CORRECTOR BUTTON AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SUCH A CORRECTOR BUTTON ONTO A WATCH CASE

A corrector button for a watch case including a socket of axis of revolution having a threading arranged on the outer rim of a portion intended to be fitted by screwing onto a watch case, and having a cavity extending between a first end of the socket and a second end of the socket; a movable control rod engaged in the cavity of the socket and movable in translation along the axis of revolution, the movable control rod including a push-rod, having a rotation organ, and a push-button rigidly connected to the push-rod. The cavity has a portion of polygonal cross-section, and wherein the push-rod of the movable control rod includes a portion having a complementary polygonal cross-section in respect of the portion of polygonal cross-section of the cavity, such that the rotation of the push-rod via the rotation organ drives the rotation of the socket.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to small-sized watch corrector-buttons, also known as correctors, embedded in the middle of a watch case, as well as the fitting of such a corrector button onto a watch case.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Some watches, in particular watches comprising several complications, offer their user such a high number of functions that it is not possible to correct them all using a single rewinding and correction crown. For this reason, such watches comprise additional correction means such as corrector buttons.

Corrector buttons are typically miniature push-buttons which are embedded in the watch middle and which are usually actuated using a small, generally pointed, instrument.

These corrector buttons, also known as correctors, conventionally comprise an outer socket driven, glued or screwed into an opening formed in the watch middle, and a cylindrical control rod capable of sliding freely in the socket to activate a control of a horological movement.

The correction operations, via these corrector buttons, are conventionally performed by pressing the control rod into the socket against a return force of a return element, and by means of a pointed instrument.

These corrector buttons have reduced dimensions, which makes it possible to save space and fit them more readily on the middle, particularly with respect to push-button type controls. Furthermore, these corrector buttons do not protrude from the surface of the middle so that they have the advantage of not being capable of being actuated involuntarily.

Although these corrector buttons have reduced dimensions, the multiplication thereof on the middle can pose fitting problems. Consequently, there is a need to miniaturise these corrector buttons further in order to be able to implement them more readily.

Furthermore, these small corrector buttons can be difficult to assemble onto the middle of a watch case. Consequently, the multiplication thereof on watches comprising numerous complications makes the assembly of the watch more complex. Consequently, there is also a need for simplification and improvement of the method for fitting these corrector buttons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the invention provides a novel corrector button architecture making it possible to simplify the method for fitting/dismantling such a corrector button and make maintenance operations easier.

The novel corrector button architecture according to the invention enables a modular fitting of a corrector button supplied complete, the functional characteristics of which have been tested beforehand by the corrector button production shop prior to fitting onto the watch case middle.

The novel corrector button architecture according to the invention makes it possible to simplify the method for fitting such a corrector button and enable quick fitting onto the middle with a single operation.

The corrector button according to the invention also makes it possible to embed the corrector button in a middle of lesser thickness with respect to the solutions known from the prior art.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch case corrector button comprising:a socket of axis of revolution having a threading arranged on the outer rim of a portion intended to be fitted by screwing onto a watch case, and having a cavity extending between a first end of the socket and a second end of the socket;a movable control rod engaged in the socket cavity and movable in translation along said axis of revolution, said movable control rod comprising a push-rod, having a rotation organ, and a push-button rigidly connected to said push-rod;
said corrector button being characterised in that said cavity has a portion of polygonal cross-section, and in that said push-rod of said movable control rod comprises a portion having a complementary polygonal cross-section in respect of said portion of polygonal cross-section of said cavity, such that the rotation of the push-rod via the rotation organ drives the rotation of said socket.

Besides the features mentioned in the paragraph above, the corrector button according to the invention can have one or more of the following additional features, considered individually or according to any technically possible combinations:the push-rod comprises a push-rod head forming a first end of said push-rod, said push-rod head comprising an impression forming said rotation organ of said push-rod;the impression is a slot capable of cooperating with a male part of a drive tool;the push-rod is driven with said push-button;the push-button comprises an annular groove configured to receive a sealing organ, said sealing organ ensuring the sealing between said push-button and said socket;the push-button comprises, at the top surface thereof, an impression configured to promote the positioning of one end of a tool;the impression of said push-button is of conical shape;the corrector button comprises a return organ for repositioning said movable control rod into a rest position, said return organ being disposed between a first fixed banking and a second movable banking arranged at said push-button;said fixed banking is formed by a bottom arranged at said socket cavity;the portion of the socket comprising said threading arranged on the outer rim is a median portion positioned between said first end of the socket and said second end of the socket;the threading arranged on the outer rim of the portion of the socket has a right-hand thread.

