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(11) | EP 1 959 319 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | MAGNETICALLY-REGULATED WATCH |
| (57) Watch comprising a movement (1), a case (2), a crown (4) and a holder (3) that solidly
houses the movement (1) and is arranged inside the case (2). The crown is provided
of one or several magnetic elements (5) and the holder (3) is provided of one or several
magnetic elements (6) in correspondence with the magnetic elements (5) of the crown,
so that by rotating the crown with respect to the case the subsequent rotation of
the magnetic fields of the magnetic elements (5) of the crown produces a corresponding
rotation of the magnetic elements (6) of the holder and, consequently, of the movement
with respect to the case. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a watch that comprises a movement or machine, a case and a holder that solidly houses the movement and is arranged inside the case.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There are known in the art wristwatches provided with an external crown coupled to a stem that acts mechanically on the hands of the watch, in order to allow the time-setting. This time-setting system is not very convenient because the stem has to cut through the whole movement and this seriously limits the watch design.
[0003] A previous PCT application filed by the applicant and published as WO 2005/045534 discloses a watch devoid of a stem comprising a movement, a cover that lends support to said movement, and a middle of the watch-case that surrounds said machine. During the time-setting the movement is integral with the cover and the assembly of both elements is rotatably mounted with respect to the middle, so that at least one hand of the watch can be set by rotating said assembly with respect to the middle in a first sense of rotation. The watch comprises blocking means for blocking at least one hand with respect to the middle when said assembly is rotated in a second sense of rotation opposite to the fist sense of rotation. This arrangement allows time-setting one hand by rotating the movement in a sense, and time-setting the other hand without moving the previous one by rotating the movement in the opposite sense.
[0004] This arrangement presents some difficulty in making the watch perfectly waterproof, for instance when used in underwater diving, because the cover and the middle are distinct pieces between which a sealing gasket is placed, and, since the operation of the watch involves rotating often the cover with respect to the middle, said gasket can deteriorate and lose its sealing ability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a watch devoid of the conventional time-setting stem that is perfectly waterproof even at high depths.
[0006] In the following, coherently with the term used in horology for indicating an element of the time-setting mechanism, "crown" will mean an element driving the time-setting device, independently of the concrete form that it may adopt.
[0007] Then, according to one aspect of the invention, such a watch comprises a crown that surrounds the case, and magnetic means for establishing a magnetic relationship between the crown and the holder, so that upon rotation of the crown with respect to the case a corresponding rotation of the holder with respect to the case, and thus of the movement with respect to the case, is produced. This allows to time-set the watch without the intervention of any mechanical link between the outside and the inside of the case.
[0008] Preferably, said magnetic relationship is established by incorporating one or several magnetic elements in the crown, in the holder or in both. If the crown or the holder does not include any magnetic element, then it will include magnetizable elements, to be dragged by the magnetic elements of the other.
[0009] Advantageously, at least one of the magnetic elements of the crown is screened from the outside by a small plate made of a ferromagnetic material, the small plate being magnetically linked to said magnetic element. In this way, the magnetic elements of the crown concentrate their magnetic flux towards the holder inside the case.
[0010] In an embodiment, the crown is provided with one or several magnetic elements and the holder is provided with one or several magnetic elements in correspondence with the magnetic elements of the crown, so that by rotating the crown with respect to the case the subsequent rotation of the magnetic fields of the magnetic elements of the crown produces a corresponding rotation of the magnetic elements of the holder and of the holder itself and, consequently, of the movement with respect to the case.
[0011] Preferably, the magnetic elements of the crown are arranged along the crown's perimeter with their magnetic axes substantially radially oriented, and, advantageously, said magnetic elements are also arranged so that their magnetic poles successively alternate. Analogously, the magnetic elements of the holder are arranged along the holder's perimeter with their magnetic axes substantially radially oriented, and are also arranged so that their magnetic poles successively alternate. In this way, the magnetic relationship between the magnetic elements of the crown and the magnetic elements of the holder is optimal.
[0012] Besides, the radial arrangement of said magnetic elements does not affect the working of the internal mechanisms of the movement.
[0014] In an embodiment, the holder comprises a sleeve of a ferromagnetic material rigidly connected to it. Then the magnetic elements of the holder are simply magnetically linked to the sleeve. The sleeve, moreover, screens said magnetic elements with respect to the movement and greatly reduces the small magnetic influence that the former might have on the latter.
