EP0135823B1 - Perpetual calender comprising a quadrennial cycle indicator - Google Patents

Perpetual calender comprising a quadrennial cycle indicator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0135823B1
EP0135823B1 EP84110154A EP84110154A EP0135823B1 EP 0135823 B1 EP0135823 B1 EP 0135823B1 EP 84110154 A EP84110154 A EP 84110154A EP 84110154 A EP84110154 A EP 84110154A EP 0135823 B1 EP0135823 B1 EP 0135823B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ring
month
year
star
indicator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP84110154A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0135823A1 (en
Inventor
Louis Baumgartner
Philippe Meylan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omega SA
Original Assignee
Omega SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omega SA filed Critical Omega SA
Publication of EP0135823A1 publication Critical patent/EP0135823A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0135823B1 publication Critical patent/EP0135823B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • 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
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/243—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator
    • G04B19/247—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator disc-shaped
    • G04B19/253—Driving or releasing mechanisms
    • G04B19/25306—Independent date indicating devices activated by hand or by clockwork, e.g. calendar watches
    • G04B19/25313—Independent date indicating devices activated by hand or by clockwork, e.g. calendar watches driven or released by a steady movement
    • G04B19/2532—Independent date indicating devices activated by hand or by clockwork, e.g. calendar watches driven or released by a steady movement automatically corrected at the end of mounths having less than 31 days
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • 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
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/241—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars the date is indicated by one or more hands

