阅读说明：本技术 可调节的拧紧表冠 (Adjustable tightening crown ) 是由 R·蒂里 R·玛柯斯 于 2020-10-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于表壳(100)的可调节的拧紧表冠(10),其子组件(20)包括可轴向插入表壳(90)中的管(9),以及操纵体(1),该操纵体(1)包括图案(19)和前部凸部(15),该前部凸部(15)径向延伸,并且在连接位置,与固定的空心轴(3)所包括的互补的前部凸部(35)配合以用于图案(19)相对于表壳(100)的分度,该固定的空心轴(3)由弹簧(4)朝着操纵体(1)返回,该弹簧(4)设置为被俘获在其间,并且在分离位置,通过弹簧(4)的压缩,保持距互补凸部(35)相距轴向距离并且不与其配合。(An adjustable tightening crown (10) for a watch case (100), the subassembly (20) of which comprises a tube (9) axially insertable in a watch case (90), and an operating body (1), the operating body (1) comprising a motif (19) and a front boss (15), the front boss (15) extending radially and cooperating, in a connecting position, with a complementary front boss (35) comprised by a fixed hollow shaft (3) for indexing of the motif (19) with respect to the watch case (100), the fixed hollow shaft (3) being returned towards the operating body (1) by a spring (4), the spring (4) being arranged to be captured therebetween, and, in a separating position, being held at an axial distance from the complementary boss (35) and not cooperating therewith by compression of the spring (4).)

1. An adjustable tightening crown (10) for a watch case (100) comprising a middle portion (110) having at least one casing (90) running through all the way for receiving the adjustable tightening crown (10), the adjustable tightening crown (10) being arranged to cooperate with the casing (90) and to insert it in a sealed manner, the adjustable tightening crown (10) comprising a pattern (19) on or near an end face (18), the adjustable tightening crown (10) comprising on the one hand a subassembly (20) comprising a crown body (1) that can be manipulated by a user and that comprises the pattern (19) and on the other hand a tube (9) arranged to be screwed or driven into the casing (90) in the axial direction (D), the subassembly (20) and the tube (9) being axially movable relative to each other in the axial direction (D), characterized in that said subassembly (20) comprises a front indexing projection (15) rigidly connected to said crown body (1), which extends substantially radially with respect to said axial direction (D) and is arranged to frontally cooperate in a complementary manner, in a connection position, in said axial direction (D), with a complementary front indexing projection (35) comprised by a fixed hollow shaft (3) comprised by said subassembly (20) and extending substantially radially with respect to said axial direction (D) and tending to return towards said crown body (1) and push back in a direction opposite to said intermediate portion (110) by at least one crown spring (4) interposed between said crown body (1) and said fixed hollow shaft (3) and arranged to be captured therebetween, tending to move closer to one another, and arranged to be held, in a disengaged position, at a distance from and without cooperating with said complementary front indexing projection (35) by compression of said crown spring (4), the cooperation between said front indexing projection (15) and said complementary front indexing projection (35) defining a discrete number of relative indexing positions corresponding to a number of relative orientations of said pattern (19) with respect to said watch case (100), said subassembly (20) and said pipe (9) being arranged to cooperate by screwing up until a stop position corresponding to a fully screwed position of said subassembly (20) in said pipe (9), and further characterized in that said subassembly (20) comprises first axial stop means (8) fastened to said crown body (1) to axially capture in said axial direction (D) with an axial stroke corresponding to the range of deformation of said crown spring (4) -said fixed hollow shaft (3) to allow the separation between said front indexing-projection (15) and said complementary front indexing-projection (35) by the traction force of said crown body (1).

2. Adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first axial stop means (8) comprise an annular ring having a front stop bearing surface (81), the front stop bearing surface (81) being substantially perpendicular to the axial direction (D), arranged to cooperate with one of the crown springs (4) via a stop bearing.

3. Adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first axial stop means (8) comprise at least one annular groove (82) for receiving a sealing joint (6), said sealing joint (6) being arranged to cooperate with a joint bearing surface (92) comprised by said tube (9) and to compress said sealing joint (6) in said fully tightened position of said subassembly (20) in said tube (9).

4. Adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said subassembly (20) cannot be disassembled and comprises a mobile hollow shaft (7) comprising fastening means (71) arranged for fastening said adjustable tightening crown (10) to a control member housed in one of said watch cases (100), said mobile hollow shaft (7) being axially mobile in said axial direction (D) against elastic return means (5) in a chamber (31) defined on the one hand by said fixed hollow shaft (3) and on the other hand by said crown body (1) or by a ring (2) rigidly connected to said crown body (1), and in which chamber (31) said mobile hollow shaft (7) is arranged to be captured.

5. Adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixed hollow shaft (3) comprises a thread (31), said thread (31) being arranged to cooperate with an internal thread (91) comprised by said tube (9).

6. The adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the front index projection (15) and the complementary front index projection (35) comprise complementary front toothing.

7. Adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the front indexing-boss (15) is carried by a ring (2) rigidly connected to the crown body (1).

8. A watch case (100) comprising a middle part (110) with at least one casing (90), said casing (90) extending all the way through for receiving the adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1 comprised by said watch case (100).

9. A watch (1000) comprising the watch case (100) according to claim 8.

10. Method for assembling the adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

-preparing said subassembly (20) by inserting said front indexing protrusion (15) into said complementary front indexing protrusion (35), by inserting said crown spring (4) supported on said fixed hollow shaft (3) itself supported on said crown body (1) or on a ring (2) rigidly connected to said crown body (1), by internally equipping said crown body (1) or said first axial stop means (8) with at least one sealing joint (8), by fastening said first axial stop means (8) to said crown body (1) in an irreversible manner;

-preparing the tube (9) and screwing it onto the subassembly (20).

11. Method for mounting the adjustable tightening crown (10) according to claim 1 on a watch case (100) according to claim 8, comprising the steps of:

-assembling the adjustable tightening crown (10) according to the method of claim 10;

-inserting the tube (9) axially in the axial direction (D) into the housing (90) of the intermediate portion (110) and fastening it to the intermediate portion (110) by screwing or driving up to a screwing or driving stop position, respectively;

-measuring the difference in the angular orientation of the pattern (19) with respect to the desired position and determining the number of steps for correcting the graduation;

-pulling the crown body (1) axially by moving the crown body (1) away from the intermediate portion 110 and then rotating the crown body (1) until the desired angular orientation is obtained;

-releasing the crown body (1).

12. The mounting method according to claim 11, characterized in that during the preparation of the subassembly (20):

-elastic return means (5) tending to push back the moving hollow shaft (7), comprising fastening means (101), fastening means (101) being arranged to fasten said adjustable tightening crown (10) to a control member housed in said watch case (100), said elastic return means (5) being enclosed in a chamber (31), said chamber (31) being formed on the one hand by juxtaposition of said crown body (1) or respectively of said ring (2) and on the other hand by juxtaposition of said fixed hollow shaft (3), said moving hollow shaft (7) also being kept set captive in said chamber (31) by said fixed hollow shaft (3);

-inserting the front indexing projections (15) carried by the crown body (1) or respectively the ring (2) into the complementary front indexing projections (35) carried by the fixed hollow shaft (3);

-each crown spring (4) is arranged between the fixed hollow shaft (3) and the first axial stop means (8);

-by fastening the first axial stop means (8) to the crown body (1) in such a way that each of the crown springs (4) is held without play in the axial space defined on the one hand by the crown body (1) or respectively the ring (2) and on the other hand by the fixed hollow shaft (3), the stroke of the fixed hollow shaft (3) being limited in the axial direction with respect to the crown body (1);

-then irreversibly fastening said first axial stop means (8) to said crown body (1) to form a non-removable subassembly.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an adjustable tightening crown for a watch case comprising a middle part having at least one housing running all the way through for receiving said adjustable tightening crown, which is arranged to cooperate with said housing and to be inserted in a sealed manner, said adjustable tightening crown comprising a pattern on or near an end face, said adjustable tightening crown comprising, on the one hand, a subassembly comprising a crown body that can be manipulated by a user and that comprises said pattern, and on the other hand, a tube arranged to be screwed or driven into said housing in said axial direction, said subassembly and said tube being axially movable in relation to each other in the axial direction.

