Patent Application
20230013124
The invention relates to a connecting ring for a timepiece dial. The invention also relates to a timepiece dial plate. The invention also relates to a timepiece dial comprising such a ring and/or such a plate. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a dial and/or such a ring and/or such a plate. The invention further relates to a method for assembling or constructing such a timepiece or such a dial.
A dial for a timepiece according to the prior art is described in document EP3339970. Such a dial comprises feet welded beneath a dial plate and intended for fixing the dial plate into a case of a timepiece, for example using screws. This solution has the disadvantage of requiring a material that is compatible with welding from which to form the dial, while at the same time requiring painstaking manufacturing and assembly operations, notably the welding of the feet and then screw-fastening into a frame. Furthermore, there is the risk of generating a situation of hyperstatism if the precision of assembly is imperfect. Finally, this solution is incompatible with certain timepieces for which the volume available is very restricted and limits the passage of screws for securing the dial, for example in the case of wrist watches equipped with multiple mechanical functionalities.
It is an object of the invention to provide a timepiece dial connecting ring and/or a timepiece dial plate able to improve the devices known from the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes simple and robust devices for allowing reliable and repeatable fixing of a timepiece dial plate to a connecting ring.
A connecting ring according to the invention is defined in point 1 below.
Various embodiments of the ring are defined in points 2 to 5 below.
A dial plate according to the invention is defined in point 6 below.
Various embodiments of the plate are defined in points 7 to 10 below.
A dial according to the invention is defined in point 11 below.
Various embodiments of the dial are defined in points 12 and 13 below.
A timepiece according to the invention is defined in point 14 below.
A method of assembling a dial according to the invention is defined in point 15 below.
The attached drawings depict, by way of examples, two embodiments of a timepiece.
A first embodiment of a timepiece 90 is described hereinafter with reference to
The timepiece 90 is, for example, a watch, particularly a wrist watch.
The timepiece 90 comprises a timepiece movement 30 and a timepiece dial 10 that are intended to be mounted in a timepiece case in order to protect them from the external environment.
The timepiece movement 30 may be an electronic movement or a mechanical movement, notably an automatic movement.
The timepiece dial 10 comprises a dial plate 1 and a connecting ring 2 for connecting the dial 10. The dial plate 1 is assembled on the connecting ring 2 by riveting and/or by setting. The connecting ring 2 is intended to connect the dial plate 1 to the movement 30, particularly to a movement blank 3 of the movement 30.
The dial plate 1 and the connecting ring 2 are shaped to be mechanically connected or fixed to one another. In other words, the dial plate 1 and the connecting ring 2 are preferably shaped to be connected as a built-in connection or a complete connection.
The connecting ring in other words constitutes a connecting support or a connecting interface between the movement and the dial plate.
What we mean by a “mechanical connection” is any connection performed independently of a step of bonding, welding or else brazing, which may prove tricky and difficult to reproduce.
The connecting ring 2 for a dial 10 of a timepiece 90 comprises a connecting first portion 21 provided with connecting elements 210 that are plastically deformable and intended to come to bear against a second portion 11 formed on the dial plate 1.
As for the dial plate 1 for a dial 10 of a timepiece 90, this is intended to be mounted on the connecting ring 2. The dial plate comprises:
The timepiece dial here has an axis A. This axis is an axis of revolution or of symmetry of the dial. The axis A is oriented in a direction z perpendicular to the dial plate. If the dial has a shape that is not symmetrical or of revolution, the axis A passes through the center of the dial (defined by a center of mass). If the dial plate is non planar, the direction z and the axis A are perpendicular to a plane passing through the lower first surface or the upper second surface. For example, such a plane may be tangential to the lower first surface or to the upper second surface. For example, such a plane may pass through the periphery of the lower first surface or through the periphery of the upper second surface.
The bearing of the plastically deformable connecting elements 210 against the second portion 11 formed on the dial plate 1, particularly on the at least one third surface 110, makes it possible to achieve mechanical connection of the plate to the connecting ring.
