Patent Publication Number: US-11022941-B2

Title: Timepiece case with push-piece

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 17203115.5 filed on Nov. 22, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a timepiece case, comprising at least one seat which guides inside it a push-piece for rewinding or resetting a mechanism or for supplying energy to a storage means or to a mechanism or a user circuit, the said push-piece being movable along a unique rectilinear trajectory against resilient return means and comprising a control member which is arranged to be operated at least along the said rectilinear direction by means of pressure applied by a user against the said resilient return means and which is integral with driving means. 
     The invention also concerns a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case and having an input wheel which cooperates with a mechanism or a means for converting and/or storing energy. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rewinding small-size watches using the crown is often awkward, in particular in the case of ladies watches or ultra-slim watches. If the user has long fingernails this operation is made even more difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention proposes providing a more ergonomic rewinding system for small-size watches which may also be suitable for performing other functions of a watch, such as activating a timer or a minute repeater, changing a spindle, or the like, while occupying a minimum amount of space inside the watch case. 
     For this purpose, the invention relates to a timepiece case according to claim  1 . 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention will become clear from reading of the detailed description which is provided below with reference to the attached figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows, in partial schematic form and longitudinally sectioned along an axis of the push-piece, a watch case and its push-piece according to the invention, in a particular non-limiting variant where the push-piece has a linear travel path; 
         FIGS. 2 to 6  show, in a similar manner to  FIG. 1 , a complete kinematic operating cycle of this push-piece; 
         FIG. 2  shows the push-piece at rest; 
         FIG. 3  shows the push-piece in an unstable position on travel path A described in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the push-piece in a stable position on travel path B described in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows the push-piece in an unstable position on travel path C described in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows the push-piece in a stable position on travel path D described in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the detail of a cam track comprised in the push-piece according to the preceding figures and arranged to allow the travel movement of a guide pin positioned at the end of a hinged arm pivoting about a pivot fixed to the case; 
         FIG. 8  shows a plan view of watch comprising such a case; 
         FIGS. 9 to 20  show a perspective view of the details of another constructional design based on the same principle as that of  FIGS. 1 to 8 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a view, from above, of the watch case in which a cover, shown in transparent form, encloses the push-piece mechanism according to the invention and where a connecting plate joins the part operated by the user to the internal mechanism, a pivoting arm of which cooperates with a jumper housed on the side of the case; 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 9 , the cover and the connecting plate having been disassembled; 
         FIG. 11  is a close-up view of the connecting plate zone; 
         FIG. 12  shows, from below, the guiding system for a flat plate with the rack and the cam track; 
         FIG. 13  shows the pivoting arm and its rear zone which makes contact with the jumper; 
         FIG. 14  shows the connecting plate; 
         FIG. 15  shows, from above, the flat plate with the rack and the cam track, which comprises a first support lug for guiding the spring and on which the connecting plate is fixed; 
         FIG. 16  is a detail of assembly of the control member with the connecting plate; 
         FIG. 17  shows the retention of the spring at its two ends by support lugs, one of which is integral with the flat plate and the other one of which is mounted in the case; 
         FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of the flat plate from above; 
         FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of the flat plate from below; 
         FIG. 20  shows the bottom of the case configured to receive this push-piece; 
         FIGS. 21 to 32  show, in a similar manner to  FIGS. 9 to 20 , a variant of an improved watch case for facilitating assembly and adjustment; 
         FIG. 21  shows a view, from above, of the watch case in which a cover, shown in transparent form, encloses the push-piece mechanism according to the invention and where a connecting plate joins the part operated by the user to the internal mechanism, a pivoting arm of which cooperates with a jumper housed on the side of the case; 
         FIG. 22  is similar to  FIG. 21  the cover and the connecting plate having been disassembled; 
         FIG. 23  is a close-up view of the connecting plate zone; 
         FIG. 24  shows, from below, the guiding system for a flat plate with the rack and the cam track; 
         FIG. 25  shows the pivoting arm and its rear zone which makes contact with the jumper; 
         FIG. 26  shows the connecting plate; 
         FIG. 27  shows, from above, the flat plate with the rack and the cam track, which comprises a first support lug for guiding the spring and on which the connecting plate is fixed; 
         FIG. 28  is a detail of assembly of the control member with the connecting plate; 
         FIG. 29  shows the retention of the spring at its two ends by support lugs, one of which is integral with the flat plate and the other one of which is mounted in the case; 
         FIG. 30  shows a perspective view of the flat plate from above; 
         FIG. 31  shows a perspective view of the flat plate from below; and 
         FIG. 32  shows the bottom of the case configured to receive this push-piece. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention relates to case  20  of a timepiece, in particular a watch. 