[0015] With the described arrangement the case can be formed as a single piece, shaped like a cup with one opening for sealingly fitting the glass, so that the watch can be waterproof at great depths.
[0016] All the forms of the invention can be advantageously applied to a watch devoid of a time-setting stem wherein the movement can be rotated with respect to the case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Some particular embodimente of the present invention will be described in the following, only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a view from below of a watch according to the invention;
figure 2 is a side cross-section view taken along the line II-II of figure 1;
figure 3 is a side cross-section view, similar to that of figure 2, of another embodiment; and
figure 4 is a side cross-section view of another element of the embodiment showed in figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a watch according to the invention; the glass, the bezel, the dial and the hands are not represented. Said watch comprises a movement 1 solidly housed in a holder 3, i.e., the movement 1 is rigidly connected to the holder 3; the latter is in turn is rotatably housed in a watch-case 2. The case 2 is made in one piece, that is, includes in a single element the middle and the cover of the watch.
[0019] The lower portion of the watch-case 2 presents a peripheral recess 9 (see figure 3) and a projection 10. A ring-shaped crown 4 is housed in said recess 9, so that its central hollow 11 (see figure 4) rotatably fits the projection 10.
[0020] The crown 4 is provided with a plurality of radial holes 12 (two of them are shown in figure 1) spaced along its perimeter. Each hole 12 houses a magnetic element or magnet 5 the magnetic axis of which follows the radial direction. The arrangement of magnets 5 is such that the magnetic poles are successively alternating, that is, two contiguous magnets have their N-S polarity inverted with respect to each other.
[0021] The lower portion of the holder 3 has an annular shaped recess 7, which leaves a ring 8 in the periphery of said lower portion of the holder 3. As the crown 4, the ring 8 is provided with a plurality of radial holes 13 (two of them are shown in figure 1) spaced along its perimeter. Each hole 13 houses a magnetic element or magnet 6 the magnetic axis of which follows the radial direction. The arrangement of magnets 6 is such that the magnetic poles are successively alternating, that is, two contiguous magnets have their N-S polarity inverted with respect to each other.
[0022] The two pluralities of magnets 5 and 6 are concentrically arranged and substantially at the same height.
[0023] In this way, if the crown 4 is rotated with respect to the watch-case 2, then the rotation of the magnetic fields of magnets 5 of crown 4 makes the magnets 6 of holder 3 to follow said rotation, and thus makes the holder 3 to rotate correspondingly, thereby resulting in a rotation of the movement 1 with respect to the watch-case 2 in correspondence with the rotation of the crown 4.
[0024] This rotation of the movement 1 can be applied, for example, to time-set a watch according to the applicant's disclosure in WO 2005/045534, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0025] The same distance-action system between the outside and the inside of the watch can also be applied to the rotation of the decompression ring of a watch for underwater diving.
[0026] Figures 3 and 4 show another embodiment of a watch according to the invention. The general configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment, and corresponding elements have the same reference numeral.
[0027] In the embodiment of figures 3 and 4, the movement 1 and the holder 3 are arranged inside the projection 10 of the watch-case 2, and said holder 3 is like a sleeve. A sleeve 14 is fitted on the holder 3, so that the two elements are made integral. The sleeve 14 is made of a ferromagnetic material (for example iron) and the magnets 6 of the holder 3 are peripherally arranged on it (although in the figure they are shown under the sleeve 14). Said magnets 6 are magnetically linked to the sleeve 14.
[0028] The crown 4 of figure 4 is like a plate or disk provided with a peripheral shoulder 22. Like in the previous embodiment, the crown 4 is provided with a plurality of radial holes 12 spaced along its perimeter; the magnets 5 are placed in said holes 12. Each magnet 5 is screened from the outside by a small plate 19 made of a ferromagnetic material that is magnetically linked to the magnet. A protrusion 20 is arranged on each small plate 19; said protrusion 20 projects from the hole 12 and allows to firmly grasp the crown 4, in order to readily rotate it with respect to the watch-case 2.
[0030] The watch also comprises a glass 15 thick enough to resist high pressures, like the pressure exerted by deep water. Said glass 15 is fitted on a frusto-conical inner wall of the watch-case 2, so that the higher the pressure on the glass the higher it is pushed against the watch-case and the more perfect the sealing is (the fitting between the glass and the watch-case is the only seal of the watch, since the watch-case is a single piece).
