Patent Grant
11181869
This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 17189928.9 filed on Sep. 7, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a tool for actuating a corrector equipping a portable object of small dimensions, such as a timepiece. The invention more particularly relates to a tool for actuating a push-button of small dimensions, known as a corrector, commonly equipping portable objects such as wristwatches with numerous complications, or smart phones.
Some watches, in particular so-called watches with numerous complications, offer users so many functions that they cannot all be corrected using a single winding and correcting crown. This is why such watches comprise additional control means such as push-buttons. Different types of push-buttons exist, including miniature push-buttons that are generally embedded in the middle of the watch and that are usually actuated using a pointed instrument. These miniature push-buttons conventionally comprise a socket driven, bonded or screwed into an opening made in the middle of the watch, and a cylindrical control rod capable of sliding freely within the socket. The socket comprises, on the outer side of the watch case, a first cylindrical passage adapted to suit the dimensions of a first portion of the control rod, and on the inner side of the watch case, a second cylindrical passage arranged in the continuation of the first cylindrical passage, whose inner diameter, which is adapted to suit the dimensions of a second portion of the control rod, is less than that of the first cylindrical passage. A water-resistant joint housed in a groove made on a perimeter of the first portion of the control rod guarantees the water-tight seal between the control rod and the socket. Such a push-button further comprises a helical spring, which is compressed when the user presses on the miniature push-button, and whose return force brings the control rod back to the rest position when the user releases pressure on the push-button.
Push-buttons of the aforementioned type have very small dimensions. Such push-buttons therefore save space. Moreover, they do not project from the middle and therefore do not risk being actuated by accident. Correction operations take place by driving the control rod into the socket against the return force of the helical spring using a pointed instrument such as a pen. The aforementioned point poses a problem. Indeed, as stated hereinabove, such push-buttons usually equip wristwatches with numerous complications. These are extremely expensive watches, the cases thereof being often made using precious materials. However, the risks of damaging the watch case and of altering the aesthetic appearance thereof when handling a pointed instrument are high, which has become difficult to accept. Of course, there is still the possibility of returning the watch to a workshop for re-polishing, but this is not very convenient.
Push-buttons of the aforementioned type are also used on other portable objects of small dimensions such as smartphones, and the actuation thereof is often used to reset the telephone's electronic circuits.
The purpose of the present invention is to overcome drawbacks including the aforementioned problems by providing a tool suitable for use by horologists, but primarily intended for the persons wearing the watches and allowing small push-buttons, also known as correctors, to be actuated without the risk of damaging the middle of the watch case. The tool according to the invention can also be used to actuate the correctors equipping, for example, smartphones which are used, for example, to reset the telephone's electronic circuits.
For this purpose, the present invention relates to a tool for actuating a push-button corrector equipping a portable object of small dimensions, said actuating tool comprising a body that extends between a rear end defining an area for grasping the actuating tool and a front end defining an actuating area of the actuating tool, whereby the actuating tool further comprises an actuating rod that extends inwards relative to the body and that ends, towards the front end of the body, in an actuating portion, the actuating tool finally comprising a guide sleeve that surrounds the actuating portion of the actuating rod and that is capable of moving between a first protruding position wherein the actuating portion is at most flush with the guide sleeve, and a second position wherein it is at least partially retracted inside the body, the path of the guide sleeve between the first retracted position thereof and the second at least partially retracted position thereof being sufficient to allow the actuating portion to be capable of actuating the push-button corrector.
According to specific embodiments of the invention:
Thanks to these characteristics, the present invention provides a tool that allows for the actuation of corrector-type push-buttons, i.e. buttons embedded in a middle of a portable object such as a watch, in particular a watch with numerous complications, or a smartphone, without the risk of damaging the middle of the portable object. More specifically, when at rest, the actuating rod is in a situation wherein the front end thereof that defines a portion for actuating a corrector is at most flush with a guide sleeve surrounding it. As a result, when looking to actuate a corrector using the actuating tool according to the invention, said tool is brought close to the corrector and is applied, via the corrector sleeve thereof, against the middle of the portable object. At this stage, there is no risk of damaging the middle of the portable object as the actuating portion is retracted from or at most flush with the guide sleeve. Then, once the actuating tool is pressed against the middle of the portable object, said tool is gently pushed, which results in passing the guide sleeve from the first position thereof, wherein it surrounds the actuating portion of the actuating rod, to the second position thereof, wherein it is at least partially retracted inside the body, in which position the actuating portion is capable of actuating the push-button corrector. Once the corrector has been actuated, the pressure applied to the actuating tool is released, which allows the guide sleeve to return to the first position thereof, wherein it fully surrounds the actuating portion of the actuating rod.
According to another advantage of the invention, the guide function of the tool, provided by the guide sleeve that surrounds the actuating rod and that bears against the outer circumference of the push-button corrector, is separated from the actual actuating function of the tool, which is performed by the actuating rod, which significantly eases the positioning and use of the actuating tool.
It is thus understood that the actuating portion that constitutes the active element of the actuating tool moves from a resting state wherein it is surrounded by the guide sleeve, to a working state wherein it allows the corrector to be actuated. The actuating rod, and thus the actuating portion, are fixed, and the guide sleeve is capable of moving between a protruding rest position wherein the end portion thereof fully surrounds the actuating portion of the actuating rod, and an at least partially retracted working position wherein the actuating portion of the actuating rod is liberated.