More specifically, the connecting portion 21 is provided with connecting elements 210 intended to come to bear against third surfaces 110 formed on the peripheral contour 11 of the dial plate 1. The peripheral contour 11 may be defined as being a surface connecting the first surface 12 that is intended to be positioned on the inward side of a timepiece and an opposite upper second surface 13 that is intended to be visible by the wearer of the timepiece.
The third surfaces 110 are inclined, which is to say that the directions normal to at least portions of these surfaces are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the axis A.
The third surfaces 110 extend in a direction not perpendicular to the first surface 12 and are inclined toward the inside of the dial plate 1 from said first surface 12. In other words, progression along the third surfaces 110 with increasing distance away from the first surface 12 and/or with decreasing distance away from the second surface 13, decreases the distance from the axis A or from the center of the first surface 12 or decreases the distance from the axis A or from the center of the second surface 13 (this decrease being measured parallel to the first surface 12 or parallel to the second surface 13).
In the first embodiment, the connecting elements 210 of the ring 2 take the form of tongues. More specifically, the connecting elements 210 of the ring 2 take the form of tongues formed by annulus portions.
The connecting portion 21 takes the form of an annulus portion. It projects, in the vertical direction z, from a horizontal or substantially horizontal support surface 211 intended to have a lateral part or peripheral part of the lower first surface 12 of the dial plate 1 bearing against it.
In the embodiment depicted, the tongues 210 are three in number (more particularly visible in
The tongues 210a, 210b, 210c may be obtained directly by machining the connecting portion 21. More particularly, each of the tongues may be formed or delimited by a set of slots 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d, 214e, 214f machined actually into the connecting portion 21. The sets of slots are arranged on either side of each of said tongues. These slots open onto a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface 212 parallel or substantially parallel to the support surface 211, which constitutes one end of the connecting portion 21 in the vertical direction z. Thus, the slots form crenelations actually within the connecting portion 21.
Furthermore, the width or thickness L′ of the tongues, in a cross section passing through a plane perpendicular to the support surface 211, is preferably less than the width or thickness L of the portion 21 in this same cross section, as depicted in
The tongues 210a, 210b, 210c, on account of their width L′ and the slots adjoining each of the tongues, are thus shaped to be plastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the respective surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c of the dial plate 1. This direction is indicated schematically for example by a thick arrow in
As indicated previously, as a preference, the surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c extend in a direction not perpendicular to said first surface 12 and are inclined, notably inclined toward the inside of the dial plate 1, from said first surface 12. More particularly, as depicted in
As a preference, the surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c form an angle α with the surface 111 or the axis A, where α is preferably comprised between 20° and 70°, for example equal to 60°. In other words, the at least one third surface 110 is inclined by an angle α with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the lower first surface 12 and/or with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the upper second surface 13 of the dial plate 1, where α is comprised between 20° and 70°, and for example α is equal to 60°.
Moreover, the surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c extend at an angle β in the plane of the dial plate 1, which angle is measured from the axis A, where β is preferably less than 45°, or even preferably less than 20°. As a preference, these surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c thus allow for angular indexing between the plate 1 and the ring 2. As a further preference, these surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c are equally distributed about the axis A. Alternatively, these surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c are not equally distributed about the axis A, so that they constitute error proofing means when the dial plate is being positioned on the connecting ring. In other words, the third surfaces are formed in notches 113 made in the peripheral contour of the plate.
As an alternative, the angle β may of course be 360°, to form just one single surface 110 on the contour 11 of the dial plate 1.
The plate 1 may thus be mounted bearing against the surface 211 of the ring, under the effect of the plastic deformation of the tongues 210a, 210b, 210c, as depicted. Advantageously, the plate 1 may also comprise a surface or land 15 perpendicular to the first and second surface and defining for example a second contour of said plate, positioned between the first surface 12 and another lower surface 14. This surface 15 may thus collaborate with minimal clearance with a vertical surface or opening 23 of the ring 2, so as to guide the dial plate 1 into the ring. Thus, the function of fixing the plate 1 to the ring 2, which is performed by the tongues 210a, 210b, 210c and the surfaces 110a, 110b, 110c belonging to the ring 2 and to the dial plate 1 respectively, can be dissociated from the function of guiding, which is performed by the surfaces 23 and 15 of the ring 2 and of the dial plate 1 respectively.
