Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Cases – Wrist worn
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-03-13
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Cases
Wrist worn
C224S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200018
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns a watch including a watch case inside which is arranged a first electric module, and a wristband attached to said watch case and with which are associated a second electric module and electric connecting means assuring an electric connection between said first and second electric modules. More particularly, the present invention concerns a watch of this type including means allowing the electric connecting means to be introduced in a fluid tight manner inside the watch case.
In the present description, <<electric connecting means>> means any conductor or set of conductors allowing an electric connection to be assured between two electric modules. Likewise, <<electric module>> means any device intended to provide or receive electric power and, possibly, to transmit or receive an electric signal.
Arranging electric modules, such as control buttons, electric power sources or electronic circuits outside a watch case is currently known. For example Swiss Patent No. CH 343 323 discloses a wristwatch provided with a first electric module arranged inside the watch case and a second electric module including an electric power source associated with the wristband of the watch and intended to supply the first electric module with power. According to this Patent, an insulated electric connection penetrating directly inside the case connects the first and second electric modules.
Alternatively, in order to assure an adequate electric connection between electric modules situated respectively, inside and outside the case of a watch, a commonly used solution consists in providing, on the connection lines between the electric modules, contacts generally situated in the vicinity of the attachment of the wristband to the watch case. The electric connection is broken down, in this case, into a first portion, situated inside the watch case, and a second portion, situated outside the watch case. This solution is particularly suited to making water resistant watches since the electric connection means do not physically penetrate inside the case.
An example of a device having these features is for example disclosed in European Patent No. EP 0 186 804. In this example, the contacts are formed by a set of separable connected contacts so that the wristband can be easily dismantled and reassembled without any risk of false contact or deterioration in the quality of the sealing of the contacts.
It will be noted however that it becomes particularly problematic to make such a device when the number of connection lines, and thereby the number of contacts, becomes significant. Indeed, the size and dimensions of the different contacts limits the number of connection lines which it is possible to connect to the watch case.
As already mentioned, it is alternatively possible to introduce the electric connecting means directly inside the watch case without making use of intermediate contacts. For this purpose, the electric connecting means can be introduced through an orifice arranged in the watch case as is described for example in the aforecited Swiss Patent No. CH 343 323. The drawback of the solution disclosed in this Patent lies in the fact that the assembly thereby formed is difficult to dismantle. In particular, in order to assure the water resistance of the watch case, it is necessary to provide a protective covering around the electric connecting means making the orifice in the watch case water resistant. This covering is thus typically driven into the orifice made in the watch case. It follows that the dismantling of the wristband and the electric connecting means is made difficult and complex. It can further be observed that another drawback of the design presented in this Swiss Patent lies in the fact that the protective covering surrounding the electric connecting means is directly subjected to mechanical stress which can lead to deterioration of the water resistance of the case in the vicinity of the orifice or may cause breakage of the electric connecting means.
One object of the present invention is thus to propose a watch of the aforementioned type in which the electric connecting means can be directly introduced inside the watch case and which do not have the drawbacks which have just been mentioned.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to allow easy assembly and dismantling of the wristband and the electric connecting means integrated in the wristband while assuring optimum sealing of the assembly.
The present invention therefore concerns a watch including a watch case in which is arranged a first electric module, and a wristband attached to said watch case and with which are associated a second electric module and electric connecting means assuring an electric connection between said first and second electric modules, characterized in that the watch includes introduction means allowing said electric connecting means to be introduced inside the watch case in a water resistant manner, these introduction means being arranged in an introduction orifice provided in said watch case and retained by mean of a pin, this watch further including sealing means assuring sealing of said introduction orifice when the introduction means are disposed therein.
Advantageous embodiments of the present invention form the subject of dependent claims.
As a result of these features, the electric connecting means can directly penetrate the interior of the watch case. The introduction means are held in position by the pin so that the assembly and dismantling of the assembly is facilitated. Indeed, since the introduction means are not driven into the introduction orifice made in the watch case, the assembly and dismantling respectively thereof is easily effected by the introduction and respectively removal of the pin. The pin retaining the introduction means can further advantageously form an articulation pin of the wristband.
The sealing means also assure optimum sealing of the watch in the vicinity of the introduction orifice.
This solution further allows total freedom as regards the particular structure of the electric connecting means. In particular, the number of connection lines no longer constitutes a limit since the introduction means are independent of the electric connecting means used.
It will further be noted that the solution according to the present invention also allows the manufacturing costs of the watch to be reduced compared to the solutions of the prior art using intermediate contacts, since the number of parts necessary to allow introduction of the electric connecting means is substantially limited.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2985291 (1961-05-01), Schoepe et al.
patent: 5872744 (1999-02-01), Taylor
patent: 5889797 (1999-03-01), Alamch et al.
patent: 0 660 204 A1 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 2 284 149 (1976-04-01), None
patent: 2 604 566 (1988-04-01), None
Born Jean-Jacques
Dubugnon Dominique
Asulab S.A.
Griffin & Szipl, P.C.
Miska Vit
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