The invention also relates to a watch case comprising a bed, having a tapped portion, and a corrector button according to the invention, said corrector button being screwed into said bed of said middle.

Advantageously, said corrector button is embedded in said middle, such that it does not protrude from the middle.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a corrector button according to the invention onto a watch case. The assembly method comprises a step of screwing said corrector button into a bed having a tapped portion and arranged at the middle of said watch case, the screwing step being performed by inserting a rotation tool inside the watch case, said rotation tool acting upon said push-rod by engaging said rotation tool into the rotation organ, the rotation of said push-rod driving the rotation of said socket and the screwing of said corrector button.

In all the figures, common elements bear the same reference numbers unless specified otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1illustrates, in a perspective view, an embodiment example of a corrector button100according to the invention.

FIG.2illustrates a top view of this corrector button100.

FIG.3represents a partial sagittal sectional view of the embodiment example illustrated inFIG.1, in a rest position.

With reference toFIGS.1to3, the corrector button100comprises a socket110comprising a tubular part12and a head13, the head13forming a first end of the socket110.

The tubular part12has a threaded portion having a threading11with a view to the assembly thereof of a watch case200(represented inFIG.6), for example at a middle210of the watch case200.

To this end, the watch case200comprises assembly means configured to receive the socket110of the corrector button100, and more specifically the threaded portion of the socket110. The means for assembling the watch case are in the form of a tapped hole.

The threading11is arranged on a median portion12aof the tubular part12of the socket110, such that the thread11is not produced along the entire length L of the tubular part12of the socket110. Thus, the distal portion12bof the tubular part12opposite the head13has no threading. This distal portion12bforms the second end of the socket110.

The head13has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular part12, such that a shoulder14separates the head13from the tubular part12. The shoulder14thus forms a support surface intended to come into contact with a relief of a bed211for fitting the middle210of a watch case200when fitting the corrector button100.

The tubular-shaped socket110comprises a cavity70extending between the first end of the socket110and the second end of the socket110, in other words between the head13and the distal portion12bof the tubular part12.

The cavity70comprises:a first portion15, arranged in the top part of the socket110, opening at the first end of the socket110, i.e. at the head, anda second portion16, arranged in the bottom part of the socket110, opening at the second end of the socket110, and particularly at a bottom surface18of the socket110.

The two portions15and16of the cavity70communicate with one another inside the socket110, and have a different cross-section such that the first portion15of the cavity70has a bottom17.

The first portion15of the cavity70has a circular cross-section and resembles a blind hole opening at the head13of the socket110.

The first portion15extends essentially at the head13of the socket110and the median portion12acomprising the thread11of the tubular part12.

The second portion16of the cavity70, smaller in size than the first portion15has a non-circular cross-section.

The second portion16of the cavity70extends essentially at the distal portion12bof the tubular part12, and more specifically between the bottom17and the bottom surface18of the socket110.

The corrector button100further comprises a movable control rod120, sliding in the socket110, i.e. movable in translation inside the socket110, along an axis X-X corresponding to the axis of revolution of the socket110. The movable control rod120comprises a push-button30and a push-rod20, rigidly connected to said push-button30.

The push-rod20is for example driven onto the push-button30.

The push-button30comprises an impression32arranged at the top face33of the push-button30, the top face33being the face that can be seen by the user when the corrector button100is fitted onto the watch case200. The impression32has a shape adapted to receive and promote the holding in position of a tool for operating the corrector button100.

For example, the impression32is of conical shape so as to enable a centring of the pointed tool and prevent any slippage of the tool when applying a force on the push-button30.

The push-button30comprises an annular groove31arranged on the rim of the push-button30. The annular groove31forms a bed for receiving a sealing organ40, for example an O-ring type seal. The sealing organ40ensures the sealing between the push-button30and inside the socket110.

