Abstract
A rotating-bezel system intended to be mounted for rotation on a watch-case middle inside which a horological movement is housed, including a ceramic rotating bezel, an annular ring intended to cooperate with an element angularly secured to the middle, and an annular joint for connection between the rotating bezel and the annular ring, the annular ring being placed in the rotating bezel. According to the invention, the system further includes at least one element for locking the annular ring on the rotating bezel, and at least one element being configured to lock any relative rotation between the annular ring and the bezel and to thus angularly secure the assembly formed by the ring and the bezel.
Claims
1. A rotating-bezel system configured to be mounted for rotation on a middle of a watch case inside which a horological movement is housed, the rotating-bezel system comprising: a ceramic rotating bezel; an annular ring configured to cooperate with an element angularly secured to the middle; an annular joint for connection between the rotating bezel and the annular ring, the annular ring being placed in the rotating bezel; and at least one locking element for locking the annular ring on the rotating bezel, said at least one locking element being configured to lock any relative rotation between the annular ring and the bezel and thus to angularly secure the assembly formed by the ring and the bezel, wherein a bottom face of the annular ring includes a reception opening for receiving the at least one locking element, wherein a top part of the annular ring in line with the reception opening includes a shoulder defining an internal recess, wherein an internal periphery of the rotating bezel includes an internal groove, wherein the at least one locking element has a body elongate in a longitudinal extension direction, the body having a substantially L-shaped cross section with a first part forming a main arm of the L-shape and a second part forming a foot of the L-shape, and wherein the second part is received in the internal groove of the rotating bezel and a top surface of the second part abuts a bottom surface of the shoulder of the annular ring.
2. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein each locking element is formed from a same material as that from which the annular ring is formed.
3. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least two locking elements distributed over 360°.
4. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 3, wherein the system comprises four locking elements distributed over 360° the four locking elements being spaced apart, two by two, by 90°.
5. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein the annular ring is a metal toothed ring.
6. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein the annular joint is formed from a polymer material.
7. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein at least one opening for receiving the at least one locking element is machined locally in the annular ring.
8. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein the annular joint is driven between the annular ring and at least one locking element.
9. The rotating-bezel system according to claim 1, wherein said system is formed by an independent module, said module being configured to be snapped onto the middle.
10. A watch case comprising the rotating-bezel system according to claim 1.
11. A watch comprising the watch case according to claim 10.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) The aims, advantages and features of the rotating-bezel system according to the invention will emerge more clearly in the following description on the basis of at least one non-limitative embodiment illustrated by the drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a watch case equipped with a rotating-bezel system according to the invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of the system in FIG. 1, taken along a cross-sectional plane II-II, the system comprising a ceramic rotating bezel, an annular ring and an element for locking the annular ring on the rotating bezel;
(4) FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the system of FIG. 1, taken along a cross-sectional plane III-III;
(5) FIG. 4 is a view in cross section of the system of FIG. 2, taken along a cross-sectional plane IV-IV;
(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking system of FIG. 2; and
(7) FIGS. 6 to 11 are views illustrating the various steps of assembling the rotating-bezel system according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(8) FIG. 1 shows a watch 1 provided with a watch case 2. The watch case 2 typically comprises a middle 4. The watch case 2 also comprises a rotating-bezel system 6 as well as a horological movement, the horological movement not being shown in the figures for reasons of clarity. The rotating-bezel system 6 is mounted for rotation on the middle 4. Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rotating-bezel system 6 is formed by an independent module.
(9) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the middle 4 is annular in shape. Preferably, the middle 4 carries an annular element secured to it, this element not being shown in the figures for reasons of clarity. The element angularly secured to the middle 4 is for example a spring ring with faces, without this being limitative in the context of the present invention. In the watch case 2 taken as an example in FIGS. 1 to 11, the configuration of the watch case is substantially circular. However, the invention is in no way limited to such a configuration of the watch case.
(10) The rotating-bezel system 6 comprises a rotating bezel 14, an annular ring 16, an annular joint 18 for connection between the rotating bezel 14 and the annular ring 16, and at least one element 20 for locking the annular ring 16 on the rotating bezel 14. Preferably, the system 6 includes at least two locking elements 20 distributed over 360°. According to a preferential embodiment, the system 6 includes four locking elements 20 distributed over 360°, the four locking elements 20 being spaced apart, two by two, by 90°. The rotating bezel 14 is made from ceramic, typically based on alumina, zirconia or silicon nitride.
