• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The present invention relates to a wristwatch and a mechanical timepiece (1) comprising a case (2) having a caseband, a back and a bezel (5), a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said box (2), a device (16) for amplifying the vibrations generated by said vibration generator device and a membrane (18) arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the wristwatch and the timepiece. The vibration generator device is a rotating element (13) comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove arranged to generate sounds. The wristwatch and the timepiece (1) also comprise means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation. ), and a transmission member (28) arranged to cooperate with the rotating element (13) to transmit to the amplifying device (16) the vibrations generated by the groove during a rotational movement of said rotating element (13) .
    公开号:CH716754A2
    申请号:CH01369/20
    申请日:2020-10-23
    公开日:2021-04-30
    发明作者:Benoist Quentin；Geiser Sylvain；Le Gall Eric；Vandini Alessandro
    申请人:Patek Philippe Sa Geneve；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    The present invention relates to a timepiece, and more specifically a mechanical wristwatch comprising a case having a caseband, a back and a bezel, a vibration generator device intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said box, a device for amplifying the vibrations generated by said vibration generator device, and a membrane arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the timepiece, and more specifically from the wristwatch.
    In the present description the expression "timepiece or mechanical wristwatch" means that the timepiece or wristwatch only comprises mechanical elements to perform its various functions, and more particularly that the sound and amplification are produced only by means of mechanical elements.
    [0003] Such a timepiece is, for example, a ringing wristwatch (such as a minute repeater, large bell, small bell, alarm clock) for which the vibration generator device is a gong designed to be struck by a hammer when the bell is engaged to generate vibrations to produce a sound. A striking watch usually has two gongs, one to produce a low pitched sound and the other to produce a high pitched sound. Even if we play with the two gongs and their alternation to strike the hours differently from the quarters or the minutes, the striking watch is limited to only two different sounds corresponding to each of the two gongs.
    [0004] Furthermore, a pocket watch is known which makes it possible to give the spoken time, as described in patent CH 4918. The pocket watch comprises a stylus and a disc comprising 48 concentric grooves. The stylus is controlled to position itself above the groove assigned to it, corresponding to the time to be announced. The disc is lifted to come into contact with the stylus and begins to rotate so that the stylus reads the time to be announced on the groove. The sound produced is therefore very short, a few seconds, just enough time to announce the time.
    According to a first aspect, the present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by providing a wristwatch which makes it possible to generate a combination of more than two different sounds, making it possible for example to reproduce music or words in the limited volume of a wristwatch.
    [0006] According to another aspect, the present invention aims to provide a timepiece making it possible to generate sounds for a sufficiently long period to allow the reproduction of a piece of music or of a speech, for example.
    Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to amplify the sounds generated significantly, and preferably by limiting, or even eliminating, the parasitic noises.
    To this end, the present invention relates to a mechanical wristwatch comprising a case having a caseband, a back and a bezel, a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said box, a device for amplification of the vibrations generated by said vibration generator device and a membrane arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the wristwatch.
    According to the invention, the vibration generator device is a rotary element comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove arranged to generate sounds, and the wristwatch comprises means for driving the element in rotation. rotary, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element in rotation, as well as a transmission member arranged to cooperate with the rotary element to transmit to the amplification device the vibrations generated by the groove during a rotational movement of said rotary member.
    [0010] Advantageously, the rotary element can comprise at least one groove of several helical turns extending over its reading surface, the transmission member and the rotary element being arranged to be movable one relative to each other so that the transmission member moves over at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member when said rotary member performs more than one rotation.
    Preferably, the vibration amplification device comprises a lever pivotally mounted on a support in a pivot plane not parallel to the plane of the membrane and arranged to be actuated by the transmission member to transmit the vibrations to said lever. , said lever also being integral with the membrane at least in translation in the pivot plane so that a displacement of the transmission member generated by the vibration of said transmission member in connection with the rotary member and transmitted to the membrane by means of the lever actuated by said transmission member generates an amplified displacement of said membrane, so as to generate an amplified sound.
    [0012] Thus, the present invention makes it possible to generate combinations of several sounds, and preferably over a period of several seconds, preferably at least ten seconds, and more preferably at least one or even several minutes, making it possible to reproduce a song. music, or words, the sound being amplified significantly by limiting, or even eliminating, parasitic noises, in the restricted volume of a mechanical wristwatch.
    According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical timepiece comprising a case having a caseband, a back and a bezel, a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said case, a device for amplifying the vibrations generated by said device for generating vibrations and a membrane arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the timepiece.
    According to this other aspect of the invention, the vibration generator device is a rotary element comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove of several helical turns arranged to generate sounds and extending over said reading surface, and the timepiece comprises means for driving the rotary element in rotation, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element in rotation, as well as a transmission member arranged to cooperate with the 'rotary member for transmitting to the amplifying device the vibrations generated by the grooves during the rotation of said rotary member, the transmission member and the rotary member being arranged to be movable relative to each other so that the transmission member moves over at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member when said rotary member performs more than one rotation.
