EP2533111B1 - Device and method for attaching a watch element with adjustable angular orientation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for fixing an element of a watch with respect to another with an adjustable mutual angular orientation, and more particularly a device and a method of fixing for a watch case having a screwed back whose alignment can be adjusted with respect to a vertical axis 12 o'clock-6 o'clock.

It often happens that when screwing, for example, a watchcase back on the middle part of the latter, it becomes apparent that, when the bottom is completely screwed, the inscriptions or decorative motifs that may have been struck, for example by stamping or engraved on the face of the bottom located on the wrist side of the wearer of the watch, are not properly aligned with respect to the vertical axis 12 o'clock-6 o'clock of the watch, which, of course, damages the aesthetic aspect of this watch. This lack of appearance, if it can be tolerated for cheap watches, is a disadvantage very troublesome for more expensive watches.

To overcome this drawback, common solutions are to match a bottom with a given watch case during machining, so that it is ensured that once completely screwed, the bottom is perfectly aligned with the axis 12 hours to 6 hours of the watch. This solution, however, is unsatisfactory because we are exposed to problems if the original background of the watch is lost or damaged and it is necessary to replace it with another background which is not sure that once screwed on the middle part, it always aligns well with the vertical axis 12 hours-6 hours.

The patent document EP1890203 of the applicant proposes to overcome this disadvantage by introducing an intermediate ring between the bottom and middle, whose threads cooperating respectively with the bottom and the middle are arranged in opposite directions. In this way it is possible, when the bottom is screwed in abutment on the middle part, to continue to screw the bottom, the intermediate element which connects the bottom then unscrewing to move vertically along the middle part. This system certainly makes it possible to adjust in a simple and effective way the alignment of this bottom with respect to the axis 12 o'clock-6 o'clock of the watch, but has the disadvantage of not being able to precisely define a tightening torque of the bottom on the box. Indeed, from the moment when the bottom reaches the abutment on the middle only the friction forces between the bottom and the intermediate element prevent the bottom from turning relative to the middle part.

The patent document CH699777 proposes an alternative solution for mounting a steerable bottom on a watch case using an adjusting ring acting as an axial stop to define the angular position of the bottom. The ring is screwed to the middle or to the bottom with a predetermined tightening torque, while the bottom is screwed to the middle part by means of threads arranged in the opposite direction, so that the ring can not be driven into position. rotation when the bottom reaches abutment on the middle part. Thus, unlike the previously described solution, the bottom is screwed directly onto a piece rigidly fixed to the watch case. The disadvantage of this solution is that it must however operate by successive approximations to determine the axial position of the ring corresponding to the desired angular position of the bottom; Furthermore, the axial adjustment of the ring prevents altering the hermetic properties of the housing since the contact surfaces of the bottom and the middle part are no longer in mutual contact in the assembled position.

The document EP1727005 relates to a device for adjustable screw-retained crown, whose angular position of a logo disposed on the front face of the head of a crown can be adjusted relative to the middle part by means of a threaded ring, arranged around a tube driven into the middle, and whose thread external cooperates with that of an inner wall of the side face of the crown head. The rotational locking of this ring relative to the tube allows to adjust the position of the start of the thread, which determines the angular position of the logo in the screwed position. This solution, however, requires the permanent presence of a locking member (such as a nut, a circlip or a plate according to the preferred embodiments described) to permanently ensure the desired angular position for the ring, which increases the number of parts and volume required inside the crown to accommodate the angular orientation device of the logo.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution for fixing a bottom to a middle watch, and more generally one element of a watch relative to another with an adjustable mutual angular orientation, which is free from known limitations.

These objects are achieved by means of a fixing device according to claim 1.

These objects are also achieved by a fixing method according to claim 9.

An advantage of the proposed solution is to know how to easily perform the angular correction as a function of the difference between the thread pitches used, which is predetermined. The angular adjustment of the intermediate element can thus be carried out at one time, and no longer by successive approximations.

