US-12625469-B2 - Fastening element for timepieces

US12625469B2US 12625469 B2US12625469 B2US 12625469B2US-12625469-B2

Abstract

An elastic fastening element for holding a timepiece component on a support element, including an opening the contour of which includes at least four contact areas for receiving and clamping the support element in the opening, the contact areas each being included on an inner face of a deformable portion provided with a through-hole of the fastening element.

Inventors

Ivan HERNANDEZ

Assignees

NIVAROX-FAR S.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231031
Priority Date: 20221125

Claims (17)

1 . An elastic fastening element for holding a timepiece component on a support element, comprising: a body formed by rigid portions and deformation portions, the rigid portions and the deformation portions being alternatively connected to form an outer perimeter of the body, an opening formed within the body, a contour of the opening comprising at least four contact areas for receiving and clamping the support element in said opening, said contact areas each being included on an inner face of each deformable portion provided with a through-hole of the fastening element.
2 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion includes different regions each having a different deformation coefficient such that the different regions configured to be deformed in different ways under constraint by the support element.
3 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion comprises a receiving region, two connection regions and an outer region that together delimit a periphery of the through-hole of the deformable portion.
4 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 3 , wherein a deformation coefficient of the receiving region is higher than a deformation coefficient of the two connection regions, and the deformation coefficient of the two connection regions is higher than a deformation coefficient of the outer region.
5 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein the body of said elastic fastening element is rigid or essentially rigid with the exception of the deformable portions.
6 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein each deformable portion is arranged in the body of said elastic fastening element at equal distance from each of the other deformable portions that are arranged in its direct vicinity in said body.
7 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein each deformable portion is configured to vary a volume defined in its through-hole when said portion is placed under constraint by the support element.
8 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of each deformable portion represents between 20 and 80 percent of said deformable portion.
9 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , further comprising a point of attachment with the timepiece component.
10 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein said elastic fastening element is a collet for fastening the timepiece component to a support element.
11 . The elastic fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein said elastic fastening element is made of a silicon or silicon-based material.
12 . An elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly for a horological movement of a timepiece comprising a fastening element according to claim 1 .
13 . An assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said assembly is made in one piece.
14 . An assemblage for a horological movement of a timepiece comprising an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly according claim 12 , said assembly being fastened to a support element.
15 . A horological movement comprising at least one assemblage according to claim 14 .
16 . A timepiece comprising a horological movement according to claim 15 .
17 . A method for performing an assemblage of an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly with a support element according to claim 16 , comprising: a step of inserting the support element into an opening of the elastic fastening element of said assembly, said step comprising a sub-step of elastically deforming the elastic fastening element provided with a phase for deforming the deformable portions of the elastic fastening element inducing a radial displacement of each deformable portion in relation to an axis of revolution of the elastic fastening element, and a step of fastening the fastening element on the support element comprising a sub-step of performing a radial elastic clamping of the fastening element on the support element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 22209690.1 filed on Nov. 25, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to an elastic fastening element for timepieces, more particularly an element for holding a timepiece component on a fixed or mobile support element, such as a staff, by elastic clamping of the support element. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such elastic fastening elements are known in the prior art and may be for example in the form of a collet for fastening the inner end of a balance-spring to the staff of a balance, and a clamp for fastening the outer end of a balance-spring to a balance-spring stud. These elastic fastening elements are very advantageous in that they make it possible to easily and height-adjustably mount the balance-spring on the balance staff and the balance-spring stud. The present invention aims to further improve these elastic fastening elements by making them capable of exerting a greater clamping force and/or of further deforming. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an elastic fastening element that has a high holding torque particularly to facilitate/simplify the mounting operations of an assemblage of an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly with a support element as well as to ensure sufficient hold to guarantee that it is held in position in the plane and to guarantee its angular position during the life of the component. To this end, the invention relates to an elastic fastening element for holding a timepiece component on a support element, comprising an opening the contour of which comprises at least four contact areas for receiving and clamping the support element in said opening, said contact areas each being included on an inner face of a deformable portion provided with a through-hole of the fastening element. In other embodiments: the deformable portion consists of different regions that are configured to be deformed in different ways as soon as they are placed under constraint by the support element.the deformable portion consists of regions having a deformation coefficient the value of which reduces, as this region is moved away from the contact area included on the inner face of said deformable portion;the deformable portion comprises a receiving region, two connection regions and an outer region that together delimit the periphery of the through-hole of the deformable portion;the body of said element is rigid or essentially rigid with the exception of the deformable portions;each deformable portion is arranged in the body of said element at equal distance from each of the other deformable portions that are arranged in its direct vicinity in said body;each deformable portion is configured to vary a volume defined in its through-hole when this portion is placed under constraint by the support element;the through-hole of each deformable portion represents between 20 and 80 percent of the portion of the body of the element constituting said portion;the elastic fastening element comprises a point of attachment with the timepiece component;the elastic fastening element is a collet for fastening the timepiece component such as a balance-spring to a support element such as a balance shaft;the elastic fastening element is made of a silicon or silicon-based material. The invention also relates to an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly for a horological movement of a timepiece comprising such a fastening element. Advantageously this assembly is made in one piece. The invention also relates to an assemblage for a horological movement of a timepiece comprising such an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly, said assembly being fastened to a support element. The invention also relates to a horological movement comprising at least one such assemblage. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a horological movement. The invention also relates to a method for performing such an assemblage of an elastic fastening element-timepiece component assembly with a support element, comprising: a step of inserting the support element into an opening of the elastic fastening element of said assembly, said step comprising a sub-step of elastically deforming the elastic fastening element provided with a phase for deforming the deformable portions of the elastic fastening element inducing a radial displacement of each deformable portion in relation to an axis of revolution of the elastic fastening element, anda step of fastening the fastening element on the support element comprising a sub-step of performing a radial elastic clamping of the fastening element on the support element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other specific features and advantages will become clearly ap