Patent Application
20190049901
The present invention relates to a wristwatch including:
More specifically, the present invention relates to such a type of wristwatch in which the bracelet can be removed from the case without requiring the use of tools.
Within the meaning of the invention, a cover should be understood as an element that can cover all or part of a face of the middle, i.e., it may in particular assume the form of a solid back, or even optionally provided with a window, or alternatively, a bezel that can be considered a back whose center is hollowed out. In the case of a bezel, it is possible to provide that it bears a glass or that it is open at its center without going beyond the scope of the present invention.
Many timepieces satisfying the above features have already been disclosed in the prior art, in particular wristwatches whereof the case has identical bracelet fastening organs on each side.
Patent CH 698787 B1 provides one example of a wristwatch satisfying the features set out above, in which the middle has two pairs of horns to provide the fastening of the bracelet. A support is further arranged between each pair of horns, each of the supports bearing two fastening posts of the bracelet. Furthermore, this wristwatch comprises a rotary bezel bearing two lugs that can be positioned each across from one of the supports to lock the bracelet or offset relative to the supports to release the bracelet. Owing to these features, the bracelet can be changed easily and without it being necessary to use a tool.
However, this wristwatch has a drawback related to the fact that the change of bracelet must preferably be done on a stable surface, for example a table, to be able to deposit the bezel and place it without risk of dropping it while the old bracelet is removed and the new bracelet is placed by being engaged on the posts.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a wristwatch of the aforementioned type in which the middle can show either of its two faces to the user in the usage position.
The wristwatch of the prior art that has just been described is not of the reversible type, i.e., its middle has a single usage face intended to be visible to the wearer when it is worn, the other face of the middle being intended to be positioned against the wearer's wrist.
The patent application published under no. WO 2010/057940 A1 describes an example of a wristwatch including a case comprising a bottom pivoted on a middle, the face of the bottom located across from the middle being provided with two grooves intended each to receive a fastening bar of a bracelet strand. More specifically, each groove is curved to follow the curvature of the case and the associated bar has a similar curvature. The assembly of the bracelet to the case must be done in the open configuration of the bottom in reference to the middle, to free the grooves. The bar of each bracelet strand can then be inserted in the corresponding groove, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a median plane of the bottom. The bar is inserted forcibly in the corresponding groove, by elastic deformation, the bottom next being brought back against the middle, in a closed configuration, to provide locking of the bars in the grooves. The manipulation of the bars seeking to insert them in the grooves of the bottom of the case, or to remove them therefrom, requires a certain dexterity and in particular risks damaging the user's fingernails. Furthermore, such a forcible insertion does not give a high-quality impression of the corresponding product and is for example not well suited to an application in the luxury segment. Furthermore, such a construction poses constraints in terms of thickness for the middle and for the bottom, given that these two elements must have a substantial rigidity to provide correct locking of the bracelet. Thus, for example, a thin bottom having a shape similar to that of a bezel may not be suitable for implementing the construction disclosed in this document. These constraints are reflected in a substantial minimum thickness for the corresponding watch case.
One primary aim of the present invention is to propose a wristwatch with an alternative construction to the constructions known from the prior art, which not only may have its bracelet replaced easily, but which may also be worn while indifferently showing one or the other of the faces of its middle to the wearer without this being detrimental to its appearance and which further may be used differently than as a wristwatch also without this being detrimental to its appearance.
To that end, the present invention more particularly relates to a wristwatch of the aforementioned type, characterized
Owing to these features, the bracelet of the wristwatch according to the present invention can be changed very easily, since a simple pivoting of the cover makes it possible to release it, which can be done holding the watch in one hand while manipulating it with the other hand. Furthermore, once the cover is positioned in its open position, it remains secured to the case and does not risk falling during the manipulation of the bracelet.
Furthermore, the nature and the implantation of the fastening organs of the bracelet arranged on the middle are such that the latter can be turned over to indifferently show one or the other of its faces to the wearer in the usage position. This advantage can be optimized by providing, in a preferred alternative embodiment, that the holes of the middle are arranged substantially in the median plane to allow an indifferent use of the first face or the second face in the usage position.
