Tool for actuating a corrector equipping a portable object of small dimensions

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool for actuating a push-button corrector equipping a portable object of small dimensions, said actuating tool comprising a body that extends between a rear end defining an area for grasping the actuating tool and a front end defining an area for actuating the actuating tool, the actuating tool further comprising an actuating rod arranged such that it slides in a coaxial manner inside the body, the actuating rod being capable of moving from back to front and from front to back between a retracted rest position wherein it is retracted in a stable manner inside the body of the actuating tool, and a protruding working position wherein it protrudes outside of the cap, the actuating rod remaining in the protruding working position thereof as long as an axial pushing force is exerted thereon, and returns to the retracted rest position thereof as soon as the axial pushing force is released.

Claims

1. A watch and an actuating tool that actuates a push-button corrector of the watch, wherein said actuating tool comprises a body that extends between a rear end defining an area for grasping the actuating tool and a front end defining an area for actuating the actuating tool, said body ending in a cap, wherein the actuating tool further comprises an actuating rod arranged such that it slides in a coaxial manner inside the body, the actuating rod being capable of moving from back to front and from front to back between a retracted rest position wherein it is retracted in a stable manner inside the body of the actuating tool, and a protruding working position wherein it protrudes outside of an end position of the cap, wherein the actuating rod remains in the protruding working position thereof as long as an axial pushing force is exerted thereon, and returns to the retracted rest position thereof as soon as the axial pushing force is released, wherein the actuating tool comprises, on the side of the grasping area, a base, and on the side of the actuating area, the cap arranged in a fixed manner on the base, wherein said base and said cap form the body inside which the actuating rod is arranged such that the actuating rod slides between the retracted rest position, in which the actuating rod abuts the cap to prevent further movement to the back, and the protruding working position, in which the actuating rod abuts the base to prevent further movement to the front.

2. The watch and the actuating tool according to claim 1, wherein the actuating tool comprises a helical spring threaded on the actuating rod and bearing against the cap at a front end, and against a first shoulder formed on the actuating rod at a rear end, wherein the actuating rod is capable of moving against the return force of the helical spring from back to front and from front to back between the retracted rest position thereof and the protruding working position thereof.

3. The watch and the actuating tool according to claim 2, wherein the actuating rod comprises, on the side of the grasping area, a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and on the side of the actuating area, a third cylindrical portion with a third diameter that is less than the second diameter, wherein the cap is arranged in a fixed manner on the base and delimits, with the third cylindrical portion of the actuating rod, a third cylindrical housing inside which the helical spring is positioned in a coaxial manner, wherein the helical spring bearings against the cap at a front end, and against a first shoulder formed on the actuating rod in a connection area between the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion of said actuating rod at a rear end, the third cylindrical portion projecting from the cap at the front end of the actuating tool and being surrounded by an end portion of the cap, which is also cylindrical.

4. The watch and the actuating tool according to claim 3, wherein the cap is screwed onto the base.

5. The watch and the actuating tool according to claim 1, wherein an end of the actuating portion of the actuating rod is coated in a layer of a material that is not as hard as the material of which the watch is made.

6. The watch and the actuating tool according to claim 1, wherein the push-button corrector is surrounded by a circular groove machined in the watch, a diameter of an end portion of the cap corresponding to the diameter of the circular groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of one example embodiment of an actuating tool according to the invention, said example being provided for the purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective, sectional view of a push-button of the corrector type embedded in a middle of a portable object such as a wristwatch with complications;

(3) FIG. 2A is a longitudinal, sectional view of an actuating tool according to the invention in the rest position, and

(4) FIG. 2B is a similar view to that in FIG. 2A, wherein the actuating tool is in the working position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(5) The present invention is based on the general inventive idea consisting of providing an actuating tool for actuating a push-button of the corrector type embedded in the middle of a portable object such as a wristwatch with complications or a smartphone, without the risk of damaging the middle which, in particular in the case of wristwatches, is very often made of a precious material. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention concerns using an actuating tool, the active portion thereof being retracted inside the body of said actuating tool in the rest position. The actuating tool can thus be positioned facing the push-button corrector without the risk of damaging the middle of the portable object. Once the tool has been properly positioned facing the push-button corrector, the corrector tool is gently pushed, which allows the active portion to project outside of the body of the actuating tool and correct the push-button corrector.