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a perpetual calendar mechanism for a timepiece comprising a month star performing one revolution per year, a month cam fixed on the month star and having solid parts corresponding to the months of thirty-one. days, shallow notches corresponding to those of thirty days and an opening located between the solid parts corresponding to the months of January and March, a mobile pivoting on the star of the months and comprising inter alia a cam of the years arranged to perform a in four years, said year cam having four flanks appearing in turn in said opening, a month indicator and a four year cycle indicator.
  • the star of the months is provided with a mobile which pivots on it and which comprises a cam of the years which is arranged to carry out a turn in four years.
  • the present invention precisely takes advantage of this arrangement and causes the indication of the cycle of four years to depend, not on the rotation of the star of the months but on the position of the cam of the years, which leads to a simplified construction and less cumbersome.
  • the date display (not shown in the drawings which accompany this description) can be done by means of a hand or even by means of a disc, the numerical indications of which appear in turn through a window.
  • the needle or the disc capable of making a turn in thirty-one days, is controlled by a so-called multiple rocker of which one of the spouts is controlled by a cam which makes a turn in twelve months and which will be discussed below.
  • Fig. 1 is a top view of a first alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • the indications 2 relating to the months of the year and distributed over a circumference.
  • the month 3 needle is chased on a month 4 star cannon which pivots on a post 5.
  • fig. 2 is a section through FIG. 1, we see that the post 5 is secured to the calendar board 40 for example by hunting.
  • the star 6 On the barrel 4 is driven the star 6 which thus rotates freely around the tenon 5 which serves as its pivot axis.
  • a month cam 7 is fixed on the star by means of screws 8.
  • the spout of the multiple rocker rests to slave the date hand to the current month as was mentioned above.
  • the beak of the rocker is symbolized in figs. 1 and 2 by arrow 14 while the servo mechanism of the date indicator is not shown.
  • the month star 6 carries twelve teeth and the cam 7 has solid parts 9 corresponding to the months of thirty-one days and shallow notches 10 corresponding to those of thirty days.
  • the cam 7 In the cam 7 is made an opening 11 situated between the solid parts corresponding to the months of January 9 'and March 9 ".
  • this opening 11 In this opening 11 is housed the cam from the 12s which is presented as a small rectangle forming part of a mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6. It is apparent that three sides of the rectangle are equidistant from the pivot point 15 while the fourth, which is here in the form of an arc, is further away.
  • the spout 14 In February, the spout 14 is opposite the opening 11. If, at this moment, is turned towards the outside of the opening 11. If at this moment, is turned towards the outside of the opening 11 one of the three flanks closest to the center, the beak 14 will have its maximum penetration, which will correspond to a month of February of twenty-eight days.
  • the cam 12 makes one revolution in four years, which generally is obtained in the following manner.
  • the cam 12 is provided with a barrel 16 cut in a square which pivots freely in the star 6.
  • a Maltese cross 17 with four entrances held integral with the cam of the 12 years by a screw 18.
  • a finger from the 26s is chased on the tenon 5.
  • the finger 26 therefore remains stationary.
  • the star 6 makes one turn per year, it will be understood that the Maltese cross 17 and therefore the cam of the 12 years which is linked to it will only turn a quarter of a turn during the same period of time.
  • the arcuate side of the cam 12 will be placed in front of the opening 11, as shown in fig.1.
  • the present invention takes advantage of the state of the art which has just been exposed to control a four-year cycle indicator by the mobile 13 pivoting on the star and of which the cam of the 12 years.
  • the mechanism first has a first ring 20 which is integral with the month star 6. It can be seen that the screws 8 are screwed into a thread formed in the ring 20 in such a way that when they are tightened, ring 20, cam 7 and star 6 form a rigid assembly which performs one revolution per year and which drives in its rotation the month needle 3, said needle being integral with the barrel 4 itself integral with the star 6.
  • the mechanism then has a second ring 21 arranged to rotate freely inside the first ring 20.
  • This second ring is driven on a pinion 22 mounted freely on the barrel 4.
  • the teeth 23 of the pinion 22 mesh with a toothing 24 carried by the mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6.
  • the second ring constitutes the cycle indicator of four years proper and happens to be controlled by the mobile 13.
  • the finger 26 begins to enter an entry 27 of the Maltese cross 17.
  • the mobile 13 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow 28 if the star rotates in the direction of the arrow 29.
  • the Maltese cross occupies the position illustrated in fig. 3.
  • the entry 27 of the Maltese cross 17 will leave the finger 26 and in February the round 50 of the Maltese cross is again in contact with the circular part 25 of the finger 26.
  • the Maltese cross 17 and the mobile 3 which is linked to it will have made a quarter turn in the direction of the arrow 28 and will have driven, via the toothing 24, the pinion 22 and the second ring 21 by a quarter turn In the opposite way.
  • the visible faces of the rings 20 and 21 are arranged in the same plane as the visible face of the dial 1.
  • the visible face of the first ring 20 is divided into four areas, the first marked "1", the second marked "2", the third marked “3” and the fourth marked "leap”.
  • An index 30 is affixed to the visible face of the second ring 21. From February to September, the month hand 3, the first ring 20 and the second ring 21 rotate in synchronism in the direction of the arrow 41 The index 30 remains permanently centered in front of the range marked "leap" of the first ring 20, thereby indicating that the current year is a leap year.
  • the second ring 21 begins to rotate in the opposite direction to the first ring 20 and in the direction of the arrow 31.
  • the index 30 will be centered on the indication "1" indicating a first pre-leap year.
  • the hand 3 could be replaced by an index affixed to the first ring 20, said index then playing the role of indicator of the months.
  • the cam from the 12s is surmounted by an indicator disc from the 36s which is chased there and therefore rotates with it.
  • the ring 35 is provided with a window 37 which reveals information carried by the disc.
  • the disc 36 will make a revolution in four years and present through the window 37 four different tracks, the change of track taking place over four months (October to January) so that the indication of the current year appears clearly when we approach the month of February.
  • the indicator disc for years 36 turns on itself at each change of year and revolves around tenon 5 in a year driven by the star 6 and the ring 35 secured to said star.
  • Fig. 4 is a top view of the indicator according to this second variant.
  • the visible surface of the ring 35 is at the same level as the top of the dial 1 of the watch.
  • This dial bears the indications 2 of the months.
  • the month indicator here is an index 38 affixed to the ring, but it could be a needle driven out of the barrel 4 (see fig. 5), as was the case in the first variant described above.
  • the disc 36 contains four pieces of information distributed at equal distance from each other, three of which relate to the pre-leap years and marked "1", "2" and "3" and the fourth of which relates to the leap year and marked "BIS". One of this information appears in the window 37 and then changes with each revolution of the index 38.
  • this second variant of embodiment directly takes advantage of the rotation of the mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6 to display the current year since it is no longer necessary to equip the mechanism with a pinion meshing with a toothing as in the first variant.
  • this second variant requires a ring 35 of large diameter so that the indications carried by the disc 36 are still legible in the window. This drawback could be avoided by replacing numbers and letters with colored dots, for example red for the leap year, white, black and blue for the pre-leap years.
  • the disc 36 could be replaced by a needle whose axis would be integral with the mobile 13 and would cross the ring 35.
  • the indications "1", “2" and “3” and “leap "Would be affixed directly to the ring 35.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Displays For Variable Information Using Movable Means (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)

