastic clamping.

However, since these mechanisms have a small and limited holding torque on the balance shafts, the main drawback of such elastic holders is the presence of complex, time-consuming and expensive mounting operations during the manufacture of such assemblies.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks, wholly or partially, by proposing an elastic holder with a high holding moment, in particular to facilitate/simplify the mounting operation of the assembly formed by the elastic holder-timepiece-component unit and the support element.

To this end, the invention relates to a resilient holder for fixing a timepiece member to a supporting element, the resilient holder comprising an outer peripheral wall connectable to the timepiece member and an inner peripheral wall defining a triangular opening in which the supporting element can be inserted, the resilient holder comprising a plurality of resilient arms, each resilient arm forming one side of the triangular opening and helping to ensure clamping of the supporting element in the opening, each arm comprising:

-at least one perforation defined entirely or partially along the body of the arm,

-an elastic contact zone or portion able to cooperate with the support element, in particular to help ensure the clamping of the support element in the opening, and

-an elastic peripheral region or elastic peripheral portion extending between the contact region and an end of the elastic arm,

the amount of material in the contact region is greater than the amount of material forming each of its peripheral regions.

Thus, thanks to these features, the elastic holder is then able to withstand a very high elastic grip and therefore to store a great deal of elastic energy when it is constrained, so as to generate a large holding moment, and this is due in particular to the apparent rigidity of the elastic holder, caused in particular by the large volume (or quantity) of material constituting its rigid arms, which comprise an internal structure and an external structure. It should be noted that these larger volumes of material are more particularly included in the contact zones which are subjected to the load (or stress) during the insertion of the supporting element into the holder.

In addition, it can be seen that the resilient holder is configured such that the elastic energy storage is maintained within allowable stress values with respect to the material (e.g. silicon) from which such holder is constructed.

In a further embodiment:

-said contact zone comprises at least two, in particular inclined, beams arranged in a main perforation of said at least one perforation defined entirely or partially along the body of said elastic arm;

-the at least two beams interconnect the inner structure and the outer structure;

-the main perforation is substantially semicircular in shape;

-the main bore is divided into at least three bore portions by the at least two beams;

-at least two of the at least three aperture portions have substantially similar volumes;

-the volume of the aperture portion completely comprised in the contact zone is substantially smaller than the volume of the other aperture portions of the main perforation;

-the at least three aperture portions have substantially similar volumes;

-the central axis of the beam forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the resilient arm;

-the elastic holder comprises a single perforation as the main perforation;

-said elastic holder comprises a main perforation and an additional perforation defined at the end of said main perforation;

the outer and inner structures have different shapes;

-the outer and inner structures have substantially circular and triangular shapes, respectively;

the elastic holder comprises a connection point for connecting the timepiece components;

the elastic holder is a collet for fixing the timepiece component (e.g. a balance spring) to the support element (e.g. a balance staff), and

the elastic holder is made of a silicon-based material.

The invention also relates to a resilient holder-timepiece component unit for a timepiece movement of a timepiece, the unit comprising the above-mentioned resilient holder.

Advantageously, the unit is in one piece.

The invention also relates to an assembly for a timepiece movement for a timepiece, comprising the above-mentioned elastic holder-timepiece member unit, said unit being fixed to the support element.

The invention also concerns a timepiece movement including at least such an assembly.

The invention also concerns a timepiece including such a timepiece movement.

Drawings

Other particular features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of indicative and non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elastic holder for fixing a timepiece member to a supporting element, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the elastic holder being in a strained state;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of a resilient holder for fixing a timepiece member to a supporting element, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the resilient holder being in a rest state;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of a resilient holder for fixing a timepiece member to a supporting element according to a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of a resilient holder for fixing a timepiece member to a supporting element, according to a third embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic view of a timepiece provided with a timepiece movement having an assembly comprising a support element and an elastic holder-timepiece member unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 5 show various embodiments of elastic holders 1a,1b,1c for fixing a timepiece-component 2 to a support element 3. For example, the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c may be collets for fixing the timepiece-component 2, such as a balance spring, to the supporting element 3, such as a balance staff.

