DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A TIME FUNCTION OR NON-TIME-RELATED FUNCTION AND TIMEPIECE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20110085424A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meco SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Meco SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: El Kadiri, Hakim
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/288
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/043 Locking of the operating element, also by mounting in a concealed place
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/048 Operation exclusively by axial movement of a push-button, e.g. for chronographs winding up by push button G04B3/001; hermetically sealed push button G04B37/106
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/106 of push buttons winding up by push button G04B3/001; crown in the form of push button G04B3/046; construction of push buttons G04B3/048

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for operating a horological or other time-related function comprising at least two push-buttons (28A, 28B), each having a stem (30A, 30B) and a head (32A, 32B), these push-buttons (28A, 28B) being movable axially between a first or inactive rest position and a second position in which they operate the function, said device being characterized in that the stems (30A, 30B) of the two push-buttons (28A, 28B) extend side by side, parallel to each other. The invention also relates to a timepiece with such an operating device.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A device for controlling a time function or non-time related function for a portable object including a lateral wall called the middle part, said device including at least two push-buttons each provided with a stem and a head, said push-buttons being able to move axially between a first inactive rest position and a second position in which said push-buttons control the function, wherein the stems of the two push-buttons extend side by side, parallel to each other.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the two pusher stems slide inside the same tube (38) engaged in a through hole arranged in the middle part.

13. The control device according to claim 12, wherein the tube is a staged tube including a first part whose inner diameter is greater than the inner diameter of a second part of the tube, the heads of the pushers being able to slide inside the first part of said tube while being guided axially, whereas the stems slide while being guided axially in the second part of the tube that has a reduced diameter.

14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the centre of the second part of the tube has a separating wall, which delimits two cylindrical passages in which the stems of the push-buttons slide.

15. The control device according to claim 14, wherein a sealing gasket is housed at the bottom of the second part of the tube with a spring inserted between said gasket and a bottom face of the pusher heads.

16. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the pushers act on control members for a time function or non-time related function via at least one lever.

17. The control device according to claim 12, wherein the external periphery of the tube has a thread for cooperating with an inner thread provided in a cover which covers the heads of the push-buttons in a removable manner.

18. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the heads of the pushers have complementary shapes such that, when said pushers are in an inactive position, the heads form a circular external periphery.

19. The timepiece including a control device according to claim 11.

20. The timepiece according to claim 19, further including an additional control member arranged in the twelve o'"'"'clock-three o'"'"'clock dial quarter of the timepiece, whereas the control device is arranged in the three o'"'"'clock-six o'"'"'clock dial quarter of said timepiece, wherein the control member and the control device are both covered in a removable manner by a cover.