Abstract

The perpetual calendar mechanism of the invention comprises in addition to the months indicator a four year cycle indicator which displays successively the normal years and the leap-year. The four year cycle indicator is controlled directly or indirectly by a rotatable assembly journalled on the month star such assembly including a year cam and a Maltese cross enabling it to effect one revolution every four years. In one variant illustrated the mechanism includes a first ring bearing the year indications and a second ring concentric to the first ring bearing an index marker. At each year change the index marker is shifted a quarter turn relative to the indications borne by the first ring.

Description

L'invention est relative à un mécanisme de quantième perpétuel pour pièce d'horlogerie comprenant une étoile des mois effectuant un tour par année, une came des mois fixée sur l'étoile des mois et présentant des parties pleines correspondant aux mois de trente et un jours, des encoches peu profondes correspondant à ceux de trente jours et une ouverture située entre les parties pleines correspondant aux mois de janvier et de mars, un mobile pivotant sur l'étoile des mois et comprenant entre autres une came des années arrangée pour effectuer un tour en quatre ans, ladite came des années présentant quatre flancs apparaissant à tour de rôle dans ladite ouverture, un indicateur des mois et un indicateur de cycle de quatre ans.The invention relates to a perpetual calendar mechanism for a timepiece comprising a month star performing one revolution per year, a month cam fixed on the month star and having solid parts corresponding to the months of thirty-one. days, shallow notches corresponding to those of thirty days and an opening located between the solid parts corresponding to the months of January and March, a mobile pivoting on the star of the months and comprising inter alia a cam of the years arranged to perform a in four years, said year cam having four flanks appearing in turn in said opening, a month indicator and a four year cycle indicator.

Dans les montres à grande complication, on connaît principalement deux sortes de mécanisme de quantième perpétuel. On reconnaît habituellement le premier de ces mécanismes par le petit cadran sur lequel se meut l'aiguille des mois qui porte les noms des mois pour quatre ans. L'aiguille chargée d'indiquer le mois fait alors un tour en quatre ans. Ce système permet donc d'abord de reconnaître que l'on a affaire à un quantième perpétuel, puis de savoir immédiatement sur quelle année est calée la montre par rapport à l'année bissextile. Le second mécanisme répond lui à la définition générique donnée à l'alinéa ci-dessus où l'indicateur ou aiguille des mois fait une révolution par année. Dans ce cas cependant, rien n'indiquera qu'on a affaire à une montre pourvue d'un calendrier perpétuel-pas plus qu'on ne sera assuré que la montre est correctement réglée par rapport à l'année bissextile si elle n'est pas équipée d'un indicateur supplémentaire de cycle de quatre ans.In large complication watches, two main types of perpetual calendar mechanism are known. The first of these mechanisms is usually recognized by the small dial on which the month hand moves, which bears the names of the months for four years. The hand responsible for indicating the month then turns in four years. This system therefore makes it possible first of all to recognize that we are dealing with a perpetual calendar, then to immediately know which year the watch is set against the leap year. The second mechanism meets the generic definition given in the paragraph above where the month indicator or hand makes one revolution per year. In this case, however, nothing will indicate that we are dealing with a watch fitted with a perpetual calendar - no more than we will be assured that the watch is correctly adjusted in relation to the leap year if it is not not equipped with an additional four-year cycle indicator.