In these embodiments, the elastic holder 1a,1b,1c may be included in an elastic holder-timepiece member unit 120 for a timepiece movement 110 of a timepiece 100. Such a cell 120 may be a unitary piece made of a so-called "brittle" material, for example based on silicon. In a further alternative embodiment, the material may be based on quartz or corundum or more generally on ceramic.

It should be noted that in alternative embodiments of the unit, only the elastic retaining member may be made of this so-called "brittle" material, the timepiece component then being made of another material.

This unit 120 may form part of an assembly 130 for a timepiece movement 110, fixed to the support element 3 by elastic clamping, for example. It will be noted that this assembly 130 is invented for use in the field of timepieces. However, the invention may be advantageously used in other fields of aviation, jewellery or automotive.

Such elastic holders 1a,1b,1c comprise a preferably flat top and bottom surface and comprise an outer circumferential wall 4a and an inner circumferential wall 4 b. These outer 4a and inner 4b peripheral walls, also called outer 4a and inner 4b structures, respectively, have different shapes. More specifically, in the case of the outer structure 4a or the peripheral wall 4a, it preferably has a substantially circular shape. Such an external structure 4a or peripheral wall 4a is intended to be connected to a timepiece-member 2, which timepiece-member 2 includes at least one connection point 11 provided for connection to the timepiece-member 2. The connection point 11 preferably protrudes from the peripheral wall 4 a. With regard to the inner structure 4b or the inner circumferential wall 4b, it has/is depicted in the shape of a substantially triangle, in particular an equilateral triangle. The inner structure 4b or inner circumferential wall 4b of the resilient holder 1a,1b,1c helps to define an opening 5, in particular triangular in shape, into which opening 5 the support element 3 is intended to be inserted.

The resilient holder 1a,1b,1c further comprises resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6c, in particular three resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. These elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c comprise, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner:

an inner surface comprised in the inner circumferential wall 4b of the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c, said inner surfaces jointly defining/forming the inner circumferential wall 4b and thus also the opening 5 of the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c,

an outer surface comprised in the peripheral wall 4a of the resilient holder 1a,1b,1c, said outer surface defining/forming the peripheral wall 4a of the resilient holder 1a,1b,1 c.

It will thus be appreciated that in this elastic holder 1a,1b,1c, the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c thus each comprise a portion of the top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces of the elastic holder 1a,1b,1 c. Each resilient arm 6a, 6b, 6c is a part of an elongated or substantially elongated shape, corresponding to one side of the triangle formed by the opening 5. In other words, each resilient arm extends in a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal direction between two vertices of the triangle formed by the opening 5. In the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c, the arms 6a, 6b, 6c essentially make it possible to elastically clamp the support element 3 in the opening 5.

In this configuration, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c comprises at least one perforation 7a, 7b, 7c, which is distributed completely or partially along the body of said arm. Furthermore, it comprises an elastic contact zone 8a and an elastic peripheral zone extending between the contact zone 8a and the ends of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. The resilient contact area 8a is a part of the resilient arm 6a, 6b, 6c, which is arranged to cooperate with the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. It will thus be understood that this elastic contact area 8a may also be referred to as the elastic contact portion 8a of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, or indeed the elastic contact portion 8a of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c. The resilient contact portion 8a comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface and an outer surface of a portion of the respective arm 6a, 6b, 6c, said portion being located between end portions of said arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. Similarly, each elastic peripheral zone may also be referred to as an elastic peripheral portion of an elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, or indeed of this arm 6a, 6b, 6 c. This portion comprises the top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the corresponding arm 6a, 6b, 6 c.

In each arm 6a, 6b, 6c, the peripheral zone 8b or peripheral portion 8b of this arm 6a, 6b, 6c is preferably juxtaposed at the contact zone 8a or contact portion 8a of said arm 6a, 6b, 6 c. The contact zone 8a comprises a contact interface 12, also referred to as "contact point" between the resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6c and the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. In this context, the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c comprise three contact zones 8a, which contribute to accurately centring the timepiece component 2, such as a balance spring, in the timepiece movement 110. In this elastic holder 1a,1b,1c, the amount of material of each contact region 8a is significantly greater than the amount of material of the peripheral region 8 b. This configuration of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c enables the elastic holder 1a,1b,1c to store a greater amount of elastic energy at the same grip than the holders of the prior art. In this way, the quantity of elastic energy stored in holders 1a,1b,1c makes it possible to obtain a greater holding moment on supporting element 3 in the assembly 130 formed by elastic holder-timepiece-component unit 120 and supporting element 3. In other words, this additional energy stored in the holders 1a,1b,1c thus increases the holding torque. In addition, it will be noted that this configuration of the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c makes it possible to store an elasticity ratio that is 6 to 8 times greater than the elasticity ratio energy of the holders of the prior art.