The invention also relates to a watch case comprising a middle part with at least one housing which extends all the way through for receiving such an adjustably screwed crown.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprising such a case.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling such an adjustable tightening crown.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting such an adjustable tightening crown on a watch case.

Background

Tightening of the crown is commonly used for the purpose of equipping the watch for improving its seal at the passage of a control member, such as a spring or a lever. This type of crown is peculiar in that it is able to occupy an untightened position in which the watch can be wound, set, adjusted or otherwise, and a tightened position in which the crown is tightened and blocked on a tube driven or screwed into the middle of the case to compress the sealing joint, thus improving the tightness of the watch. The tightening position is therefore a position corresponding to the normal position when wearing the watch, and this position is generally more or less the same, to give or bring about wear of the sealing joint.

The manufacture and mounting of these screw-on crowns on watch cases is well known. However, the methods for mounting these crowns are not suitable for tightening crowns with an imprint or pattern, such as a logo, trademark or similar marking or projection, on the end face thereof, or for crowns that are not of rotary shape, whereas it is desirable for the user, or at least after-market services, to be able to adjust the angular degree of such crowns in the tightened position according to the particular orientation desired.

In fact, the known mounting methods do not generally allow to bring the crown into a determined orientation with respect to the watch case after screwing, which may be detrimental to the aesthetic appearance of the watch case. This situation is of course unacceptable when these crowns are provided on luxury and high quality products.

Documents WO2012/168243 or EP2718770a1 in the name of OMEGA describe an adjustable tightening element comprising a cover and means for adjusting the angular orientation of the cover with respect to a watch case. The means for adjusting the angular orientation comprise a coupling element and means for indexing between the cover and the coupling element, and return means tending to keep the cover and the coupling element rotating in unison.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is, inter alia, to overcome various disadvantages of these known techniques.

More precisely, the object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable tightening crown suitable for any watchcase comprising a crown shell for its orientation made according to a simple and economical structure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable tightening crown which is more reliable than existing crowns.

The invention therefore relates to an adjustable tightening crown according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a watch case comprising a middle part with at least one housing which extends all the way through for receiving such an adjustably screwed crown.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprising such a case.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling such an adjustable tightening crown.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting such an adjustable tightening crown on a watch case.

Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from reading the following description of a specific embodiment thereof, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side view and a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of an adjustable tightening crown according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the crown of FIG. 1 and showing a user manipulable pattern on the crown body;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same crown including a tube screwed onto an intermediate portion, in a fully screwed position before separation; a front indexing lug carried by the fixed hollow shaft, and a complementary front indexing lug, which is arranged on a ring rigidly connected to the crown body and which is here a front toothing, meshing under the thrust of a crown spring, here a helical spring;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same crown in an extended position wherein a user applies a pulling force on the crown body to effect separation of the front and complementary front indexing-projections, where the front and complementary front indexing-projections are released from each other and disengagement of the front and complementary front indexing-projections allows relative rotation between the crown body and the tube;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view with one quarter removed showing only the fixed hollow shaft with its front indexing lobes in the form of a front toothing and the crown body with its complementary front indexing lobes in the form of a complementary front toothing;

figure 6 is a perspective view showing the crown tube screwed onto the middle part of the watch case and the crown body is shown comprising a subassembly forming a connection/disconnection mechanism comprising a fixed hollow shaft in which a mobile hollow shaft arranged to cooperate with the internal mechanism of the watch intended to be controlled and/or regulated by the crown is arranged to be captured;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6, wherein the crown is fully threaded onto the tube as in FIG. 3, and wherein the user can disengage the mechanism by applying a pulling force on the crown to index the pattern relative to the watch case, rotate the crown until the desired angular orientation, and then reattach the mechanism in its new indexed position by releasing its axial pulling force on the crown;

figure 8 shows, in longitudinal section, the mounting of the crown, in this position, with the tubular spring tending to move the mobile hollow shaft away from the crown at its maximum extension (and at its maximum compression in the position of figures 3 and 4);