Advantageously, the surface 212 of the portion 21 of the ring 2 may be intended to react axial force, notably axial shock. In particular, the surface 212 may be a surface parallel to the first and second surfaces 12 and 13 and intended to come into abutment against a surface of the case middle of the timepiece. Once the dial 10 is assembled in the timepiece case, the surface 212 of the ring 2 may, for example, be concealed by a flange of the case middle. As a preference, the surface intended to collaborate through contact with the surface 212 is formed under the flange of the case middle. Advantageously also, the ring 2 may comprise a surface 213 perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces 12 and 13 and which is intended to collaborate with a surface of the case middle that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces 12 and 13. Thus, guidance of the dial 10 into the timepiece case may be performed directly between the dial 10 and the case. A solution such as this is therefore particularly advantageous to the precision of assembly of a dial in the timepiece case, thus making it possible to reduce the buildup of tolerances involved in assembly.
Furthermore, the dial ring 2 also has the advantage of allowing said dial to be assembled on the timepiece movement 30 without assembly screws or feet for which spaces need to be provided on the upper surface of said movement. To achieve this, the ring 2 advantageously comprises a skirt 22 preferably comprising at least one elastic element 220 as depicted in
Optionally, the skirt 22 of the connecting ring 2 also comprises a surface 222 oriented perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. This surface 222 is intended to come into abutment against a surface 33 of the movement blank 3 that is oriented likewise perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. The function of these elements is to ensure angular indexing of the dial on the movement blank. Alternatively or in addition, the connecting ring 2 may collaborate directly with a case middle or any component of the timepiece to allow angular positioning of the dial 10 within the timepiece.
A second embodiment of a timepiece 90′ is described hereinafter with reference to
The timepiece 90′ is, for example, a watch, particularly a wrist watch.
The timepiece 90′ comprises a timepiece movement 30′ and a timepiece dial 10′ that are intended to be mounted in a timepiece case in order to protect them from the external environment.
The timepiece movement 30′ may be an electronic movement or a mechanical movement, notably an automatic movement.
The timepiece dial 10′ comprises a dial plate 1′ and a connecting ring 2′ for connecting the dial 10′. The dial plate 1′ is assembled on the connecting ring 2′ by riveting and/or by setting. The connecting ring 2′ is intended to connect the dial plate 1′ to the movement 30′, particularly to a movement blank 3′ of the movement 30′.
The dial plate 1′ and the connecting ring 2′ are shaped to be mechanically connected or fixed to one another. In other words, the dial plate 1′ and the connecting ring 2′ are preferably shaped to be connected as a built-in connection or a complete connection.
The connecting ring in other words constitutes a connecting support or a connecting interface between the movement and the dial plate.
What we mean by a “mechanical connection” is any connection performed independently of a step of bonding, welding or else brazing, which may prove tricky and difficult to reproduce.
The connecting ring 2′ for a dial 10′ of a timepiece 90′ comprises a connecting first portion 21′ provided with connecting elements 210′ that are plastically deformable and intended to come to bear against a second portion 11′ formed on the dial plate 1′.
As for the dial plate 1′ for a dial 10′ of a timepiece 90′, this is intended to be mounted on the connecting ring 2′. The dial plate comprises:
The timepiece dial has an axis A′. This axis is an axis of revolution or of symmetry of the dial. The axis A′ is oriented in a direction z′ perpendicular to the dial plate. If the dial has a shape that is not symmetrical or of revolution, the axis A′ passes through the center of the dial (defined by a center of mass). If the dial plate is non planar, the direction z′ and the axis A′ are perpendicular to a plane passing through the lower first surface or the upper second surface. For example, such a plane may be tangential to the lower first surface or to the upper second surface. For example, such a plane may pass through the periphery of the lower first surface or through the periphery of the upper second surface.