Lastly, the nature and the implantation of the fastening organs of the bracelet arranged on the middle also make it possible to use the wristwatch according to the present invention in configurations other than as a wristwatch, without this being detrimental to its appearance, i.e., as a table watch or pocket watch in connection with an appropriate chain.
Furthermore, the implantation of the fastening organs of the bracelet on the middle also allows the builder to have great latitude in defining the shape and dimensions of the cover, unlike the watch described in application WO 2010/057940 A1, for which the structure of the fastening organs does not make it possible to implant them directly on the middle, such that they are accessible by the side wall of the latter.
Advantageously, the wristwatch according to the present invention includes first and second inserts secured to the bracelet, to define the first and second ends thereof, and each of which bears a male fastening organ intended to be inserted in the corresponding hole of the middle to secure the first and second ends of the bracelet to the middle.
Owing to these features, the middle may have a purer shape and appearance, allowing particularly well to use of the watch in different configurations without this being detrimental to its appearance.
Furthermore, it is possible to provide that each of the first and second fastening organs of the middle comprises a locking piece movable between a locking position, associated with the closed position of the cover and in which it acts on the corresponding end of the bracelet to lock it, and a neutral position, associated with the open position of the cover and in which it frees the corresponding end of the bracelet, the cover having first and second actuating organs arranged to cooperate with the locking pieces and position them in their locking position in the closed position of the cover.
Owing to these features, the builder has greater flexibility to produce the mechanism providing locking of the bracelet and to isolate the cover from the locking mechanism in terms of the mechanical constraints that the bracelet may exert on the case of the watch.
Advantageously, each of the first and second fastening organs also comprises an elastic organ arranged to act on the corresponding locking piece and tending to position it in its neutral position.
According to one preferred embodiment, it is possible to provide that each of the locking pieces comprises a sliding block arranged
Owing to these additional features, the builder in particular has greater freedom to ensure optimal reliability of the locking mechanism of the bracelet while limiting its bulk.
In this case, it may be advantageous to provide that each of the male fastening organs has a recess arranged to cooperate with the corresponding pin in the closed position of the cover.
In general, it is possible to provide that each of the inserts of the bracelet comprises two horns to provide its mechanical connection to the bracelet.
Alternatively, it is possible to provide that at least one of the inserts comprises a bow to provide its mechanical connection to the bracelet.
In general, it is preferably possible to provide that the cover is mechanically connected to the middle via a hinge and that one of the actuating organs is adjacent to the hinge.
Owing to these features, it is possible to provide that a first end of the bracelet is freed first, after pivoting of the cover by a first limited angle, the second end of the bracelet only being released secondly, after pivoting of the cover by a second angle larger than the first. Thus, the manipulation of the wristwatch during the release of the bracelet is very simple, since the user is only required to manipulate a single end of the bracelet at a time.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the fastening organs of the middle comprises an additional hole arranged in the side wall of the middle, each of the male fastening organs comprising two studs intended to be inserted in the corresponding holes of the middle to provide the connection of the bracelet to the middle.
In this case, it may be advantageous to provide that each of the inserts comprises a plate bearing the studs, and that the side wall of the middle has two recesses arranged around the holes and each of which is suitable for at least partially housing one of the plates when the bracelet is assembled to the middle.
Furthermore, according to one preferred embodiment, it is possible to provide that the wristwatch includes a locking device of the cover arranged to lock it in at least one preferred open angular position, in reference to the middle, such that the cover can define a support for using the wristwatch as a table watch when the bracelet is freed from the middle.
In general, the wristwatch preferably comprises a locking organ arranged to guarantee the stability of the closed position of the cover against the middle.
