EP0807872A1 - Assembly including a watch-case made of hard plastic and at least one pushbutton and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Assembly including a watch-case made of hard plastic and at least one pushbutton and method of manufacturing the same Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0807872A1
EP0807872A1 EP97107770A EP97107770A EP0807872A1 EP 0807872 A1 EP0807872 A1 EP 0807872A1 EP 97107770 A EP97107770 A EP 97107770A EP 97107770 A EP97107770 A EP 97107770A EP 0807872 A1 EP0807872 A1 EP 0807872A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
box
rod
head
flexible
flexible head
Prior art date
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Granted
Application number
EP97107770A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0807872B1 (en
Inventor
Jacques Müller
Rolf Widmer
Clément Meyrat
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Swatch Group Management Services AG
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SMH Management Services AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/08—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits
    • G04B37/10—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits of winding stems
    • G04B37/106—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits of winding stems of push buttons

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an assembly comprising a watch case made of hard plastic and at least one pusher having a rod and a flexible head projecting outside the box, the rod extending from the head through an opening. lateral of the box, the flexible head being integral with the rod and the box and sealingly closing said opening.
  • the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an assembly.
  • Pushers of this kind generally have a short stroke, which primarily means that they control an electrical contact in an electronic watch, for example a chronograph or a multifunction watch, but one can also envisage their application to a movement watch. mechanical.
  • Patent publication GB 2 077 506 describes a watch case having pushers of this kind, except that the rod does not completely or not pass through the opening of the case.
  • the rod and the outer head of the pusher are made in one piece molded from hard plastic.
  • the head has a wall which is thin enough to be slightly flexible, thus allowing a short longitudinal stroke of the rod and serving as a return spring.
  • the free end of the rod carries a conductive rubber plate which, when the pusher is pressed, is applied to two fixed contacts to connect them electrically.
  • the periphery of the flexible head is in the form of a cylindrical skirt which, in a first embodiment of the pusher, is glued in leaktight manner against the wall of the opening of the box.
  • the molded part is made in one piece with the box, the skirt connecting directly to the box around the opening.
  • Such a pusher head must have a large enough diameter for the head to be flexible. This is possible in the case of the cited document because the pushers are located on an upper face of the box. By cons they could not be on the side wall of a wristwatch (the part called the middle part), because the height of this wall is generally very limited. In addition, repeated bending of the flexible hard plastic head over time risks detaching or cracking the skirt, thus affecting the seal and the operation of the pusher.
  • the present invention aims to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, by means of a pusher economically feasible by a molding process and in such a way that the pusher can be on the middle of a wristwatch.
  • the invention relates to an assembly of the kind indicated above, characterized in that the flexible head is made of an elastomeric material and is fixed in leaktight manner to an outer surface of the box around the opening.
  • the elastomeric material of the flexible head owing to the fact that it is very elastically deformable and fixed on an external surface of the box and not in the opening, makes it possible to produce a relatively narrow pusher in the direction of the thickness of the watch, so on the outside of the middle as in traditional chronograph watches with metal pushers.
  • the elastomer head can advantageously be molded hot on the box, as will be described later, which ensures a solid and durable bond between the elastomeric material and the plastic of the box.
  • the elastomer head also has the advantage of absorbing accidental impact on the pusher, thus avoiding causing damage to the interior of the watch.
  • the rod can be made of a hard plastic material and in particular of the same plastic material as the box, which makes it possible to mold it at the same time as the box.
  • the rod can be in one piece with the box, being connected to it on one side by a flexible part, or on the contrary being separated from the box by being connected to the latter only by the elastomer head.
  • the rod can be made of elastomeric material and be made in one piece with the flexible head.
  • a so-called "bi-material” injection molding process is thus used, which is particularly efficient and economical because it uses only one mold for the production of the watch case and the push button (s) fitted therewith. In addition, this process ensures integrity of each push rod relative to the box and therefore to the movement.