    Advantageously, the vibration amplification device comprises translational guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane, arranged to allow said amplification device to follow the movement of the transmission member. on at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member when said rotary member performs more than one rotation, and movable coupling means between the amplification device and the membrane arranged to enable said amplification device to remain bound to said membrane during its displacement.
    Thus, the present invention makes it possible to generate combinations of several sounds over a period of several seconds to several minutes, making it possible to reproduce by means of a mechanical timepiece, a piece of music, or words, the its being amplified significantly by limiting, or even eliminating, the parasitic noises linked to the vibrations of the parts of the movement.
    Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the case of a wristwatch or of a timepiece according to the invention;FIG. 2 is a top view, on the dial side of a wristwatch according to the invention;Figure 3 is a top view of the vibration amplifying device used in the present invention;FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device for amplifying the vibrations and of the membrane;Figure 5 is a view of a needle used in the present invention;Figure 6 is a sectional view of the membrane and the compression chamber;FIG. 7 is a view of the means for adjusting the volume of the sound generated by the membrane;FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial sectional views showing respectively the volume adjustment means in the closed position and in the open position; andFIG. 10 is a perspective view of the timepiece according to the invention showing the closing of the openings of the compression chamber outside the sound generation time.
    According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical wristwatch intended to be worn by a user, on his wrist. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 10, said wristwatch 1 comprises a case 2 having a caseband 3, a back 4 closed by a crystal 7, a bezel 5 closed by a crystal 6, a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound mechanically, housed in said box 2, a device for amplifying the vibrations 16 generated by said device generating vibrations and a membrane 18 arranged to receive said mechanically amplified vibrations and generate a sound from the inside towards the exterior of the wristwatch 1. The bezel and the middle part can be two different parts, or form a single one-piece part. Likewise, the back and the middle part can be two different parts or form a single one-piece part. The box 2 can also contain a mechanical watch movement making it possible to display the time by means of hands 11 placed between the membrane 18 and the crystal 6. The device for generating vibrations and the device for amplifying vibrations can be independent of the device. movement, in the form of a module, unless a link with an alarm is necessary.
    According to the invention, the vibration generator device is a rotary element 13 comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove 15 arranged to generate sounds, and the wristwatch comprises means for driving the rotation of the 'rotary element 13, means for actuating said means for driving in rotation of the rotary element 13, as well as a transmission member 28 arranged to cooperate with the rotary element 13 to transmit to the amplification device 16 the vibrations generated by the groove 15 during a rotational movement of said rotary element 13.
    In the following description, the vibration generator device, the vibration amplifying device and the membrane are arranged to generate sounds by the dial side of the wristwatch, and more particularly by the crystal 6. It It is obvious that the vibration generator device, the vibration amplification device and the membrane can be arranged in a similar manner but in the reverse to generate sounds on the back side of the wristwatch, and more particularly by the crystal 7 .
    The rotary element 13 contains the sound information to be produced in the form of grooves 15. These grooves 15 are engraved on the rotary element 13 in an appropriate manner to generate any type of sound, for example sounds in the form words (speech for example) or music (classical music, electronic, etc.). The rotation of the rotary element 13 makes it possible to generate vibrations on the membrane 18 by means of the transmission member 28 and of the device 16 for amplifying the vibrations. According to the first aspect of the invention, the rotary element 13 can comprise one or more grooves each consisting of a turn, said turns being concentric in the case of several grooves, or the rotary element 13 can comprise one or more grooves each consisting of several helical turns, the grooves being discontinuous if it is desired to form several tracks.
    Advantageously, the rotary element 13 is a flat disc mounted in the bezel 5 parallel to the dial (or to the bottom) of the watch, in rotation for example around the axis of the hands 11. This disc flat can even be arranged to constitute a dial for said wristwatch. The disc can be made of metal (steel, CuBe, etc.). The grooves 15 are engraved mechanically (milling cutter, engraving point, etc.) or by laser. The disc can also be made by galvanic growth (LIGA). It can also be in silicon, produced by DRIE. Ceramic, a composite or a polymer can also be used.
    The rotary element 13 can also be constituted by a cylinder, placed around the movement, the grooves being placed on its inner or outer periphery.
    The rotary element 13 must have the lowest possible mass and inertia and be balanced to obtain rapid acceleration and not be influenced by accelerations (gravity, shocks, etc.).
    Preferably, the transmission member 28 is a needle arranged to follow at least one groove 15 of the rotary element 13, said needle being integral with the device 16 for amplifying the vibrations. Such a needle is shown in Figure 5. It should be thin and hard so as not to wear out too quickly. It can be made of steel, CuBe, ceramic, hard metal, ruby, etc. Its end 28a for reading the groove can be spherical as shown or conical.