(6) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a push-button of the corrector type, whose actuation can be performed using an actuating tool according to the invention. However, it is understood that the description of such a push-button corrector is provided for the purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This is a push-button corrector of the conventional type, whose structure does not require any modification or adaptation to suit the structure of the actuating tool according to the invention. Conversely, the characteristics of the push-button correctors do not affect the arrangement of the actuating tool according to the invention.

(7) Designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 1, a push-button of the corrector type conventionally comprises a socket 2, for example driven or bonded inside an opening 4 made in a middle 6 of a portable object, for example a wristwatch, the middle thereof being made from a precious material, or a smartphone. Said push-button corrector 1 can be actuated by the user by means of a pointed instrument 5.

(8) A cylindrical control rod 8 is capable of sliding in the socket 2. For this purpose, the socket 2 comprises a first cylindrical passage 10a that opens out onto the outer side of the middle 6 of the portable object and that is adapted to suit the dimensions of a first portion 12a of the control rod 8. On the inner side of the middle 6, the socket 2 comprises a second cylindrical passage 10b arranged in the continuation of the first cylindrical passage 10a and that defines a shoulder 11 inside the socket 2. The inner diameter of said second cylindrical passage 10b, adapted to suit the dimensions of a second portion 12b of the control rod 8, is less than that of the first cylindrical passage 10a. A water-resistant joint 14 housed in an undercut made on a perimeter of the first portion 12a of the control rod 8 guarantees the water-tight seal between the control rod 8 and the socket 2. Such a push-button corrector 1 further comprises a helical spring 16, which is compressed when the user presses on the push-button corrector 1, and the return force thereof bringing the control rod 8 back to the rest position when the user releases pressure on the push-button corrector 1. The helical spring 16 bears against a washer 18 mounted in a fixed manner on the first portion 12a of the control rod 8 at one end, and against the shoulder 11 at the other end.

(9) Push-buttons of the aforementioned type have very small dimensions. They thus save space. Moreover, they do not project from the middle and therefore do not risk being actuated by accident. Such push-buttons often equip top-range watches referred to as having numerous complications. Correction operations take place using a pointed instrument such as a pen. However, the aforementioned point poses a problem. Indeed, wristwatches with complications are extremely expensive watches, the watch cases thereof being often made using precious materials. However, the risks of damaging the watch case and of altering the aesthetic appearance thereof when handling a pointed instrument are high, which has become difficult to accept.

(10) In order to overcome this problem, this invention provides a tool for actuating a push-button corrector, one embodiment thereof being shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In these figures, an actuating tool 46 for actuating a push-button corrector 1 equipping a portable object of small dimensions comprises an actuating rod 48 the overall shape thereof being cylindrical, which extends between a rear end 50 defining an area for grasping the actuating tool 46, and a front end 52 defining an area for actuating the actuating tool 46. At the front end thereof, the actuating tool 48 comprises an actuating portion 54 which constitutes the active element of the actuating tool 46 via which the push-button corrector 1 is actuated.

(11) The actuating tool 46 further comprises, on the side of the grasping area, a base 56, and on the side of the actuating area, a cap 58 arranged in a fixed manner on the base 56, for example via a threading 60. The base 56 and the cap 58 form a body inside which the actuating rod 48 is arranged such that it slides in a coaxial manner from back to front and from front to back under the effect of a helical spring 62 threaded on the actuating rod 48 and which bears against the cap 58 at a front end 52, and against a first shoulder 64 formed on the actuating rod 48 at a rear end 50.

(12) More specifically, the actuating rod 48 is capable of moving between a retracted rest position (FIG. 2A) wherein it is forced inwards relative to the body of the actuating tool 46 by the helical spring 62, and a protruding working position (FIG. 2B) wherein it is forced outside of the body of the actuating tool 46 against the elastic force of the helical spring 62. As seen upon examining FIGS. 2A and 2B, an end portion 66 of the cap 58 fully surrounds the actuating portion 54 of the actuating rod 48 in the retracted rest position thereof, whereas said actuating portion 54 projects beyond the end portion 66 of the cap 58 in the protruding working position of the actuating rod 48.