The present invention also relates to an assembly including a wristwatch satisfying the above features and a chain bearing an insert comprising a male fastening organ able to be inserted into one of the holes of the middle to secure the chain to the middle and to allow the use of the wristwatch as a pocket watch when the bracelet is freed from the middle.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly upon reading the detailed description of one preferred embodiment that follows, done in reference to the appended drawings, provided as non-limiting examples and in which:
To that end, as in particular shown by
In a known manner and with no impact on the implementation of the present invention, the middle 4 is arranged to house a clockwork movement 12 intended to allow the display of time information. A crown 14 is also provided, conventionally in particular to allow time setting. The crown 14 can be arranged in any location of the wristwatch without impact on the implementation of the present invention. For example, it may in particular be retractable in a suitable hole of the middle 4 without going beyond the scope of the invention.
The wristwatch 1 also includes two pairs of horns 16, each of which here bears a bar (not shown) for fastening a strand 18 of the bracelet. One strand bears a buckle-tongue assembly 20, while the other strand bears perforations 22 intended to cooperate with the tongue, in a known manner.
Of course, the one skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting these elements based on his specific needs. At least one of the bracelet strands 18 may alternatively be secured to the middle 4 via a bow, for example. Similarly, the bracelet may alternatively include only one extendable strand, or two strands associated with a clasp of the folding type, without going beyond the scope of the invention. The use of a bracelet with links, for example made of metal, may also be considered without going beyond the scope of the invention.
Here, the case 2 is round, by way of non-limiting illustration, and the middle 4 therefore has an annular shape. More specifically, the middle 4 includes a cylindrical side wall 24, joining first and second faces here respectively associated with the glasses 6 and 10 in order to simplify the description.
For the needs of the description, a median plane of the middle 4 is defined located between its first and second faces while being substantially parallel to the latter and passing substantially through the center of the crown 14.
Advantageously but not necessarily for the implementation of the present invention, the elements of the clockwork movement 12 that are respectively visible by the first face and the second face are different, as emerges from a comparative examination of
It will be noted that a cover 26, here assuming the form of a bezel, is arranged on the second face of the middle 4, as shown in
The function of the cover 26 will be explained hereinafter, in connection with
The cover 26 is provided with two bolts 30, next to one another and diametrically opposite the implantation of the hinge 28, such that a user can exert a pulling force on the bolts 30 to free the cover 26 from its closed position, as illustrated in
The cover 26 is arranged to cooperate with a locking mechanism of the bracelet.
More specifically, fastening organs are provided in the middle 4 as will be explained later.
When the cover 26 is freed from its closed position, it frees a first bracelet strand 18 located at twelve o'clock, i.e., the bracelet strand furthest from the implantation of the hinge 28.
This bracelet strand 18 can then be freed from the middle 4 as illustrated in
Furthermore, the horns 16 are also secured to the plate 34.
When the cover 26 is driven to pivot further, to an open position illustrated in
The cover 26 can advantageously next be returned to an intermediate position, as illustrated in
The wristwatch 1 can then be used as a table watch, the cover 26 defining a support thereof.
It will be noted that the removal of the bracelet is advantageously done simultaneously with the removal of the horns 16, which means that the transformation of the wristwatch 1 from its configuration as a wristwatch to its configuration as a table watch is done without detriment to its appearance.
The case 2 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a locking device (not shown) for locking the cover 26 in a preferred intermediate position in reference to the middle 4. This locking device makes it possible to define an angle between the cover and the middle that is particularly suitable for using the wristwatch 1 as a table watch.
This locking device may include at least one male locking organ and at least one female locking organ, which are arranged to cooperate with one another in the preferred angular position, one being secured to the middle and the other being secured to the cover.
More specifically, the locking organ, which is secured to the cover, may bear two ball clicks facing each other and making up male locking organs. Furthermore, the middle may bear a positioning element having two holes intended to cooperate with the ball clicks to make up female organs of the additional locking device.
Of course, it is possible to provide a small amount of friction between the two parts of the hinge 28, alternatively or additionally, to provide the stability of any open position of the cover 26 relative to the middle 4. However, the implementation of a locking device as described above, while limiting the friction as much as possible between the two parts of the hinge, makes it possible to increase the perceived quality level of the corresponding timepiece.
