Patent Application
20080068933
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly upon reading the following detailed description, made with reference to the annexed drawings, given by way of non-limiting example and in which:
In the following description, an orthogonal marking system V, L, T will be used, respectively defining the vertical V, longitudinal L and transverse T directions. Similar or identical elements may be designated by the same references.
In the following description, in a non-limiting manner, elements will be qualified as internal or external depending upon their orientation relative to case 12.
According to the embodiment shown, case 12 is formed by an overall cylindrical middle part 16 of vertical axis A2 which includes an inner axial wall 18 and an external peripheral axial wall 20. Middle part 16 is closed at an axial end, the top end in
Each cover 22, 24 is made, for example, in the form of a transparent protective crystal which allows an observer to see inside case 12, in particular to see the indications displayed by the display means. Of course, one of covers 22, 24 could also be made differently from the other, particular in the form of a metallic back cover.
Wristband 14 is secured to case 12 by its two end strands 26, 28 which are diametrically opposite relative to the axis A2 of case 12 along the pivoting axis A1. Thus, each end strand 26, 28 includes an insert 30 which is pivotably and slidably mounted on case 12, by a longitudinal trunnion 32. Wristband 14 may be made, for example, in the form of a leather or rubber strap fixed to inserts 30, for example by bonding, or in the form of a chain of metal links hinged on inserts 30.
According to the embodiment shown, each insert 30 has an overall parallelepiped shape including, on the side of case 12, a curved inner face 34 complementary to the convex external peripheral wall 20 of case 12 located opposite.
In order to simplify the diagram and facilitate comprehension,
Each end strand 26, 28 of wristband 14 includes two horns 35, 37 which are fixed to insert 30 and which give the watch a conventional appearance, Each insert 30 includes, around the pivoting axis A1 thereof, two indexed angular positions, relative to case 12, which correspond respectively to two positions of use of case 12, i.e. a right position P1 wherein the right side F1 is oriented upwards, and a reverse position P2 wherein the reverse side F2 is oriented upwards.
Each insert 30 includes, along the pivoting axis A1 thereof, a longitudinal rest position Pr wherein insert 30 is blocked from pivoting by a male element 36 fitting inside a female element 38, and a longitudinal pivoting position Pp wherein insert 30 is shifted longitudinally outwards, relative to case 12, and wherein insert 30 is free to pivot relative to case 12.
According to the embodiment shown, the male element 36 is made integral with case 12 in the form of a rib 36 of substantially rectangular longitudinal section arranged on the outer peripheral wall 20 of case 12. Rib 36 thus forms an extra thick strip which follows the radius of curvature of the external peripheral wall 20 of case 12. The female element 38 is made in the form of a complementary groove 38 of rib 36 arranged in the inner face 34 of insert 30.
In the rest position Pr as shown in
In the pivoting position Pp as shown in
Trunnion 32 extends here through rib 36, in a longitudinal guide conduit 47 which opens out, on one side, into the inner wall 18 of middle part 16 and, on the other side, into the external transverse face 49 of rib 36 via a collar 51.
In accordance with the teaching of the invention, each trunnion 32 includes a first indexing element 48, which cooperates with a second indexing element 50 arranged on case 12 so as to index the associated insert 30 respectively in rest position Pr and in pivoting position Pp.
Trunnion 32 will now be described when the associated insert 30 is occupying rest position Pr.
According to an advantageous embodiment, trunnion 32 includes, at the outer end thereof, a longitudinal securing section 52, which is fixed in insert 30. Securing section 52 is formed here by a longitudinal threaded pin 52, which is screwed into a complementary threaded hole 54 arranged in insert 30. Trunnion 32 includes, at the inner end thereof, a cylindrical indexing section 48, which forms the first indexing element 48 and which extends longitudinally inside case 12. Indexing section 48 includes two inner transverse notches 56 which are parallel and diametrically opposite along a vertical direction, relative to pivoting axis A1, and two outer transverse notches 58, which are parallel and diametrically opposite along a vertical direction, relative to pivoting axis A1. The two inner notches 56 are thus shifted longitudinally relative to the two outer notches 58.
