Patent Publication Number: US-11662693-B2

Title: Tool for actuating a corrector equipping a portable object of small dimensions

Description:
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/052,783, filed Aug. 2, 2018, which claims priority from European Patent Application No. 17189930.5, filed on Sep. 7, 2017. The benefit of priority is claimed to each of the foregoing, and the entire contents of each of the foregoing are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This 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. 
     TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     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 recess 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 recess arranged in the continuation of the first cylindrical recess, 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 recess. A water-resistant joint housed in an undercut 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 part 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&#39;s electronic circuits. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned problems as well as others 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 and which are used, for example, to reset the telephone&#39;s electronic circuits. 
     To that end, 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, wherein the actuating tool further comprises an actuating rod arranged such that it slides in a coaxial manner inside the body, the actuating rod being capable of moving from back to front and from front to back between a retracted rest position wherein it is retracted in a stable manner inside the body of the actuating tool, and a protruding working position wherein it protrudes outside of the cap, wherein the actuating rod remains in the protruding working position thereof as long as an axial pushing force is exerted thereon, and returns to the retracted rest position thereof as soon as the axial pushing force is released. 
     According to specific embodiments of the invention:
         the actuating tool further comprises, on the side of the grasping area, a base, and on the side of the actuating area, a cap arranged in a fixed manner on the base, said base and said cap forming the body inside which the actuating rod is arranged such that it slides;   the actuating tool further comprises a helical spring threaded on the actuating rod and bearing against the cap at a front end, and against a first shoulder formed on the actuating rod at a rear end, the actuating rod being capable of moving against the return force of the helical spring from back to front and from front to back between the retracted rest position thereof and the protruding working position thereof;   the area for grasping the actuating rod comprises a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the actuating area being formed by a third cylindrical portion with a third diameter that is less than the second diameter, the cap being arranged in a fixed manner on the base and delimiting, with the third cylindrical portion of the actuating rod, a second cylindrical housing inside which the helical spring is positioned in a coaxial manner, the helical spring bearing against the cap at a front end, and against a first shoulder formed on the actuating rod in a connection area between the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion of said actuating rod at a rear end, the third cylindrical portion projecting from the cap at the front end of the actuating tool and being surrounded by the end portion of the cap, which is also cylindrical.   the cap is screwed onto the base.       