Un tel indicateur supplémentaire est proposé par exemple sur le mouvement qui porte le numéro 861389 du constructeur Patek-Philippe. Dans cette construction, l'étoile des mois, qui porte l'aiguille des mois et fait un tour en une année, commande un train d'engrenages démultiplicateur qui entraîne finalement une aiguille des années qui fait une révolution en quatre ans et dont l'axe est coaxial à l'axe de l'aiguille des mois. On comprendra cependant que ce système de renvoi est compliqué et surtout qu'il prend de la place en épaisseur.Such an additional indicator is proposed for example on the movement which bears the number 861389 of the manufacturer Patek-Philippe. In this construction, the star of the months, which carries the hand of the months and makes a turn in one year, controls a train of reduction gears which finally drives a hand of the years which makes a revolution in four years and whose axis is coaxial with the axis of the month hand. It will be understood, however, that this return system is complicated and above all that it takes up space in thickness.

On a vu plus haut que dans cette seconde sorte de mécanisme, l'étoile des mois est pourvue d'un mobile qui pivote sur elle et qui comporte une came des années qui est arrangée pour effectuer un tour en quatre ans. La présente invention tire précisément profit de cet arrangement et fait déprendre l'indication du cycle de quatre ans non pas de la rotation de l'étoile des mois mais de la position de la came des années, ce qui conduit à une construction simplifiée et moins encombrante.We saw above that in this second kind of mechanism, the star of the months is provided with a mobile which pivots on it and which comprises a cam of the years which is arranged to carry out a turn in four years. The present invention precisely takes advantage of this arrangement and causes the indication of the cycle of four years to depend, not on the rotation of the star of the months but on the position of the cam of the years, which leads to a simplified construction and less cumbersome.

On a cité dans le rapport de recherche le brevet US-A-527386 qui propose une came des années faisant un tour en quatre ans et sur l'axe de laquelle on trouve une aiguille indicatrice du cycle de quatre ans. Dans ce brevet cependant la came des années n'est pas montée pivotante sur l'étoile des mois mais sur une plaque fixe servant de cadran à la pièce d'horlogerie. Il n'y a donc là pas de difficulté à munir la came d'un indicateur puisque cette came ne change pas de place par rapport au cadran tout au long d'une révolution annuelle de l'étoile des mois. Dans la présente pièce d'horlogerie au contraire, et comme cela apparaîtra par la suite, la came des années est montée pivotante sur l'étoile des mois et se déplace donc par rapport au cadran tout au long de l'année, selon une construction moderne et éprouvée de ce genre de mécanisme. Il s'agit donc de résoudre ici un problème que ne se posait pas à propos du brevet cité, et qui consiste à faire dépendre l'indication du cycle des quatre ans de la position d'une came des années qui se déplace. à son tour continuellement par rapport au cadran.We cited in the research report US-A-527386 which proposes a cam for years making a turn in four years and on the axis of which there is a pointer indicating the cycle of four years. In this patent, however, the years cam is not pivotally mounted on the month star but on a fixed plate serving as a dial for the timepiece. There is therefore no difficulty in providing the cam with an indicator since this cam does not change place with respect to the dial throughout an annual revolution of the month star. In the present timepiece, on the contrary, and as will appear later, the years cam is pivotally mounted on the month star and therefore moves relative to the dial throughout the year, according to a construction modern and proven of this kind of mechanism. It is therefore a question here of solving a problem which did not arise in connection with the cited patent, and which consists in making the indication of the cycle of the four years depend on the position of a cam of the years which moves. in turn continuously relative to the dial.

La solution à ce problème est indiquée dans les moyens qui apparaissent dans les revendications.The solution to this problem is indicated in the means which appear in the claims.