The bearing of the plastically deformable connecting elements 210′ against the second portion 11′ formed on the dial plate 1′, particularly on the at least one third surface 110′, makes it possible to achieve mechanical connection of the plate to the connecting ring.
More specifically, the connecting portion 21′ is provided with connecting elements 210′ intended to come to bear against third surfaces 110′ formed on the peripheral contour 11′ of the dial plate 1′. The peripheral contour 11′ may be defined as being a surface connecting the first surface 12′ that is intended to be positioned on the inward side of a timepiece and an opposite upper second surface 13′ that is intended to be visible by the wearer of the timepiece.
For example, the third surfaces 110′ may extend in a direction not perpendicular to the first surface 12′ and are inclined toward the inside of the dial plate 1′ from said first surface 12′. In other words, progression along the third surfaces 110′ with increasing distance away from the first surface 12′ and/or with decreasing distance away from the second surface 13′, decreases the distance from the axis A′ or from the center of the first surface 12′ or decreases the distance from the axis A′ or from the center of the second surface 13′ (this decrease being measured parallel to the first surface 12′ or parallel to the second surface 13′).
The third surfaces are inclined, which is to say that the directions normal to at least portions of these surfaces are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the axis A′.
In the second embodiment, the connecting elements 210′ of the ring 2′ take the form of feet 210′. In particular, the feet may be bored and/or shaped so as to be deformed by the formation of a riveted joint, as illustrated by the thick arrow in
35
In the embodiment of
By way of example,
As a preference, the surfaces 110a′, 110b′, 110c′, 110d′, 110e′, 110f′, 110g′ of the dial plate 1′ are each arranged on lobes or lugs 11a′, 11b′, 11c′, 11d′, 11e′, 11f′, 11g′ projecting toward the outside of the plate 1′ in a plane parallel to that of the surface 12′ and/or 13′ of the plate 1′ or in the plane of the surface 12′ and/or 13′ of the plate 1′.
As a preference, the surfaces 110a′, 110b′, 110c′, 110d′, 110e′, 110f′, 110g′ are generated by circle portions or are cone portions. Alternatively, the surfaces 110a′, 110b′, 110c′, 110d′, 110e′, 110f′, 110g′ take the form of circles or cones. As a further preference, these surfaces are inclined and form an angle α′ with their respective axes Ai′. By way of example,
As a preference, the lobes 11a′, 11b′, 11c′, 11d′, 11e′, 11f′, 11g′ extend at an angle β′ in the plane of the dial plate 1′, with β′, which is measured from the axis A′, preferably being less than 20°, or even preferably less than 10°.
The lobes of the plate 1′ and/or of the ring 2′ may be equally distributed or unequally distributed about the axis A′.
As a preference, the dial plate 1′ is guided with minimal clearance into the connecting ring 2′ via the contour 11′ of the plate 1′, which is intended to collaborate with a guide surface 24′ of the connecting portion 21′ of the ring 2′ as depicted in
In addition to the plastic-deformation elements that take the form of feet, the ring 2′ comprises a skirt 22′ comparable to the skirt 22 of the ring 2 of the first embodiment. The skirt 22′ thus comprises at least one elastic element 220′ extending partially over the height of the skirt 22′. This elastic element 220′ may, for example, take the form of a blade embedded at both ends and oriented tangentially relative to an axis in an axial direction. To achieve this, this elastic element 220′ may be shaped by a slot 221′ formed on the skirt 22′. As a preference, the skirt 22′ comprises three elastic elements 220′. As a preference, these three elements are equally distributed about the axis A′ of the dial 10′.
As with the ring of the first embodiment, the ring 2′, particularly the connecting portion 21′, may also comprise a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface 212′ visible in
The ring 2′ may moreover comprise a vertical or substantially vertical surface 213′ which is intended to collaborate with a vertical or substantially vertical surface of the case middle. Thus, the guidance of the dial 10′ into the timepiece case can be performed directly between the dial 10′ and the case. Such a solution is therefore particularly advantageous in terms of the precision of assembly of a dial within a timepiece case, thus making it possible to reduce the buildup of tolerances involved in the assembly.
