Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Cases – With bezel or crystal details
Patent
1997-10-08
1998-10-13
Miska, Vit W.
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Cases
With bezel or crystal details
G04B 3700
Patent
active
058222790
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a watch case including a rotating bezel snap fitted onto a ring attached to a middle part of the case, and positioning means for maintaining the bezel in predetermined angular positions, the ring having in cross section a base which extends substantially in a radial plane, perpendicular to a central axis of the case, and an external edge having an external profile onto which the bezel is snap fitted so as to be centred and held in a parallel direction to said axis, the positioning means including a toothing arranged on the lower face of the bezel and at least one ratchet arranged to engage in the toothing, said ratchet being formed by a strip which is flexible in the direction of said axis.
A watch case fitted with a rotating bezel supported by the middle part by means of a system of rings is known. For example according to CH Patent No 677 713, the bezel is held onto the middle part by a metal ring of L shaped cross section having a truncated external surface onto which the bezel is snap fitted. This ring includes an annular recess intended to accommodate a ring shaped spring. Ratchets are cut into the ring shaped spring and act in an axial direction on the lower toothing of the bezel. This toothing is formed by cuts passing through a lower portion of the bezel. This system, while assuring the centring and positioning of the bezel, has disadvantages mainly as regards assembly, since it includes various parts, namely a metal ring holding another ring for mounting the crystal and itself carrying on the base thereof said ratchet ring shaped spring.
CH Patent No 631 592 discloses a system for fixing a rotating bezel which includes on its lower face a rim which is held by being snap fitted onto a middle part including a similar annular rim. Said system also includes a strip-spring fixed to the middle part. The strip-spring carries ratchets which exert axial pressure on the toothing of the bezel, so that the two aforementioned rims abut against each other along a tangential cone and assure, via friction, the locking of the bezel in rest position. This system is, however, not simple to make since it requires accurate machining of the rims on the middle part and the bezel. Moreover, mounting of the bezel is delicate, because of the high level of rigidity of the rim of the middle part.
There is also known from CH Patent No 665 522 a system for holding a bezel on a middle part by means of a single part provided with ratchets acting in a radial direction on a lower surface of said bezel. In contrast to the two preceding Patents wherein the action of the ratchets is axial, this radial action does not allow pressure to be obtained on the bezel contributing to the positioning and jamming of said bezel.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system provided with axial ratchets and allowing a rotating bezel to be snap fitted onto a middle part. The desired object is to achieve relatively simple and inexpensive manufacturing and mounting of said system. Said system provided with ratchets must, in particular, assure all the functions of centring, holding and angular positioning of said bezel.
The invention thus concerns a watch case of the type defined hereinbefore, characterised in that the flexible strip is integral with the ring, the strip being cut into the base of said ring.
The present invention therefore allows all the previously cited functions to be achieved with a single ring, into the base of which each flexible strip acting as ratchet may easily be cut.
The manufacture of this ring is relatively simple, it is for example easy to manufacture it entirely by stamping. It is also inexpensive to mount and enables in particular significant savings of materials and time because the industrial production thereof is simple. The mounting of the ring onto the middle part of the watch has the same advantages of simplicity and cost since the ring may, for example, be directly driven onto the middle part.
Other features and advantages of this invention will appear more clearly in
REFERENCES:
patent: 4815053 (1989-03-01), Dal Busco
patent: 4975893 (1990-12-01), Dal Busco
patent: 5122997 (1992-06-01), Schneider et al.
patent: 5541895 (1996-07-01), Nussbaum
patent: 5654941 (1997-08-01), Joss
Cuche Cyril
Muller Jacques
Miska Vit W.
SMH Management Services AG
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