# US 2024/0201631 A1 · Resilient casing ring for casing a horological movement and watch case comprising such a resilient casing ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201631 A1 - Document ID: US20240201631A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/486,492 - Filed: 2023-10-13 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15 - Assignees: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse - Applicants: Eta SA Manufacture HorlogèRe Suisse - Inventors: Raphaël BALMER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201631A1 ## CPC - G04B 37/05: Fixed mountings for pocket or wrist watches - G04B 37/052: {with shock damping means not related to the winding stem (shock damping bearings G04B31/02; shock protection G04B43/002)} - G04B 37/22: Materials or processes of manufacturing pocket watch or wrist watch cases {(machines or tools for the manufacture of clockwork cases G04D3/0064, G04D3/0097, G04D3/029; decoration or tools therefor G04B45/0076)} - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) ## Abstract A resilient casing ring (200) for casing a horological movement (10) inside a watch case (100) including a middle (110). The casing ring (200) includes an annular body (205) with a central axis (Z), and fastening tabs (210) carried by the annular body (205) and cooperating with the middle (110) to form a bayonet casing system (300) by rotation of the resilient casing ring (200) relative to the middle (110) about the central axis (Z), between an insertion position and a locked position. The casing ring (200) includes resilient retaining element cooperating with the horological movement (10) and exerting an axial force parallel to the central axis (Z) on the horological movement (10) by elastic deformation of the resilient retaining element when the resilient casing ring (200) is in the locked position in the middle (110). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A resilient casing ring (200) for casing a horological movement (10) inside a watch case (100) comprising a middle (110), wherein said resilient casing ring (200) comprises an annular body (205) with a central axis (Z), and fastening tabs (210) carried by said annular body (205) and capable of cooperating with said middle (110) to form a bayonet casing system (300) by the rotation of the resilient casing ring (200) relative to the middle (110) about the central axis (Z), between an insertion position and a locked position, said resilient casing ring (200) comprising at least one resilient retaining element capable of cooperating with said horological movement (10) and of exerting an axial force parallel to the central axis (Z) on the horological movement (10) by elastic deformation of said resilient retaining element when said resilient casing ring (200) is in the locked position in the middle (110). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient casing ring (200) comprises a locking member (220) capable of cooperating with the horological movement (10) or the middle (110) to lock the locked position of the resilient casing ring (200) in the middle (110) against rotation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 2, wherein said locking member (220) is capable of cooperating with the horological movement (10) or the middle (110) to form an angular positioning stop for said resilient casing ring (200). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein said resilient casing ring (200) is made of a metal or polymer material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient retaining element is formed by the annular body (205). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient casing ring (200) comprises a plurality of resilient retaining elements formed by resilient retaining lugs (250) comprising a resilient portion (251) connected to the annular body (205) and shaped to undergo elastic deformation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 6, wherein said resilient portion (251) comprises a free contact end (252) having at least one portion (253) that is axially offset, along the central axis (Z), from the annular body (205), capable of bearing against the horological movement (10) and of exerting an axial force parallel to the central axis (Z) on the horological movement (10) by the elastic deformation of said resilient portion (251) at least when said resilient casing ring (200) is in the locked position in the middle (110). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a positioning coded element for assembling (245). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least one recess (260, 270), the shape whereof is adapted to cooperate with a casing tool (400). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a first recess (260) configured to ensure rotation of the resilient casing ring (200) and a second recess (270) configured to ensure unlocking of said resilient casing ring (200), each of the recesses (260, 270) having a shape that is adapted to cooperate with a casing tool (400). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A watch case (100) comprising a middle (110), the resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1 and a horological movement (10) cased inside said middle (110) by said resilient casing ring (10). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The watch case (100) according to claim 11, wherein the resilient casing ring (200) is configured to form damping means for the horological movement (10) in the event of impacts to the watch case (100), preferably in an axial direction parallel to the central axis (Z). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The watch case (100) according to claim 11, wherein the middle (110) comprises bayonet grooves (113), said bayonet grooves (113) cooperating with said fastening tabs (210) to form the bayonet casing system (300) of the horological movement (10). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The watch case (100) according to claim 11, wherein the middle (110) comprises at least one bearing surface (111) for receiving said tabs (210) for fastening the resilient casing ring (200) in the insertion position thereof, which bear against said resilient casing ring (200). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The watch case (100) according to claim 11, wherein the resilient casing ring (200) comprises a locking member (220) and in that the middle (110) comprises a resilient locking finger (230) configured to cooperate with said locking member (220) to ensure that the resilient casing ring (200) is locked against rotation in the middle (110) by resilient clipping. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The watch case (100) according to claim 11, wherein the resilient casing ring (200) comprises a locking member (220) and in that the horological movement (10) comprises a resilient locking finger (230) configured to cooperate with said locking member (220) to ensure that the resilient casing ring (200) is locked against rotation in the middle (110) by resilient clipping. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A casing tool (400) for casing a horological movement (10) of the watch case (100) according to claim 11, comprising at least one protruding element (460, 470) configured to cooperate with at least one recess (260, 270) in the resilient casing ring (200). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The casing tool (400) according to claim 17, further comprising protruding elements (460, 470) configured to cooperate with a plurality of recesses (260, 270) in said resilient casing ring (200), said protruding elements (460, 470) rotating said resilient casing ring (200) when said casing tool (400) is rotated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The casing tool (400) according to claim 17, further comprising an unlocking pin (470) configured to disengage said resilient locking finger (230) when said casing tool (400) is in position on the resilient casing ring (200) so as to allow it to be unlocked and allow the resilient casing ring (200) to be disassembled. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method for casing a horological movement (10) having a central axis (Z) in a watch case (100) comprising a middle (110) using a resilient casing ring (200) according to claim 1, comprising: a step of inserting said horological movement (10) into the middle (110); a step of inserting said resilient casing ring (200) over the horological movement along the central axis (Z); a step of fastening the horological movement (10) to the middle (110), during which step the resilient casing ring (200) is rotatably engaged about the central axis (Z), said fastening tabs engaging within a plurality of bayonet grooves (113) in the middle (110) during the rotation of the resilient casing ring (200) until said resilient casing ring (200) reaches a locked position thereof.