  • the push rod is made of the same plastic material as the box and is molded during step (I).
  • the push rod is made of the same elastomeric material as the flexible head and is molded during step (III).
  • FIGS 1 and 2 schematically show a wristwatch box 2 of hard thermoplastic material such as ABS or the like.
  • the box 2 comprises a bottom 3 and a middle part 4 on which are provided in the present case two lateral pushers 5.
  • One or more other pushers can be provided on the opposite side of the box.
  • the box 2 defines a circular central cavity 6 in which will take place, in a conventional manner, a clockwork movement, display means and possibly other members, in particular electronic modules.
  • a control rod (not shown) may be provided through the middle part 4, in particular between the two pushers 5 shown.
  • these are identical or symmetrical to each other and act along respective axes 7 directed towards the center 8 of the box.
  • Each pusher 5 mainly consists of an elongated rod 10, preferably having a cylindrical, slightly conical or prismatic shape oriented along the axis 7 in a lateral opening 11 of the middle part 4, and a flexible head 12 protruding outside the box 2.
  • the head 12 here has an outer surface 13 in the form of an elongated bell, which smoothly connects to the adjacent outer surface of the box 2.
  • the head 12 is made of a relatively soft elastomeric material, hot injection molded so as to bond both to a first end 14 of the rod 10 and to an outer surface portion 15 of the box 2 which surrounds the opening 11.
  • the surface portion 15 is preferably recessed to provide a sufficient thickness of the elastomeric material around the periphery of the head 12.
  • the elastomeric head 12 and the connection between the two materials on the surface portion 15 guarantees issent the tightness of the box in the area of the opening 11.
  • the end 14 of the rod 10 may have projecting parts embedded in the elastomeric material in order to strengthen its connection with the head 12.
  • the rod 10 is linked to the box 2 by a flexible part 16 in the form of a band extending in the opening 11 and serving as a return spring for the pusher, in cooperation with the elastic return provided by the flexible head 12.
  • a thin lateral clearance 17 is provided around the outer end 14 of the rod 10, except on the side of the flexible part 16, against which the head can s 'to press.
  • the second end of the rod 10 has a front bearing surface 18 which can have any shape suitable for cooperating with the element of the movement which it has to push, for example an electrical contact element or a moving mechanical part.
  • a flexible metal strip (not shown) fixed to the box 2 can be interposed between the front surface 18 and the movement to protect the plastic material of the rod 10.
  • the deformation of the flexible head 12 and of the flexible part 16 causes a stroke C of the rod 10 up to an active position shown in phantom.
  • the rod is returned to the rest position by the elasticity of the material.
  • Its front surface 18 can advantageously then be located near a peripheral inner surface 20 of the cavity 6, which facilitates the mounting of the movement.
  • the construction described above has the advantage of being able to be manufactured by a so-called "bimaterial" injection molding process, that is to say that a single mold is used in which two different materials are successively injected.
  • the mold is provided with a part which takes the place of the flexible head 12 and the hard plastic material is injected therein forming the box 2 with the rod 10 and the flexible part 16.
  • replacing said part of the mold in order to mold the flexible head 12 and the elastomeric material is injected into this region, which binds hot to the rod 10 and to the surface 15 of the box 2.
  • the manufacturing process is inexpensive, it is therefore easy to manufacture boxes having different numbers of pushers, or also to use a box having for example four pushers with a movement needing only three pushers, if this is justified for economic or aesthetic reasons.
  • FIG. 3 represents a variant of the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2, the difference being that the rod 10 is separated from the box 2, to which it is only connected by the flexible head 12 made of elastomer.
  • the opening 11 of the box simply has a cylindrical shape, completely surrounds the rod 10 and is extended by the clearance 17 of annular shape.
  • the rod 10 is made of the same hard plastic as the box 2, this construction can be manufactured by the same process as in the previous example.
  • the rod 10 is made of another material, either by prefabrication or by injection into the same mold.
  • the push-button is returned only by the elasticity of the elastomeric material of the head 12.
  • the rod 10 of the pusher 5 is made of the same elastomeric material as the flexible head 12, to which it is connected by its first end 14, the pusher being thus made of a single piece.
  • the rod 10 may have any suitable cross section, in particular a cross section in the present case.
  • the “two-material” injection method described above can be used, by successively injecting the hard plastic material of the box 2, then the elastomeric material of the pusher 5, in the same mold.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)