[0031] In general, an inverted frusto-conical engagement between the glass 15 and the watch-case 2 is provided to guarantee the waterproof sealing of the watch, because said engagement is tighter as higher is the pressure on the glass, so that it is not necessary to arrange a gasket between the glass and the watch-case.
[0032] A dial 17, two hands 18 and a bezel 16 fastened to the watch-case 2 through a thread 21 are also represented in figure 3, even though they are not directly related to the present invention.
[0033] In an embodiment, either the crown 4 or the holder 3 incorporates magnetizable elements (that can be attracted by a magnetic field and can be made for instance of a ferromagnetic material) instead of magnetic elements, on the condition that the other one, be it either the holder or the crown, may incorporate magnetic elements. This is feasible because for a watch according to the invention to be operated it is only necessary to establish, by any means, a magnetic relationship between the crown 4 and the holder 3.
[0034] The magnets 5 and 6 are preferably of neodymium and present a cylindrical shape. The rest of elements of the invention, except the sleeve 14 and the small plates 19, are made of non-magnetizable materials (such as, for example, brass or gold).
[0035] Although only particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in the present specification, the skilled man will be able to introduce modifications and substitute any technical features thereof with others that are technically equivalent, depending on the particular requirements of each case, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.
[0036] For example, it has already been mentioned that the crown 4 can be shaped as a disk or plate with a peripheral shoulder (said shoulder providing the crown-like functionality), or else it can surround the watch-case 2 at another position different from the bottom one.
1. Watch comprising a movement (1), a case (2) and a holder (3, 14) that solidly houses
the movement (1) and is arranged inside the case (2), characterized in that it also comprises a crown (4) that surrounds the case (2), and magnetic means (5;
6) for establishing a magnetic relationship between the crown (4) and the holder (3,
14), so that upon rotation of the crown (4) with respect to the case (2) a corresponding
rotation of the holder (3, 14) with respect to the case (2), and thus of the movement
(1) with respect to the case (2), is produced.
2. Watch according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic means for establishing a magnetic
relationship between the crown (4) and the holder (3, 14) comprises one or several
magnetic elements (5) in the crown (4).
3. Watch according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the magnetic elements (5) of the
crown (4) is screened from the outside by a small plate (19) made of a ferromagnetic
material, the small plate (19) being magnetically linked to said magnetic element
(5).
4. Watch according to any of the preceding elements, wherein said magnetic means for
establishing a magnetic relationship between the crown (4) and the holder (3, 14)
comprises one or several magnetic elements (6) in the holder (3, 14).
5. Watch according to any of the preceding elements, wherein the crown (4) is provided
with one or several magnetic elements (5) and the holder (3, 14) is provided with
one or several magnetic elements (6) in correspondence with the magnetic elements
(5) of the crown (4), so that by rotating the crown (4) with respect to the case (2)
the subsequent rotation of the magnetic fields of the magnetic elements (5) of the
crown (4) produces a corresponding rotation of the magnetic elements (6) of the holder
(3, 14) and, consequently, of the movement (1) with respect to the case (2).
6. Watch according to claim 2, 3 or 5, wherein the magnetic elements (5) of the crown
(4) are arranged along the crown's perimeter with their magnetic axes substantially
radially oriented.
7. Watch according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic elements (5) of the crown (4) are
arranged so that their magnetic poles successively alternate.
8. Watch according claim 4 or 5, wherein the magnetic elements (6) of the holder (3,
14) are arranged along the holder's perimeter with their magnetic axes substantially
radially oriented.
9. Watch according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic elements (6) of the holder (3, 14)
are arranged so that their magnetic poles successively alternate.
10. Watch according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein at least one of said magnetic elements
(5, 6) is of neodymium.
11. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (3) comprises a
sleeve (14) rigidly connected to it.
12. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (14) is of ferromagnetic
material.
13. Watch according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic elements (6) of the holder (3) are
magnetically linked to the sleeve (14).
14. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the case (2) is formed as
a single piece.
15. Watch according to any of the preceding claims, which is devoid of a time-setting
stem and wherein the movement (1) can be rotated with respect to the case (2).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description