Another advantage of the proposed solution to overcome the deficiencies in terms of tightening torque between the elements to be assembled without generating axial displacement of the first element relative to the second in the assembled position, which is not the case when an element intermediate is used as an adjustment stop. This absence of axial displacement therefore does not alter the hermetic properties of the final assembly.

• la figure 1 montre une vue en coupe de différents éléments à assembler en position démontée selon un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'invention;
• la figure 2 montre une vue de dessus d'un élément intermédiaire de réglage selon un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'invention;
• la figure 3 montre un diagramme avec la séquence des différentes étapes de montage à effectuer ainsi que les paramètres utilisés pour la correction;
• la figure 4 montre une vue en coupe des différents éléments assemblés après une première étape de montage;
• la figure 4A montre une vue d'un élément orientable en position non finale lorsque les éléments sont assemblés conformément à la figure 4;
• la figure 5 montre une vue en coupe des différents éléments assemblés en position finale;
• la figure 5A montre une vue d'un élément orientable en position non finale lorsque les éléments sont assemblés conformément à la figure 5;

Other features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of various preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 shows a sectional view of different elements to be assembled in disassembled position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 shows a top view of an intermediate adjustment element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 shows a diagram with the sequence of the different assembly steps to be performed as well as the parameters used for the correction;
• the figure 4 shows a sectional view of the various elements assembled after a first assembly step;
• the Figure 4A shows a view of a steerable element in a non-final position when the elements are assembled according to the figure 4 ;
• the figure 5 shows a sectional view of the various elements assembled in final position;
• the Figure 5A shows a view of a steerable element in a non-final position when the elements are assembled according to the figure 5 ;

The figure 1 discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention according to which the elements to be assembled are respectively a bottom 1 and a middle part 2. However, it will be clear from reading the following description that the invention could also be used for example for a crown or a valve, these examples being given for information but not limiting. The elements to be assembled may also consist of all pieces integral in rotation respectively of the bottom and the middle of a watch.

On the top of the figure 1 , we can distinguish an ice 5 mounted on the middle part 2 with seal 502 interposed between these two elements. At the bottom of the figure, one can similarly distinguish the part 10 of the bottom 1 having an inscription or an orientable logo, an example of which is shown below on the Figures 4A and 5A (The applicant's logo, referenced 15), which is mounted on the bottom 1 also with a seal 101 interposed between these two elements.

An O-ring 21 is conventionally inserted into an annular groove at the base of the middle part 2, along a lower contact surface of the middle part 24, intended to come into contact with the upper contact surface of the bottom 14 in an assembled position. . The purpose of the O-ring 21 is to guarantee the tightness of the assembly proposed between the bottom 1 and the middle part 2, when the surfaces 14 and 24 are in mutual contact in the assembled position of the bottom 1 on the middle part 2.

A first threaded portion 11 is machined on the bottom 1 and a second thread 22 is machined on the middle part 2; the present invention proceeds from the general idea of using an intermediate element 3 provided with threads and / or threads to be screwed simultaneously to the bottom and to the middle, so that the bottom 1 and the middle part 2 are no longer assembled directly to each other. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the intermediate element 3 is a ring provided with a third threaded portion 31 on its inner periphery, which cooperates with the first threaded portion 11 of the bottom 1, and a fourth threaded portion 32 on its periphery. inside which cooperates with the second threaded portion 22, which here consists of a tapping of the middle part 2 according to the preferred embodiment illustrated. According to this arrangement the second threaded portion 22 is arranged on an inner wall of the middle part 2, so that the diameter of the ring is reduced; according to a variant it would however also be possible to arrange the second threaded portion 22 of the middle part on its outer wall so that this threaded portion cooperates with the internal thread of a ring 3 whose external thread would cooperate with a threaded portion 11 of the bottom 1. Although other forms are possible for the intermediate element 3, a ring will be preferred because it is simple to machine and inexpensive because of very small volume. The ring according to the invention is preferably threaded and threaded over its entire height to simplify its manufacturing process and comprises lower and upper surfaces (references respectively 34 and 33) substantially flat.

