Patent Publication Number: US-11650547-B2

Title: Sub-assembly of external parts for timepiece or watch or a piece of jewellery

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 19198517.5 filed on Sep. 20, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a sub-assembly of external parts for a timepiece or watch or for a piece of jewellery, including, coaxially with a first component and a second component, compressing together a sealing and friction joint, and interposed therebetween, a bolt securing them together by axially blocking said first component, and a lower surface of which lies, in the assembled position, in the vicinity of an upper surface of said second component. 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, including such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
     The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery including such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
     The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
     The invention relates to the field of external parts of watches, and the field of jewellery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The external parts of watches and similar apparatuses obeys many constraints, particularly sealing, robustness, appearance constraints, and must be carried out in such a way as to prevent any unintentional dismounting resulting irreparably in an after-sales intervention for joint exchange, cleaning, lubrication, even repair. 
     Some external part or control components must also be angularly indexed relative to one another, for origin reference position, rest, or actuation location, or else to facilitate the reading of indications or graduations, or to ensure the continuity of left surfaces and/or decorations. This angular indexing is often difficult to achieve well, in combination with a good gripping of the components and with a perfect water-resistance of the joints. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention intends to produce a water-resistant and secure assembly of external part components with an easy-to-adjust angular indexing. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a sub-assembly of external parts for a timepiece or for a piece of jewellery according to claim  1 . 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, including such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
     The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery including such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
     The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a sub-assembly of external parts. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the detailed description that follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where: 
         FIG.  1    schematically shows, in exploded perspective, a particular variant of a sub-assembly of external parts according to the invention, including a first component which is a middle part, under which is shown a second component which is a back, and a bolt which is an elastic split ring, including an insert, which bolt is intended to be inserted between the first component and the second component, the latter trapping therebetween a sealing and friction joint, the second component and the bolt enclosing together a ball which can rest in a well that one of them includes, and which, in a phase of angular adjustment between the first component and the second component, can be supported on two complementary housings, carried one by the bolt and the other by the second component, for their relative drive; 
         FIG.  2    shows, in top view, the sub-assembly of  FIG.  1    in the assembled position; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross section along the section plane AA of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross section along the section plane BB of  FIG.  2   , passing through the ball resting in a well of an orientation housing that the second component includes, the bolt being shown in an angular position where it has a complementary housing above the ball; 
         FIG.  5    is a detail, in top view, of the orientation housing that the second component includes, in the shape of an annular sector; 
         FIG.  6    is the development of a section of this same housing, along a cylindrical cutting surface around the axis common to the first component, to the second component, and to the bolt; 
         FIG.  7    is a bottom view, of the bolt and the complementary housings, in the shape of an annular sector, which it includes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention intends to produce a water-resistant and secure assembly of external part components with an easy-to-adjust angular indexing, and in a guaranteed position, with a minimum number of components, and moderate manufacturing costs. 
     The figures illustrate the non-limiting example of the angular indexing of a back relative to a watch middle part. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention intends to produce a water-resistant and secure assembly of external part components with an easy-to-adjust angular indexing, and in a guaranteed position, with a minimum number of components, and moderate manufacturing costs. 
     The figures illustrate the non-limiting example of the angular indexing of a back relative to a watch middle part. 
     The invention relates to a sub-assembly of external parts  100  for a timepiece, more particularly for a watch, or for a piece of jewellery. 
     This sub-assembly of external parts  100  for a timepiece or for a watch or for a piece of jewellery includes a first component  1  and a second component  2 , compressing together at least one sealing and friction joint  9 . 
     The sub-assembly of external parts  100  also includes, coaxially with this first component  1  and this second component  2 , and interposed therebetween, a bolt  3  which secures them by axially blocking the first component  1 . This bolt  3  includes a lower surface  38  which is, in the assembled position of the sub-assembly of external parts  100 , in the vicinity of an upper surface  28  of the second component  2 . 