L'invention sera expliquée maintenant à l'aide de la description qui suit et des dessins qui illustrent à titre d'exemple dans lesquels:

  • La fig. 1 est une vue de dessus de l'indicateur des mois et de l'indicateur de cycle de quatre ans selon une première variante d'exécution de l'invention;
  • la fig. 2 est une coupe de mécanisme tel qu'il apparaît en fig. 1;
  • la fig. 3 est une vue de dessous de mécanisme selon la fig. 2 quand la planche de calendrier a été enlevée;
  • la fig. 4 est une vue de dessus de l'indicateur des mois et de l'indicateur de cycle de quatre ans selon une seconde variante d'exécution de l'invention; et
  • la fig. 5 est une coupe partielle du mécanisme tel qu'il apparaît en fig. 4.
The invention will now be explained with the aid of the description which follows and of the drawings which illustrate by way of example in which:
  • Fig. 1 is a top view of the month indicator and the four-year cycle indicator according to a first variant of the invention;
  • fig. 2 is a sectional view of a mechanism as it appears in FIG. 1;
  • fig. 3 is a bottom view of the mechanism according to FIG. 2 when the calendar board has been removed;
  • fig. 4 is a top view of the month indicator and the four-year cycle indicator according to a second variant embodiment of the invention; and
  • fig. 5 is a partial section of the mechanism as it appears in FIG. 4.

Il n'est pas question de décrire ici dans le détail le fonctionnement d'un mécanisme de quantième perpétuel. Le lecteur intéressé trouvera par exemple dans l'ouvrage de B. Humbert intitulé «Les montres-calendrier modernes» tous les renseignements utiles à la compréhension du fonctionnement d'un tel mécanisme (Edition Scriptar S.A., Lausanne, 1953, p. 35-46). On mentionnera cependant qu'une montre à quantième perpétuel ne nécessite pas de correction manuelle d'affichage de la date à la fin des mois comptant mois de trente et un jours. De même tous les quatre ans, à l'avènement de l'année bissextile et au mois de février, la montre affichera la chiffre vingt-neuf avant d'indiquer le premier mars. L'affichage de la date (non représenté aux dessins qui accompagnent cette description) peut se faire au moyen d'une aiguille ou encore au moyen d'un disque dont les indications chiffrées apparaissent à tour de rôle au travers d'un guichet. L'aiguille ou le disque, susceptible de faire un tour en trente et un jours, est commandé par une bascule dite multiple dont un des becs est asservi à une came qui fait un tour en douze mois et dont il sera question ci-après.There is no question of describing here in detail the operation of a perpetual calendar mechanism. The interested reader will find for example in the work of B. Humbert entitled "Modern watches-calendar" all the information useful for the understanding of the functioning of such a mechanism (Edition Scriptar SA, Lausanne, 1953, p. 35-46 ). It should however be mentioned that a perpetual calendar watch does not require manual correction of the date display at the end of the months counting thirty-one month. Similarly, every four years, at the advent of the leap year and in February, the watch will display the number twenty-nine before indicating the first of March. The date display (not shown in the drawings which accompany this description) can be done by means of a hand or even by means of a disc, the numerical indications of which appear in turn through a window. The needle or the disc, capable of making a turn in thirty-one days, is controlled by a so-called multiple rocker of which one of the spouts is controlled by a cam which makes a turn in twelve months and which will be discussed below.

La fig. 1 est une vue de dessus d'une première variante d'exécution de l'invention. Sur le cadran 1 de la montre sont imprimées les indications 2 relatives aux mois de l'année et réparties sur un tour de circonférence. L'aiguille des mois 3 est chassée sur un canon d'étoile des mois 4 qui pivote sur un tenon 5.Fig. 1 is a top view of a first alternative embodiment of the invention. On the dial 1 of the watch are printed the indications 2 relating to the months of the year and distributed over a circumference. The month 3 needle is chased on a month 4 star cannon which pivots on a post 5.