     This case  20  comprises at least one seat  26  which guides inside it a push-piece  1 , in particular and in a non-limiting manner, for rewinding or resetting a mechanism, or for supplying energy to a storage means or to a mechanism or a user circuit. 
     This push-piece  1  is movable, along a unique rectilinear trajectory, against resilient return means  15  and comprises a control member  2 , such as a crown or the like, which is arranged to be operated at least along the rectilinear trajectory by means of pressure applied by a user against the resilient return means  15 . 
     In variants, not shown, the control member  2  may be operated by means of pivoting or may comprise a coaxial secondary member which can be operated translatably and/or by means of pivoting. 
     This control member  2  is integral with driving means  30  so as to provide movement and/or energy for the consumer function of the timepiece. 
     According to the invention, the push-piece  1 , or respectively the case  20 , comprises a closed and flat cam track  18 . Also the case  20 , or respectively the push-piece  1 , comprises, at the end of an arm  17  pivoting about a pivot  19  fixed to the case  20  or respectively to the push-piece  1 , a guide pin  16  which is arranged to follow the profile of the cam track  18 . 
     This pivoting arm  17  is designed to pivot in a plane parallel to that of the cam track  18 . 
     The cam track  18  comprises at least two elbows directed towards the pivot  19  and defining stable positions  23 ,  24  of the guide pin  16 , which correspond to stable positions of the control member  2 . 
     The invention is illustrated in a non-limiting manner in the figures, with two such elbows and two stable positions. 
     The profile of the cam track  18  comprises ramps, which are arranged so that any pressure applied on the control member  2 , when it is in the rest position—each rest position corresponding to a stable position  23 ,  24 —causes the guide pin  16  to come out of this stable position  23 ,  24  and allows it to travel, under the action of the resilient return means  15 , towards another stable position  24 ,  23 . 
     More particularly, the profile of the cam track  18  is arranged to force the guide pin  16  to follow a travel path in one direction only along the cam track  18 . 
     Advantageously, in order to facilitate the changes in position of the guide pin  16  in relation to the cam track  18  during movements relative to each other, these at least two elbows are offset transversely in relation to the pivot  19  along the trajectory, as can be seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     This  FIG. 7  shows a particular non-limiting embodiment where the cam track  18  comprises:
         between a first stable position  23  corresponding to an axial end of the travel path of the push-piece  1  and a first unstable position  21 , a first section C which the guide pin  16  travels along following pressure applied by the user on the control member  2 ;   between the first unstable position  21  and a second stable position  24 , a second section D which the guide pin  16  travels along under the action of the resilient return means  15 ;   between the second stable position  24  and a second unstable position  22  a third section A which the guide pin  16  travels along following pressure applied by the user on the control member  2 ;   between the second unstable position  22  and the first stable position  23 , a fourth section B which the guide pin  16  travels along under the action of the resilient return means  15 .       

     The black arrows in the figure corresponding to the travel paths C and A indicate the movements following pressure applied by the user on the control member  2 , while the white arrows corresponding to the travel paths D and B indicate the movements performed under the action of the resilient return means  15 . The same is also applicable to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , which illustrate respectively, from the rest position shown in  FIG. 2 , the different travel paths A, B, C and D. The two stable positions of the push-piece  1  correspond to elongations L 1  and L 3  of the end of the control member  2  in relation to a reference surface of the case  20 , while the unstable transitory positions shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  correspond to an elongation L 2  (which could have values different from each other depending on the form of the profile of the cam track  18  which, in the example shown in  FIG. 7 , has the same longitudinal spacing between the first stable position  23  and the first unstable position  21 , on the one hand, and between the first stable position  23  and the second unstable position  22  on the other hand; but this spacing could also be different. In  FIG. 7 , the section C comprises two ramps in opposite directions, with an inflexion position  26 , and the section B comprises a straight part followed by a ramp after passing through an inflexion position  25 . 
     More particularly, the pivoting arm  17  is freely pivoting, its pivoting movement resulting from the relative positioning of the cam track  18  and the pivot  19  during the relative travel of one in relation to the other. 
     More particularly, the rectilinear trajectory is flat, as in the case of the figures. 
     Even more particularly, the rectilinear trajectory follows a linear direction DL. 
     More particularly, the driving means  30  comprise at least one rack arranged to cooperate with an input wheel  31  which the case  20  comprises. 
     In other variants not shown, these driving means may be a simple finger actuating a rocker arm or the like, a friction element, a spring, or the like. 