     According to the invention, this lower surface  38  and this upper surface  28  cooperate with each other to enclose a ball  6  therebetween. This ball  6  is arranged to occupy, in a static rest position, a well  261 , that an orientation housing  260  in the second component  2  or the bolt  3  includes. The depth of this well  261  is greater than the diameter of the ball  6 . In this orientation housing  260 , the well  261  is framed by channels  262 , the depth of which is less than the diameter of the ball  6 , and which are limited by limiting borders  27 . During an adjustment operation during which the angular indexing is carried out between the first component  1  and the second component  2 , the position in space of the sub-assembly  100  can be modified, to modify the position of the ball  6  relative to the lower surface  38  and this upper surface  28 , and/or to subject the ball  6  made of ferromagnetic material to a magnetic field. The ball  6  can then occupy, during such an adjustment where it is subjected to the gravity field and/or to a magnetic field, both an orientation housing  260  and a complementary housing  26  of depth less than the diameter of the ball  6 , that the bolt  3  or respectively the second component  2  includes, for the relative drive between the second component  2  and the bolt  3  by the ball  6  when it is simultaneously braced on a channel  262  and a complementary housing  26 . 
     More particularly, the first component  1  and the second component  2  are substantially of revolution about the same axis D, the first component  1  includes a first surface  11  arranged to complementarily cooperate with a second surface  21  that the second component  2  includes, so as to compress therewith this at least one sealing and friction joint  9  interposed between the first surface  11  and the second surface  21 . The bolt  3  is preferably also substantially of revolution about the axis D, and is arranged to secure the first component  1  with the second component  2  by screwing and/or elastic retention in an axial blocking position in the direction of the axis D; 
     To this end, in the non-limiting variant illustrated by the figures, the bolt  3  includes, on the one hand, first fastening means  31  which are arranged to cooperate with first complementary fastening means  13  that the first component  1  includes, and includes on the other hand, second fastening or support means  32  which are arranged to cooperate with second complementary fastening or support means  23  that the second component  2  includes.
     In the illustrated variant, the bolt  3  cooperates by screwing with the first component  1 , but it could also cooperate with it in the form of an elastic, bayonet connection, or the like.   

     Thus, the ball  6  is freely movable between the upper surface  28  and the lower surface  38 , and is capable of occupying, in a static rest position of the sub-assembly of external parts  100  and under the effect of the only gravity field, a well  261 , which well  261  is arranged to entirely house the ball  6  below the level of the upper surface  28  or respectively of the lower surface  38 ; this well  261  can, alternatively, contain a resilient element, such as a foam or spring, to dampen any noise from the ball when the sub-assembly  100  is handled. And the ball  6  is capable of occupying, during an adjustment operation during which the ball  6  is subjected to the gravity field and/or a magnetic field, both an orientation housing  260  and such a complementary housing  26 , for the relative drive between the second component  2  and the bolt  3  by the ball  6  in the manner of a free wheel when the ball  6  is braced both on a channel  262  and a complementary housing  26 . 
     More particularly, the sub-assembly of external parts  100  includes a plurality of complementary housings  26 . 
     More particularly, on each orientation housing  260 , the channels  262  are limited by limiting borders  270  arranged to prevent the exit of the ball  6 , and each complementary housing  26  is limited by edges  27  arranged to prevent, in the same way, the exit of the ball  6 . 
     In the illustrated variant where the surfaces of cooperation between the first component  1 , the second component  2 , and the bolt  3  are substantially of revolution about a common axis D, the orientation housing  260  and each complementary housing  26  occupies a sector of revolution about the same axis. In another non-illustrated variant, the component which carries the orientation housing  260 , either the bolt  3  or respectively the second component  2 , carries several such orientation housings  260 . 
     More particularly, the bolt  3  includes a ring  5 , which is arranged to receive, on only part of its periphery, at least one removable insert  4  for tensioning the ring  5 . 
     More particularly, this at least one removable insert  4  is insertable and extractable in the direction of the axis D, and the ring  5  includes, on either side of a slot that it includes, a housing  35 , or respectively a post, arranged to complementarily cooperate with a post  42 , or respectively a housing, that such a removable insert  4  includes for its radial retention relative to the axis D. 
     More particularly, the ring  5  is an elastic split ring. 
     More particularly and without limitation, and as visible in the variant illustrated by the figures, the first fastening means  31  are constituted by a threading, arranged to cooperate with a tapping, which constitutes the first complementary fastening means  13 . More particularly, the ring  5  includes the threading  31 , and the removable insert  4  has no threading to allow its axial insertion once the ring  5  is mounted. 