Other characteristics and advantages of this invention shall be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of one example embodiment of an actuating tool according to the invention, said example being provided for the purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:
The present invention is based on the general inventive idea consisting of providing an actuating tool for actuating a push-button of the corrector type embedded in the middle of a portable object such as a wristwatch with complications or a smartphone, without the risk of damaging the middle of the portable object which, in particular in the case of wristwatches, is very often made of a precious material. In order to achieve this objective, this invention concerns using an actuating tool, the active portion whereof is surrounded by a guide sleeve in the rest position. The actuating tool can thus be positioned facing the push-button corrector without the risk of damaging the middle of the portable object. Once the tool has been properly positioned facing the push-button corrector, the corrector tool is gently pushed, which causes the guide sleeve to at least partially retract inside the body of the actuating tool and allows the active portion of the actuating tool to correct the push-button corrector.
Denoted as a whole by the general reference numeral 1, a push-button of the corrector type conventionally comprises a socket 2, for example driven or bonded inside an opening 4 made in a middle 6 of a portable object, for example a wristwatch, the middle thereof being made from a precious material, or a smartphone. Said push-button corrector 1 can be actuated by the user by means of a pointed instrument 5.
A cylindrical control rod 8 is capable of sliding in the socket 2. For this purpose, the socket 2 comprises a first cylindrical passage 10a that opens out onto the outer side of the middle 6 of the portable object and that is adapted to suit the dimensions of a first portion 12a of the control rod 8. On the inner side of the case 6, the socket 2 comprises a second cylindrical passage 10b arranged in the continuation of the first cylindrical passage 10a and that defines a shoulder 11 inside the socket 2. The inner diameter of said second cylindrical passage 10b, adapted to suit the dimensions of a second portion 12b of the control rod 8, is less than that of the first cylindrical passage 10a. A water-resistant joint 14 housed in a groove made on a perimeter of the first portion 12a of the control rod 8 guarantees the water-tight seal between the control rod 8 and the socket 2. Such a push-button corrector 1 further comprises a helical spring 16, which is compressed when the user presses on the push-button corrector 1, and whose return force brings the control rod 8 back to the rest position when the user releases pressure on the push-button corrector 1. The helical spring 16 bears against a washer 18 mounted in a fixed manner on the first portion 12a of the control rod 8 at one end, and against the shoulder 11 at the other end.
Push-buttons of the aforementioned type have very small dimensions. They thus save space. Moreover, they do not project from the middle and therefore do not risk being actuated by accident. Such push-buttons often equip top-range watches referred to as having numerous complications. Correction operations take place using a pointed instrument such as a pen. However, the aforementioned point poses a problem. More specifically, wristwatches with complications are extremely expensive watches, the watch cases thereof being often made using precious materials. However, the risks of damaging the watch case and of altering the aesthetic appearance thereof when handling a pointed instrument are high, which has become difficult to accept.
In order to overcome this problem, this invention provides a tool for actuating a push-button corrector, one embodiment thereof being shown in
The actuating tool 20 further comprises an actuating rod 27 which extends inside the body 22 and on which a cap 28 is arranged in a fixed manner. Said cap 28 delimits, with the actuating rod 27, a cylindrical housing 30 inside which a guide sleeve 32, positioned in a coaxial manner about the actuating rod 27, is capable of moving from front to back and from back to front under the effect of a helical spring 34 threaded on the actuating rod 27. As shown in
Finally, the actuating rod 27 comprises, at the front end thereof, an actuating portion 38 that projects from the cap 28 at the front end 26 of the actuating tool 20. Said actuating portion 38 constitutes the active element of the actuating tool 20 via which the push-button corrector 1 is actuated. The guide sleeve 32 is capable of moving between a protruding rest position (
More specifically, when the actuating tool 20 is at rest and when looking to actuate the push-button corrector 1, said actuating tool 20 is firstly brought close to the push-button corrector 1 and the end portion 40 of the guide sleeve 32 is applied against the middle 6 of the portable object (
According to one specific embodiment of the invention shown in
As shown in the figures, the cap 28 is arranged in a fixed manner, for example using a threading 42, on the second cylindrical portion 27b of the actuating rod 27 and delimits, with the third cylindrical portion 27c of the actuating rod 27, the cylindrical housing 30 inside which the guide sleeve 32 is positioned in a coaxial manner about the third cylindrical portion 27c of the actuating rod 27.
The helical spring 34 is threaded on the third cylindrical portion 27c of the actuating rod 27 and bears against the guide sleeve 32 at a front end, and against the shoulder 36 formed by the junction between the second cylindrical portion 27b and the third cylindrical portion 27c of the actuating rod 27 at a rear end. The third cylindrical portion 27c projects from the cap 28 at the front end 26 of the actuating tool 20 and is surrounded by the end portion 40 of the guide sleeve 32, which is also cylindrical.
It is evident that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and that various simple alternatives and modifications can be considered by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. In particular, it is understood in the example described hereinabove that the guide sleeve 32 retracts far enough into the cap 28 in the working position to allow the actuating portion 38 of the actuating rod 27 to be released from the guide sleeve 32. However, this condition is not compulsory and it is understood that the path of the guide sleeve 32 between the protruding rest position thereof and the at least partially retracted working position thereof need only be sufficient to allow the actuating rod 27 to actuate the control rod 8 of the push-button corrector 1. It should also be noted that, according to one specific embodiment of the invention, at least the end of the actuating portion 38 of the actuating rod 27 will be coated in a layer of a material that is not as hard as the material of which the middle 6 of the portable object is made, for example. Finally, it should be noted that the head of the push-button correctors is often surrounded by a circular groove 44 (see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17189928 | Sep 2017 | EP | regional |
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| Entry |
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| European Search Report dated Mar. 15, 2018 in European Application 17189928.9 filed on Sep. 7, 2017 (with English Translation of Categories of Cited Documents). |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190072907 A1 | Mar 2019 | US |