Si l'on se réfère maintenant à la fig. 2 qui est une coupe à travers la fig. 1, on voit que le tenon 5 est solidaire de la planche de calendrier 40 par exemple par chassage. Sur le canon 4 est chassée l'étoile 6 qui tourne ainsi librement autour du tenon 5 qui lui sert d'axe de pivotement. Une came des mois 7 est fixée sur l'étoile au moyen de vis 8. Sur cette came s'appuie le bec de la bascule multiple pour asservir l'aiguille de la date au mois en cours comme cela a été évoqué plus haut. Le bec de la bascule est symbolisé aux fig. 1 et 2 par la flèche 14 alors que le mécanisme d'asservissement de l'indicateur de la date n'est pas représenté. Comme on le voit mieux sur la fig. 1, l'étoile des mois 6 porte douze dents et la came 7 présente des parties pleines 9 correspondant aux mois de trente et un jours et des encoches peu profondes 10 correspondant à ceux de trente jours. Dans la came 7 est pratiquée une ouverture 11 située entre les parties pleines correspondant aux mois de janvier 9' et de mars 9". Dans cette ouverture 11 est logée la came des années 12 qui se présente comme un petit rectangle faisant partie d'un mobile 13 pivotant sur l'étoile 6. Il est apparent que trois flancs du rectangle sont à égale distance du point de pivotement 15 alors que le quatrième, qui se présente ici sous la forme d'un arc de cercle, en est plus éloigné. Au mois de février, le bec 14 se trouve en face de l'ouverture 11. Si, à ce moment, se trouve tourné vers l'extérieur de l'ouverture 11. Si à ce moment, se trouve tourné vers l'extérieur de l'ouverture 11 un des trois flancs le plus rapproché du centre, le bec 14 aura son maximum de pénétration, ce qui correspondra à un mois de février de vingt-huit jours. Si, au contraire, c'est le flanc en arc de cercle qui est dirigé vers l'extérieur de l'ouverture 11, comme dessiné sur la fig. 1, le bec 14 se trouvera dans une situation de pénétration intermédiaire entre l'encoche peu profonde 10 et un flanc proche de l'axe de pivotement de la came des années 12: cela correspondra à un mois de février de vingt-neuf jours. Dans le premier cas considéré ci-dessus, il y aura passage de l'indicateur de date du vingt-huit février au premier mars, tandis que dans le second cas, représentant l'année bissextile, le passage au premier mars se fera le vingt-neuf février. Ainsi, il y a succession de trois années normales et d'une année bissextile.If we now refer to fig. 2 which is a section through FIG. 1, we see that the post 5 is secured to the calendar board 40 for example by hunting. On the barrel 4 is driven the star 6 which thus rotates freely around the tenon 5 which serves as its pivot axis. A month cam 7 is fixed on the star by means of screws 8. On this cam the spout of the multiple rocker rests to slave the date hand to the current month as was mentioned above. The beak of the rocker is symbolized in figs. 1 and 2 by arrow 14 while the servo mechanism of the date indicator is not shown. As best seen in fig. 1, the month star 6 carries twelve teeth and the cam 7 has solid parts 9 corresponding to the months of thirty-one days and shallow notches 10 corresponding to those of thirty days. In the cam 7 is made an opening 11 situated between the solid parts corresponding to the months of January 9 'and March 9 ". In this opening 11 is housed the cam from the 12s which is presented as a small rectangle forming part of a mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6. It is apparent that three sides of the rectangle are equidistant from the pivot point 15 while the fourth, which is here in the form of an arc, is further away. In February, the spout 14 is opposite the opening 11. If, at this moment, is turned towards the outside of the opening 11. If at this moment, is turned towards the outside of the opening 11 one of the three flanks closest to the center, the beak 14 will have its maximum penetration, which will correspond to a month of February of twenty-eight days. If, on the contrary, it is the flank in arc of circle which is directed towards the outside of the opening 11, as drawn in Fig. 1, the spout 14 will be in a situ ation of intermediate penetration between the shallow notch 10 and a flank close to the pivot axis of the cam of the 12 years: this will correspond to a month of February of twenty-nine days. In the first case considered above, there will be a change from the date indicator from February 28 to March 1, while in the second case, representing the leap year, the change to March 1 will be on the - new February. Thus, there is a succession of three normal years and one leap year.

