CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 19215149.6 filed Dec. 11, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an arrangement for the holding and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiating membrane in a musical or striking watch case.

The invention also relates to a musical or striking watch comprising an arrangement for the holding and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiating membrane in a watch case.

PRIOR ART

In a traditional striking mechanism of a watch, one or more gongs, which are fastened to at least one gong carrier, are struck by one or more hammers in a same horizontal plane as the plate supporting the horological movement. A membrane of the striking mechanism is also added in the case for an acoustic radiation of the vibration of the gong or gongs struck. The membrane is generally clamped in a direction perpendicular or vertical to the plane between a support of the movement and a portion of the middle for the holding thereof in the watch case. In one particular example, the membrane is disposed between the back of the watch case and the movement on the watch plate. It is fastened or clamped between the back and a portion of the middle of the watch case. However, it is noted that there is not a good vibratory transfer of a struck gong towards the membrane for a suitable acoustic radiation of the sound generated.

In the case of a musical watch, the sound is produced by the vibrations of blades of a pin-barrel of the striking mechanism and an acoustic radiating membrane may also be provided in the watch case. Said membrane is clamped in a direction perpendicular to the plane between a support of the movement and a portion of the middle for the holding thereof in the watch case.

Patent EP 2 367 078 B1 describes a watch provided with a striking mechanism. An acoustic membrane is disposed and connected to the case of the watch in order to emit a sound produced by the striking mechanism. The membrane is held in the case of the watch by being clamped between a support of the movement and the back of the case in a direction perpendicular to the watch plane. With such a holding of the membrane, this does not make it possible to have a good vibratory transfer of a sound generated towards the membrane for a suitable acoustic radiation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an arrangement for the holding and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiating membrane in a striking, or even musical, watch case, in order to obtain a good acoustic performance during the operation of a striking mechanism in the watch case.

To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement for the holding and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiating membrane in a watch case comprising the features defines in the independent claim1.

Particular embodiments of the arrangement for the holding and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiating membrane are defined in the dependent claims2to11.

One advantage of the arrangement of the acoustic radiating membrane according to the present invention, resides in the fact that a holding of the acoustic radiating membrane in the watch case is obtained by at least one connection part acting in a horizontal and non-vertical direction on a rim of the membrane or on an edge element of the membrane. The connection part may be a coil spring bearing on a gong carrier for example between an inner wall of the middle and a rim or an edge element of the membrane. The connection part may also be a screw, which is screwed into a threaded opening for example of the middle in order to laterally bear on the rim or a membrane edge element, or a combination of a screw and of a coil spring.

Advantageously, according to a first embodiment and in comparison with a coil spring, the use of a screw makes it possible to significantly increase the force of connection or of contact of the membrane in relation to a spring, but also to control same. Bearing on the periphery of the membrane, a compression effect of the membrane is produced. It may also be envisaged to adapt a frequency of acoustic radiation of the membrane in tune with a struck gong generating a particular note or with at least one activated blade of a musical pin-barrel. Thus, this makes it possible to adapt the main frequency of acoustic radiation of the membrane by the holding force applied to said membrane so as to adapt same more easily to a gong more difficult to tune and generating a particular note once struck.

Advantageously, according to another embodiment, at least two screws are provided each passing into a different and through opening of a peripheral edge of the membrane in order to each be screwed into a respective threading produced in a wall of the watch case, for example the middle. This makes it possible to significantly increase the stretching force of the membrane during the holding thereof in order to adapt the main frequency of acoustic radiation of the membrane in tune with a struck gong generating a particular note or with at least one activated blade of a musical pin-barrel. According to this other embodiment, the adaptation of frequency is the reverse of that of the first aforementioned embodiment.

To this end, the invention also relates to a striking or musical watch with an acoustic radiating membrane arrangement in a watch case, and which comprises the features defined in the independent claim12.

An embodiment of the striking or musical watch is defined in the dependent claim13.

Advantageously, a plurality of acoustic membranes may be provided. A first membrane at the dial and a second membrane as double back above the back of the watch case may be provided. It may also be provided to mount a plurality of acoustic membranes spaced apart from one another or superimposed. All of the membranes are held in a portion of the watch case by a connection part in contact with a peripheral rim or with an edge element of each membrane with a support or acting in a direction parallel to the plane of the watch, that is to say parallel to a watch dial or of a plate supporting the watch movement.

