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CN-122018273-A - Lightweight and sturdy timepiece component

CN122018273ACN 122018273 ACN122018273 ACN 122018273ACN-122018273-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece component that is lightweight and sturdy. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component comprises the steps of manufacturing a rough skeleton (10 a) comprising a through opening (11), manufacturing at least two rough inserts (20 b), forming a pre-assembled assembly (30 b) by inserting each rough insert (20 b) with minimal play into the through opening (11) of the rough skeleton (10 a), moulding the pre-assembled assembly (30 b) in a mould (201), resulting in each rough insert (20 b) being welded to at least one other rough insert (20 b) forming an interlocking and inseparable structure with the skeleton (10), finishing to achieve the final dimensions and finish of the timepiece component.

Inventors

  • Florian Karam
  • Ji Yaomu TestDaF
  • Tibo theriot

Assignees

  • 劳力士有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20251107
Priority Date
20241112

Claims (14)

  1. 1. A method for manufacturing a timepiece component, wherein the method comprises the steps of: -manufacturing a crude skeleton (10 a) comprising through openings (11); -manufacturing at least two crude inserts (20 b); -forming a preassembled assembly (30 b) by inserting each crude insert (20 b) with minimal play into a through opening (11) of the crude skeleton (10 a); -moulding the preassembled assembly (30 b) in a mould (201), resulting in each rough insert (20 b) being welded to at least one other rough insert (20 b), forming an interlocking and inseparable structure with the armature (10); Finish to achieve the final dimensions and finish of the timepiece component.
  2. 2. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to claim 1, wherein the step of manufacturing a crude skeleton (10 a) forms a reworked portion (16) and a finished portion (15), and wherein the finishing step leaves the finished portion (15) unchanged, while modifying or removing the reworked portion (16).
  3. 3. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mould (201) comprises a portion forming a reference element (203) complementary to the reworked portion (16) of the crude skeleton (10 a) so as to position and orient the crude skeleton (10 a) of the preassembled assembly (30 b) at the bottom of the mould (201), forming a sealing interface preventing the material of the crude insert (20 b) from covering the reworked portion (16) of the crude skeleton (10 b).
  4. 4. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step of assembling at least one protection element (60) on the crude skeleton (10 a) of the preassembled component (30 b) before the step of moulding the preassembled component is carried out, in order to protect all or part of the preassembled component, in particular the reworked part (16) of the crude skeleton (10 a) and/or the opening of the skeleton and/or the finishing part (15), in particular the opening in the skeleton designed flush with a through hole for a control, such as a button or a top chord crown, and/or the step of assembling at least one protection element (60) on the crude skeleton (10 a) of the preassembled component (30 b) before the step of moulding the preassembled component is carried out, in order to strengthen the crude skeleton (10 a) and to maintain its integrity during the moulding step.
  5. 5. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to claim 4, wherein the crude skeleton (10 a) defines an internal chamber (12), and wherein a protective element (60) is advantageously assembled with the crude skeleton (10 a) so as to hermetically close the open face of the internal chamber (12).
  6. 6. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of moulding the preassembled assembly (30 b) comprises a heating step to flow the rough insert (20 b), and a compression step to fill the through openings (11) of the skeleton with the material of the rough insert and to weld the rough inserts (20 b) to each other and optionally to adhere them to the skeleton, the heating step being optionally a controlled heating step.
  7. 7. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of manufacturing a crude skeleton (10 a) is achieved by machining or three-dimensional printing or moulding or sintering, and optionally reworking using machining means to achieve a final precision of at least the finished portion (15) of the crude skeleton (10 a).
  8. 8. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of manufacturing a crude skeleton (10 a) forms a crude skeleton (10 a) comprising through openings (11), the through openings (11) being exposed to the outside of the crude skeleton (10 a) and communicating with each other, and optionally not to the inside into a chamber (12) of the crude skeleton (10 a).
  9. 9. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method manufactures a skeleton (10) comprising recesses (12 b, 13 a), the recesses (12 b, 13 a) being used to position seals at interfaces with other components such as glass, bottom covers or protective elements.
  10. 10. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein manufacturing the rough insert (20 b) comprises machining or moulding from the same piece of material having a lower melting point than the material of the rough skeleton (10 a).
  11. 11. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein manufacturing the rough insert (20 b) comprises forming an additional thickness or excess material on its exterior, the rough inserts (20 b) being independent of each other or being connected to each other by the excess material.
  12. 12. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the timepiece component is a watch case middle (30), a part of a watch band, a bottom cover, a dial, or a part of a timepiece movement, such as a blank or a plate.
  13. 13. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the timepiece component is a case middle (30), wherein the raw skeleton (10 a) defines an internal cavity (12) intended to receive a timepiece movement and comprises at least one portion forming at least one means for fastening a bottom cover and/or glass and/or bezel and/or control member and/or wristband.
  14. 14. The method for manufacturing a timepiece component according to claim 13, wherein the reworked portion (16) includes a support surface, a cylinder and a flat section positioned on an upper side outside the internal cavity (12) of the case middle, and wherein the method includes a finishing step comprising removing the reworked portion (16) by machining a receptacle and a flange forming means for fastening glass.

