CH712411A2 - Watch movement with an extra-flat display of the current time. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch movement comprising a display device (1) comprising a first mobile (2), hours display, pivoted on an element of the frame (12) of the watch movement, a second mobile (4) display of the minutes, pivoted on an element of the frame (12) of the watch movement, a kinematic connection arranged to connect a toothed hour wheel (6) of the first mobile (2) with the second mobile (4), and wherein the hour wheel (6) carries at least one indication for cooperating with at least a first fixed indication (14) to indicate the hours, and the second wheel (4) has a minute wheel (10) carrying at least an indication for cooperating with at least a second fixed indication (16) to indicate the minutes, the fixed indications being carried by the frame.

Description

Description TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a watch movement comprising a display device comprising a first mobile, hours display, pivoted on an element of the building of the watch movement, a second mobile, minutes display. , pivoted on an element of the building of the watch movement, and a kinematic connection arranged to connect a gear wheel hours of the first mobile with the second mobile.

State of the art [0002] Such display devices are current in timepieces with an analogue display of the current time.

[0003] Typically, the hours and minutes display devices comprise an hour wheel and a roadway kinematically connected to one another by a timer wheel ensuring between them the ratio required to display the hours and minutes. . Conventionally, the hour wheel carries an hour display hand while the roadway has a minute display hand, these two hands moving in relation to a dial bearing hour and minute graduations with which they cooperate to display the time.

[0004] Different embodiments are already known to offer distinctive time displays.

By way of example, patent FR 1085177 describes a timepiece of the mysterious type, that is to say having transparent disks bearing indications intended to allow a display of the time in relation with fixed indications, and whose components of the watch movement are arranged outside a virtual disk corresponding substantially to the transparent display discs. Thus, the way in which time display devices are driven remains mysterious.

In this case, the timepiece has ears, between the strap attachment horns, at which the components of the movement are arranged, notably a timer wheel.

However, a felle architecture poses significant constraints in terms of space, especially for the components of its time display device.

Another approach to lighten the appearance of a timepiece is presented in patent CH 699 165 B1 which describes a watch whose watch movement is of the skeleton type, that is to say that its elements In particular, platinum has been cut in such a way that through apertures have been formed in different parts of the movement, in the direction of its thickness. In the present case, the cut-outs formed in the plate are made in such a manner that the latter has a plurality of arms defining both a support for the components of the movement and fixed indications (Roman numerals) arranged to cooperate with a needle. hours for displaying hours. Thanks to this characteristic, it is not necessary to provide a dial to carry fixed indications intended to cooperate with the hour hand and the thickness of the watch can thus be reduced.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0008] A main object of the present invention is to propose a watch movement comprising a display device of the type mentioned above, of construction and appearance which are alternatives to those just described, exhibiting good readability and a small footprint, especially in the direction of its thickness, to possibly allow its use in an extra-piate timepiece.

For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a watch movement corresponding to the characteristics mentioned above, characterized in that the hour wheel carries at least one indication intended to cooperate with at least a first fixed indication for indicate the hours, and in that the second mobile has a minute wheel carrying at least one indication intended to cooperate with at least a second fixed indication to indicate the minutes, the first and second fixed indications being carried by the building of the movement watchmaker.

Thanks to these characteristics, the wheels minutes and hours play directly the role of minutes display organs, respectively, hours, while the corresponding graduations are carried directly by the building of the watch movement, for example by platinum. Thus, the display device reduces both the number of components required and the size of the display device with reference to known display devices.

Preferably, it can be provided that the hours wheel bears graduations hours, which can be either affixed to the wheel, or made in the form of engravings in the wheel.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the hour wheel carries an hour indication index for cooperating with fixed scales of hours.

Similarly, it can be provided that the minute wheel carries minutes graduations, which can be either affixed to the wheel, or made in the form of engravings in the wheel.

Alternatively, οη may provide that the minute wheel carries a minute indication index intended to cooperate with fixed graduations minutes.

According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the second mobile display minutes, carries a pinion arranged in engagement with the hour wheel. Thus, the clockwork is reduced to the minimum necessary with reference to a conventional timer train.