Abstract

The case (2) is made of hard thermoplastic with a ring (4) on which two or more preferably identical pushbuttons (5) are provided, their axes (7) intersecting at the centre (8) of the case. Each pushbutton comprises a short rod (10) of the same material and a flexible elastomeric head (12) moulded on to the outside (15) of the ring. The head has an outer surface (13) in the shape of an elongated bell which merges smoothly into the surface of the ring. It is formed by hot injection moulding over the outer end (14) of the rod, leaving a narrow space (17) around it to facilitate flexure.

Description

La présente invention concerne un ensemble comprenant une boîte de montre en matière plastique dure et au moins un poussoir ayant une tige et une tête flexible saillante à l'extérieur de la boîte, la tige s'étendant à partir de la tête à travers une ouverture latérale de la boîte, la tête flexible étant solidaire de la tige et de la boîte et obturant de manière étanche ladite ouverture.The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a watch case made of hard plastic and at least one pusher having a rod and a flexible head projecting outside the box, the rod extending from the head through an opening. lateral of the box, the flexible head being integral with the rod and the box and sealingly closing said opening.

L'invention concerne également un procédé de fabrication d'un tel ensemble.The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an assembly.

Les poussoirs de ce genre ont généralement une faible course, ce qui les destine avant tout à commander un contact électrique dans une montre électronique, par exemple un chronographe ou une montre à fonctions multiples, mais on peut aussi envisager leur application à une montre à mouvement mécanique.Pushers of this kind generally have a short stroke, which primarily means that they control an electrical contact in an electronic watch, for example a chronograph or a multifunction watch, but one can also envisage their application to a movement watch. mechanical.

La publication de brevet GB 2 077 506 décrit une boîte de montre ayant des poussoirs de ce genre, sauf que la tige ne traverse pas complètement ou pas du tout l'ouverture de la boîte. La tige et la tête extérieure du poussoir sont faites d'une seule pièce moulée en matière plastique dure. La tête a une paroi assez mince pour être légèrement flexible, pour permettre ainsi une faible course longitudinale de la tige et servir de ressort de rappel. L'extrémité libre de la tige porte une plaquette de caoutchouc conducteur qui, lorsqu'on presse le poussoir, s'applique sur deux contacts fixes pour les relier électriquement. La périphérie de la tête flexible est en forme de jupe cylindrique qui, dans une première forme de réalisation du poussoir, est collée de manière étanche contre la paroi de l'ouverture de la boîte. Dans une autre forme de réalisation, la pièce moulée est faite d'une pièce avec la boîte, la jupe se raccordant directement à la boîte autour de l'ouverture.Patent publication GB 2 077 506 describes a watch case having pushers of this kind, except that the rod does not completely or not pass through the opening of the case. The rod and the outer head of the pusher are made in one piece molded from hard plastic. The head has a wall which is thin enough to be slightly flexible, thus allowing a short longitudinal stroke of the rod and serving as a return spring. The free end of the rod carries a conductive rubber plate which, when the pusher is pressed, is applied to two fixed contacts to connect them electrically. The periphery of the flexible head is in the form of a cylindrical skirt which, in a first embodiment of the pusher, is glued in leaktight manner against the wall of the opening of the box. In another embodiment, the molded part is made in one piece with the box, the skirt connecting directly to the box around the opening.

Une telle tête de poussoir doit avoir un assez grand diamètre pour que la tête soit flexible. Ceci est possible dans le cas du document cité parce que les poussoirs se trouvent sur une face supérieure de la boîte. Par contre ils ne pourraient pas se trouver sur la paroi latérale d'une montre-bracelet (la partie appelée la carrure), parce que la hauteur de cette paroi est généralement très limitée. Par ailleurs, les flexions répétées de la tête flexible en matière plastique dur risquent à la longue de décoller la jupe ou de la fissurer, affectant ainsi l'étanchéité et le fonctionnement du poussoir.Such a pusher head must have a large enough diameter for the head to be flexible. This is possible in the case of the cited document because the pushers are located on an upper face of the box. By cons they could not be on the side wall of a wristwatch (the part called the middle part), because the height of this wall is generally very limited. In addition, repeated bending of the flexible hard plastic head over time risks detaching or cracking the skirt, thus affecting the seal and the operation of the pusher.

La présente invention vise à éviter les inconvénients susmentionnés, grâce à un poussoir réalisable économiquement par un procédé de moulage et de telle façon que le poussoir puisse se trouver sur la carrure d'une montre-bracelet.The present invention aims to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, by means of a pusher economically feasible by a molding process and in such a way that the pusher can be on the middle of a wristwatch.

Sous un premier aspect, l'invention concerne un ensemble du genre indiqué plus haut, caractérisé en ce que la tête flexible est faite d'une matière élastomère et est fixée de manière étanche sur une surface extérieure de la boîte autour de l'ouverture.In a first aspect, the invention relates to an assembly of the kind indicated above, characterized in that the flexible head is made of an elastomeric material and is fixed in leaktight manner to an outer surface of the box around the opening.

La matière élastomère de la tête flexible, du fait qu'elle est très déformable élastiquement et fixée sur une surface extérieure de la boîte et non pas dans l'ouverture, permet de réaliser un poussoir relativement étroit dans la direction de l'épaisseur de la montre, donc sur l'extérieur de la carrure comme dans les montreschronographes traditionnelles à poussoirs métalliques. De plus, la tête en élastomère peut avantageusement être surmoulée à chaud sur la boîte, comme on le décrira plus loin, ce qui assure une liaison solide et durable entre la matière élastomère et la matière plastique de la boîte. La tête en élastomère a aussi l'avantage d'amortir des chocs accidentels sur le poussoir, évitant ainsi de causer des dommages à l'intérieur de la montre.The elastomeric material of the flexible head, owing to the fact that it is very elastically deformable and fixed on an external surface of the box and not in the opening, makes it possible to produce a relatively narrow pusher in the direction of the thickness of the watch, so on the outside of the middle as in traditional chronograph watches with metal pushers. In addition, the elastomer head can advantageously be molded hot on the box, as will be described later, which ensures a solid and durable bond between the elastomeric material and the plastic of the box. The elastomer head also has the advantage of absorbing accidental impact on the pusher, thus avoiding causing damage to the interior of the watch.