     Owing to these features, 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 with numerous complications, or a smartphone, without the risk of damaging the middle of the portable object. More specifically, when at rest, the actuating tool is in a situation wherein the front end thereof that defines a portion for actuating a corrector is set back relative to an end portion 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 end portion 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 set back from the end portion. Then, once the actuating tool is pressed against the middle of the portable object, a slight pushing force is exerted on said tool, which results in projecting the actuating portion of the actuating rod outside of the corrector sleeve surrounding it and allows the corrector to be actuated. Once the corrector has been actuated, the pressure applied to the actuating tool is released, which results in the immediate retraction of the actuating portion of the actuating rod set back from the end portion surrounding it. 
     According to another advantage of the invention, the guide function of the tool, provided by the end portion that surrounds the tool 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 retracted inside the actuating tool, to a working state wherein it projects outside of the actuating tool and allows the corrector to be actuated. In this embodiment, the cap is fixed, and the actuating rod, and thus the actuating portion, are capable of moving between a retracted rest position wherein the actuating portion is fully surrounded by an end portion of the cap, and a working position wherein the actuating portion projects from the cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the present 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: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective, sectional view of a push-button of the corrector type embedded in a middle of a portable object such as a wristwatch with complications; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a longitudinal, sectional view of an actuating tool according to the invention in the rest position, and 
         FIG.  2 B  is a similar view to that in  FIG.  2 A , wherein the actuating tool is in the working position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     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 which, in particular in the case of wristwatches, is very often made of a precious material. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention concerns using an actuating tool, the active portion thereof being retracted inside the body of said actuating tool 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 allows the active portion to project outside of the body of the actuating tool and correct the push-button corrector. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a push-button of the corrector type, whose actuation can be performed using an actuating tool according to the invention. However, it is understood that the description of such a push-button corrector is provided for the purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This is a push-button corrector of the conventional type, whose structure does not require any modification or adaptation to suit the structure of the actuating tool according to the invention. Conversely, the characteristics of the push-button correctors do not affect the arrangement of the actuating tool according to the invention. 
     Designated 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  10   a  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  12   a  of the control rod  8 . On the inner side of the middle  6 , the socket  2  comprises a second cylindrical passage  10   b  arranged in the continuation of the first cylindrical passage  10   a  and that defines a shoulder  11  inside the socket  2 . The inner diameter of said second cylindrical passage  10   b , adapted to suit the dimensions of a second portion  12   b  of the control rod  8 , is less than that of the first cylindrical passage  10   a . A water-resistant joint  14  housed in an undercut made on a perimeter of the first portion  12   a  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 the return force thereof bringing 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  12   a  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. Indeed, 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  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . In these figures, an actuating tool  46  for actuating a push-button corrector  1  equipping a portable object of small dimensions comprises an actuating rod  48  the overall shape thereof being cylindrical, which extends between a rear end  50  defining an area for grasping the actuating tool  46 , and a front end  52  defining an area for actuating the actuating tool  46 . At the front end thereof, the actuating tool  48  comprises an actuating portion  54  which constitutes the active element of the actuating tool  46  via which the push-button corrector  1  is actuated. 
     The actuating tool  46  further comprises, on the side of the grasping area, a base  56 , and on the side of the actuating area, a cap  58  arranged in a fixed manner on the base  56 , for example via a threading  60 . The base  56  and the cap  58  form a body inside which the actuating rod  48  is arranged such that it slides in a coaxial manner from back to front and from front to back under the effect of a helical spring  62  threaded on the actuating rod  48  and which bears against the cap  58  at a front end  52 , and against a first shoulder  64  formed on the actuating rod  48  at a rear end  50 . 
     More specifically, the actuating rod  48  is capable of moving between a retracted rest position ( FIG.  2 A ) wherein it is forced inwards relative to the body of the actuating tool  46  by the helical spring  62 , and a protruding working position ( FIG.  2 B ) wherein it is forced outside of the body of the actuating tool  46  against the elastic force of the helical spring  62 . As seen upon examining  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , an end portion  66  of the cap  58  fully surrounds the actuating portion  54  of the actuating rod  48  in the retracted rest position thereof, whereas said actuating portion  54  projects beyond the end portion  66  of the cap  58  in the protruding working position of the actuating rod  48 . 
     When picking up the actuating tool  46  to actuate the push-button corrector  1 , said actuating tool  46  is firstly brought close to the push-button corrector  1  and the end portion  66  of the cap  58  is applied against the middle  6  of the portable object ( FIG.  2 A ). Then, under the effect of the pushing force exerted on the actuating rod  48 , said actuating rod  48  slides axially inside the body formed by the base  56  and the cap  58  and presses against the control rod  8  of the push-button corrector  1 . 
     During the relative displacement of the actuating rod  48  with regard to the cap  58 , the actuating portion  54  of the actuating rod  48  projects beyond the end portion  66  of the cap  58  and moves to the protruding working position, which allows the push-button corrector  1  to be actuated. In order to reach the protruding working position thereof, the actuating rod  48  moves against the elastic return force of the helical spring  62 , which is compressed. When the correction has been made, the actuating tool  46  is moved away from the middle  6  of the portable object, which allows the helical spring  62  to expand and push the cap  58  back into the rest position thereof, wherein the end portion  66  thereof again fully surrounds the actuating portion  54  of the actuating rod  48 . 
     According to one specific embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the actuating rod  48  comprises a first cylindrical portion  48   a  with a first diameter, and a second cylindrical portion  48   b  with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The actuating portion  54  is formed by a third cylindrical portion  48   c  with a third diameter that is less than the second diameter. 
     As shown in the figures, the first cylindrical portion  48   a  of the actuating rod  48  has a local first increase in diameter  48   d  that is adjusted to the inner diameter of a first cylindrical housing  56   a  made in the outer threaded part of the base  56 . This allows the actuating rod  48  to be guided in axial sliding. The first cylindrical housing  56   a  is extended by a second cylindrical housing  58   a  made in the cap  58  in the area at which said cap  58  is screwed onto the base  56 . Said second cylindrical housing  58   a  has a diameter that is greater than that of the first cylindrical housing  56   a  and is extended by a third cylindrical housing  58   b , and the inner diameter of the third cylindrical housing  58   b  is less than that of the first cylindrical housing  56   a  and is adjusted to the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion  48   b , which also allows the actuating rod  58  to be guided axially. It is thus understood that by joining the base  56  and the cap  58 , the first cylindrical housing  56   a  and the second cylindrical housing  58   a  jointly form a cavity of larger dimensions, delimited by a second shoulder  68   a  and a third shoulder  68   b  separated by a distance that defines the maximum travel of the actuating rod  48 . 
     Finally, the third cylindrical portion  48   c  is seen to have a second increase in diameter  48   e  in the area at which it is connected to the second cylindrical portion  48   b . Said second increase in diameter  48   e  ensures the axial guidance of the helical spring  62  and delimits, with the second cylindrical portion  48   b , the first shoulder  64  against which the helical spring  62  abuts. 
     It is evident that this 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 leaving the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. It should in particular be noted that, according to one embodiment of the invention, at least the end of the actuating portion  54  of the actuating rod  48  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. It should also be noted that the head of the push-button correctors is often surrounded by a circular groove  70  (see  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B ) machined in the middle  6  of the portable object. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the end portion  66  will correspond to the diameter of the circular groove  70 . 
     NOMENCLATURE 
     
         
           1 . Push-button corrector 
           2 . Socket 
           4 . Opening 
           5 . Pointed instrument 
           6 . Middle 
           8 . Control rod 
           10   a . First cylindrical recess 
           10   b . Second cylindrical recess 
           11 . Shoulder 
           12   a . First portion 
           12   b . Second portion 
           14 . Water-resistant joint 
           16 . Helical spring 
           18 . Washer 
           46 . Actuating tool 
           48 . Actuating rod 
           48   a . First cylindrical portion 
           48   b . Second cylindrical portion 
           48   c . Third cylindrical portion 
           48   d . First increase in diameter 
           48   e . Second increase in diameter 
           50 . Rear end 
           52 . Front end 
           54 . Actuating portion 
           56 . Base 
           56   a . First cylindrical housing 
           58 . Cap 
           58   a . Second cylindrical housing 
           58   b . Third cylindrical housing 
           60 . Threading 
           62 . Helical spring 
           64 . First shoulder 
           66 . End portion 
           68   a . Second shoulder 
           68   b . Third shoulder 
           70 . Circular groove