Abstract:
A diver&#39;s watch having a frame ( 22 ) and a case ( 10 ) containing a clockwork movement associated with time displaying means ( 15, 16 ). The case includes a middle ( 11 ), a base ( 12 ) and a rotating bezel ( 13 ). The case is hinge mounted on the frame ( 22 ), which is configured so as to define a housing wherein the case can be folded down to take up a position preventing its bezel from rotating and wherefrom it can be retrieved to allow its rotation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to horology. It more particularly concerns a diver&#39;s watch. 
         [0003]    2) Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    This type of product, in known manner, is equipped with a rotating bezel carrying graduations generally corresponding to sixty minutes. It is initially set by the diver to a time period which, in relation to the position of the minute hand, gives the diver a permanent indication of the time spent underwater or the time left before having to resurface. 
         [0005]    It is easy to understand that, throughout the entire diving time, this bezel must necessarily remain immobile despite the various aggressions it may undergo, otherwise the diver may be in serious danger. 
         [0006]    The purpose of the present invention is to provide a diver&#39;s watch which, while remaining of pleasing appearance, is provided with means which reliably prevent any undue rotation of its bezel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    More precisely, the invention concerns a diver&#39;s watch, characterized in that it comprises: 
         [0008]    a case containing a clockwork movement associated with time display means, said case being formed of a case middle, a back-cover and a rotating bezel, and 
         [0009]    a frame on which the case is hinge mounted, and which is configured so as to define a housing in which the case can be folded down to take up a position preventing rotation of its bezel and wherefrom it can be retrieved to allow its rotation. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, the watch of the invention includes means to ensure locking of the case in the frame, these means comprising: 
         [0011]    a fastening member secured to the frame, 
         [0012]    a lever secured to the case able to take up a first position in which it is joined to this member and a second position in which it is separated therefrom, and 
         [0013]    a push-piece secured to the frame and intended to command the lever. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Other characteristics will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of the watch according to the invention, in locked position and released position respectively, 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows details of embodiment of its locking lever, 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one detail of the device according to the invention, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows the same detail, but some parts have been omitted for better comprehension. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The figures show a round watch case  10  formed of a case middle  11 , a back-cover  12  fixed to the middle by screws (not shown in the drawing) and a rotating bezel  13  surrounding a glass  14  and conventionally coupled to the middle. The case contains a clockwork movement displaying current time on a dial  15  by means of hands  16 , while the bezel  13  is associated with a ring  17  concentric with the dial and carrying sixty, evenly distributed, graduations corresponding to the sixty minutes of an hour. 
         [0020]    It will be noted that the sealed crown  18  used to command movement is arranged at the 12 o&#39;clock position of the dial. 
         [0021]    It will also be noted that the rotating bezel  13  has a notably wider outer diameter than the middle  11  thereby offering, in its peripheral portion  19 , sixty cavities  20  evenly distributed on the face on the back-cover side of the case, whose purpose will be seen further on. 
         [0022]    The case  10  is hinge mounted, at the 6 o&#39;clock position on the dial, by a hinge  21  on a frame  22  whose outer contour follows the contour of the bezel  13  on its sides corresponding to the 3 and 9 o&#39;clock positions. This frame is extended, at the 6 and 12 o&#39;clock positions, by increasingly narrower portions  23  forming means for fastening the links  24  of the watch band. 
         [0023]    As illustrated in detail  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the hinge  21  consists for example of a hinge pin  35  secured to portion  23  of the frame, and of two tubular elements  36  secured to the case  10  and pivoting about the hinge pin  35 . This pin is positioned in a channel formed by portion  23  of the frame, the portion being interrupted by grooves  37  which leave pin  35  visible. The tubular elements  36  cooperate with the pin  35  at the grooves  37  and are guided in their pivot movement by the walls of the grooves. 
         [0024]    The middle  11 , in its area closest to portion  23 , is provided with at least one male member  38  arranged so that it projects and has a spring movement. As will be understood below, this member  38  is intended to cooperate with a female member, not shown in the drawing, located in portion  23 , to form a catch. Persons skilled in the art may choose the most suitable manner to achieve the catch link. As proposed in the figures, the male member  38  may be formed of two balls mounted mobile in the thickness of the middle  11  and held in position outside the middle  11  by a spring arranged in a housing formed in the middle. The female member may be formed of a hollow made in portion  23 . Advantageously the hollow lies below the median plane of the case and is oriented downwardly i.e. towards the back-cover of the case. 