La tige peut être faite d'une matière plastique dure et notamment de la même matière plastique que la boîte, ce qui permet de la mouler en même temps que la boîte. La tige peut être d'une pièce avec la boîte, en lui étant liée d'un côté par une partie flexible, ou au contraire être séparée de la boîte en étant reliée à celle-ci uniquement par la tête en élastomère.The rod can be made of a hard plastic material and in particular of the same plastic material as the box, which makes it possible to mold it at the same time as the box. The rod can be in one piece with the box, being connected to it on one side by a flexible part, or on the contrary being separated from the box by being connected to the latter only by the elastomer head.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation, la tige peut être en matière élastomère et être faite d'une pièce avec la tête flexible.In another embodiment, the rod can be made of elastomeric material and be made in one piece with the flexible head.

Un autre aspect de l'invention concerne un procédé de fabrication d'un ensemble comprenant une boîte de montre en matière plastique dure et au moins un poussoir ayant une tige et une tête flexible saillante à l'extérieur de la boîte, la tige s'étendant à partir de la tête à travers une ouverture latérale de la boîte, la tête flexible étant solidaire de la tige et de la boîte et obturant de manière étanche ladite ouverture, le procédé étant caractérisé en ce que la tête flexible est moulée par injection d'une matière élastomère qui se lie de manière étanche à une surface extérieure de la boîte autour de l'ouverture, et en ce que le procédé comporte les étapes suivantes :

  • (I) injection de la matière plastique dans un moule pour former au moins la boîte,
  • (II) modification d'une partie du moule dans la région de la tête du poussoir, et
  • (III) injection de la matière élastomère dans ladite partie du moule pour former au moins la tête flexible de façon que celle-ci soit liée à chaud à ladite surface extérieure de la boîte.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an assembly comprising a hard plastic watch case and at least one pusher having a rod and a flexible head projecting outside the box, the rod s' extending from the head through a lateral opening of the box, the flexible head being integral with the rod and the box and sealingly sealing said opening, the method being characterized in that the flexible head is injection molded '' an elastomeric material which binds tightly to an external surface of the box around the opening, and in that the method comprises the following stages:
  • (I) injecting the plastic material into a mold to form at least the box,
  • (II) modification of part of the mold in the region of the pusher head, and
  • (III) injection of the elastomeric material into said part of the mold to form at least the flexible head so that it is hot bonded to said outer surface of the box.

On utilise ainsi un procédé de moulage par injection dit "bimatière", particulièrement performant et économique parce qu'il n'utilise qu'un seul moule pour la réalisation de la boîte de montre et du ou des poussoirs équipant celle-ci. De plus, ce procédé assure un positionnement impeccable de chaque tige de poussoir par rapport à la boîte et donc au mouvement.A so-called "bi-material" injection molding process is thus used, which is particularly efficient and economical because it uses only one mold for the production of the watch case and the push button (s) fitted therewith. In addition, this process ensures impeccable positioning of each push rod relative to the box and therefore to the movement.

Dans une forme particulière du procédé, la tige du poussoir est faite de la même matière plastique que la boîte et est moulée au cours de l'étape (I).In one particular form of the method, the push rod is made of the same plastic material as the box and is molded during step (I).

Dans une autre forme du procédé, la tige du poussoir est faite de la même matière élastomère que la tête flexible et est moulée au cours de l'étape (III).In another form of the process, the push rod is made of the same elastomeric material as the flexible head and is molded during step (III).

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront dans la description suivante de différents exemples de réalisation, présentés à titre non limitatif en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels:

  • la figure 1 est une vue frontale partielle d'une boîte de montre en plastique, partiellement coupée dans la zone d'un poussoir, dans une première forme de réalisation de l'invention;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne II-II de la figure 1;
  • la figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, pour une deuxième forme de réalisation de l'invention, et
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe partielle illustrant encore une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of various exemplary embodiments, presented without implied limitation with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a partial front view of a plastic watch case, partially cut in the area of a pusher, in a first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, for a second embodiment of the invention, and
  • Figure 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention.

