Inseparable single-piece timepiece component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9244434-B2
Application number	US-201414210923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 19, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

An inseparable single-piece timepiece component includes a position adjustable mechanism including a rigid structure carrying, with at least one resilient strip, a position adjustable component including a tooth arranged to cooperate with a toothed comb included in an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is incorporated in this inseparable single-piece component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inseparable single-piece timepiece component comprising:
a position adjustable mechanism including a rigid structure carrying, by at least one resilient strip, a position adjustable component including an indexing structure arranged to cooperate with a complementary indexing structure comprised in an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being incorporated in said inseparable single-piece component, wherein
said complementary indexing structure is mounted so as to be uncouplable from the indexing structure and clampable in a position of cooperation with said indexing structure by a clamping mechanism moveable between at least one coupled position and at least one uncoupled position, distinct from said indexing structure and said complementary indexing structure and resiliently secured to said rigid structure.

2. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said clamping mechanism is in turn subject to an action of a locking mechanism which either holds the clamping mechanism in the at least one uncoupled position in which the adjustment mechanism is free, or locks the clamping mechanism in the at least one a coupled position in which said clamping mechanism hinders said adjustment mechanism.

3. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 2 , wherein said locking mechanism is also resiliently secured to said rigid structure, and is moveable between the two uncoupled and coupled positions where the locking mechanism locks said clamping mechanism.

4. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 2 , wherein said clamping mechanism is attached to said rigid structure by at least one resilient flexible strip.

5. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 4 , wherein said complementary indexing structure includes at least one arm arranged to cooperate with a fork comprised in said clamping mechanism, and said clamping mechanism is occupiable in a first clamping position where a clearance of said arm is limited by said fork under a return action of said at least one resilient flexible strip, and a second release position where the clearance of said arm is not hindered by said fork and where said clamping mechanism is moved away from the first clamping position thereof against said at least one resilient flexible strip.

6. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 2 , wherein said complementary indexing structure includes at least one toothed comb that immobilizes at least one tooth which is comprised in said position adjustable component and located at an end of at least one flexible strip, said toothed comb being pressed onto said at least one tooth by a clamping strip spring belonging to said clamping mechanism, said locking mechanism includes a locking finger mounted on at least one flexible strip, and said clamping strip spring is immobilized by said locking finger cooperating with an arresting surface of said clamping strip spring.

7. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said clamping mechanism is in turn subject to an action of a locking mechanism arranged to lock the clamping mechanism in the at least one coupled position in which said clamping mechanism hinders said adjustment mechanism.

8. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said clamping mechanism is in turn subject to an action of a locking mechanism arranged to hold the clamping mechanism in the at least one uncoupled position in which said adjustment mechanism is free.

9. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said complementary indexing structure of said adjustment mechanism is attached to said rigid structure by at least one resilient flexible strip.

10. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 9 , wherein said complementary indexing structure of said adjustment mechanism is attached to said rigid structure in a suspended manner between at least a first resilient flexible strip and a second resilient flexible strip, an assembly of which forms a bistable element that is occupiable in two stable positions, a first activated position where said complementary indexing structure cooperates with said indexing structure, and a second release position where said complementary indexing structure is uncoupled therefrom.

11. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 10 , wherein said first resilient flexible strip and said second resilient flexible strip are substantially aligned, and together form the bistable element which operates by buckling.

12. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 10 , wherein said complementary indexing structure of said adjustment mechanism is attached to said rigid structure in a suspended manner between more than two resilient flexible strips, an assembly of which forms a bistable or multi-stable element that is occupiable in at least two stable positions, a first activated position where said complementary indexing structure cooperates with said indexing structure, and a second release position where said complementary indexing structure is uncoupled therefrom.

13. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said complementary indexing structure includes at least one toothed comb, or respectively at least one tooth, arranged to cooperate, in different indexing positions, with at least one tooth, or respectively at least one toothed comb, comprised in said position adjustable component.

14. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 13 , wherein, either said complementary indexing structure is moveable in an angular pivoting motion relative to said rigid structure for a release thereof relative to said position adjustable component, or said position adjustable component is moveable in an angular pivoting motion relative to said rigid structure for a release thereof relative to said complementary indexing structure, or both said complementary indexing structure and said position adjustable component are moveable in an angular pivoting motion relative to said rigid, structure for a relative release thereof from each other.

15. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein said position adjustable component is a guide or a holder of a component to be guided or a balance spring, and said component to be guided or balance spring is in a single-piece with said inseparable single-piece component.

16. The inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 , wherein the inseparable single-piece component is made of silicon, and an integrated elastic return mechanism comprised therein is pre-stressed in a silicon oxide state.

17. A mechanical timepiece movement comprising at least one inseparable single-piece component according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Nivarox Sa

Inventors

• Stranczl Marc
• Hessler Thierry
• Helfer Jean-Luc

Classifications

• G04B29/04

  Connecting or supporting parts · CPC title

• G04B18/025 Primary

  Fixing of the indexing device · CPC title

• G04B18/026

  Locking the hair spring in the indexing device, e.g. goupille of the raquette (hairsprings G04B17/066; locking the mainspring on the axle G04B1/18) · CPC title

• G04B35/00

  Adjusting the gear train, e.g. the backlash of the arbors, depth of meshing of the gears {(adjusting the escapement G04B15/12)} · CPC title

• G04B37/04 Primary

  Mounting the clockwork in the case; Shock absorbing mountings · CPC title