    In order to ensure a large number of plays, the tribological torque between the rotary element 13 and the transmission member 28 is important because it is the friction of the transmission member 28 in the grooves 15 which generates vibration. In the event of wear, the sound quality would be directly impacted.
    Advantageously, the means for driving the rotary element 13 in rotation comprise a spring, of the barrel spring type. The spring is configured to provide the energy required to operate the rotating member 13 to provide a single reading or multiple readings.
    The wristwatch also includes a spring winding mechanism. In the case of a single reading, the spring can be wound up by a minute repeater type lock. For a mechanism arranged for several readings, the spring can be wound up by a winding rod, in a manner similar to the barrel of the movement.
    In addition, the wristwatch comprises a regulator arranged to control the speed of rotation of the rotary element 13. This regulator may be of the flywheel type (similar to those used in a minute repeater), of the type escapement with balance or flexible guide, fin type, or regulated by its own inertia.
    The means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation can be of different types depending on the driving means, the reading on one or more turns, and the function of the sounds generated. Thus, the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation may comprise a lock, of the minute repeater type, allowing the winding of the spring as described above as well as the engagement of the rotation of the latch. The rotary element 13. Where appropriate, the lock may also be arranged to bring the transmission member into an initial reading position at the start of the reading surface, as will be described in detail below.
    The means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation may also comprise a pusher arranged to bring the transmission member into an initial reading position at the start of the reading surface, as will be described in detail below, when the pusher is actuated, then start the rotation of the rotary element 13 and allow reading, when the said pusher is released.
    When the generated sound is used as a wake-up alarm, the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation may comprise a latching mechanism linked to a predetermined time and cooperating with the watch movement.
    Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4, in order to amplify the sounds produced by the rotary element 13, the amplification device 16 of the vibrations generated by said rotary element 13 comprises a lever 20 linked to a support 22 by an articulation along a single axis of rotation, so that said lever 20 is mounted to tilt or pivot on said support 22 about said axis of rotation, in a pivot plane not parallel to the plane of the membrane 18.
    In a particularly preferred manner, the lever 20 is pivotally mounted on its support 22 so that it rocks in a pivot plane which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the membrane 18.
    In a particularly preferred manner, the lever 20 is pivotally mounted on the support 22 by means of a flexible ball joint 24. The flexible ball joint allows, if necessary, to modify the direction of the vibrations. A pin mounted transversely on the support 22 and constituting the pivot axis of the lever 20 could also be used.
    The lever 20 is arranged to be actuated by the transmission member 28 cooperating with the rotary member 13 to transmit to the lever 20 the vibrations generated by the grooves 15. The transmission member 28, here the needle, is preferably integral with the lever 20. It is mounted, for example by embedding or soldering. For this purpose, the lever 20 has an orifice 29 into which the needle is inserted.
    The lever 20 is also integral with the membrane 18 at least in translation in the pivot plane of the lever 20 in order to be able to move said membrane 18 in the pivot plane of the lever 20 during its tilting. Thus, a displacement of the transmission member 28 generated by the vibration of said transmission member 28 in connection with the rotary member and transmitted to the membrane 18 by means of the lever 20 actuated by said transmission member 28 generates a displacement amplified of said membrane 18, so as to generate an amplified sound. It is the linear movement of the membrane 18 moved by the lever 20 which will generate an amplified sound.
    More specifically, the lever 20 comprises a first end 20a pivotally mounted on the support 22 in a pivot plane not parallel to the plane of the membrane 18 and integral with the transmission member 28 and a second end 20b integral with the membrane 18 at least in translation in the pivot plane of said lever 20, as will be described below.
    In the case of a rotary element comprising a single groove formed by a single turn, or a set of grooves with concentric turns (in this case, the wristwatch comprises a mechanism for positioning the transmission member arranged to position the transmission member facing the groove assigned to it), the transmission member 28 is fixed relative to the rotary member 13 at the time of reading. The lever 20 is then fixed in translation and is linked to the membrane 18 in a fixed manner, that is to say it is integral with the membrane 18 in rotation and in translation. The fixing of the lever 20 to the membrane 18 can be done for example by means of a screw screwed into a hole provided on the membrane 18 and in a hole provided on the lever 20, or by gluing, welding, etc.
    In a particularly preferred manner, the rotary element 13 comprises at least one groove formed by several helical turns extending on its reading surface, allowing a reading of the rotary element 13 over several turns, which allows increase reading time. In this case, the transmission member 28 and the rotary member 13 are arranged to be movable relative to each other so that the transmission member 28 moves over at least part of the surface of the machine. reading of the rotary member 13 when said rotary member performs more than one rotation. This means that either the transmission member 28 is moved, the rotary element 13 remaining in a fixed position, or conversely the transmission member 28 remains in the fixed position, the rotary element 13 being moved.