Les figures 1 et 2 montrent schématiquement une boîte de montre-bracelet 2 en matière thermoplastique dure telle que l'ABS ou analogue. La boîte 2 comprend un fond 3 et une carrure 4 sur laquelle sont prévus dans le cas présent deux poussoirs latéraux 5. Un ou plusieurs autres poussoirs peuvent être prévus sur le côté opposé de la boîte. La boîte 2 définit une cavité centrale circulaire 6 dans laquelle prendront place, de manière classique, un mouvement d'horlogerie, des moyens d'affichage et éventuellement d'autres organes, en particulier des modules électroniques. Une tige de commande (non-représentée) peut être prévue à travers la carrure 4, notamment entre les deux poussoirs 5 représentés. De préférence, ceux-ci sont identiques ou symétriques l'un de l'autre et agissent suivant des axes respectifs 7 dirigés vers le centre 8 de la boîte.Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a wristwatch box 2 of hard thermoplastic material such as ABS or the like. The box 2 comprises a bottom 3 and a middle part 4 on which are provided in the present case two lateral pushers 5. One or more other pushers can be provided on the opposite side of the box. The box 2 defines a circular central cavity 6 in which will take place, in a conventional manner, a clockwork movement, display means and possibly other members, in particular electronic modules. A control rod (not shown) may be provided through the middle part 4, in particular between the two pushers 5 shown. Preferably, these are identical or symmetrical to each other and act along respective axes 7 directed towards the center 8 of the box.

Chaque poussoir 5 selon les figures 1 et 2 se compose principalement d'une tige allongée 10, ayant de préférence une forme cylindrique, légèrement conique ou prismatique orientée suivant l'axe 7 dans une ouverture latérale 11 de la carrure 4, et une tête flexible 12 saillante à l'extérieur de la boîte 2. La tête 12 a ici une surface extérieure 13 en forme de cloche allongée, qui se raccorde de manière lisse à la surface extérieure adjacente de la boîte 2. La tête 12 est faite d'une matière élastomère relativement molle, moulée par injection à chaud de façon à se lier à la fois à une première extrémité 14 de la tige 10 et à une portion de surface extérieure 15 de la boîte 2 qui entoure l'ouverture 11. La portion de surface 15 est de préférence en creux pour ménager une épaisseur suffisante de la matière élastomère sur le pourtour de la tête 12. La tête en élastomère 12 et la liaison entre les deux matières sur la portion de surface 15 garantissent l'étanchéité de la boîte dans la zone de l'ouverture 11. L'extrémité 14 de la tige 10 peut présenter des parties saillantes noyées dans la matière élastomère afin de renforcer sa liaison avec la tête 12.Each pusher 5 according to Figures 1 and 2 mainly consists of an elongated rod 10, preferably having a cylindrical, slightly conical or prismatic shape oriented along the axis 7 in a lateral opening 11 of the middle part 4, and a flexible head 12 protruding outside the box 2. The head 12 here has an outer surface 13 in the form of an elongated bell, which smoothly connects to the adjacent outer surface of the box 2. The head 12 is made of a relatively soft elastomeric material, hot injection molded so as to bond both to a first end 14 of the rod 10 and to an outer surface portion 15 of the box 2 which surrounds the opening 11. The surface portion 15 is preferably recessed to provide a sufficient thickness of the elastomeric material around the periphery of the head 12. The elastomeric head 12 and the connection between the two materials on the surface portion 15 guarantees issent the tightness of the box in the area of the opening 11. The end 14 of the rod 10 may have projecting parts embedded in the elastomeric material in order to strengthen its connection with the head 12.

Dans l'exemple de la figure 1, la tige 10 est liée à la boîte 2 par une partie flexible 16 en forme de bande s'étendant dans l'ouverture 11 et servant de ressort de rappel du poussoir, en coopération avec le rappel élastique assuré par la tête flexible 12. Pour faciliter la flexion de la tête 12, un mince dégagement latéral 17 est prévu autour de l'extrémité extérieure 14 de la tige 10, sauf du côté de la partie flexible 16, contre laquelle la tête peut s'appuyer.In the example of FIG. 1, the rod 10 is linked to the box 2 by a flexible part 16 in the form of a band extending in the opening 11 and serving as a return spring for the pusher, in cooperation with the elastic return provided by the flexible head 12. To facilitate the bending of the head 12, a thin lateral clearance 17 is provided around the outer end 14 of the rod 10, except on the side of the flexible part 16, against which the head can s 'to press.