Optionally, the skirt 22′ of the connecting ring 2′ also comprises a surface 222′ oriented vertically or substantially vertically and depicted in
A way of implementing a method for assembling or constructing a dial as described hereinabove or a timepiece as described hereinabove is described hereinafter.
The method comprises the following steps:
The plastic deformation is preferably achieved by applying mechanical actions to the connecting elements. These mechanical actions may be applied by a watchmaker using a tool. The tool may be a setting or riveting tool or a riveting hammer.
Whatever the embodiment, the dial plate advantageously has the shape of a disk centered on an axis A, A′. Of course, the dial plate may be non-circular. For example, the dial plate may be polygonal, square or rectangular. Moreover, the dial plate may or may not be planar.
Whatever the embodiment, the solution for creating the dial is advantageously envisioned to allow a dial plate 1, 1′ to be assembled that may be based on ceramics, notably a zirconia or an alumina, a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent ceramic, or a ceramic composite based on yttrium-stabilized zirconia and Dy/Eu-doped strontium aluminate. The plate may notably advantageously be made of “luminescent zirconia”, for example as described in patent application EP2730636. As an alternative, the plate 1 may be based on a composite material. As a further variant, it may be based on a stone, notably onyx, opal, turquoise, sapphire or based on mother-of-pearl. As a preference, the Vickers hardness of such a dial plate is greater than 600 HV, or even greater than 700 HV, or even greater than 800 HV.
Whatever the embodiment, the connecting ring 2, 2′ for its part is preferably made of metal or metal alloy. It may be manufactured in brass. Alternatively, it may be manufactured in gold alloy. As a preference, the Vickers hardness of such a ring is less than 180 HV or even less than 150 HV or even less than 100 HV. As a further alternative, the connecting ring 2, 2′ may be made of steel, notably of Nivaflex®.
Whatever the embodiment, as a preference, a ratio of Vickers hardnesses between the material selected for the dial plate and the one selected for the connecting ring is greater than 3, or even greater than 4, or even greater than 5.
Whatever the embodiment, thanks to the solid nature of the dial plate 1; 1′, the dial 10; 10′ has the advantage of not requiring a supporting plate arranged under the entirety of the surface of the dial plate. It is therefore possible to offer various aesthetic variations of a solid dial plate by applying a layer of varnish visible on and/or under said dial plate. By way of example, the lower surface 14; 14′ of the dial plate 1; 1′, made for example in “luminescent zirconia” may be coated with a layer of varnish having a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent property so as to modulate the daytime and/or nighttime appearance of said dial. As an alternative to a layer of varnish, it may also be conceivable to apply a second solid plate having a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent property between the plate 1 and the dial ring 2 or under the plate 1.
Whatever the embodiment, the dial plate and the connecting ring are configured and/or arranged in such a way that after the plastic deformation of the plastically deformable connecting elements 210; 210′, the plastically deformable connecting elements 210; 210′ do not protrude beyond the upper second surface 13; 13′.
Whatever the embodiment, the dial plate does not form part of the connecting ring and the connecting ring does not form part of the dial plate.
Thanks to the solutions described hereinabove it is possible to fix a dial plate made of a fragile material reliably and repeatably by riveting or setting.
The solutions described above are suitable for any type of dial-plate material, more particularly for a fragile material such as a ceramic.
Thanks to the solutions described above, it is possible to combine simple manufacture, user-friendly integration into a timepiece compatible with all timepieces, including wrist watches which have a very small volume available.
The solutions described above make it possible to achieve reliable and robust fixing of the dial to a movement blank or a case of a timepiece.
Throughout this document, “horizontal” means perpendicular to the axis A; A′.
Throughout this document, “vertical” means parallel to the axis A; A′.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19211399.1 | Nov 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/075373 | 9/10/2020 | WO |
