Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Crown or stem details – Switch or detent
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-03-20
Roskoski, Bernard (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Crown or stem details
Switch or detent
C368S321000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203189
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a manual control device for a watch and more particularly a device of this type including a bolt sliding on the external surface of a watch case, in particular for controlling or setting a repeater mechanism.
FIG. 1
shows a control device for a watch of the aforementioned type belonging to the prior art and corresponding to Swiss Patent No. 672 868. This control device includes a bolt
2
sliding on the external surface
4
of a watch case
6
and mechanically connected through an oblong opening
8
, made in case
6
, to a sliding block
10
which co-operates with the arm of a rack (not shown) for controlling the striking work of a repeater mechanism. A sealing gasket
12
is arranged between the sliding block
10
and the inner wall
14
of case
6
. This control device further includes means
16
for locking bolt
2
which can be moved in relation to the latter, between a first position in which gasket
12
is compressed between sliding block
10
and wall
14
to assure sealing of the control device, and a second position in which gasket
12
is not compressed and allows the movement of bolt
2
with respect to case
6
to cause the repeater mechanism to strike. Bolt
2
includes a groove
18
in which slides a locking member
20
. This member
20
includes a stop
22
, an oblong hole
24
, a portion of small thickness
26
extending into bolt
2
, connected via a ramp
28
to a thicker portion
30
which emerges from bolt
2
. A screw
32
connects, through wall
14
and hole
24
, bolt
2
to sliding block
10
, a self-lubricating pad
34
being inserted between member
20
and bolt
2
. A gasket
36
is also provided between the head of screw
32
and sliding block
10
. In
FIG. 1
, bolt
2
is in the rest position, gasket
12
is compressed and bolt
2
cannot be moved. In order to cause the repeater mechanism to be set, the user moves member
20
with his nail in the direction of arrow F with respect to case
6
and bolt
2
until stop
22
comes into contact with pad
34
. Portion
26
of member
20
is then at right angles to pad
34
, gasket
12
is decompressed and bolt
2
can be moved in the opposite direction to arrow F, driving with it sliding block
10
, which sets the repeater mechanism. When bolt
2
is released, it is brought into the rest position by return means, causing during the movement thereof actuation of the repeater mechanism and, thereby, the successive striking of the hours, quarters and minutes in the case of a minute-repeater.
This device however poses the significant risk of bolt
2
becoming locked before having reached its rest position during its return to such position, thus leading to incomplete striking of the minutes, the quarters and even the hours. The significant surface area of gasket
12
as well as the nature of the material of which it is made, in this case neoprene, has a significant friction coefficient with respect to wall
14
, which is liable to block bolt
2
in an intermediate position if the latter is not accompanied manually. This risk is further increased by the presence of ramp
28
which pad
34
has to raise again for bolt
2
to return to its rest position.
Moreover, the control device compels the user to exert a relatively large force on the locking member in order to release bolt
2
, at the risk of hurting himself, or breaking his nail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is thus to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art, by providing a manual control device for a watch, in particular for setting a repeater mechanism, which operates reliably.
Another object of the invention is to provide a manual control device for a watch which allows sealing of the interior of the case as regards the exterior thereof to be assured simply and economically.
Another object of the invention is to provide a manual control device for a watch which is easy for the user to manipulate, without detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the watch.
The invention therefore concerns a manual control device for a watch including a bolt sliding on the external surface of a watch case, in particular to set a repeater mechanism, said bolt being connected through an opening arranged in said watch case to a sliding block controlling the desired function, said device further including a sealing gasket arranged around said opening and control means associated with said bolt, said control means allowing said device to pass from a first state, called the rest state, in which the bolt is locked with respect to the case and said gasket is compressed, to a second state, called the setting state, in which the bolt is unlocked and said gasket is not compressed, characterised in that said sealing gasket is arranged to be applied around said opening between said bolt and the external surface of the case and in that the control means include an articulated lever provided with an eccentric portion, said lever allowing said device to pass from the setting state to the rest state and vice versa.
Thus, manipulation of the bolt by the lever is facilitated for the user.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention, said device further includes an elastic strip attached to said sealing gasket and fixed at one place on the bolt, and said control means act on said strip by the eccentric portion, at a distance from its point of fixation onto the bolt.
As a result of this feature, the lever can assure simply and efficiently, not only the compression of the sealing gasket against the external surface of the case via the strip, but also the locking of such lever in the rest state thereof. Moreover, in the setting state, the connection of the sealing gasket to the elastic strip allows the gasket to be kept at a distance from the external surface of the case, thus removing any problem of friction of the gasket on said surface. Consequently the return movement of the bolt after setting is not hindered in any way.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4364674 (1982-12-01), Tesch
patent: 4423966 (1984-01-01), Ogihara et al.
patent: 4477194 (1984-10-01), Michel et al.
patent: 4740936 (1988-04-01), Tanaka
patent: 672 868 (1990-01-01), None
patent: 1166504 (1958-11-01), None
patent: 364878 (1932-01-01), None
patent: WO 97/46921 (1977-12-01), None
Blancpain S.A.
Griffin & Szipl, P.C.
Roskoski Bernard
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