     More particularly, the second fastening or support means  32  are constituted by an upper surface that a lower collar  34  includes, that the bolt  3  includes, and the second complementary fastening or support means  23  are constituted by a lower surface that an upper collar  24  includes that the second component  4  includes. More particularly, the lower collar  34  and/or the upper collar  24  is elastic. 
     More particularly, at least one sealing and friction joint  9  is housed in a joint groove  29  that the second component  2  or the first component  1  includes. 
     In an advantageous variant, and as visible in the figures, the first component  1  is a middle part and the second component  2  is a back. 
     In another variant, the first component  1  is a middle part and the second component  2  is a flange or a bezel. 
     In yet another variant, the first component  1  is a middle part or a tube attached to a middle part, and the second component  2  is a crown or a crown rod or a push-piece. 
     In a particular embodiment, the bolt  3  includes at least one elastic element, which is arranged to constitute means of radial repulsion tending to press the first component  1  and the second component  2  on each other. 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch  1000  including such a sub-assembly of external parts  100 . 
     The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery including such a sub-assembly of external parts  100 . 
     The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a sub-assembly of external parts  100 . According to the invention, the ball  6  is inserted into an orientation housing  260 , the second component  2  is assembled with the bolt  3 , the at least one sealing and friction joint  9  is positioned between the second component  2  and the first component  1 , and the ball  6  is brought into cooperation with a complementary housing  26  by subjecting it to a magnetic field and/or reversing its position relative to the gravity field, for example by turning the assembly over, and the ball  6  is braced on a channel  262  by relative rotation between the bolt  3  and the second component  2 , so as to be able to screw the bolt  3  and the first component  1  together, the complete screwing at the recommended torque is carried out between the bolt  3  and the first component  1 , then the ball  6  is released, then the second component  2  is angularly oriented relative to the first component  1  by driving it in the direction opposite to the direction of screwing to the desired position. 
     More particularly, in order to proceed with the dismounting of the sub-assembly of external parts  100 , the ball  6  is subjected to a magnetic field and/or its position is reversed relative to the gravity field, the second component  2  is continued to be driven in the direction opposite to the screwing direction until the ball  6  is in a position of cooperation between a complementary housing  26  and the channel  262  opposite to that which was used for the screwing, for driving the bolt  3  in order to unscrew it from the first component  1 . 
     The invention is suited for numerous watchmaking applications, for example for a helium valve on a diving watch, or else for external part components such as a bracelet, a buckle, a clasp, or the like. The same applies in jewellery, to close cuff links, earrings, or else to fix precious stones or decorated elements which are removably designed. 
     The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch  1000  including such a sub-assembly of external parts  100 . 
     The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery including such a sub-assembly  100 . 
     The invention allows ensuring the perfect orientation of a component kept blocked in its service position. 
     The invention also allows cooperating antagonistic components made of materials of different natures, without stress of expansion friction, elasticity, or the like, without requiring an external fastening element such as screws or the like, without a screw thread nor machining liable to weaken particular materials such as ceramics, sapphire, and the like. It has a very good resistance to accidental or even voluntary unscrewing by vibration or of the Chapuis-choc type. The invention also allows ensuring the interchangeability of the components, and, consequently, an increased personalisation of the watches or the pieces of jewellery of the users. 
     This invention is applicable both to watches or pieces of jewellery made of precious materials and to mass-produced products including components of low unit cost, in particular made of plastic material or the like. 
     The invention is well suited in the cases where the sub-assembly  100  includes components made of different materials, with different expansion coefficients, or else fragile or hard materials (ceramic, sapphire, precious stones, gems, cameos), which do not allow standard fastening modes. Among conventional configurations mention can be made of assembling a gold middle part with a sapphire back, or an entirely ceramic case, a metal-ceramic combination, or the like. The components can thus be made of all kinds of materials: metal alloys, in particular precious or titrated metal alloys, stainless steels, at least partially amorphous metal alloys, or “Liquidmetal©” or the like, ceramics, sapphire, minerals, hard stones, rubber, plastic materials and in particular thermoplastic elastomers called TPE including in particular thermoplastic polyurethane called TPU, polycarbonates called PC, polyvinyl chlorides called PVC, polyacetals or polyoxymethylene called POM, silicone, “Nylon®”, to name, in a non-limiting manner, only materials which are common in watchmaking and jewellery.