Starting from the configuration illustrated in
In this case, the chain 40 is advantageously provided with an insert 42 defining its end intended to cooperate with the middle 4.
The insert 42 includes a plate 34 bearing two studs 36, similar to those of the inserts 32, the plate 34 here also bearing a ring 45 for fastening to the chain 40.
Once the insert 42 is placed against the middle 4, the cover 26 can be brought into its closed position to provide locking of the insert 42 and therefore the assembly of the chain 40 to the middle 4, to allow the use of the wristwatch 1 as a pocket watch, as illustrated in
Starting from the configuration illustrated in
In this configuration, the cover 26 is then positioned to be visible to the wearer.
The bracelet strand 18 shown on the right in
The second bracelet strand 18 can then be inserted into the middle 4 before the cover 26 is placed in its closed position to provide the locking thereof, secondly.
One then obtains the configuration illustrated in
It emerges that the case 2 can be turned over very easily, in reference to the bracelet, to show one or the other of the two faces of the middle 4 to the wearer in the usage position, making the wristwatch 1 a reversible watch that is extremely easy to manipulate.
Of course, while the manipulation shown schematically in
More specifically, part of the middle 4 has been omitted in
Each of the fastening organs of the middle 4 includes two holes 44, arranged in the middle 4 at six o'clock and twelve o'clock (partially visible in
Each of the holes 44 is intended to cooperate with one of the studs 36, by insertion of the latter into the corresponding hole 44 in a direction substantially parallel to the median plane of the middle 4, such that the stud 36 next cooperates with the corresponding locking piece.
Each locking piece includes a sliding block 46 arranged in the middle 4 such that it is able to slide in a direction perpendicular to the median plane of the middle 4, on the one hand, under the effect of the action of a resilient organ 48, implemented by way of non-limiting illustration in the form of a pair of helical springs, and on the other hand, under the effect of the antagonistic action of an actuating organ 50 supported by the cover 26 and here assuming the form of a pad.
In the configuration illustrated in
When the cover 26 is freed from its closed position, as illustrated in
When the cover 26 pivots further to its open position, as illustrated in
It also emerges from
The ends of each of the pins 54 are located on either side of the corresponding sliding block 46 in order to cooperate with an appropriate hollow 56 arranged in each of the studs 36.
It will be noted that when a locking piece (or the corresponding sliding block) is in its locking position (
Conversely, it will be noted that when a locking piece (or the corresponding sliding block) is in its neutral position (
Owing to this construction, a locking mechanism of the bracelet is obtained that is simultaneously easy to actuate, reliable, robust and compact.
The preceding description endeavors to describe a particular embodiment as a non-limiting illustration, and the invention is not limited to the embodiment of certain particular features that have been described above, for example the forms specifically illustrated and described for the case 2, the locking devices of the cover, or the inserts 32 and 42.
Indeed, the one skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a wristwatch whose construction reproduces the features of the invention without necessarily implementing, for example, two studs 36 to ensure the retaining of the bracelet in the case or two bolts to release the cover 26 from its closed position. Of course, although such a solution is not as secure as that which has been described, it is possible to use a single bolt or any other equivalent device making it possible to act on the cover 26 to release it from its closed position, without going beyond the scope of the present invention.
It is also possible to use only one stud, which in this case will have a shape not having a symmetry of revolution to avoid any rotation of the bracelet strand in reference to the middle 4. The locking piece structure would then be adapted accordingly.
It will be noted that although the holes 44 of the middle 4 are advantageously located substantially in the median plane of the middle 4 for symmetry reasons when the case is turned over, such a feature is not absolutely required to carry out the present invention.
Furthermore, it will also be noted that the case 2 preferably comprises a locking organ (not shown) arranged to guarantee the stability of the closed position of the cover 26 against the middle 4.
It will be recalled that advantageously, the passage from any configuration of the timepiece according to the present invention to another configuration can be done very simply and without requiring the use of any tools.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00189//16 | Feb 2016 | CH | national |
| 16155594.1 | Feb 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/052565 | 2/6/2017 | WO | 00 |