     More particularly, for an economic design illustrated in the figures, the resilient return means  15  comprise at least one helical spring which is housed inside a chamber or inside a tube  12  housed inside a bore of the case  29  and bearing frontally against a stop  13  comprising an axial guide for the spring. In the variant shown,  FIG. 1  shows such a tube  12  inside a bore of the case  20 , this tube  12  being integral with an angle bracket fixed by screws  11  to a structural element of the push-piece  1 ; the tube  12  preferably has a bore or the like for evacuating the air. The stop  13  shown in the figures consists, in a non-limiting manner, of a stopper which is seated inside the bore of the case and which comprises an internal axial guide for the spring. Another variant consists in seating the spring in a front groove formed in the case  20 . In the variant where the trajectory of the push-piece is linear, it is important to ensure correct alignment between the control member  2  and the tube  12 . 
     More particularly, the push-piece  1  comprises a substantially flat plate  9  which has formed therein the cam track  18  and which constitutes such a structural element and which is fixed by another screw  10  to the control member  2 . 
     More particularly, the push-piece  1  comprises, in the region of this control member  2 , a cylindrical part  6  which has at least one groove  7  for receiving at least one seal  8  which makes contact, along the whole of the travel path of the push-piece  1 , with a cylindrical bore formed in the seat  26  of the case  20 . 
       FIGS. 9 to 21  show another constructional variant which has a slightly greater number of components, since it has been arranged for easier assembly and disassembly. 
     This non-limiting variant comprises, in order to improve the stability of the pivoting lever  17 , a bistable spring which is a jumper  43  acting on a rear profile  56  of the pivoting lever  17 , which rear profile  56  is has a substantially male V shape. 
     Other alternative solutions may also be convenient for improving the stability of the pivoting lever  17 : friction by means of a polymer gasket or the like along the axis, indentation, the insertion of a metal foil, a lateral friction spring, a bistable spring. 
     The driving means  30  also comprise here a rack. A single component, in the form of a substantially flat plate  9 , incorporates this rack  30 , the cam track  18  and a first support lug  47  for guiding the resilient return means  15  which comprise in this case also at least one helical spring. The latter is guided at its other end by a second support lug  130 , seated inside a bore  58  of the case  20 . The plate  9  again comprises a pin  44 , which extends on either side of a flat part of the plate  9  and which is perpendicular to the first support lug  47  which extends in the plane of the case  20 . A seat  55  is intended to receive a peg or a screw  46  for fixing a connecting plate  41 , through a hole  53  which is formed in the latter, onto the plate  9  positioned by the pin  44  inside a bore  54  of the connecting plate  41 . 
     This connecting plate  41  comprises an opening  51  with a profile complementing that of a boss  52  provided here on the end of the cylindrical part  6  of the control member  2 . The opening  51  and the boss  52  are here substantially square, so as to ensure the parallel arrangement of the stem  2  of the push-piece  1  and the rack. Locking together is then performed by a screw  45  fixed inside an internal thread formed in the boss  52 . The cylindrical part  2  may thus be very short and assembly is greatly facilitated. 
     The bottom part of the pin  44  cooperates advantageously with a first oblong groove  48  formed in the case  20 . On the opposite side another pin  59  integral with the plate  9  slides inside a second oblong groove  49  of the case  20 . Obviously a reverse guiding arrangement is also possible, but uses up more room. 
     A cover  42 , or a reinforcing bridge, limits the play of the different components and in particular prevents any buckling of the spring  15 . 
       FIGS. 21 to 30  show, in a similar manner to  FIGS. 9 to 20 , a variant of an improved watch case for facilitating assembly and adjustment:
         the pivoting lever  17  is modified by the addition of a support lug  190  along the extension of the pivot  19  and a bore  170  accessible via an oblong opening  171 ;   the first support lug  47  is shortened, the second support lug  130  is replaced by one with an elongated design  470 ;   the connecting plate  41  is modified so as to move closer together the location of the pin  44  and axis of the stem, and an elongated opening  410  replaces the opening  51 ;   an aperture  310  is added and allows access to the input wheel  31 ;   the corrector  425  is modified and comprises a single tooth;   the first oblong aperture is modified with the locator  480 .       

     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch  100 , which comprises such a case  20  and an input wheel  31  of which cooperates with a mechanism or an energy conversion and/or storage means. 
     In one variant, the watch  100  comprises a minute repetition mechanism operated by a push-piece  1 , which forms an advantageous alternative to the usual trigger pieces. 
     In another variant, the watch  100  comprises at least one energy storage barrel and at least one pawl between an input wheel  31  and the at least one barrel. 
     In yet another variant, the watch  100  comprises a plurality of push-pieces  1 . 
     The possibilities offered by the invention are many. 
     Where employed for a rewinding function, the invention greatly facilitates the operation of ladies watches, small watches, ultra-slim watches and the like. 
     As a result of the invention, moreover, the space occupied by the movement is reduced, in particular owing to the use of a substantially flat control mechanism.