         [0025]    The area of portion  23  provided with the female member is also provided with a blocker whose role will be seen below. This blocker consists of a protuberance  40  e.g. in the form of a bar oriented parallel to the pin of the hinge  21  and located slightly below the hollow. 
         [0026]    The inside of the frame  22  is configured and sized to receive the crown  18 , middle  11  and back-cover  12  but not to allow entry of the bezel  13  which comes to lie on the frame arms  25  adjacent to the 3 and 9 o&#39;clock positions. At least one of these arms is provided in its upper part with a pin  26  intended to take up position in one of the sixty cavities  20  of the rotating bezel  13  so as to immobilize the bezel when it is placed back over it. 
         [0027]    As shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the arms  25  are advantageously perforated to lighten the weight of the watch and reinforce its pleasing appearance by contrast between the colour of the arms and the colour of the middle  11 . 
         [0028]    With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the middle  11 , at the 12 o&#39;clock position, is provided with a lever  27  which can be moved in the plane of the watch inside a recess arranged in the back-cover  12 . This lever consists of a small plate  28  of which one end has an oblong opening  29  in which a screw  30  can be fixed ensuring its fixing to the middle  11  while leaving it free to move. The plate  28  can therefore take up a first position, shown in the drawing, in which its other end  31  lies flush with the outer face of the middle, and a second position, not shown, in which the end  31  is pressed into the middle. A spring, not visible in the figure, has the function of pushing the plate  28  towards its first position. 
         [0029]    The plate  28  has a notch  32  whose role will now be understood. 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be noted that one of the arms  25 , at its end opposite the hinge  21 , also has a push-piece  33  intended to cooperate with the end  31  of plate  28  so as to counter the action of the spring by pushing it towards its second position. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows that the frame  22  at the 12 o&#39;clock position, has a fastening member e.g. a mushroom-shaped pin  34  intended to take up position in the notch  32  of the plate  28  so that, together with push-piece  33 , it forms a locking system. 
         [0032]    When the plate  28  lies in its first position, the bulbous head of the pin  34  is trapped in notch  32  making it impossible for the frame  22  (to which pin  34  belongs) to be separated from the middle  11  (to which plate  28  belongs). It is therefore no longer possible to rotate the bezel  13  since it is immobilized by the pin  26  implanted in one of its cavities  20 . 
         [0033]    When, on the contrary, the plate  28  lies in its second position, the head of mushroom pin  34  is released from notch  32 , making it possible to separate the frame  22  from the middle  11 . The case can then be removed from the frame  22  by pivoting on hinge  21 , allowing possible rotation of the bezel. 
         [0034]    The catch obtained by cooperation of the male member  38  with the female member allows the case  10  to be held in position after it has pivoted and has been removed from the frame, thereby facilitating adjustment of the bezel  13 . The respective positions of the male and female members are adjusted so that the angle, at which the case  10  must pivot so that the catch is engaged, enables easy manipulation of the bezel. By way of indication this angle is approximately 40 to 50°. 
         [0035]    Should, either voluntarily or accidentally, a force tend to cause the case  10  to pivot by a larger degree, male member  38  disengages itself from the other member and comes into contact with the protuberance  40 . This protuberance is sized so that the member is unable to override it. Therefore, according to the example, the balls are blocked against the bar limiting the movement of the case and preventing the glass from coming up against a surrounding object. 
         [0036]    Therefore a diving watch is proposed whose case  10  in normal use is trapped and locked in its frame  22  so that the rotating bezel  13 , previously set by the diver, cannot be actuated under any circumstances. The push-piece  33  is used to release the case and cause it to pivot so that it can be removed from the frame in order to rotate the bezel if necessary, to display the desired diving time. 
         [0037]    The embodiment described above is given solely to illustrate the invention and is not limiting. Persons skilled in the art may provide for different locking means to maintain the watch case in the position in which the bezel is blocked. Different immobilization means for the bezel may also be provided, for example the frame may comprise a first set of teeth able to cooperate with a second set of teeth provided on the bezel. Also, the pin and tubular elements forming the hinge could be arranged in reverse position i.e. secured to case and frame respectively. The same applies to the elements forming the catch connection between the frame and the case. The frame could be configured to propose several catch points, allowing the case to be held in several positions at different pivot angles. More generally those skilled in the art may make provision for a device other than a slot catch to hold the case in position after it has been removed from the frame.