In a different embodiment of the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c comprises a main perforation 7a, which is contained in the perforation 7a, 7b, 7c each arm 6a to 6c may comprise. The main perforations 7a are preferably distributed completely or partially along the body of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. In other words, this substantially semicircular shaped main perforation 7a has:

a diameter extending substantially parallel to a portion of the inner peripheral wall comprised in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c;

a radius substantially smaller than the maximum deviation between the outer and inner surfaces of the outer and inner peripheral walls 4a, 4b forming the resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6 c.

It will be noted in particular that this main perforation 7a extends in the contact zone 8a and in the peripheral zone 8b of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c.

The main bore 7a may be divided into at least three bore portions 10a, 10b by at least two beams 9. In these embodiments, the main bore 7a is divided by two beams 9 into three bore portions 10a, 10 b.

In the first and third embodiments shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, two aperture portions 10b of the three aperture portions 10a, 10b have substantially similar volumes. It will be noted with regard to the third embodiment that, unlike the other embodiments, each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c comprises a single perforation as the main perforation 7 a. In this context, the volume of the aperture portion 10a completely contained in the contact zone 8a is significantly smaller than the volume of the other aperture portions 10b of the main perforation 7 a.

In the second embodiment shown in fig. 3, the three aperture portions 10a, 10b have substantially similar volumes and shapes (in particular substantially triangular shapes).

In these different embodiments of the elastic holders 1a,1b,1c, it will be noted that the aperture portion 10a, which is completely comprised in the contact zone 8a, has substantially a triangular shape.

The beam 9 dividing the main bore 7a into bore parts 10a, 10b is preferably inclined. In different embodiments, these inclined beams 9 are two in number and are contained in the contact zone 8a of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c. These beams 9 help to connect the outer and inner circumferential walls 4a, 4b together. The central axes a1, a2 of the beam 9 form acute angles α 1, α 2 with the longitudinal axis A3 of the resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. It will be noted that the longitudinal axis a3 extends along the largest dimension of the arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. The angles α 1, α 2 may be substantially similar, between 45 and 70 degrees, and preferably 55 degrees.

The central axes a1, a2 of the beams 9 also form an acute angle A3 with each other. The angle α 3 may be between 40 and 90 degrees, and is preferably 70 degrees.

The elastic holder 1a,1b may comprise additional perforations 7b, 7c, so that the elasticity of the arms 6a, 6b, 6c of the holder 1a,1b may be adjusted. For example, in the first embodiment, the elastic holder 1a comprises three substantially circular additional perforations 7b, located at each end of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c. In another example, the second embodiment of the holder 1b comprises, in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, two additional perforations 7c delimiting the main perforation 7a and defining at the ends of this main perforation 7 a. In other words, these two additional perforations 7c are respectively contained in the two peripheral zones of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6 c.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling an assembly 130 formed by the elastic holder-timepiece-component unit 120 and the support element 3. The method comprises the step of fixing the elastic holder-timepiece-member unit 120 with the support element 3. During this step, the support element 3 is inserted into the opening 5 of the elastic holder 1a,1b,1 c. During insertion, portions of the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3 come into contact with the contact interfaces 12 of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. This insertion causes the elastic arms 6a, 6B, 6C to deform in the radial direction B with respect to the central axis C of the support element 3, under the effect of the stresses exerted by these parts on the contact interface 12. The effect of this insertion can be seen in fig. 1, which fig. 1 relates to a first embodiment of the elastic holder 1a in a strained state. This deformation of the resilient arms 6a, 6b, 6c occurs substantially in the contact zones 8a of these arms 6a, 6b, 6 c. In these contact zones 8a, the inclined beams 9, which are the reinforcing elements of the arms 6a, 6b, 6c, contribute to putting the outer part 20 of the collet shown in fig. 1 in a strained/tensioned state when the collet is mounted on a shaft participating in the elastic clamping. In this case, it will be noted that the beams are compressed, in particular in the direction of the arrow D in fig. 1. In this strained state, therefore, the elastic retaining member 1a,1b,1c stores a large amount of elastic energy, which helps it to provide a considerable retaining moment, in particular to achieve the desired clamping by elastic clamping.