Du côté de la cavité intérieure 6, la seconde extrémité de la tige 10 présente une surface frontale d'appui 18 qui peut avoir toute forme appropriée pour coopérer avec l'élément du mouvement qu'elle doit pousser, par exemple un élément de contact électrique ou une pièce mécanique mobile. Le cas échéant, une lamelle métallique flexible (non représentée) fixée à la boîte 2 peut être interposée entre la surface frontale 18 et le mouvement pour protéger la matière plastique de la tige 10. Sous l'effet d'une poussée manuelle appliquée sur la surface extérieure 13, la déformation de la tête flexible 12 et de la partie flexible 16 entraîne une course C de la tige 10 jusqu'à une position active représentée en trait mixte. Lorsque cette poussée est relâchée, la tige est rappelée en position de repos par l'élasticité de la matière. Sa surface frontale 18 peut avantageusement se trouver alors à proximité d'une surface intérieure périphérique 20 de la cavité 6, ce qui facilite le montage du mouvement.On the side of the interior cavity 6, the second end of the rod 10 has a front bearing surface 18 which can have any shape suitable for cooperating with the element of the movement which it has to push, for example an electrical contact element or a moving mechanical part. If necessary, a flexible metal strip (not shown) fixed to the box 2 can be interposed between the front surface 18 and the movement to protect the plastic material of the rod 10. Under the effect of a manual push applied to the external surface 13, the deformation of the flexible head 12 and of the flexible part 16 causes a stroke C of the rod 10 up to an active position shown in phantom. When this thrust is released, the rod is returned to the rest position by the elasticity of the material. Its front surface 18 can advantageously then be located near a peripheral inner surface 20 of the cavity 6, which facilitates the mounting of the movement.

La construction décrite ci-dessus a l'avantage de pouvoir être fabriquée par un procédé de moulage par injection dit "bimatière", c'est-à-dire qu'on utilise un seul moule dans lequel on injecte successivement deux matières différentes. Dans une première étape, le moule est pourvu d'une partie qui occupe la place de la tête flexible 12 et l'on y injecte la matière plastique dure formant la boîte 2 avec la tige 10 et la partie flexible 16. On remplace ensuite ladite partie du moule afin de mouler la tête flexible 12 et l'on injecte dans cette région la matière élastomère, qui se lie à chaud à la tige 10 et à la surface 15 de la boîte 2. Après démoulage, on dispose d'une boîte terminée ayant le nombre voulu de poussoirs le long de sa carrure, ce nombre étant compris par exemple entre un et quatre. Comme le procédé de fabrication est peu coûteux, on peut aisément fabriquer ainsi des boîtes ayant différents nombres de poussoirs, ou également utiliser une boîte ayant par exemple quatre poussoirs avec un mouvement n'ayant besoin que de trois poussoirs, si cela se justifie pour des motifs économiques ou esthétiques.The construction described above has the advantage of being able to be manufactured by a so-called "bimaterial" injection molding process, that is to say that a single mold is used in which two different materials are successively injected. In a first step, the mold is provided with a part which takes the place of the flexible head 12 and the hard plastic material is injected therein forming the box 2 with the rod 10 and the flexible part 16. Then replacing said part of the mold in order to mold the flexible head 12 and the elastomeric material is injected into this region, which binds hot to the rod 10 and to the surface 15 of the box 2. After demolding, there is a box finished having the desired number of pushers along its middle, this number being for example between one and four. As the manufacturing process is inexpensive, it is therefore easy to manufacture boxes having different numbers of pushers, or also to use a box having for example four pushers with a movement needing only three pushers, if this is justified for economic or aesthetic reasons.

La figure 3 représente une variante de la construction des figures 1 et 2, la différence étant que la tige 10 est séparée de la boîte 2, à laquelle elle n'est liée que par la tête flexible 12 en élastomère. Dans ce cas, l'ouverture 11 de la boîte a simplement une forme cylindrique, entoure complètement la tige 10 et se prolonge par le dégagement 17 de forme annulaire. Si la tige 10 est faite de la même matière plastique dure que la boîte 2, cette construction peut être fabriquée par le même procédé que dans l'exemple précédent. Par contre on peut aussi prévoir que la tige 10 soit faite d'une autre matière, soit par préfabrication, soit par injection dans le même moule. Le rappel du poussoir est assuré uniquement par l'élasticité de la matière élastomère de la tête 12.FIG. 3 represents a variant of the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2, the difference being that the rod 10 is separated from the box 2, to which it is only connected by the flexible head 12 made of elastomer. In this case, the opening 11 of the box simply has a cylindrical shape, completely surrounds the rod 10 and is extended by the clearance 17 of annular shape. If the rod 10 is made of the same hard plastic as the box 2, this construction can be manufactured by the same process as in the previous example. On the other hand, it can also be provided that the rod 10 is made of another material, either by prefabrication or by injection into the same mold. The push-button is returned only by the elasticity of the elastomeric material of the head 12.

Dans les deux formes de réalisation illustrées par les figures 1 à 3, on peut prévoir en outre que l'extrémité 14 de la tige 10 en plastique dur soit apparente sur la surface extérieure 13 de la tête en élastomère, pour former une sorte de bouton. Celui-ci peut être soit proéminent, soit à fleur de la surface 13.In the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, provision may also be made for the end 14 of the rod 10 of hard plastic to be visible on the external surface 13 of the elastomer head, to form a sort of button . This can be either prominent or flush with the surface 13.