FIG. 9 is an untightened view of the crown, the threads of the fixed hollow shaft shown facing the internal threads of the intermediate tube, but not yet tightened;

FIG. 10 is an unthreading and unzipping view of a crown with maximum travel of the fixed hollow shaft relative to the crown tube;

figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating a watch comprising a watch case provided with an adjustable tightening crown according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The invention relates to an adjustable tightening crown 10 for a watch case 100. The watch case 100 generally comprises a middle portion 110 through which at least one case 90 extends for receiving an adjustable screw crown 10.

The adjustable tightening crown 10 is arranged to cooperate with the case 90 and insert it in a sealed manner. Adjustable tightening crown 10 includes a pattern 19 on or near end face 18.

Such adjustable tightening of crown 10 is, on the one hand, comprised in a subassembly 20, this subassembly 20 comprising a crown body 1 that can be manipulated by the user and comprises a pattern 19, and, on the other hand, a tube 9, said subassembly and tube being axially movable with respect to each other in axial direction D. The tube 9 is arranged to be screwed or driven into the housing 90 in the axial direction D.

According to the invention, subassembly 20 comprises a front indexing lug 15 rigidly connected to crown 1. The front indexing-projection 15 extends substantially radially with respect to the axial direction D and is arranged to front-mate in a complementary manner in the axial direction D in the connecting position with a complementary front indexing-projection 35 comprised by the fixed hollow shaft 3 comprised by the subassembly 20.

The complementary front indexing projections 35 extend substantially radially with respect to the axial direction D and the fixed hollow shaft 3 tends to return towards the crown body 1 and is pushed by at least one crown spring 4 in the opposite direction to the intermediate portion 110, the crown spring 4 being interposed between the crown body 1 and the fixed hollow shaft 3 and being arranged so as to be captured therebetween so that it tends to move closer to each other.

In the disengaged position under the traction action of the crown body 1 by the user causing the compression of the crown spring 4, the front index-projection 15 remains at a distance from the complementary front index-projection 35 and does not cooperate with it.

The cooperation between the front indexing projection 15 and the complementary front indexing projection 35 defines a discrete number of relative indexing positions corresponding to a number of relative orientations of the pattern 19 with respect to the watch case 100.

The subassembly 20 and the tube 9 are arranged to cooperate by screwing up to a stop position corresponding to the position in which the subassembly 20 is completely screwed in the tube 9.

According to the invention, the subassembly 20 also comprises first axial stop means 8, which are fastened to the crown body 1 to axially capture the subassembly 20 in the axial direction D with an axial stroke corresponding to the range of deformation of the crown spring 4, to allow separation between the front indexing projections 15 and the complementary front indexing projections 35 by traction of the crown body 1.

In the non-limiting alternative shown by the figures, the crown spring 4 is a helical spring. In the situation where the user is not manoeuvring, that is to say in the coupling position, the crown spring 4 tends to move the crown body 1 closer to the fixed hollow shaft 5.

More specifically, subassembly 20 comprises a mobile hollow shaft 7 comprising fastening means 71, which fastening means 71 are arranged for fastening adjustable tightening crown 10 to a control member housed in watch case 100. This moving hollow shaft 7 is axially moved in the axial direction D against the elastic return means 5 in a chamber 31 defined on the one hand by the fixed hollow shaft 3 and on the other hand by the crown body 1 or by the ring 2 rigidly connected to the crown body 1 or by the trunnions 13 rigidly connected to the crown body 1, and in the chamber 31 the moving hollow shaft 7 is arranged to be captured. In particular, the elastic return means 5 comprise at least one tubular spring, in particular a helical tubular spring. The trunnion 13 is here shown in the figures as being integral with the crown body 1, but may also be an additional element permanently fastened to the crown body 1, for example by laser welding or the like. The ring 2 may also be fastened to the crown body 1 by laser welding 21 or the like.

