WO2017221188A1 - Watch case comprising a set of shaped pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

A watch case comprises a set of shaped pieces (1) that can be assembled in the manner of a jigsaw, and a container (5) intended to accept a watch movement. The container (5) comprises an annular base (6) surrounding it. Each of the shaped pieces (1) comprises projections (2) and cutouts (3), the projections (2) and the cutouts (3) of each adjacent shaped piece (1) corresponding with one another when the shaped pieces (1) are assembled around the container (5) and on the annular base (6) to form the case middle (4) of the watch case.

Description

 WATCH BOX COMPRISING A SET OF SHAPE PIECES

The object of the present invention is the production of an original-looking watch case with the aid of several assembled parts, each of which can be chosen by the customer from among a plurality of possible pieces, of different materials, colors and finishes. .

Thus, US4757485 discloses a wristwatch having a structure composed of alternately male and female interchangeable elements and arranged around a watch case. All the elements are interconnected with each other on their lateral sides. The major drawbacks of this embodiment include the manufacture of elements provided with lateral connection means for the interconnection of the latter with each other and also the reliability of the holding of the structure which appears mediocre.

FR2754434 discloses a system for interchanging certain constituent elements of a watch case having a fixed part constituting a frame comprising positioning devices and support axes of removable and interchangeable elements secured to the fixed part by the effect of ball ratchets and spring pumps.

EP1975747 discloses a watch case comprising a sealed container for containing a watch movement, container formed by a circle on which are fixed in a sealed manner a bezel provided with its ice on the one hand and on the other hand a bottom. This watch case also has a caseband arranged around the container's circle and clamped between the bezel and the bottom. This middle part is formed by the assembly of several independent and interchangeable parts, all screwed relative to each other.

The watch cases described in these documents have difficulties of assembly and assembly, do not always have a high quality finish and sufficient strength and do not offer ancillary functions.

The object of the present invention is to propose a completely different concept of watch case by adding in particular a playful side and a strong aesthetic effect. According to the invention, a watch case comprises a set of shaped pieces assembled in the manner of a puzzle, and a container for receiving a watch movement. The container has an annular base surrounding it, each of the shaped parts having projections and cutouts. The projections and cutouts of each adjacent shaped piece mutually correspond when the shaped pieces are assembled around the container and on the annular base to form a middle part of the watch case.

Preferably, the assembled watch case comprises two particular shaped pieces which are placed on the annular base of the container at opposite positions. These particular shaped pieces come together with the other shaped pieces and include means for attaching a bracelet to the watch case.

In one embodiment, each piece of particular shape has a groove arranged to receive a tenon of a strand of a bracelet or an additional piece of a strand of a bracelet.

In another embodiment, the shaped pieces are fixed by screws which pass through the annular base.

In one embodiment, the shaped pieces have projections and cutouts each having an oblique contact surface so that each shaped piece blocks the adjacent shaped piece.

In another embodiment, the shaped pieces have a vertical contact surface, the one contact surface having a protrusion the other adjacent contact surface having a recess.

In one embodiment, the annular base has an opening for receiving locking means arranged on a bracelet.

Preferably, the watch case comprises at least two shaped pieces and two particular shaped pieces.

In one embodiment, the watch case comprises an electronic element arranged in at least one piece of shape so as to be able to constituting a connected watch, that is to say a watch proposing ancillary functions and in particular being able to be connected to a smartphone.

In one embodiment, the annular base comprises a first connector for connecting an electronic element of a shaped part with another electronic component arranged in the container, in particular for performing the electronic measurement of a clock component arranged in the container. thanks to a sensor arranged in the form piece.

In another embodiment, the annular base includes a second connector arranged to provide an electrical connection between an electronic component of a shape piece and another electronic component of an adjacent shape piece. Thus, the electronic elements of two adjacent rooms can be electrically connected, such as a battery for powering a sensor.

According to this same alternative solution and as an alternative solution, at least two shaped parts may comprise other connectors arranged on the contact surfaces so as to provide an electrical connection between an electronic component of a shaped part and another component electronic form of an adjacent form.

The assembly watch box may be of any shape, ie circular, oval, square, rectangular or any other geometric shape.