Dans une autre variante, représentée schématiquement à la figure 4, la tige 10 du poussoir 5 est faite de la même matière élastomère que la tête flexible 12, à laquelle elle est raccordée par sa première extrémité 14, le poussoir étant ainsi fait d'une seule pièce. Pour présenter une rigidité suffisante, la tige 10 peut avoir n'importe quelle section transversale appropriée, notamment une section en forme de croix dans le cas présent. Dans ce cas aussi, on peut utiliser le procédé d'injection "bimatière" décrit plus haut, en injectant dans un même moule successivement la matière plastique dure de la boîte 2, puis la matière élastomère du poussoir 5.In another variant, shown schematically in Figure 4, the rod 10 of the pusher 5 is made of the same elastomeric material as the flexible head 12, to which it is connected by its first end 14, the pusher being thus made of a single piece. To have sufficient rigidity, the rod 10 may have any suitable cross section, in particular a cross section in the present case. In this case also, the “two-material” injection method described above can be used, by successively injecting the hard plastic material of the box 2, then the elastomeric material of the pusher 5, in the same mold.

Les exemples présentés ci-dessus démontrent que l'invention permet de fabriquer une boîte de montre pourvue de poussoirs d'une manière extrêmement simple et économique, en évitant de nombreux problèmes liés à la fabrication, au montage et à l'étanchéité des poussoirs mécaniques traditionnels. L'invention s'applique aussi bien à des chronographes mécaniques qu'à des montres électroniques dont les poussoirs n'actionnent, par exemple, que des contacts électriques.The examples presented above demonstrate that the invention makes it possible to manufacture a watch case provided with pushers in an extremely simple and economical manner, avoiding many problems associated with the manufacture, assembly and sealing of mechanical pushers traditional. The invention applies as well to mechanical chronographs as to electronic watches, the pushers of which actuate, for example, only electrical contacts.

Claims (12)

Ensemble comprenant une boîte de montre (2) en matière plastique dure et au moins un poussoir (5) ayant une tige et une tête flexible saillante à l'extérieur de la boîte, la tige (10) s'étendant à partir de la tête à travers une ouverture latérale (11) de la boîte, la tête flexible (12) étant solidaire de la tige et de la boîte et obturant de manière étanche ladite ouverture,
   caractérisé en ce que la tête flexible (12) est faite d'une matière élastomère et est fixée de manière étanche sur une surface extérieure (15) de la boîte autour de l'ouverture (11).Assembly comprising a watch case (2) made of hard plastic and at least one pusher (5) having a rod and a flexible head projecting outside the box, the rod (10) extending from the head through a lateral opening (11) of the box, the flexible head (12) being integral with the rod and the box and sealingly closing said opening,
characterized in that the flexible head (12) is made of an elastomeric material and is sealingly attached to an outer surface (15) of the box around the opening (11). Ensemble selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la tige (10) est en matière plastique dure et comporte une première extrémité (14) sur laquelle est moulée la tête flexible.Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (10) is made of hard plastic and has a first end (14) on which the flexible head is molded. Ensemble selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la tige (10) est faite de la même matière plastique que la boîte (2).Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the rod (10) is made of the same plastic material as the box (2). Ensemble selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la tige (10) est d'une pièce avec la boîte (2), à laquelle elle est liée d'un côté par une partie flexible (16).Assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the rod (10) is in one piece with the box (2), to which it is connected on one side by a flexible part (16). Ensemble selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite partie flexible (16) se trouve dans ladite ouverture (11).Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said flexible part (16) is located in said opening (11). Ensemble selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la tige (10) est séparée de la boîte (2), à laquelle elle est reliée par la tête flexible (12).Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rod (10) is separated from the box (2), to which it is connected by the flexible head (12). Ensemble selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la tige (10) est en matière élastomère et est faite d'une pièce avec la tête flexible (12), laquelle est raccordée à une première extrémité (14) de la tige.Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (10) is made of elastomeric material and is made in one piece with the flexible head (12), which is connected to a first end (14) of the rod. Ensemble selon la revendication 2 ou 7, caractérisé en ce qu'une seconde extrémité de la tige comporte une surface frontale d'appui (18) qui s'étend dans une cavité intérieure (6) de la boîte au moins dans une position active du poussoir, produite par application d'une poussée extérieure sur la tête flexible en direction de la tige.Assembly according to claim 2 or 7, characterized in that a second end of the rod has a front support surface (18) which extends in an internal cavity (6) of the box at least in an active position of the pusher, produced by application of an external thrust on the flexible head in the direction of the rod. Ensemble selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que ladite surface frontale (18) se trouve à proximité d'une surface intérieure périphérique (20) de ladite cavité (6) dans une position de repos du poussoir.Assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said front surface (18) is located near a peripheral interior surface (20) of said cavity (6) in a position of rest of the pusher. Procédé de fabrication d'un ensemble comprenant une boîte de montre (2) en matière plastique dure et au moins un poussoir (5) ayant une tige (10) et une tête flexible (12) saillante à l'extérieur de la boîte, la tige s'étendant à partir de la tête à travers une ouverture latérale (11) de la boîte, la tête flexible étant solidaire de la tige et de la boîte et obturant de manière étanche ladite ouverture,
   caractérisé en ce que la tête flexible est moulée par injection d'une matière élastomère qui se lie de manière étanche à une surface extérieure de la boîte autour de l'ouverture, et en ce que le procédé comporte les étapes suivantes : (I) injection de la matière plastique dans un moule pour former au moins la boîte, (II) modification d'une partie du moule dans la région de la tête du poussoir, et (III) injection de la matière élastomère dans ladite partie du moule pour former au moins la tête flexible de façon que celle-ci soit liée à chaud à ladite surface extérieure de la boîte. Method of manufacturing an assembly comprising a watch box (2) made of hard plastic and at least one pusher (5) having a rod (10) and a flexible head (12) projecting outside the box, the rod extending from the head through a lateral opening (11) of the box, the flexible head being integral with the rod and the box and sealingly closing said opening,
characterized in that the flexible head is molded by injection of an elastomeric material which binds tightly to an external surface of the box around the opening, and in that the method comprises the following steps: (I) injecting the plastic material into a mold to form at least the box, (II) modification of part of the mold in the region of the pusher head, and (III) injection of the elastomeric material into said part of the mold to form at least the flexible head so that it is hot bonded to said outer surface of the box. Procédé selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que la tige du poussoir est faite de la même matière plastique que la boîte et est moulée au cours de l'étape (I).Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the push rod is made of the same plastic material as the box and is molded during step (I). Procédé selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que la tige du poussoir est faite de la même matière élastomère que la tête flexible et est moulée au cours de l'étape (III).Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the push rod is made of the same elastomeric material as the flexible head and is molded during step (III).
EP97107770A 1996-05-17 1997-05-13 Assembly including a watch-case made of hard plastic and at least one pushbutton and method of manufacturing the same Expired - Lifetime EP0807872B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9606155 1996-05-17
FR9606155A FR2748828B1 (en) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HARD PLASTIC WATCH BOX AND AT LEAST ONE PUSH-BUTTON, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