The figure 2 shows an intermediate element 3 in the form of a ring according to the preferred embodiment described in FIG. figure 1 previous, top view. In addition to the threaded portions arranged on the inner and outer periphery - respectively the third threaded portion 31 and the fourth threaded portion 32 - there can be seen notches which are intended to receive tenons of a gripping tool to facilitate its screwing, arranged on the upper surface 33 of the ring. These first notches 331 are preferably identical to the second notches 13 of the bottom, so that the same tool can be used to screw the ring on the bottom 1 and then the bottom-ring assembly on the middle part 2. Alternative gripping surfaces to facilitate the rotational drive of the ring could be arranged on other parts thereof, for example on its inner periphery instead of the threaded portion 31 is not arranged over its entire height, and also consist of elements of "male" type instead of "female" type element depending on the tools used. The advantage of notches 331 on the upper face 33 of the ring (the intermediate element 3) is to provide a configuration similar to that of a conventional watch background, which generally comprises notches on around it like those illustrated on the Figures 4A and 5A (references 13), so that the operations of screwing the ring to the bottom 1 and the 1-ring bottom assembly to the middle part 2 can be done with similar manipulations. Such arrangements for the notches 331 make it possible to increase the assembly speed from the bottom 1 to the middle part and thus to increase productivity.

The ring corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the intermediate element 3 illustrated in FIG. figure 2 furthermore comprises angular marks 332 intended to facilitate the adjustment operation in order to reorient the bottom correctly with respect to a predetermined axis, such as, for example, the axis 6h-12h. These angular marks 34 preferably consist of graduations arranged on the upper face of the ring and may for example be used in cooperation with an index or any form of marker (not shown) arranged on the bottom 1. It may also be noted that according to a preferred embodiment the first notches 331 may be used as angular references; in this case the angular spacing between two adjacent notches should be chosen sufficiently small, such as less than 15 degrees, to provide a granularity to dispense with any other reference to perform the angular adjustment correction of the ring (element intermediate 3) relative to the bottom 1, whose principle is described below.

The figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the various sequences used according to the invention for assembling the bottom 1 to the middle part 2. In a first step A, the intermediate element 3 is screwed on, which can take the form of a ring according to a of preferential embodiment, on the bottom 1 by means of the first threaded portion 11, cooperating with the third threaded portion 31 of the intermediate member 3 to the stop. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated later on the figure 4 the arrival at the stop corresponds to the moment when the lower surface 34 of the intermediate element 3 comes into contact with the upper contact surface 14 of the bottom 1. Then, in a second step B, the bottom assembly 1 is screwed together - intermediate element 3 on the middle part 2 by means of the second threaded portion 22, cooperating with the fourth threaded portion 32 of the intermediate element 3, so that the bottom 1 comes into abutment with the middle part 2, this arrival in stop corresponding to the moment when the upper contact surface 14 of the bottom 1 comes into contact with the lower contact surface 23 of the middle part 2, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 .

The axial and angular relative positioning of the bottom 1, the middle part 2 and the intermediate element 3 in the form of a ring is illustrated respectively by the Figures 4 and 4A when the screwing step B has been performed. The figure 4 shows that the referenced surfaces 14 of the bottom 1, 24 of the middle part 2 and 34 of the intermediate element 3 are then located in the same horizontal plane, while the Figure 4A shows that the logo 15 disposed on the portion 10 of the bottom is oriented at an angle 120 relative to the axis 200 12h-6h of the watch. The figure 4 also highlights, in addition to the elements already described in the context of the figure 1 , the threaded portions 31,32 of the ring (the intermediate element 3) which we see on the one hand that they are arranged in the same direction, so that the screwing operation of the bottom-ring assembly on the middle part 2 can be performed without danger of unscrewing the ring relative to the bottom and secondly that the thread pitch of the third threaded portion 31 is smaller than the thread pitch of the fourth threaded portion 32, which allows to minimize the angular correction of the ring relative to the bottom when necessary. According to an alternative embodiment, the relative magnitudes of the thread pitches could be reversed but in this case the angle of correction of the ring relative to the bottom (referenced 130 on the Figure 4A ) would always be higher than the previous orientation of the fund (referenced 120 on the Figure 4A ).