(11) The annular ring 16 is placed in the rotating bezel 14, and cooperates with the element angularly secured to the middle 4. In the particular example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 11, the annular ring 16 is a toothed ring, preferably made from metal. According to this particular example embodiment, the annular ring 16 is then in engagement with teeth of the element angularly secured to the middle 4.
(12) As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9, at least one opening 22 for receiving the locking element or elements 20 is machined locally in the annular ring 16. Preferably, the annular ring 16 includes, on a bottom face, at least two reception openings 22 distributed over 360°. According to a preferential embodiment, the annular ring 16 includes four reception openings 22 distributed over 360°, the four reception openings 22 being spaced apart, two by two, by 90°. The annular ring 16 typically consists of a metallic material, for example steel or gold.
(13) In the particular example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the annular joint 18 is driven between the annular ring 16 and each locking element 20. In the zones of the system 6 where there are no locking elements 20, the annular joint 18 is received in a groove 24 formed in the ring 16, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Preferably, the annular joint 18 consists of a polymer material, for example asutane. The annular joint 18 forms a friction element that prevents any sliding between the locking elements 20 and the annular ring 16, which also ensures non-return of the locking elements 20 when the latter are positioned in the system.
(14) Each locking element 20 is configured to lock any relative rotation between the annular ring 16 and the bezel 14. In the preferential example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, each locking element 20 has a body elongate in a longitudinal extension direction Dl. The body has a first main part 28a, and a second part 28b forming a rim and extending from the first part 28a in a substantially orthogonal direction. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the body thus has a substantially L-shaped cross section, the first part 28a of the body forming the main arm of the L, the second part 28b of the body forming the foot of the L. In order to receive the locking element or elements 20, the annular ring 16 has locally, on the top part thereof in line with a corresponding reception opening 22, at least one shoulder 30 defining an internal recess 32. Furthermore, the rotating bezel 14 defines locally, on its internal periphery, at least one internal groove 34. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second part 28b of each locking element 20 is received in one of the reception grooves 34 formed on the bezel 14. The top surface of the second part 28b of each locking element 20 is for its part in abutment against a bottom surface of the annular ring 16, or more precisely against a bottom surface of one of the shoulders 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each locking element 20 thus makes it possible to angularly secure the assembly formed by the annular ring 16 and the bezel 14.
(15) Preferably, each locking element 20 is formed from the same material as that from which the annular ring 16 is formed, typically a metallic material, for example steel or gold.
(16) The assembly of the rotating bezel system 6 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11. It should be noted that, in these figures, the system 6 is shown upside down (with the bezel 14 turned over) compared with the normal positioning thereof as provided in operation and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Consequently the terms “top” and “bottom” used hereinafter should be understood with regard to the orientations relating to the system 6 in FIGS. 1 and 3, rather than to the orientations relating to the system visible in FIGS. 6 to 11.
(17) As illustrated in FIG. 6, the annular ring 16 is first of all installed by placing it in the previously positioned rotating bezel 14. To do this, and as shown in FIG. 7, the openings 22 and the shoulders 30 are used so as to be aligned with the internal grooves 34 of the bezel 14, thus ensuring correct positioning between the ring 16 and the bezel 14.
(18) During a following step shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each locking element 20 is inserted through one of the reception openings 22 formed in the ring 16, with the second part 28b forming the foot of the L positioned so as to be inserted first in the opening 22. This insertion is facilitated by the presence of the internal recess 32 defined by the corresponding shoulder 30 formed on the ring 16. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second part 28b of each blocking element 20 is then slid into one of the internal grooves 34 formed in the bezel 14, the top surface of the second part 28b bearing against a bottom surface of the corresponding shoulder 30.
(19) Finally, and as shown in FIG. 11, the annular joint 18 is placed in order to finalise the assembly of the system 6. To do this, the annular joint 18 is driven between the annular ring 16 and each locking element 20. In the zones of the system 6 where there are no locking elements 20, the annular joint 18 is received in the groove 24 formed in the ring 16, as can be seen in FIG. 3.