(13) When picking up the actuating tool 46 to actuate the push-button corrector 1, said actuating tool 46 is firstly brought close to the push-button corrector 1 and the end portion 66 of the cap 58 is applied against the middle 6 of the portable object (FIG. 2A). Then, under the effect of the pushing force exerted on the actuating rod 48, said actuating rod 48 slides axially inside the body formed by the base 56 and the cap 58 and presses against the control rod 8 of the push-button corrector 1.

(14) During the relative displacement of the actuating rod 48 with regard to the cap 58, the actuating portion 54 of the actuating rod 48 projects beyond the end portion 66 of the cap 58 and moves to the protruding working position, which allows the push-button corrector 1 to be actuated. In order to reach the protruding working position thereof, the actuating rod 48 moves against the elastic return force of the helical spring 62, which is compressed. When the correction has been made, the actuating tool 46 is moved away from the middle 6 of the portable object, which allows the helical spring 62 to expand and push the cap 58 back into the rest position thereof, wherein the end portion 66 thereof again fully surrounds the actuating portion 54 of the actuating rod 48.

(15) According to one specific embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the actuating rod 48 comprises a first cylindrical portion 48a with a first diameter, and a second cylindrical portion 48b with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The actuating portion 54 is formed by a third cylindrical portion 48c with a third diameter that is less than the second diameter.

(16) As shown in the figures, the first cylindrical portion 48a of the actuating rod 48 has a local first increase in diameter 48d that is adjusted to the inner diameter of a first cylindrical housing 56a made in the outer threaded part of the base 56. This allows the actuating rod 48 to be guided in axial sliding. The first cylindrical housing 56a is extended by a second cylindrical housing 58a made in the cap 58 in the area at which said cap 58 is screwed onto the base 56. Said second cylindrical housing 58a has a diameter that is greater than that of the first cylindrical housing 56a and is extended by a third cylindrical housing 58b, and the inner diameter of the third cylindrical housing 58b is less than that of the first cylindrical housing 56a and is adjusted to the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 48b, which also allows the actuating rod 58 to be guided axially. It is thus understood that by joining the base 56 and the cap 58, the first cylindrical housing 56a and the second cylindrical housing 58a jointly form a cavity of larger dimensions, delimited by a second shoulder 68a and a third shoulder 68b separated by a distance that defines the maximum travel of the actuating rod 48.

(17) Finally, the third cylindrical portion 48c is seen to have a second increase in diameter 48e in the area at which it is connected to the second cylindrical portion 48b. Said second increase in diameter 48e ensures the axial guidance of the helical spring 62 and delimits, with the second cylindrical portion 48b, the first shoulder 64 against which the helical spring 62 abuts.

(18) It is evident that this invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and that various simple alternatives and modifications can be considered by one of ordinary skill in the art without leaving the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. It should in particular be noted that, according to one embodiment of the invention, at least the end of the actuating portion 54 of the actuating rod 48 will be coated in a layer of a material that is not as hard as the material of which the middle 6 of the portable object is made, for example. It should also be noted that the head of the push-button correctors is often surrounded by a circular groove 70 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) machined in the middle 6 of the portable object. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the end portion 66 will correspond to the diameter of the circular groove 70.

NOMENCLATURE

(19) 1. Push-button corrector 2. Socket 4. Opening 5. Pointed instrument 6. Middle 8. Control rod 10a. First cylindrical recess 10b. Second cylindrical recess 11. Shoulder 12a. First portion 12b. Second portion 14. Water-resistant joint 16. Helical spring 18. Washer 46. Actuating tool 48. Actuating rod 48a. First cylindrical portion 48b. Second cylindrical portion 48c. Third cylindrical portion 48d. First increase in diameter 48e. Second increase in diameter 50. Rear end 52. Front end 54. Actuating portion 56. Base 56a. First cylindrical housing 58. Cap 58a. Second cylindrical housing 58b. Third cylindrical housing 60. Threading 62. Helical spring 64. First shoulder 66. End portion 68a. Second shoulder 68b. Third shoulder 70. Circular groove