More specifically, the subassembly 20 cannot be disassembled.

More specifically, the fixed hollow shaft 3 comprises a thread 31 arranged to cooperate with an internal thread 91 comprised by the tube 9.

More specifically, the front indexing-projection 15 and the complementary front indexing-projection 35 comprise complementary front toothing.

More specifically, the first axial stop means 8 comprise an annular ring having a front stop bearing surface 81 substantially perpendicular to the axial direction D and arranged to cooperate with the crown spring 4, or one of them if there are a plurality of crown springs 4, via a stop bearing.

More specifically, the first axial stop means 8 comprise at least one annular groove 82 for receiving the sealing joint 6, the annular groove 82 being arranged to cooperate with a joint bearing surface 92 comprised by the tube 9 and to compress the sealing joint 6 in the fully tightened position of the subassembly 20 in the tube 9. Preferably, the joint bearing surface 92 is inclined with respect to the axial direction D, in particular a conical direction or the like.

The annular ring 8 may also be fastened to the crown body 1 by laser welding 83 or similar. The figures show a particular alternative in which the crown 1 comprises a groove 180 intended to receive a joint of glue or the like.

More specifically, the front indexing projections 15 are carried by the ring 2 rigidly connected to the crown 1, which allows to reduce the production costs.

The invention also relates to a watch case 100 comprising a middle part 110 with at least one housing 90 which extends all the way through for receiving such adjustably screwed crown 10 that the watch case 100 comprises.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch 1000, comprising such a case 100.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling such an adjustable tightening crown 10, comprising the following steps:

preparing the subassembly 20 by inserting the front indexing projection 15 into the complementary front indexing projection 35, by inserting the crown spring 4 supported on the fixed hollow shaft 3, itself supported on the crown body 1 or on the ring 2 rigidly connected to the crown body 1, by internally equipping the crown body 1 or the first axial stop means 8 with at least one sealing joint 8, by fastening the first axial stop means 8 to the crown body 1 in an irreversible manner;

prepare tube 9 and screw it onto subassembly 20.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting such adjustable tightening crown 10 on such case 100, comprising the steps of:

-assembling an adjustable tightening crown 10 according to the method of claim 10;

inserting the tube 9 axially in the axial direction D into the housing 90 of the intermediate portion 110 and fastening it to the intermediate portion 110 by screwing or driving up to a screwing or driving stop position, respectively;

measuring the difference in angular orientation of the pattern 19 with respect to the desired position and determining the number of steps for correcting the graduation;

pulling the crown body 1 axially by moving the crown body 1 away from the intermediate portion 110 and then rotating the crown body 1 until the desired angular orientation is obtained;

-releasing the crown body 1.

More specifically, during preparation of subassembly 20:

elastic return means 5 tend to push back moving hollow shaft 7, which comprise fastening means 101, fastening means 101 being arranged to fasten adjustable tightening crown 10 to a control member housed in watch case 100, elastic return means 5 being enclosed in chamber 31, chamber 31 being formed, on the one hand, by juxtaposition of crown body 1 or respectively of ring 2 and, on the other hand, by juxtaposition of fixed hollow shaft 3, moving hollow shaft 7 also being held set captive in chamber 31 by fixed hollow shaft 3;

inserting the front indexing projections 15 carried by the crown 1 or respectively the ring 2 into the complementary front indexing projections 35 carried by the fixed hollow shaft 3;

each crown spring 4 is arranged between the fixed hollow shaft 3 and the first axial stop means 8;

by fastening the first axial stop means 8 to the crown body 1 so that each crown spring 4 is held free of play in the axial space defined on the one hand by the crown body 1 or respectively the ring 2 and on the other hand by the fixed hollow shaft 3, the stroke of the fixed hollow shaft 3 relative to the crown body 1 is limited in the axial direction;

then the first axial stop means 8 are irreversibly fastened to the crown body 1 to form an irremovable subassembly.