    Preferably, in the variant shown, the transmission member 28 is moved, the rotary member 13 remaining in a fixed position.
    The vibration amplification device 16 integral with the transmission member 28 must therefore be arranged to be able to follow the movements of said transmission member 28. A movable connection between the lever 20 and the membrane 18 must therefore be provided.
    To this end, the vibration amplifying device 16 comprises translational guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane 18 arranged to allow said amplifying device 16 to follow the movement of the control member. transmission 28 on at least a part of the reading surface of the rotary member when said rotary member 13 performs more than one rotation, and movable coupling means between the amplification device 16 and the membrane 18 arranged to allow said amplification device 16 to remain linked to said membrane 18 during its movement.
    Advantageously, said means for guiding in translation of the amplification device comprise a support element 50 integral with the box 2 and along which the support 22 of the lever 20 can rest and slide in a plane parallel to the plane of the diaphragm 18. A spring 51 ensures that the support 22 rests well on the support element 50. The support element 50 can be mounted on the bezel 5 if the sound is generated on the dial or on the back 4 if the sound is generated on the back side, or even on the caseband. It is made of rigid material. It has a sufficient length to allow the support 22 to be guided over its entire movement.
    The movable coupling means comprise a fork 52 integral with the second end 20b of the lever and a pin 54 integral with the membrane 18 and comprising a groove 56 in which the two teeth 52a, 52b of the fork are housed. Thus, said fork 52 being in engagement with pin 54, more specifically in contact with the lateral faces of pin 54 in its groove 56, can slide on either side of said pin 54 in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane. 18, while being integral in translation with the pin 54 in the pivoting plane, by resting on the pin 54. Thus, a movement of the needle generated by the vibration of the needle in connection with the rotary element 13 and transmitted to the membrane 18 via the lever 20 actuated by said needle generates an amplified displacement of said membrane 18, so as to generate an amplified sound.
    Advantageously, the vibration amplifying device 16 comprises stabilizer arms 58 articulated integral with the lever 20. These arms 58 may be in the form of a pantograph, a top of the pantograph 58a being integral with the support 22 of the lever 20 and the opposite top 58b being integral with the box 2 (bezel, back or middle part) or with the movement of the wristwatch. The joints can advantageously be in the form of flexible ball joints 58c. Stops 58d can be provided to limit the movement of the pantograph.
    When the reading of the rotary element 13 is carried out over several turns, the wristwatch comprises a mechanism for bringing the transmission member 28 into an initial position corresponding to the start of the reading surface of the rotary element 13, before or simultaneously with the actuation of the means for actuating the means for driving said rotary element 13 in rotation. This feed mechanism cooperates for example with the latch or the push-button described above.
    The point of actuation of the lever 20 by the transmission member 28, the pivot point of the lever 20 and the point of connection of the lever 20 with the membrane 18 are positioned so that a movement of the member transmission 28 generated by the vibration of said transmission member 28 in connection with the rotary element 13 and transmitted to the membrane 18 by means of the lever 20 actuated by said transmission member 28 generates an amplified displacement of said membrane 18 by a mechanical lever arm effect, which generates amplified sound.
    Preferably, the flexible ball 24 is positioned on the center of mass of the transmission member / lever / membrane assembly.
    Preferably, the point of connection of the lever 20 with the membrane 18 is located at a distance from the center of said membrane 18 of less than 40%, preferably less than 20%, of the width of said membrane 18. In particular preferred, the point of connection of the lever 20 with the membrane 18 is located at the center of said membrane 18, in order to have a maximum lever arm effect.
    In another variant, provision can be made to position the connection point at the periphery of the membrane, by playing on the elasticity of the attachment point and the torsion of the membrane.
    In the case where the transmission member 28 and the lever 20 are moved, the rotary element 13 remaining in a fixed position, the decrease in the amplification of the sound due to the decrease in the arm effect of lever is compensated by having increased the amplitude of the vibration generated by the groove read by the transmission member 28.
    In order not to damage the rotary element 13 and / or the transmission member 28, a securing system is provided in the event of impacts.
    Advantageously, the vibration amplification device, and more particularly the support 22 of the lever 20 is isolated from the movement and from the frame. To this end, the support 22 of the lever 20 can be mounted on an element of the casing and more particularly on the bezel 5 if the sound is transmitted on the dial side, on the back 4, if the sound is transmitted through the back.
    The support 22 of the lever 20 can also be mounted on the movement, or even on the middle part 3, but via an insulating element, such as a polymer, in order to ensure the isolation of the support 22 from the movement, build and frame.
