Watch equipped with a device for locking an external control unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11822291-B2
Application number	US-202117555824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Feb 17, 2021
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A watch including a case (6) having a push-piece (8), movable in a radial direction, and a device (14) for locking the push-piece. The locking device includes a locking member (16) rotatably mounted about a central axis of the case and arranged to be actuated between a locking position, wherein the push-piece is stopped or blocked by the locking device so that the function cannot be activated by actuation of the control member, and an unlocking position wherein the push-piece is released and can then be actuated in said radial direction to allow the function to be activated. A rotating bezel (20) and the locking member are coaxial arranged so that they can each be rotatably actuated by the user independently of each other. Thus, the rotating bezel is independent of the locking function and can thus be dedicated to the chronograph mechanism and be in particular useful for diving.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A watch comprising:
a horological movement; and
a case incorporating the horological movement and provided with a control member allowing to activate a function of the horological movement, the control member being movable in a radial direction and configured to be actuated by a user from outside the case, the case being further provided with a locking device for locking the control member, the locking device comprising a locking member which is rotatably mounted about a central axis of the case and which is arranged so as to be able to be actuated by the user of the watch between at least one angular locking position,
wherein the control member is stopped or blocked by the locking device so that said function cannot be activated by actuation of the control member in said radial direction, and at least one angular unlocking position wherein the control member is released and can be actuated in said radial direction so as to allow said function to be activated, and
wherein the watch further comprises a bezel rotating about said central axis, the rotating bezel and the locking member thus being coaxial, the rotating bezel and the locking member being arranged so as to be rotatably actuated by the user independently of each other.

2. The watch according to claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises an annular part, centred on said central axis, which is arranged between the rotating bezel and a middle part supporting the rotating bezel.

3. The watch according to claim 2 , wherein the rotating bezel comprises internal teeth associated with a ratchet spring for the angular positioning of the rotating bezel, the internal teeth being located in a cylindrical space inside the locking member.

4. The watch according to claim 2 , wherein the watch comprises an annular spacer which is arranged in an annular cavity defined by the rotating bezel and the annular part of the locking member, the annular spacer having at least one sliding surface in contact with a lower surface of the rotating bezel or with an upper surface of said annular part, the sliding surface having a low coefficient of friction with the lower surface, respectively the upper surface.

5. The watch according to claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a gripping element which is integral with said annular part and located outside the middle part of the case so as to allow it to be gripped by a user to be able to rotate the locking member at least between said angular locking position and said angular unlocking position.

6. The watch according to claim 5 , wherein the gripping element is located in an angular sector comprised between 220° and 290° calculated in the clockwise direction from the 12 o'clock position over an hour revolution of 12 hours.

7. The watch according to claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a lower part formed of several annular sectors separated by empty areas, which is integral with the annular part or formed by the latter, the lower part extending generally in an angular area less than 360° and having an outer lateral surface which forms a stop for a part of the control member movable in radial translation, the lower part being configured so as to stop or block the control member in said radial direction, and thus prevent activation of said function, when the locking member is in said angular locking position and to leave the control member free to move in said radial direction when the locking member is in said angular unlocking position.

8. The watch according to claim 7 , wherein said part movable in radial translation is an upper projecting part which rises above a body of the control member to which it is fastened, by screwing, the body protruding from the middle part of the case and being arranged in the middle part in a sliding manner along said radial direction, the upper projecting part being arranged at said lower part of the locking member and housed in a cavity located inside the middle part.

9. The watch according to claim 1 , wherein the horological movement comprises a chronograph mechanism, said function being a chronograph function of the chronograph mechanism and said control member forming a push-piece associated with the chronograph mechanism.

10. The watch according to claim 9 , wherein the watch is a diving watch, said rotating bezel being associated in particular with a function useful for diving.

11. A watch comprising:
a horological movement; and
a case incorporating the horological movement and provided with a valve, the valve being movable in a radial direction and configured to be actuated by a user from outside the case, the case being further provided with a device for locking the valve, the locking device comprising a locking member which is rotatably mounted about a central axis of the case and which is arranged so that it can be actuated by the user of the watch between at least one angular locking position,
wherein the valve is blocked by the locking device in a screwed closed position, and at least one angular unlocking position wherein the valve is released and can be unscrewed and actuated in said radial direction so as to allow its opening, and
wherein the watch further comprises a bezel rotating about said central axis, the rotating bezel and the locking member thus being coaxial, the rotating bezel and the locking member being arranged so as to be rotatably actuated by the user independently of each other.

12. The watch according to claim 11 , wherein the locking member comprises an annular part, centred on said central axis, which is arranged between the rotating bezel and a middle part supporting the rotating bezel.

13. The watch according to claim 11 , wherein the locking member comprises a gripping element which is integral with said annular part and located outside the middle part of the case so as to allow it to be gripped by a user to be able to rotate the locking member at least between said angular locking position and said angular unlocking position.

14. The watch according to claim 11 , wherein the locking member comprises a lower part formed of several annular sectors separated by empty areas, which is integral with the annular part or formed by the latter, the lower part extending generally in an angular area less than 360° and forming a stop for a part of the valve movable in radial translation, the lower part being configured so as to block the valve, in said radial direction, in said screwed closed position, and thus prevent the opening of the valve, when the locking member is in said angular locking position and to leave the valve free to move in said radial direction when the locking member is in said angular unlocking position.

Assignees

• Omega Sa

Inventors

• Loetscher Philippe
• Plancherel Christophe

Classifications

• G04B3/043 Primary

  Locking of the operating element, also by mounting in a concealed place · CPC title

• G04B3/048

  Operation exclusively by axial movement of a push-button, e.g. for chronographs (winding up by push button G04B3/001; hermetically sealed push button G04B37/106) · CPC title

• G04B19/18

  Graduations on the crystal or glass, on the bezel, or on the rim · CPC title

• G04B19/283

  on rotatable rings, i.e. bezel (for graduations on the bezels G04B19/18) · CPC title

• G04B3/001 Primary

  by push button (crown combined with push button G04B3/046; construction of push button G04B3/048; waterproof push buttons G04B37/106) · CPC title