Push-piece winding button control device for a portable object of small dimensions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10768577-B2
Application number	US-201816001998-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2018
Priority date	Jun 23, 2017
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A push-piece winding button control device is for a portable object of small dimensions. This device includes a pivoting control stem axially movable between at least a transitory first position and a stable second position. The device further includes a position indexing plate arranged to be integral in translation with the control stem, while keeping the same orientation relative to the frame. The device also includes a cam follower arranged to cooperate with a longitudinal cam path formed in the position indexing plate. The cam path includes a recess defining the stable position of the control stem, and a ramp-shaped profile portion which rises from the recess towards the transitory position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device with a push-piece winding button for a portable object, said control device comprising:
a frame;
a control stem mounted to pivot about a longitudinal axis and axially movable with respect to the frame between at least two positions, including a transitory first position and a stable second position;
at least one cam path which has a longitudinal cam profile and at least one cam follower arranged to cooperate with the longitudinal cam profile, wherein the cam path is arranged to move concurrently with the control stern when the latter is moved axially, and wherein the cam follower, mounted inside the frame, is arranged to be elastically returned against the cam path, wherein the cam path comprises a first recess defining the stable position of the control stem, and a profile portion forming a ramp which rises from the first recess towards the transitory position; and
a position indexing plate in which is formed the cam path with which the cam follower cooperates, wherein said position indexing plate is arranged to be coupled in translation to the control stem when said control stem is moved in one direction or the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and to remain stationary when the control stem is pivoted in one direction or the other.

2. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is arranged such that, when the push-piece winding button is pressed from the stable position, a reaction force that has to be overcome to push in the push-piece winding button is greater than a pressure force that must be exerted on the push-piece winding button when the cam follower passes beyond a transition point of the ramp profile portion, wherein the reaction force drops once the transition point is passed.

3. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 2 , wherein the ramp profile portion includes a first part which extends between the recess and the transition point and whose slope is steep, and a second part which extends from the transition point towards the transitory position.

4. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 1 , wherein the cam follower is elastically returned against the cam path with a force that is exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the control stein.

5. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 2 , wherein the cam follower is elastically returned against the cam path with a force that is exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the control stein.

6. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 3 , wherein the cam follower is elastically returned against the cam path with a force that is exerted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the control stein.

7. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 1 , wherein the position indexing plate includes two longitudinal cam paths disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the control stem, and wherein the position indexing plate includes two cam followers mounted inside the frame and each arranged to be elastically returned against its respective cam path.

8. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 7 , wherein the two cam followers are formed by the ends of two arms of a positioning spring mounted inside the frame.

9. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 7 , wherein the plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the control stem is a vertical plane with respect to a back cover of the portable object.

10. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 8 , wherein the plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the control stem is a vertical plane with respect to a back cover of the portable object.

11. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 4 , wherein the force that elastically returns the cam follower against the cam path is exerted in a horizontal plane parallel to said back cover of the portable object.

12. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 5 , wherein the force that elastically returns the cam follower against the cam path is exerted in a horizontal plane parallel to said back cover of the portable object.

13. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 6 , wherein the force that elastically returns the cam follower against the cam path is exerted in a horizontal plane parallel to said back cover of the portable object.

14. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 7 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

15. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 8 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

16. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 9 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

17. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 10 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

18. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 11 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

19. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 12 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

20. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 13 , wherein the two symmetrically arranged cam paths define a second stable position.

21. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 14 , wherein the two cam paths comprise a first recess and a second recess separated by a peak, wherein the two cam followers pass from the first stable position to the second stable position and vice versa by crossing the peak.

22. The control device with the push-piece winding button according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is arranged to cooperate with two radial shoulders of the control stein to immobilize said position indexing plate axially.

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse
• Eta Sa Mfg Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Lagorgette Pascal
• Schmutz Damien
• Balmer Raphael
• Zanesco Vittorio

Classifications

• G04B31/00

  Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor (bearings in general F16C {; manufacture and composition of springs G04B1/145; suspension of oscillating weights G04B5/18; suspension of a pendulum G04B17/02; bearings for electrical measurement apparatus G01R1/10, G01R1/12, G01R11/12, G01R11/14; inserting jewels A44C17/04; inserting cutting diamonds B23P5/00; devices for fixation of bearing jewels, bearing sleeves, or the like G04D3/04}) · CPC title

• G04B13/021

  elastic fitting with a spindle, axis or shaft · CPC title

• G04B3/046 Primary

  Operation by rotation and axial movement with extra function of axial shift of operating element, e.g. crown combined with push button (winding up by push button G04B3/001) · CPC title

• G04B3/041

  Construction of crowns for rotating movement; connection with the winding stem; winding stems · CPC title

• G04C3/005 Primary

  Multiple switches (G04C3/004 takes precedence) · CPC title