    When the support 22 of the lever 20 is mounted on one of the elements of the box (bezel 5, caseband 3, bottom 4), it is also possible to isolate the movement from the rest of the watch by providing a device of insulation on the movement, between the movement and said element of the box which carries the support 22 of the lever 20. Such an isolation device can be for example a brass ring associated with a flat seal or an insulation ring polyetheretherketone (PEEK) loaded with carbon. For example, in order to isolate the movement, the latter can be clamped on a PEEK insulating circle, itself screwed into the caseband.
    When the support 22 of the lever 20 is mounted on the bezel 5, respectively on the bottom 4, said bezel 5, respectively said bottom 4 can be assembled directly on the middle part 3 in a conventional manner. However, in order to ensure that no or little parasitic vibration will occur on the middle part 3 and therefore on the movement, said bezel 5, respectively said bottom 4 is assembled on the middle part 3 by means of an insulating element. , such as a polymer.
    The membrane 18 is mounted on the bottom 4, if the sound is transmitted through the bottom, or the bezel 5 if the sound is transmitted on the dial side. Thus, the membrane 18 is also isolated from the movement.
    As a result, the vibration amplifying device and the membrane are isolated from the movement and from the frame so that all the vibrations of the rotary element 13 recovered by the lever 20 are directed and transmitted to the membrane 18, without transmission to the movement, to the frame or to the caseband.
    The lever 20 is preferably made of a very light and very rigid material. For example, the lever 20 can be made of steel, titanium, aluminum, magnesium, composite material, carbon, glass, sapphire and ceramic.
    The membrane 18 must be able to vibrate freely. It is preferably made of a very light and rigid material in order to have a great dynamic response and not to deform during its movement. The membrane 18 is preferably made of a transparent material. For example, the membrane 18 can be made in the form of a plate, in sapphire, mineral glass, plexiglass, etc. Thus, the membrane 18 can be constituted by an internal crystal placed under the crystal 6 (or the crystal 7 if applicable). The membrane 18 can also be made of composite materials, cellulose, or composite glass of the safety glass type. It is obvious that the membrane 18 can also be made of a material that is not completely transparent, such as translucent or opaque materials, such as metallic glass, titanium, silicon, ceramic, carbon fiber composite, cellulose or kevlar.
    The membrane 18 must be as rigid and as light as possible. For this, its thickness is less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and more preferably less than 0.3 mm.
    Referring more specifically to Figure 6, the membrane 18 is preferably mounted on a suspension to allow it to vibrate freely while ensuring the seal. The suspension can be produced by means of a shaped seal arranged around the membrane 18 or an O-ring seal arranged at the periphery on either side of the membrane 18, between said membrane 18 and the bezel 5 (or bottom 4 if applicable). It is also possible to structure the membrane 18 to improve its flexibility, for example by means of grooves 38 provided at the periphery of the membrane 18. It is also possible to vary the thickness of the membrane 18.
    Advantageously, the wristwatch further comprises a compression chamber 40 arranged to amplify the sound which has been generated by the displacement of the membrane, by being already amplified a first time, before its output towards the 'outside.
    The compression chamber 40 is closed by a wall disposed downstream of the membrane 18 and having at least one opening 42 directed towards the outside of the part. The dimensions of the opening 42 are chosen with respect to the surface of the membrane 18 as a function of the desired amplification of the sound.
    Preferably, when the membrane 18 is placed on the bezel (or the bottom 4), said wall is formed by the glass 6 (or the glass 7). Said glass 6 or 7 must be resistant and scratchproof. It is preferably made of sapphire.
    The wall disposed downstream of the membrane 18 makes it possible to generate a certain volume of air in the compression chamber 40. The displacement of the membrane 18 generates compression of this air. The ratio between the surface of the membrane 18 in movement defining the volume of air and the size of the openings will make it possible to generate a second amplification of the sound.
    The opening 42 can be in different forms: hole in the center of the wall, here the mirror 6, several side holes, a multitude of micro-holes, etc. The shape of the outlet opening can be conical to further amplify the sound. Advantageously, the opening 42 may be in the form of one or more longitudinal grooves extending around the middle part, parallel to the plane of the movement, and obtained by leaving a space, for example between the bottom 4 and the middle part 3 if the membrane 18 is placed on the bottom 4, as shown in FIG. 10. Such lateral openings 42 advantageously make it possible to redirect the sound generated by the membrane 18 onto the arm of the wearer of the wristwatch, giving to the wearer the sensation of an even more amplified sound.
    Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the wristwatch advantageously comprises means 44 of modular closure of the opening 42 of the compression chamber 40 arranged to be able to adjust the volume of sound generated by the membrane 18. These closure means 44 are arranged to be able to be moved between a closed position in which the opening 42 is fully closed and an open position in which the opening 42 is maximum, the intermediate positions making it possible to plug more or less l opening 42 to adjust the sound volume. For example, when the opening 42 is lateral, the closure means 44 may comprise a rotary element such as a ring, mounted in rotation on the bezel 5 (or the base 4 if applicable), and arranged to rotate between a closed position in which the opening 42 is completely plugged, as shown in Figure 8, and an open position in which the opening 42 is maximum, as shown in Figure 9.