An elastically deformable plate 60 is fixed to middle part 16 inside case 12. The plate 60 extends overall in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A1. It includes a transverse slot 62, which delimits a top strip 64 and a bottom strip 66 provided for engaging in the bottom of notches 56, 58 of indexing section 48 when insert 30 is occupying an indexed longitudinal position Pr, Pp. Strips 64, 66 thus form the second indexing element 50 arranged on case 12. In rest position Pr, the top and bottom strips 64, 66 are engaged in external notches 58 and, in the pivoting position, strips 64, 66 are engaged in inner notches 56. Each strip 64, 66 includes, on the side of transverse slot 62, a flat transverse edge 65, 57 which is provided for abutting in the flat bottom of the associated notch 56, 58 in each indexed longitudinal position Pr, Pp.
The transverse slot 62 is provided for opening when indexing section 48 of trunnion 32 slides longitudinally between the two longitudinal positions thereof Pr, Pp. Plate 60 is deformed elastically allowing top strip 64 and bottom strip 66 to move away from each other.
Plate 60 is fixed to case 12 by the transverse ends thereof, here by means of two securing screws 68. It is fixed in the bottom of an inner groove 70 which is arranged in the inner peripheral wall 18 of middle part 16 and which thus forms a housing for plate 60.
Preferably, trunnion 32 includes a cylindrical guide section 72, which extends at least partially inside guide conduit 47, whatever indexed position insert 30 is occupying, and which is inserted between indexing section 48 and securing section 52. Moreover, trunnion 32 includes an O-ring sealing gasket 74, which is mounted in an annular peripheral groove 76 inserted longitudinally between indexing section 48 and guide section 72.
Advantageously, the external diameter of indexing section 48 and the external diameter of guide section 72 are substantially equal to the internal diameter of guide conduit 47 so as to guide trunnion 32 as it slides longitudinally.
According to the embodiment shown, a stop screw 78 is screwed to the external axial end of trunnion 32. The external face 80 of the head of stop screw 78 delimits one side of each outer notch 56. The external diameter of the head of stop screw 78 is greater than the external diameter of trunnion 32 which prevents trunnion 32 from sliding longitudinally outwards beyond the pivoting position Pp thereof.
The operation of wristwatch 10 according to the invention is as follows. From the rest position Pr, shown in
Advantageously, each notches 56, 58 of indexing section 48 includes, on the side of the opposite notch 56, 58 on inclined wall 82, 84 forming a control surface which facilitates the deformation of strips 64, 66.
In pivoting position Pp, groove 38 is released from rib 36 such that insert 30 is no longer blocked from pivoting, which enables the user to pivot case 12 about pivoting axis A1 by a half a turn, from the right angular position P1 to the reverse angular position P2, reversing the two faces F1, F2 of case 12 and presenting the reverse side F2 upwards. During pivoting, strips 64, 66 deform elastically again as they leave inner notches 56, the maximum deformation being a pivoting movement through a quarter turn, then they return to their initial shape by engaging again in the associated inner notches 56. An intermediate angular position between the right position P1 and the reverse position P1 is shown by way of example in
When the pivoting through a half turn is completed, the user pushes each insert 30 back against case 12, sliding trunnion 32 axially inwards, into the guide conduit 47 thereof, until strips 64, 66 are received in the outer notches 58 and rib 36 engages in groove 38, which is the rest position Pr of insert 30.
Of course, pivoting can occur here in both directions and passage from the reverse position P2 to the right position P1 occurs in the same way as previously described.
It will be noted that the longitudinal indexing obtained due to indexing section 48 of trunnion 32 and to deformable plate 60 is independent of the angular blocking obtained due to the nested fitting of rib 36 in groove 38. Thus, manipulation of case 12 and inserts 30 is simplified, and the relative movements of each insert 30 relative to case 12 are more precise and more reliable since they are perfectly delimited by the cooperation of indexing section 48 with deformable plate 60.
It will also be noted that, in addition to longitudinal indexing, the cooperation of indexing section 48 with deformable plate 60 provides angular indexing. Indeed, during the relative pivoting of an insert 30 relative to case 12, the passage from one indexed angular position P1, P2 to an intermediate angular position, like that shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP 06120862.5 | Sep 2006 | EP | regional |