The push-button30is intended to move longitudinally in the first portion15of circular cross-section of the cavity70, under a user's action.

The push-rod20is intended to actuate a control fitted inside the watch case200when the user presses in the movable control rod120.

The push-rod20comprises a push-rod body24and a push-rod head22capable of actuating a control, a lever or other of a horological mechanism.

The push-rod head22also comprises an organ for rotating the push-rod20but also the corrector button100as a whole. The push-rod head22has an equivalent shape to a shape of a screw head, such that the push-rod head22is slightly wider than the push-rod body24and than the second portion16of the cavity70of the socket110.

The push-rod head22comprises an impression23, forming the organ for rotating the push-rod20, wherein the male end221of a tool220can be inserted to rotate the push-rod20. Advantageously, the impression23is an impression corresponding to a common widely commercially available tool, that any horologist, repairer, DIY enthusiast may have. For example, the impression23is a slot adapted to receive a flat tip of a flat screwdriver. However, the impression23could also be a cross-shaped or six-ray star-shaped impression.

A return organ50, for example a return spring, is housed inside the socket110of the corrector button100, and more specifically at the first portion16, of circular cross-section, of the cavity70of the socket110.

The return organ50is positioned around the movable control rod120, more specifically around the push-rod body24and the bottom portion35of the push-button30.

The return organ50tends to extend between a first fixed banking formed by the bottom17of the first portion15of the cavity70of the socket110and a second movable banking formed by a collar36of the push-button30.

In the embodiment example, the collar36is advantageously formed by the bottom portion of the annular groove31receiving the sealing organ40.

FIG.3represents the rest position of the corrector button100wherein the return organ50is not compressed and the push-rod head22is returned to bear on the bottom surface18of the socket110by the return organ50.

FIG.4represents the activated position of the corrector button100wherein the return spring50is compressed between the bottom17arranged at the cavity70of the socket110and the collar36of the push button30. In this configuration, the push-rod20protrudes from the socket110, the distance between the push-rod head22and the bottom surface18of the socket110representing the travel d of the corrector button100.

As represented byFIG.5, illustrating a section view along the axis A-A, the push-rod body24has at least one portion of polygonal cross-section, for example of square or hexagonal shape as represented inFIG.5. Advantageously, the entire push-rod body24is of polygonal shape.

To this end, the second portion16of the cavity70of the socket110has a cross-section of complementary cross-section. The dimensions of the second portion16of the cavity70are determined so as to allow an axial movement of the push-rod20along the axis X-X, i.e. a minimum operating play is produced.

The portion of polygonal cross-section of the push-rod body24thus makes it possible to rotate the socket110when rotating the push-rod head22by means of a conventional tool.

The corrector button100according to the invention, as detailed above, thus makes it possible to simplify and facility the screw-fitting of the complete corrector button100at a middle210of a watch case200.

The fitting of the corrector button100is performed as follows: the socket110of the corrector button100is positioned at a bed211having a tapped portion of a watch case200via the outside of the middle210. The corrector button100is screwed to the middle210by means of the thread11arranged on the threaded median portion12aof the tubular portion12of the socket110. The screwing of the corrector button100is performed via the inside of the watch case200by means of a convention tool220, for example a flat screwdriver. For this, the male end221of the tool220is engaged at the female impression23of the push-rod head22, here for example a slot, then the tool is turned in a first direction of rotation enabling the engagement of the thread11in the bed211having a tapped portion211of the middle210. Due to the polygonal shape of the push-rod body24and of the second portion16of the cavity70of the socket110, the rotation applied on the push-rod head22rotates the socket110thus enabling the fitting thereof by screwing and the gripping thereof on the middle210of a watch case200.

Advantageously, the bed211has a complementary shape to the corrector button100. More specifically, the bed211has a tapped portion for screwing the socket110, and more specifically the tubular part12of the socket110and a countersink to receive the head13of the socket110. The bottom of the countersink forms a shoulder forming a positioning banking for facilitating the correct positioning of the corrector button100in the middle210and ensuring the desired gripping.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the thread of the threading11of the socket110can be chosen to be right-handed so that the direction of rotation of the tool220is the conventional screwing direction, i.e. in the clockwise direction, when screwing the corrector button100. However, a left-hand thread is also envisaged.