    Advantageously, the opening 42 can be protected by a filter permeable to air and impermeable to water, in order to prevent impurities from entering the compression chamber 40. Such filters are known to those skilled in the art.
    Advantageously, and with reference to FIG. 10 in which the devices and the membrane are arranged on the bottom side, the sound being generated on the bottom side, the wristwatch can include a mechanism for closing the opening 42 of the compression chamber 40 arranged to close said opening 42 once the sound has been generated, for example outside the ringing time. Such a mechanism makes it possible to limit the entry of impurities when the vibration generator device is not in use. In particular, when the opening 42 is lateral, the closing mechanism may comprise a closing member 46, such as a ring, controlled by the striking mechanism so as to close the opening 42 automatically once the ringing has ended. Such a mechanism is described for example in patent CH 704 940 incorporated by reference.
    When the membrane 18 is placed on the bottom 4 and the sound is generated on the bottom side, it is also possible to provide a reflector, arranged to allow the generated sound to rise on the side of the watch. Such a reflector is for example positioned on the outside of the case back, and has outer conical walls surrounding the case back and directed towards the watch.
    The wristwatch according to the invention makes it possible, by means of the rotary element comprising engraved grooves, to generate combinations of several sounds, and preferably over a period of several seconds to several minutes, making it possible to reproduce a piece of music, or lyrics, in the restricted volume of a mechanical wristwatch.
    In addition, the wristwatch according to the invention allows a significant amplification of the sound: the ratio of the first amplification carried out by means of the lever 20 is of the order of 10 to 16. In addition, due to of the ratio between the moving surface of the membrane 18 and the opening 42 (surface ratio of 20 to 30), the ratio of the second amplification is of the order of 1.5. The ratio of the total amplification achieved by the watch according to the invention is such that a sound greater than 80 dB can be obtained, or even 90 dB, compared to a standard minute repeater sound of 60 dB.
    In addition, the construction and the mounting of the amplification device make it possible to isolate the rotary element and the diaphragm from the movement, from the frame and from the middle part, so that all the vibrations are directed onto the diaphragm by means of of the lever without going through the movement. Little or no parasitic sound is therefore produced, generally linked to the vibrations of the components of the movement.
    In addition, the amplification device with the membrane being integral with the bottom or the bezel, it is possible to easily access the movement after only removing the bottom, respectively the bezel.
    Finally, the construction of the amplification device with the membrane is such that the tightness of the box has no impact on the sound volume, unlike all the other principles of minute repeats, for example. In fact, the membrane with its suspension makes the system watertight with the exception of the compression chamber 40. The latter can be made watertight by a filter system.
    According to another aspect, the present invention relates more generally to a mechanical timepiece 1 comprising a case 2 having a caseband 3, a back 4 and a bezel 5, a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound. mechanically, housed in said box 2, a device 16 for mechanically amplifying the vibrations generated by said vibration generating device and a membrane 18 arranged to receive said mechanically amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the timepiece, the vibration generator device being a rotary element 13 comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove 15 formed of several helical turns arranged to generate sounds and extending over said reading surface. Said timepiece comprises means for driving the rotary element 13 in rotation, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element 13 in rotation, and a transmission member 28 arranged to cooperate with the 'rotary member 13 for transmitting to the amplifying device 16 the vibrations generated by the grooves 15 during the rotation of said rotary member 13, the transmission member 28 and the rotary member 13 being arranged to be movable relative to one another to the other so that the transmission member 28 moves over at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member 13 when said rotary member 13 performs more than one rotation.
    Advantageously, the vibration amplifying device 16 comprises translational guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane 18 arranged to allow said amplifying device 16 to follow the movement of the transmission member 28 on at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member 13 when said rotary member 13 performs more than one rotation, and movable coupling means between the amplifying device 16 and the membrane 18 arranged to allow said amplification device 16 to remain linked to said membrane 18 during its displacement.
    Advantageously, the vibration amplifying device 16 comprises a lever 20 having a first end 20a pivotally mounted on a support 22 in a pivot plane not parallel to the plane of the membrane 18 and integral with the transmission member 28 so as to be able to be actuated by said transmission member 28 in order to transmit to the lever 20 the vibrations generated by the rotary element 13, said means for guiding in translation of the amplification device comprise a support element 50 integral with of the box 2 and along which the support 22 of the lever 20 can rest and slide in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane 18. The mobile coupling means comprise a fork 52 integral with the second end 20b of the lever 20 and a pin 54 integral with the membrane 18, said fork 52 being engaged with the pin 54 to slide on either side of said pin 54 in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane 18 By being integral in translation with the pin 54 in the pivot plane. Thus, a movement of the needle generated by the vibration of the needle in connection with the rotary element 13 and transmitted to the membrane 18 by means of the lever 20 actuated by said needle generates an amplified movement of said membrane 18, so as to generate amplified sound.