In general, it can be provided that the minute wheel has a peripheral toothing intended to present a kinematic connection with a mobile of a finishing gear of the watch movement, in order to ensure the drive of the device of display.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece equipped with a watch movement that meets the characteristics that have just been presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples. and, wherein: FIG. Irepresente simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 represents a simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, and [0021] FIG. 3 represents a simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment (s) of the Invention [0022] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a simplified simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device according to first, second and third preferred embodiments of the invention.

Note that, in general, the minimum necessary components of the corresponding watch movement has been shown for clarity, since the construction of the watch movement has virtually no impact on the implementation implementation of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

This display device comprises a first display mobile 2, hours, and a second display mobile 4, minutes.

Display mobiles 2 and 4 preferably have a kinematic connection between them to ensure perfect synchronization between the displays of hours and minutes.

More specifically, the first display unit 2 comprises a 6 hour toothed wheel, integral with an axis 8 for its pivotal mounting on a building element of the watch movement. The second mobile 4; display of minutes, comprises a pinion (not visible) integral with a minute wheel 10.

According to the present preferred embodiment, the hour wheel 6 is arranged directly in engagement with the pinion of the second mobile 4, which allows to reduce the minisum gear to minimum strici.

The display device 1 is directly supported by the building of the watch movement, here by the plate 12 of the movement. In variants, the display device 1 may be supported by one or more bridges of the movement.

The plate 12 has holes and holes adapted to accommodate mobiles and their axes, conventionally, here in particular for the first and second mobiles 2 and 4.

By way of nonlimiting illustration, the first mobile 2, hours display, is here substantially arranged on the radius passing through the midi position of a conventional watch, the second mobile display 4, minutes, being arranged substantially between the nine o'clock and ten o'clock positions.

According to the present invention, the hours wheel 6 carries indications intended to allow a display of hours in relation to at least one fixed indication.

In the first embodiment of FIG. 1, hour graduations are affixed to the hour wheel 6, for example by decal or by any other suitable known method. Furthermore, a fixed indication is here carried directly by the plate 12, more specifically an hour index 14 having the shape of an arrow and defining a reading point hours on the hour wheel 6.

Similarly, minute graduations are affixed to the minute wheel 10, for example by decal or by any other suitable known method. Moreover, a fixed indication is here carried directly by the plate 12, more specifically a minute index 16 having the form of a fioche and defining a minute reading point on the minute wheel 10.

The indexes of the hours 14 and minutes 16 may be made in any known manner adapted to the implementation of the present invention, such as for example by decal (possibly using a phosphorescent paint) or by etching (optionally by laser), or even by stamping.

It should be noted that the minute wheel 10 is toothed here and may, for example, have a kinematic connection with a mobile of the finishing gear of the corresponding watch movement to ensure the driving of the display device 1.

Thanks to the characteristics of the display device 1 which have just been presented, it is possible to implement a display of the time in a timepiece requiring a very limited number of components, thus simplifying the assembly of the corresponding clock movement and leading to a much smaller footprint than conventional displays, while maintaining an optimal level of readability.

FIG. 2 represents a simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device 100 according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

The display device 100 has a construction identical to that of the display device 1.

It comprises a wheel hours 106 and a minute wheel 110 bearing hour graduations made this time by etching.

It is then possible to implement corresponding fixed indications similar to those of the first embodiment (in the form of indexes 14, 16) or, alternatively, to provide fixed indications on the plate 12 made under the form of targets 114, 116 contrasting, for example color. Thanks to this characteristic, the graduation corresponding to the current time, at a given time, is highlighted by a marked contrast because the corresponding contrasting target appears through the opening formed by etching, so that spring of FIG. 2 (which reads that it is ten hours and ten minutes).

This gives a different appearance for reading the time by means of the display device 100, while preserving the advantages described above in connection with the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 represents a simplified front view of a watch movement comprising a display device 200 according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

The display device 200 has a construction identical to that of the display device 1.

It comprises an hour wheel 206 and a minute wheel 210 bearing indications, respectively, hours and minutes made differently with reference to the first two embodiments described previously.

More precisely, instead of providing graduations on the peripheral ring of each of the wheels, as presented above, each of the wheels 206, 210 is shaped here in such a way that it comprises several arms defining themselves graduations.

