WO2014067768A1

WO2014067768A1 - Timepiece equipped with a depth gauge

Info

Publication number: WO2014067768A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/071379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Beat FISCHLI; Sebastian PFIRTER
Original assignee: Oris Sa
Priority date: 2012-10-31
Filing date: 2013-10-14
Publication date: 2014-05-08
Also published as: CH707157A2; CH707157B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a case (10) receiving a movement (12) and closed by a glass (14) and a back (16), said timepiece comprising a capillary depth gauge including at least one capillary tube sealed at one end and open at its other end. According to the invention, the capillary tube is embodied in the thickness of the glass (14) and is defined between a groove (24) arranged at the periphery of the glass (14) and sealing means integral with the case (10) and interposed between the case (10) and the glass (14).

Description

Timepiece equipped with a depth gauge

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of horology. More particularly, it concerns a timepiece comprising a case receiving a movement and closed by a glass and a back. This timepiece comprises a capillary depth gauge including at least one capillary tube sealed at one end and opened at its other end for access of water which compresses the air within the tube and reaches into the tube by an extent increasing with the diving depth. Thereby, water penetrating into the tube indicates by its meniscus the diving depth reached on a graduated scale associated with the tube. State of the art

[0002] This kind of depth gauge is well known and this principle has already been applied. Usually, such instruments present a poor readability when they are submerged in a scarcely lighted medium. Several developments tried to improve this readability by implementing contrast surfaces or reflexion surfaces. This leads to complicated sections of the capillary tube and/or to complicated constructions of the device, to associate the tube into a case.

[0003] Some depth gauges, for example disclosed in US3188864, are not combined to a timepiece. Since there is no hand, there is no need to have any space between the glass and the dial. Then, the dial can be used as a contrast element and can form the tube. However, this type of construction can not be simply arranged in a timepiece otherwise, the resulting timepiece would be too thick.

[0004] Document EP2325603 discloses a timepiece wherein a similar depth gauge has been adapted into the case, but its construction is not simple so as to obtain a waterproof case and a visual access to the capillary tube.

[0005] The present invention aims to propose a very simple and efficient depth gauge, easily implementable in a timepiece. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] More precisely, the invention concerns a timepiece comprising a case receiving a movement and closed by a glass and a back, said timepiece comprising a capillary depth gauge including at least one capillary tube sealed at one end and open at its other end. The capillary tube is embodied in the thickness of the glass and is defined between a groove arranged at the periphery of the glass and sealing means integral with the case and interposed between the case and the glass. Brief description of the drawings

[0007] Further details will be more fully understood by reading the description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings wherein

- figure 1 shows a sectional view of a timepiece according to the invention,

- figures 2 and 3 are top and side views of a glass of the timepiece represented on figure 1.

Embodiment of the invention

[0008] On figure 1 is represented a timepiece according to the invention and comprising a case 10 wherein a movement 12 is housed. The movement can be of mechanical or electronic type. The case 10 is conventionally closed by a glass 14 and a back 16. The case 10 is furthermore constituted of a middle 18 and a bezel 20, advantageously of the rotating type since, as it will be understood thereafter, the timepiece according to the invention is intended to be used as a diving watch. One can see on the drawing a control stem 22, usually connected to the movement 12 to set time display means and, for a mechanical timepiece, to wind a barrel spring arranged in the movement 12. These elements are well known from a skilled person and will not be described further.

[0009] According to the invention, the timepiece comprises a capillary depth gauge including at least one capillary tube sealed at one end and open at its other end. As explained above, such depth gauge are arranged in such a manner that, during a diving, water can penetrate into the tube by its opened end. As the diver swims deeper, pressure exerted by water compresses gradually the air within the tube and water moves into the tube. Thereby, water penetrating into the tube indicates by its meniscus the diving depth reached on a graduated scale associated with the tube.

[0010] According to an important aspect of the invention, the capillary tube is embodied in the thickness of the glass 14. The tube is defined between a groove 24 arranged at the periphery of the glass 14 and sealing means integral with the case 10 and interposed between the case 10 and the glass 14.

[001 1] More precisely, the glass 14 is arranged on the middle 18 of the case 10. It rests on an undercut 26 of the middle 18. A gasket 28 is interposed and wedged between the side of the glass 14 and a flange of the middle 18. The gasket 28 extends roughly on all the thickness of the glass 14.

[0012] The groove 24 is arranged roughly at mid-thickness of the glass 14.

Preferably, in order not to affect glass solidity, height's groove is less than one third of the thickness of the glass. The groove moves in an arc smaller than 360°. Advantageously, the arc defines an angle comprised between 250 and 330°, preferably around 300°. The groove 24 can present a U-shaped section with a rounded or straight bottom, or a V-shaped section. As it can be better seen on figures 2 and 3, the groove 24 opens on a window 30 formed on the top surface of the glass 14, i.e. on the side of the glass 14 that will be in contact with water. On the drawing, the represented window 30 has a rainbow shape, the arc of which corresponding to the width of the groove 24. To the sealed end, the width of the groove 24 decreases gradually until it forms a point 32. Such groove 24 can be obtained by machining, preferably by milling the glass 14. The proposed design of the groove 24 is not limiting and other sections or openings and endings can be considered.

[0013] It should be remarked that the groove 24 has no interface with the bottom surface of the glass 14 nor with any element on which the bottom of the glass 14 rests. Therefore, the groove 24 has no interaction with a dial or with a seat of the case 10. Actually, the capillary tube is exclusively defined between the groove 24 and said sealing means.

[0014] In order to improve the readability of the meniscus of the water inside the groove 24, a contrast surface 34 can be advantageously arranged under the groove 24. This contrast surface 34 can be arranged on the bottom surface of the glass 14, for example by sticking or coating an annular coloured band under the groove 24. The contrast surface 34 can also be arranged on a dial interposed between the movement 12 and the glass 14.

[0015] In order for the diver to be able to read the reached depth, a scale (not represented) is affixed on the glass 14 or on the contrast surface 34. The scale is calculated and calibrated in function of the dimensions of the groove 24.

[0016] It is therefore proposed a diving timepiece with a very simple but accurate capillary depth gauge. The skilled person will be able to adapt the described invention only proposed in a non limiting way and without bypassing the scope of the protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Timepiece comprising a case (10) receiving a movement (12) and closed by a glass (14) and a back (16), said timepiece comprising a capillary depth gauge including at least one capillary tube sealed at one end and open at its other end, characterized in that said capillary tube is embodied in the thickness of the glass (14) and is defined between a groove (24) arranged at the periphery of the glass (14) and sealing means integral with the case (10) and interposed between the case (10) and the glass (14).

2. Timepiece according to claim 1 , characterized in that said capillary tube is exclusively defined between said groove (24) and said sealing means.

3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said groove (24) is arranged roughly at mid-thickness of the glass (14).

4. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said groove (24) has no interface with the bottom surface of the glass (14).

5. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a contrast surface (34) arranged under the groove (24).

6. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that said contrast surface (34) is arranged on the bottom surface of the glass (14).

7. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that said contrast surface (34) is arranged on a dial interposed between the movement (12) and the glass (14).

8. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a scale affixed on the glass (14) or on the contrast surface to indicate the diving depth. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing means is a gasket (28) extending roughly on all the thickness of the glass (14).