Claims (23)

1. A resilient holder (1a,1b,1c) for fixing a timepiece member (2) to a support element (3), the resilient holder (1a,1b,1c) comprising an outer peripheral wall (4a) connectable to the timepiece member (2) and an inner peripheral wall (4b) defining a triangular-shaped opening (5), the support element (3) being insertable into the triangular-shaped opening (5), the resilient holder (1a,1b,1c) comprising a plurality of resilient arms (6a, 6b, 6c) each forming one side of the triangular-shaped opening (5) and contributing to ensure clamping of the support element (3) in the triangular-shaped opening (5), each resilient arm (6a, 6b, 6c) comprising:

-at least one perforation (7a, 7b, 7c) defined entirely or partially along the body of said elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c),

-an elastic contact zone (8a) able to cooperate with the support element (3) to ensure the clamping of the support element (3) in the triangular shaped opening (5), and

-an elastic peripheral region (8b) extending between the elastic contact region (8a) and an end of the elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c),

the elastic contact region (8a) has a greater amount of material than the amount of material forming each of its elastic peripheral regions (8 b).

2. Elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic contact zone (8a) comprises at least two beams (9), said beams (9) being arranged in a main perforation (7a) of said at least one perforation (7a, 7b, 7c) defined entirely or partially along the body of said elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6 c).

3. Elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to claim 2, characterized in that the beam (9) is inclined.

4. A resilient holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any of claims 2 and 3, wherein the at least two beams (9) interconnect the outer circumferential wall (4a) and the inner circumferential wall (4 b).

5. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the main perforation (7a) is in the shape of a semicircle.

6. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 2-3, characterized in that the main bore (7a) is divided into at least three bore sections (10a, 10b) by the at least two beams (9).

7. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least two of the at least three aperture portions (10a, 10b) have similar volumes.

8. Elastic holder (1a,1c) according to claim 6, characterized in that the volume of the portion of the aperture completely comprised in the elastic contact zone (8a) is smaller than the volume of the other portions of the aperture of the main perforation (7 a).

9. An elastic holder (1b) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least three aperture portions (10a, 10b) have similar volumes.

10. Elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the central axis (A1, A2) of the beam (9) forms an acute angle (α 1, α 2) with the longitudinal axis (A3) of the elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6 c).

11. An elastic holder (1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a single perforation as the main perforation (7 a).

12. An elastic holder (1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a main perforation (7a) and additional perforations (7b, 7c) defined at the ends of said main perforation (7 a).

13. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer circumferential wall (4a) and the inner circumferential wall (4b) have different shapes.

14. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer circumferential wall (4a) and the inner circumferential wall (4b) have a circular and triangular shape, respectively.

15. An elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a connection point (11) for connection to said timepiece-component (2).

16. A resilient holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is a collet for fixing a timepiece-component (2) to a support element (3).

17. Elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said timepiece component (2) is a balance spring and/or said supporting element (3) is a balance staff.

18. Elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is made of a silicon-based material.

19. An elastic holder-timepiece member unit (120) for a timepiece movement (110) of a timepiece (100), the elastic holder-timepiece member unit (120) comprising an elastic holder (1a,1b,1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. Elastic holder-timepiece member unit (120) according to claim 19, characterized in that it is a single piece.

21. An assembly (130) for a timepiece movement (110) of a timepiece (100), the assembly (130) comprising an elastic holder-timepiece member unit (120) according to any one of claims 19 and 20, the elastic holder-timepiece member unit (120) being fixed to a support element (3).

22. A timepiece movement (110), the timepiece movement (110) comprising at least one assembly according to claim 21.

23. A timepiece (100), the timepiece (100) including at least one timepiece movement (110) according to claim 22.