    Advantageously, the device 16 for amplifying the vibrations comprises stabilizer arms 58 articulated integral with the lever 20.
    The timepiece further comprises a mechanism for bringing the transmission member 28 into an initial position corresponding to the start of the reading surface of the rotary member 13, before or simultaneously with the actuation of the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation 13.
    The transmission member is advantageously a needle arranged to follow the grooves 15 of the rotary element 13, said needle being integral with the device 16 for amplifying the vibrations.
    Preferably, the rotary element 13 is a flat disc or a cylinder. It may be a flat disc arranged to constitute a dial for said timepiece.
    Advantageously, the grooves 15 provided on the rotating element are arranged to generate sounds in the form of words or music.
    Advantageously, the timepiece comprises a compression chamber 40 arranged to amplify the sound which has been generated by the displacement of the membrane 18, before its exit to the outside. Said compression chamber 40 can be closed by a wall disposed downstream of the membrane 18 and having at least one opening 42, the dimensions of which are chosen with respect to the surface of the membrane 18 as a function of the desired amplification of the sound.
    The construction details and the advantages of the wristwatch according to the first aspect of the invention, in particular the details concerning the vibration amplifying device, the translational guide means and the mobile coupling means , apply in a similar manner to the timepiece according to the second aspect of the invention.
    权利要求:
    Claims (26)
    [1]
    1. Mechanical wristwatch (1) comprising a case (2) having a caseband (3), a back (4) and a bezel (5), a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said box (2), a device (16) for amplifying the vibrations generated by said vibration generator device and a membrane (18) arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the watch- bracelet, characterized in that the vibration generating device is a rotating element (13) comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove (15) arranged to generate sounds, and in that the wristwatch (1) comprises means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation, and a transmission member (28) arranged to cooperate with the rotating element (13) to transmit to the amplification device ( 16) the vibrations generated by the groove during a rotational movement of said rotary element (13).
    [2]
    2. Wristwatch according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation comprise a spring and a mechanism for winding said spring.
    [3]
    3. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a regulator arranged to control the speed of rotation of the rotary element (13).
    [4]
    4. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element in rotation (13) comprise a lock, a pusher or a linked latching mechanism. at a predetermined time and cooperating with a watch movement.
    [5]
    5. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises a lever (20) pivotally mounted on a support (22) in a pivot plane not parallel to the plane. of the membrane (18) and arranged to be actuated by the transmission member (28) to transmit to said lever (20) the vibrations, said lever (20) also being integral with the membrane (18) at least in translation in the pivot plane so that a displacement of the transmission member (28) generated by the vibration of said transmission member (28) in connection with the rotary member (13) and transmitted to the diaphragm (18) by the intermediary of the lever (20) actuated by said transmission member (28) generates an amplified displacement of said membrane (18), so as to generate an amplified sound.
    [6]
    6. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a compression chamber (40) arranged to amplify the sound which has been generated by the displacement of the membrane (18), before its exit towards outside.
    [7]
    7. Wristwatch according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the compression chamber (40) is closed by a wall disposed downstream of the membrane (18) and having at least one opening (42) whose dimensions are chosen by relative to the surface of the membrane (18) as a function of the desired amplification of the sound.
    [8]
    8. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary element (13) comprises at least one groove (15) of several helical turns extending over its reading surface and in that the transmission member (28) and the rotary member (13) are arranged to be movable relative to each other so that the transmission member (28) moves over at least part of the surface of reading the rotary member (13) when said rotary member (13) performs more than one rotation.
    [9]
    9. Wristwatch according to claim 8, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises guide means in translation in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane (18) arranged to allow said device (16). ) amplifying to follow the movement of the transmission member (28) over at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member (13) when said rotary member (13) performs more than one rotation, and movable coupling means between the amplification device (16) and the membrane (18) arranged to allow said amplification device (16) to remain linked to said membrane (18) during its movement.
    [10]
    10. Wristwatch according to claim 9, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises a lever (20) having a first end (20a) pivotally mounted on a support (22) in a pivot plane. not parallel to the plane of the membrane (18) and integral with the transmission member (28), in that said means for guiding in translation of the amplification device comprise a support element (50) integral with the box ( 2) and along which the support (22) of the lever (20) can rest and slide in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane, and in that the movable coupling means comprise a fork (52) integral with 'a second end (20b) of the lever (20) and a pin (54) integral with the membrane (18), said fork (52) being engaged with the pin (54) to slide on either side of said pin (54) in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane (18) while being integral in translation with the pin (54) in the plane pivot.