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EP0807872A1 true EP0807872A1 (en) 1997-11-19
EP0807872B1 EP0807872B1 (en) 2002-01-09

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US (2) US6000842A (en)
EP (1) EP0807872B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH1048352A (en)
CN (1) CN1132070C (en)
AU (1) AU719683B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69709484T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2748828B1 (en)
HK (1) HK1008248A1 (en)
SG (1) SG65649A1 (en)
TW (1) TW324796B (en)

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SG109448A1 (en) * 2000-05-11 2005-03-30 Swatch Group Man Serv Ag Portable electronic device such as, in particular, a timepiece, fitted with a push-button

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US7408843B2 (en) * 2005-07-15 2008-08-05 Dennis Brandon Medicine cap timing apparatus
DE102006010896A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2007-09-13 Witte-Velbert Gmbh & Co. Kg Key e.g. remote key, housing, has pushbuttons lying in through holes with lateral distance and held by flexible plastic insert, where insert forms sealing outwardly, and pushbuttons are manufactured from phosphorescent material
EP2033174B8 (en) 2006-05-22 2015-04-15 Nike International Ltd. Watch display comprising light sources and a translucent cover
EP1933213A1 (en) * 2006-12-11 2008-06-18 Globalsat Technology Corporation A water-proof watch case with GPS and a method for manufacturing the same
EP2746873B1 (en) * 2012-12-21 2017-11-15 Meco S.A. Modular assembly of a push button
US9720443B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-08-01 Nike, Inc. Wearable device assembly having athletic functionality
GB2558415B (en) 2015-05-22 2019-02-06 Dyson Technology Ltd A hand held appliance
CN111061140A (en) * 2018-10-17 2020-04-24 精工爱普生株式会社 Timepiece case and timepiece

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EP1301011A3 (en) * 2001-10-05 2009-03-25 Nokia Corporation User changeable electronic device/mobile phone covers and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1132070C (en) 2003-12-24
FR2748828A1 (en) 1997-11-21
HK1008248A1 (en) 1999-05-07
FR2748828B1 (en) 1998-07-10
US6346208B1 (en) 2002-02-12
TW324796B (en) 1998-01-11
SG65649A1 (en) 1999-06-22
AU2082097A (en) 1997-11-20
DE69709484D1 (en) 2002-02-14
DE69709484T2 (en) 2002-10-17
CN1171571A (en) 1998-01-28
EP0807872B1 (en) 2002-01-09
US6000842A (en) 1999-12-14
AU719683B2 (en) 2000-05-18
JPH1048352A (en) 1998-02-20

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