The invention makes it possible to perform a simple and rapid step of angular correction of the bottom precisely thanks to the fact that the third and fourth threading steps 31, 32 are differentiated. It suffices to unscrew the ring (intermediate element 3) from the bottom 1 of a dependent angle the difference between the threading steps 310 and 320 of the ring (intermediate element 3) and then screw the ring and the bottom 1 back on the middle part 2 to obtain the desired orientation of the bottom 1.

Step C of the diagram of the figure 3 is to visualize the angular orientation 120 of the bottom 1 relative to the middle part 2 in the assembled position, illustrated by the Figures 4 and 4A . This step can be facilitated by the presence of angular markers on the middle part (not shown) and / or on the bottom 1; notches 13 of the bottom can also be used for this purpose.

Once the angular orientation angle 120 has been determined, it is necessary to deduce, during the subsequent step D, the adjustment angle 130 of unscrewing of the intermediate element 3 relative to the bottom 1 as a function of the steps of threads 310,320 used for third and fourth threaded portions 31,32. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the internal diameter of the ring (intermediate element 3) is for example 30 millimeters and the outer diameter 32 millimeters, while the pitch 310 of the first and second threads 11, 31 is 0.5 and the pitch 320 of the third and fourth threads 22, 32 is 0.4, that is to say that a complete turn of 360 degrees corresponds respectively to axial displacements of 0.5 and 0.4 millimeters of the ring.

On the Figure 4A , which illustrates a watch provided with a middle part 2, a bottom 1 with notches 13 for screwing and comprising a portion 10 where is visible the omega 15 logo of the applicant, preferably oriented symmetrically with respect to the notches 13, and a conventional adjusting ring 6, the angle 120 is about 100 degrees. If we turn the bottom 1 in the counterclockwise direction of this same value, it will come out of the middle of a height of 0.11 = 0.4 (the value of the step 310) * 100/360. Therefore, so that the bottom 1 presses again on the middle part 2 it is necessary to turn the ring (intermediate element 3) of 0.11 mm more deeply in the middle part 2, which corresponds, for a pitch of thread of 0.5, to an angle correction 130 of 80 degrees. We can notice that, whatever the chosen thread pitch 310,320, the adjustment angle 130 is derived from the orientation angle 120 determined in step C by simply multiplying the pitch ratio. In other words, the following relationship is established: 130 = 120 * 310/320 and according to a particularly preferred variant, this ratio of preference can be chosen less than ½ so that the correction angle is always less than 180 degrees, which results in easy handling if it is done manually. An angle greater than 180 degrees would require a more awkward operation where the amount of twisting of the arm and / or wrist could be uncomfortable.

Once the adjustment angle 130 of the intermediate element 3 with respect to the bottom 1 has been determined in step D, it is possible in the following step E to unscrew the intermediate element 3 from the bottom 1 on a stroke corresponding angle, which can be facilitated by the angular marks 332 or the notches when they are used as angular references. Once it is in a good position, it must be ensured that the intermediate element 3 remains locked relative to the bottom 1 when the bottom assembly 1-intermediate element 3 is screwed back on the middle part 2. A locking step n is not necessary when sufficient frictional forces are present between the first and second threaded portions 11, 31, that is, when these are substantially greater than the frictional forces acting between the third and fourth threaded portions 22, 32. However, it may be preferred to perform an additional blocking step E 'of the intermediate element 3 relative to the bottom 1 before the subsequent screwing step F, which is performed by means of the second threaded portion 22, cooperating with the fourth threaded portion 32 arranged on the intermediate element 3, so that the bottom 1 comes into abutment with the middle part 2, that is to say until the upper contact surface melts 14 arrives in contact with the lower contact surface 24 of the middle part 2. The blocking step E 'can be achieved for example by pointing electrical laser welding, or by material discharge.