    [11]
    11. Wristwatch according to claim 10, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises stabilizing arms (58) articulated integral with the lever (20).
    [12]
    12. Wristwatch according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for bringing the transmission member (28) into an initial position corresponding to the start of the reading surface of the 'rotary element (13), before or simultaneously with the actuation of the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation.
    [13]
    13. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission member (28) is a hand arranged to follow at least one groove (15) of the rotary element (13), said hand being integral with the vibration amplification device (16).
    [14]
    14. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary element (13) is a flat disc or a cylinder.
    [15]
    15. Wristwatch according to claim 14, characterized in that the rotary element (13) is a flat disc arranged to constitute a dial for said wristwatch.
    [16]
    16. Wristwatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove (15) provided on the rotating element is arranged to generate sounds in the form of words or music.
    [17]
    17. Mechanical timepiece (1) comprising a case (2) having a caseband (3), a back (4) and a bezel (5), a device for generating vibrations intended to produce at least one sound, housed in said box (2), a device (16) for amplifying the vibrations generated by said vibration generator device and a membrane (18) arranged to receive said amplified vibrations and generate sound from the inside to the outside of the room timepiece, characterized in that the vibration generating device is a rotating element (13) comprising a reading surface comprising at least one groove (15) of several helical turns arranged to generate sounds and extending over said surface of reading, and in that the timepiece comprises means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation, means for actuating said means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation, and a transmission member (28) arranged to co operate with the rotary element (13) to transmit to the amplifying device (16) the vibrations generated by the grooves (15) during the rotation of said rotary element (13), the transmission member (28) and the rotating element (13) being arranged to be movable relative to one another so that the transmission member (28) moves over at least part of the reading surface of the rotating element (13) when said rotating member (13) performs more than one rotation.
    [18]
    18. Timepiece according to claim 17, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises guide means in translation in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane (18) arranged to enable said device ( 16) amplification to follow the movement of the transmission member (28) over at least part of the reading surface of the rotary member (13) when said rotary member (13) performs more than one rotation, and movable coupling means between the amplification device (16) and the membrane (18) arranged to allow said amplification device (16) to remain linked to said membrane (18) during its displacement.
    [19]
    19. Timepiece according to claim 18, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises a lever (20) having a first end (20a) pivotally mounted on a support (22) in a plane of pivoting not parallel to the plane of the diaphragm (18) and integral with the transmission member (28), in that said means for guiding the amplification device in translation comprise a support element (50) integral with the box (2) and along which the support (22) of the lever (20) can rest and slide in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane (18), and in that the movable coupling means comprise a fork (52) integral with the second end (20b) of the lever (20) and a pin (54) integral with the membrane (18), said fork (52) being engaged with the pin (54) to slide on either side 'other of said pin (54) in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane (18) being integral in translation with the pin (54) d in the pivot plane.
    [20]
    20. Timepiece according to claim 19, characterized in that the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations comprises stabilizing arms (58) articulated integral with the lever (20).
    [21]
    21. Timepiece according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for bringing the transmission member (28) into an initial position corresponding to the start of the reading surface of the rotary element (13), before or simultaneously with the actuation of the means for actuating the means for driving the rotary element (13) in rotation.
    [22]
    22. Timepiece according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that the transmission member (28) is a needle arranged to follow the grooves (15) of the rotary element (13), said needle being integral with the device (16) for amplifying the vibrations.
    [23]
    23. Timepiece according to one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that the rotary element (13) is a flat disc or a cylinder.
    [24]
    24. Timepiece according to one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that the grooves (15) provided on the rotating element (13) are arranged to generate sounds in the form of words or music.
    [25]
    25. Timepiece according to one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that it comprises a compression chamber (40) arranged to amplify the sound which has been generated by the displacement of the membrane (18), before its exit to the outside.
    [26]
    26. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the compression chamber (40) is closed by a wall disposed downstream of the membrane (18) and having at least one opening (42) the dimensions of which are chosen. relative to the surface of the membrane (18) as a function of the desired sound amplification.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2021078972A1|2021-04-29|
    EP3812845A1|2021-04-28|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    CH4918A|1892-02-21|1892-09-30|Casimir Sivan|A repeater watch speaking the time instead of ringing it, called: Sivan talking watch|
    FR990766A|1949-05-07|1951-09-26|Speaking or sound acoustic mechanism, its various applications and resulting articles|
    CH294406A|1951-09-22|1953-11-15|Baillod John Ulysse|Device for making audible the vibrations of the needle of a sound-emitting device mounted in the case of a clock.|
    CH704940B1|2008-02-14|2012-11-15|Patek Philippe Sa Geneve|ringing timepiece.|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    EP19205441.9A|EP3812845A1|2019-10-25|2019-10-25|Timepiece generating sounds|
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