The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

- Figures 1 to 5 show a first type of assembly of shaped parts to constitute a watch case of a wristwatch according to the present invention;

- Figures 6 and 7 show a schematic perspective view of two parts of shaped parts whose contact surfaces are oblique in the context of a second type of assembly; - Figure 8 shows a partial view from below of a watch case having screws for holding in position the shaped parts;

- Figure 9 shows a partial view of Figure 8 so as to see the screws through the annular ring which holds in position the shaped parts;

- Figure 10 shows shaped parts for forming a watch case once assembled, the shaped parts having on the contact surfaces protuberances and complementary recesses;

- Figure 1 1 shows the form parts of Figure 10 assembled;

- Figures 12 to 14 show a third type of assembly of shaped parts to form a watch case of a wristwatch.

- Figure 15 shows a side view of a wristwatch having locking means for locking the watch case and the strands of a bracelet;

FIG. 16 represents a view from below of part of the wristwatch illustrated in FIG. 15, the locking means being actuated;

FIG. 17 represents a view from below of part of the wristwatch illustrated in FIG. 15, the locking means being deactivated; and

Fig. 18 is a side view of Fig. 17;

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, a wristwatch comprises a watch case comprising a set of shaped pieces 1 that can be assembled in the manner of a puzzle, and a container 5 comprising a watch movement. The container 5 has an annular base 6 surrounding it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shaped pieces 1 are disassembled and each of the shaped pieces 1 has projections 2 and cutouts 3. The projections 2 and the cuts 3 of each adjacent shaped piece 1 correspond to each other when the pieces of form 1 are assembled around the container 5 and on the annular base 8. In FIG. 2, ten pieces of form 1 are arranged around the container 5 and on the annular base 8. The ten pieces of form 1 form two groups of five pieces of shape 1, two spaces being arranged opposite one on the other, at 8H and 12H, to each receive a particular shaped piece 7.

FIG. 3 illustrates a watch strap 9 comprising an additional piece 1 6 arranged on one end of each strand of the bracelet 9. Each piece of particular shape 7 comprises a groove 8A arranged to receive a stud 8B of the additional piece 1 6 of a strand of the bracelet 9. Each piece of particular shape 7 is fixed on the additional piece 1 6 by sliding the pin 8B in the groove 8A.

FIG. 4 illustrates the particular shaped pieces 7 arranged on the strands of the bracelet 9 and the watch case part as illustrated in FIG. 2. The two spaces arranged opposite each other, to 6H and 1 2H, are each able to receive a particular shaped piece 7 which, in this example, slide from the top to form a middle part 4 of the watch case.

FIG. 5 illustrates the wristwatch comprising the watch case comprising the set of shaped pieces 1 assembled in the manner of a puzzle, and the container 5 comprising a watch movement.

The shaped pieces 1 assembled with the pieces of particular shape 7 form an annular block whose inner periphery conforms to the shape of the container 5 and whose outer periphery conforms to the shape of the annular base 6.

Figures 6 and 7 show a schematic perspective view of two parts of shaped parts 1 whose contact surfaces 1 8 are oblique. Indeed, the shaped parts 1 have projections 2 and cutouts 3 having an oblique contact surface 1 8 so that each piece of shape 1 blocks the adjacent form piece 1.

Another way of blocking the pieces of form 1 once assembled is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and where each piece of form 1 is fixed by screws 1 2 which pass through the annular base 6. Yet another way of blocking the shaped pieces 1 once assembled is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14. In this example, the wristwatch (FIG. 14) comprises a watch case in which the pieces of form 1 comprise a surface of perpendicular contact, the one contact surface having a protrusion 14 the other adjacent contact surface having a recess 15.

Figure 10 illustrates the disassembled shaped parts 1. Each of the shaped pieces 1, as well as the pieces of particular shape 7 comprise a protuberance 14 and / or a recess 15, a protuberance 14 of a piece of shape 1 or a particular shaped piece 7 coming together in a recess 15 of a piece of form 1 or a particular piece of shape 7 adjacent.

