Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Cases – With crown or stem details
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-06-19
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Cases
With crown or stem details
C368S319000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247841
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns a device for actuating a mechanism for a watch case of non circular shape and more particularly a device of this type for actuating a chronograph mechanism mounted in a square or rectangular watch case.
There presently exists an increasing demand for wristwatches having a square, rectangular or tonneau case. Fitting conventional circular movements to this type of case does not pose any particular problem when one wishes to make watches which do not require the use of push-buttons. It is different however when one makes watches including pushes, such as chronograph watches and one wishes, for obvious reasons of cost, to use circular movements. Indeed, it is difficult to fit to this type of watch case conventional push-buttons which act directly and in accordance with a radial direction to the movement on the mechanisms to be actuated.
Swiss Patent No. 211 1430 discloses a device for actuating a chronograph mechanism for a square watch case which attempts to overcome this problem.
According to this document, the device includes a fitting ring for a square case, intended to accommodate a circular movement. The fitting ring includes over one portion of its periphery two elastic leaves fixed respectively by one of their ends at 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock. The leaves extend tangential to the opening intended to accommodate the movement and their free end includes an actuating stub oriented towards the centre of the fitting ring. Two independent push-buttons of the movement are adjusted in openings made in one of the sides of the case and respectively allow the free ends of the leaves to be actuated, said ends acting in turn on levers and/or pivoting parts of the movement to control the stop, start and reset to zero of the chronograph.
Such a device has however numerous drawbacks.
The manipulation of the push-buttons causes deformation of the elastic leaves, and thus the travel of the leaves has no effect, before the levers or pivoting parts are actuated to switch the chronograph on or off. This phenomenon leads to a delay in the starting or stopping of the chronograph mechanism and thus leads to a loss of timing precision.
The elasticity of the leaves also does not allow precise and direct transmission of the movement of the push-buttons and leads to the risk of the device locking.
Another drawback of this device lies in the fact that it is necessary to adapt the shape of the inner ends of the push-buttons to allow them to slide adequately on the leaves, which means that it is impossible to use conventional push-buttons and makes the device more expensive.
Another drawback of this device lies in the fact that the selection and treatment of the leaves as regards adjustment of their return force is difficult to control, which leads either to a device which is difficult for the user to actuate, or a device which can be inadvertently stored.
It will also be noted in this regard that the mounting and fitting of the leaves onto the fitting ring are complex and difficult operations, which increases the cost price of the device.
The main object of the present invention is thus to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art, by providing a device for actuating a mechanism, in particular a chronograph, which allows a circular movement to be fitted easily into a square, rectangular or tonneau case which comprises push buttons, and which is of simple, reliable and economic design.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an actuating device which allows conventional push-buttons to be used.
The invention thus concerns a device for actuating a timepiece mechanism, in particular a chronograph mechanism, this timepiece including a fitting ring having an opening for accommodating a movement, an independent push-button sliding along a first direction, a piston sliding along a second direction in the fitting ring, said piston being intended to co-operate with a component of the movement and a push transmission element to transmit a push of said push-button to said piston, characterised in that the push transmission element includes a rigid actuation lever articulated at one point on the fitting ring and in the plane thereof.
Thus, as a result of the rigidity of the actuation lever, each push action on the push-button is transmitted wholly and without delay onto the component of the movement to be actuated, which gives the user a sense of quality and reliability.
It will further be noted that the actuation device according to the invention does not include any springs on the fitting ring, but advantageously uses the return springs respectively of the push-button and the component of the movement to be actuated, which makes the device simple and reliable.
This actuation device also has the advantage of not requiring any adjustment operation other than the standard adjustment operations for push-buttons and the components of the movement to be actuated.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the lever includes a first push surface co-operating with said piston, and a second push surface co-operating with said push-button.
According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the first and the second surfaces are respectively at different distances from the point of articulation of the lever, the second surface being further from the point of articulation than the first surface. This arrangement allows the force which has to be applied to the push-button to actuate the component of the movement to be reduced, which thus increases the ease of use for the user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2360113 (1944-10-01), Drescher
patent: 3759033 (1973-09-01), Jeanmonod
patent: 4092821 (1978-06-01), Wirz
patent: 4364674 (1982-12-01), Tesch
patent: 211143 (1940-08-01), None
patent: 598 631 (1978-05-01), None
patent: 2 207 386 (1972-08-01), None
patent: 0 443 087 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 2 435 077 (1980-03-01), None
Grandjean Sarl
Griffin & Szipl, P.C.
Miska Vit
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