The Figures 5 and 5A show the assembly of bottom 1 - middle 2 in final position after the step F of screwing was carried out. Similarly to Figures 4 and 4A , the figure 5 sectional view shows the relative axial arrangements of the various constituent elements of the bottom assembly 1-ring (intermediate element 3) - middle 2, with in particular the axial displacement 131 resulting from the intermediate element 3 relative to the bottom 1 corresponding to the value of the adjustment angle 130 of the Figure 4A , ie 0.11 millimeters for the example described, while the Figure 5A shows that the logo 15 disposed on the part 10 of the bottom is now well oriented relative to the axis 200 12h-6h of the watch. Enter here figure 4 and the figure 5 , only the axial position of the ring (intermediate element 3) is different while between the Figure 4A and the Figure 5A , only the orientation of the logo 15 has been corrected and the angles of orientation / correction (referenced respectively 120 and 130) have been removed.

It can therefore be seen that the device according to the invention allows a simple and fast correction, by simple unscrewing-screwing operation, of the orientation of the bottom 1 relative to the middle part of a watch 2. This device can easily be replicated to the mutual angular orientation of any constituent elements of a watch requiring a precise position with respect to a given axis.

Claims (10)

1. Device for securing a first watch element (1) including a first threaded portion (11) to a second watch element (2) including a second threaded portion (22), said device including an intermediate element (3) for the angular orientation of said first element (1) relative to said second element (2), characterized in that said intermediate element (3) is an internal and external threaded ring including a third threaded portion (31) arranged to cooperate with said first threaded portion (11) of said first element (1) and a fourth threaded portion (32) arranged to cooperate with said second threaded portion (22) of said second element (2), wherein the thread pitches of said third threaded portion (31) and fourth threaded portion (32) are different.
2. Securing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the threads of said third threaded portion (31) and fourth threaded portion (32) are arranged in the same direction.
3. Securing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal thread pitch is smaller than the external thread pitch of said ring.
4. Securing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ring includes first notches (331).
5. Securing device according to claim 4, characterized in that said first notches (331) are arranged on a top surface (34) of said ring.
6. Securing device according to any of claims 4 or 5, said first element (1) including second notches (13), characterized in that said first and second notches (13, 331) are identical.
7. Device according to any of claims 1 to 6, said ring further including angular reference marks (332).
8. Securing device according to claim 4, characterized in that said first notches (331) are used as angular reference marks to facilitate the corrective angular adjustment.
9. Method for securing a first watch element (1) to a second watch element (2), including the steps of:

   - taking a first element (1) having a first threaded portion (11);

   - taking a second watch element (2) including a second threaded portion (22);

   - taking an intermediate element (3) formed by an internal and external threaded ring having a third threaded portion (31) for cooperating with said first threaded portion (11) of said first element (1) and a fourth threaded portion (32) for cooperating with said second threaded portion (22) of said second element (2);

   - (A): fully screwing said internal and external threaded ring (3) onto the first element (1) by means of said first threaded portion (11);

   - (B): screwing the first element (1) - intermediate element (3) assembly onto the second element (2) by means of said second threaded portion (22) so that the first element (1) abuts on the second element (2);

   - (C) visualising an angular orientation (120) of said first element (1) relative to said second element (2);

   - (D) determining an angle of adjustment (130) of said internal and external threaded ring (3) relative to said first element (1) according to the thread pitches used for the third and fourth threaded portions (31, 32);

   - (E) unscrewing said internal and external threaded ring (3) from said first element (1) on an angular travel corresponding to said angle of adjustment (130);

   - (F) screwing the first element (1) - intermediate element (3) assembly back onto the second element (2) by means of said second threaded portion (22) so that the first element (1) abuts on the second element (2) again.
10. Securing method according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes an additional step (E') of locking said internal and external threaded ring (3) on said first element (1) after said unscrewing step (E).

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