In the example illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, the protrusion 14, in the form of a stud, is disposed on a portion of the contact surface of the shaped parts. The recess 15, in the form of a cavity formed in the shaped part, does not extend over the entire contact surface, so that, viewed from above, the assembled watch case does not reveal the recesses 15 (Figure 14). Figure 1 1, shows the back of a middle part of an assembled watch case and the recesses 15 are clearly visible.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an electronic element 21, 22 is arranged in two pieces of form 1. The electronic elements 22, 23 are interconnected by connectors 24 disposed on the contact surface of two adjacent shaped parts 1. Thus, an electrical connection is provided between the electronic component 21 of a form part 1 and the other electronic component 22 of an adjacent form part 1.

Another means of providing electrical connection between two adjacent shaped pieces each comprising an electronic component is to arrange an electrical connector 23 on the annular base 6 (FIG. 12).

In another configuration, still illustrated in FIG. 12, the annular base 6 comprises a first connector 20 for connecting an electronic element 21 of a part of form 1 with another electronic component arranged in the container 5. As illustrated in Figures 15 to 18, to further secure the attachment of the watch case with the bracelet 9, the watch case has on the annular base 8 an opening 1 1 to receive locking means 10 arranged on the bracelet.

In this example, the locking means 10 slide along a slot 17 arranged on a bracelet 9 to move from a locking position to an unlocking position.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, the locking means 10 are activated and the watch case is locked with the bracelet 9.

In FIGS. 17 and 18, the locking means 10 are deactivated and the watch case is unlocked with the bracelet 9. However, the additional piece 16 arranged on the bracelet makes it possible to hold the watch case and the bracelet 9 in position.

Claims

1. Watch case comprising a set of shaped pieces (1) assembled in the manner of a puzzle, and a container (5) for receiving a watch movement, said container (5) having an annular base (6) surrounding the one ci, each of the shaped parts (1) having projections (2) and cutouts (3), the projections (2) and the cutouts (3) of each adjacent shaped part (1) mutually correspond when the parts of form (1) are assembled around the container (5) and on the annular base (6) to form a middle part (4) of the watch case. 2. A watch case according to claim 1, wherein the assembled watch case comprises two particular shaped pieces (7) which are placed on the annular base (6) of the container (5) at opposite positions, these shaped pieces. particulars (7) being assembled with the other shaped pieces (1) and having means (8A, 8B) for attaching a bracelet (9) to the watch case. 3. A watch case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each piece of particular shape (7) has a groove (8A) arranged to receive a tenon (8B) of a strand of a bracelet (9) or an additional piece (16) of a strand of a bracelet (9). 4. Watch case according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped piece (1) is fixed by screws which pass through the annular base (6). 5. Watch case according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped parts (1) comprise projections (2) and cutouts (3) having an oblique contact surface. The watch case according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shaped pieces (1) comprise a contact surface, the one contact surface having a protuberance (14) and another adjacent contact surface having a recess (15) in correspondence of the protuberance (14). 7. Watch case according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular base (8) comprises, at the location of said particular piece (7), openings (1 1) for receiving locking means (10) arranged on a bracelet (9). 8. A watch case according to claim 7, wherein the locking means (10) slide along a slot (17) arranged on a bracelet (9) attached to the watch case. 9. Watch case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaped parts (1) assembled with the parts of particular shape (7) form an annular block whose inner periphery conforms to the shape of the container (5). and whose outer circumference matches the shape of the annular base (6). 10. A watch case according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic component (21, 22) arranged in at least one piece of shape. (1) - 1 1. A watch case according to claim 10, wherein the annular base (6) comprises a first connector (20) arranged to connect an electronic component (21) of a shaped part (1) with another electronic component (22) of the watch box. 12. A watch case according to claim 1 1, wherein the annular base (6) comprises a second connector (23) arranged to provide an electrical connection between an electronic component (21) of a piece of shape (1) and a another electronic component (22) of the watch case. 13. A watch case according to one of claims 1 1 or 12, wherein at least two shaped parts (1) comprise other connectors (24) arranged on the contact surfaces (18) so as to provide an electrical connection between an electronic component (21) of a workpiece (1) and another electronic component (22) of an adjacent workpiece (1). 14. A watch case according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembled watch case is circular, oval, square or rectangular. 15. Timepiece, in particular a wristwatch comprising a watch case according to one of claims 1 to 14.