Description

Lightweight and sturdy timepiece component Technical Field The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a timepiece component, in particular an external timepiece component (for example a case middle) or even more generally any other component. The invention also relates to the timepiece component itself (for example a case middle) and to a timepiece (in particular a wristwatch) comprising at least one such timepiece component. Background Timepiece components, more particularly external ones, must have a number of mechanical properties, which are sometimes conflicting. These desirable properties include: Portable, which makes the timepiece comfortable to wear; Very attractive appearance, without drawbacks, compatible with the aesthetic requirements of a luxury timepiece; Robustness in order to withstand the external stresses to which the timepiece is subjected, so that the timepiece component maintains the same appearance for a long period of time, and more generally maintains all its mechanical properties for a long period of time. In fact, existing schemes reflect a tradeoff between these properties. Typically, timepiece components are made in solid form from a material that is both lightweight and rigid. However, these existing solutions have limitations and require the determination of new solutions that optimize the properties and/or the appearance of the timepiece component. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a solution for obtaining a timepiece component (in particular an external timepiece component) that is lightweight and sturdy, which is an improvement with respect to the prior art. To this end, the invention is based on a method for manufacturing a timepiece component, wherein the method comprises the steps of: -manufacturing a crude skeleton comprising through openings; -manufacturing at least two crude inserts; -forming a preassembled assembly by inserting each rough insert with minimal play into a through opening of a rough skeleton; -molding the preassembled assembly in a mold, resulting in each rough insert being welded to at least one other rough insert, thereby forming an interlocking and inseparable structure with the armature; Finish to achieve the final dimensions and finish of the timepiece component. The invention is more particularly defined by the claims. Drawings These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed in detail in the following non-limiting description of particular embodiments, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a bottom view of the skeleton of the middle case of a watch according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the case middle frame skeleton along the developed transverse vertical plane AA according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a top view of the skeleton of the middle case of the watch according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a preassembled assembly along an unfolded transverse vertical plane AA, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a preassembled assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a top view of a preassembled assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a preassembled assembly along an unfolded transverse vertical plane AA, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the unfolded transverse vertical plane AA of an apparatus for molding a pre-assembled component during a molding step according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 9 shows a change in temperature T in degrees celsius and a change in load C in kN during a molding step of a manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the crude watchcase middle produced by the molding step according to an embodiment of the present invention along the unfolded transverse vertical plane AA. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional half view of a middle case according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional half view of a case including a case middle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a timepiece component, in particular an external component (for example a case middle) that can be positioned in particular on or constitute the periphery of a timepiece. Such a timepiece component therefore comprises a first portion oriented towards the inside of the timepiece, in particular towards a volume comprising the timepiece movement, which volume will be referred to as a chamber, and a second portion oriented towards the outside, in particular intended to be visible from the outside of the timepiece. In the following