Thus, the hour wheel 206 has four evenly distributed arm groups, connecting the hub of the wheel to its peripheral ring and, a first group 216 represents a three in Roman numerals, a second group 218 represents a six in Roman numerals, a third group 220 represents a nine in Roman numerals and the fourth group 222 represents a twelve in Roman numerals.

Similarly, the minute wheel 210 has four evenly distributed arm groups, connecting the hub of the wheel to its peripheral ring and, of which a first group 226 represents a fifteen in Arabic numerals, a second group 228 represents a thirty in Arabic numerals, a third group 230 represents a forty-five in Arabic numerals and the fourth group 232 represents a sixty in Arabic numerals.

In a manner similar to that described in connection with the first embodiment, fixed indexes 214, 215, respectively, hours and minutes are affixed to the plate 12 to allow the reading of the time to a given moment.

This gives an additional different appearance for reading the time by means of the display device 200, while preserving the advantages described above in relation to the first two embodiments.

The foregoing description attempts to describe particular embodiments as non-limiting illustrations and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics that have just been described, such as the fact that the display mobiles hours and display minutes are in direct contact with each other. It is indeed possible to provide for example an intermediate reference, in particular to ensure that the two display mobiles rotate in the same direction, while maintaining a reduced level of space. Furthermore, the skilled person will not encounter any particular difficulty to implement these mobile display in any other place on the building of the watch movement without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

In general, it can be provided as an alternative to what has been described that at least one wheel hours and minutes carries a simple index (mobile) cooperating with fixed scales carried by the building of the movement, without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the fixed indications for the display of the hours and for the display of the minutes can be carried by the same element of the building of the clock movement or by distinct elements of the building, for example one by the plate and the another by a bridge, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the first and second fixed indications, respectively for the indication of the hours and for the indication of the minutes, may be distinct or, alternatively, made in the form of a single indication which may then be extended to be located. next to both the hour wheel and the minute wheel. The display device according to the present invention may advantageously be used for the realization of a timepiece of extra-flat type, but may also be implemented in relation to any other type of room. watchmaking without departing from the scope of the invention. The skilled person will not encounter any particular difficulty to adapt the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and to implement a timepiece that only partially meets the characteristics described, comprising a device for time display comprising two time-related display mobiles connected kinematically and each of which comprises a wheel bearing indications for displaying the time, in relation to fixed indications carried by the building of the movement, without leaving of the scope of the invention. claims 1. Watch movement comprising a display device (1, 100, 200) comprising a first mobile (2) for displaying the hours, arranged pivotally on a member of the building (12) of the watch movement, a second mobile (4) ), of minutes display, arranged pivotally on a member of the building (12) of the watch movement, a kinematic connection arranged to connect a toothed hour wheel (6, 106, 206) of said first mobile (2) with said second mobile (4), characterized in that said hour wheel (6, 106, 206) carries at least one indication intended to cooperate with at least a first fixed indication (14, 114, 214) to indicate the hours, and in that said second mobile (4) comprises a minute wheel (10, 110, 210) bearing at least one indication intended to cooperate with at least one second fixed indication (16, 116, 215) to indicate the minutes, said first and second indications being carried by said housing (12) of the movement watchmaker. 2. watch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that said hour wheel (6, 106, 206) carries graduations hours. 3. Watch movement according to claim 2, characterized in that said indications of hours are affixed to said hour wheel (6). 4. Watch movement according to claim 2, characterized in that said hours indications are engraved in said hour wheel (106, 206). 5. Watch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that said hour wheel carries an hour indication index for cooperating with fixed hour scale. 6. Watch movement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said minute wheel (10, 110, 210) carries graduations minutes. 7. Watch movement according to claim 6, characterized in that said minutes indications are affixed to said minute wheel (10). 8. Watch movement according to claim 6, characterized in that said minutes indications are etched in said minute wheel (110, 210). 9. Watch movement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said minute wheel carries a minute indicating index intended to cooperate with fixed graduations minutes. 10. Clock movement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second mobile (4) display minutes, carries a pinion arranged in engagement with said hour wheel (6,106, 206). 11. Watch movement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said minute wheel (10, 110, 210) has a peripheral toothing intended to present a kinematic connection with a mobile of a finishing gear of the watch movement. 12. Timepiece comprising a box housing a watch movement according to one of claims 1 to 11.