Il faut donc que la came 12 effectue un tour en quatre ans, ce qui généralement est obtenu de la façon suivante. La came 12 est pourvue d'un canon 16 taillé en carré qui pivote librement dans l'étoile 6. Sur ce carré est ajustée une croix de Malte 17 à quatre entrées maintenue solidaire de la came des années 12 par une vis 18. Comme on le voit en fig. 3, un doigt des années 26 est chassé sur le tenon 5. Lorsque l'étoile tourne, le doigt 26 reste donc immobile. Comme l'étoile 6 effectue un tour par année, on comprendra que la croix de Malte 17 et donc la came des années 12 qui lui est liée ne tournera que d'un quart de tour pendant le même laps de temps. Ainsi, tous les quatre ans, le côté en arc de cercle de la came 12 viendra se placer devant l'ouverture 11, comme l'indique la fig.1.It is therefore necessary that the cam 12 makes one revolution in four years, which generally is obtained in the following manner. The cam 12 is provided with a barrel 16 cut in a square which pivots freely in the star 6. On this square is adjusted a Maltese cross 17 with four entrances held integral with the cam of the 12 years by a screw 18. As we see it in fig. 3, a finger from the 26s is chased on the tenon 5. When the star rotates, the finger 26 therefore remains stationary. As the star 6 makes one turn per year, it will be understood that the Maltese cross 17 and therefore the cam of the 12 years which is linked to it will only turn a quarter of a turn during the same period of time. Thus, every four years, the arcuate side of the cam 12 will be placed in front of the opening 11, as shown in fig.1.

Comme cela a déjà été évoqué, la présente invention tire profit de l'état de la technique qui vient d'être exposé pour commander un indicateur de cycle de quatre ans par le mobile 13 pivotant sur l'étoile et dont fait partie la came des années 12.As already mentioned, the present invention takes advantage of the state of the art which has just been exposed to control a four-year cycle indicator by the mobile 13 pivoting on the star and of which the cam of the 12 years.

Une première variante d'exécution de l'invention va être expliquée maintenant à l'aide des fig. 1, 2 et 3. Le mécanisme présente d'abord un premier anneau 20 qui est solidaire de l'étoile des mois 6. On voit que les vis 8 sont vissées dans un taraudage pratiqué dans l'anneau 20 de telle manière que lorsqu'on les serre, anneau 20, came 7 et étoile 6 forment un ensemble rigide qui effectue une révolution par année et qui entraîne dans sa rotation l'aiguille des mois 3, ladite aiguille étant solidaire du canon 4 lui-même solidaire de l'étoile 6.A first alternative embodiment of the invention will now be explained with the aid of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The mechanism first has a first ring 20 which is integral with the month star 6. It can be seen that the screws 8 are screwed into a thread formed in the ring 20 in such a way that when they are tightened, ring 20, cam 7 and star 6 form a rigid assembly which performs one revolution per year and which drives in its rotation the month needle 3, said needle being integral with the barrel 4 itself integral with the star 6.

Le mécanisme présente ensuite un second anneau 21 arrangé pour tourner librement à l'intérieur du premier anneau 20. Ce second anneau est chassé sur un pignon 22 monté libre sur le canon 4. Les dents 23 du pignon 22 engrènent avec une denture 24 portée par le mobile 13 pivotant sur l'étoile 6. Le second anneau constitue l'indicateur de cycle de quatre ans proprement dit et se trouve être commandé par le mobile 13.The mechanism then has a second ring 21 arranged to rotate freely inside the first ring 20. This second ring is driven on a pinion 22 mounted freely on the barrel 4. The teeth 23 of the pinion 22 mesh with a toothing 24 carried by the mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6. The second ring constitutes the cycle indicator of four years proper and happens to be controlled by the mobile 13.

Pendant la plupart des mois de l'année, soit de février à septembre, l'arrondi 50 d'une dent de la croix de Malte 17 est en contact avec la partie circulaire 25 du doigt 26 (voir fig. 3). La croix de Malte est ainsi immobilisée par rapport à l'étoile. Pendant ce laps de temps donc, le second anneau 21 tournera en synchronisme avec le premier anneau 20 à cause du couplage existant entre la denture 24 et le pignon 22.During most months of the year, from February to September, the rounding 50 of a tooth of the Maltese cross 17 is in contact with the circular part 25 of the finger 26 (see fig. 3). The Maltese cross is thus immobilized in relation to the star. During this period of time therefore, the second ring 21 will rotate in synchronism with the first ring 20 because of the coupling existing between the toothing 24 and the pinion 22.

Dès le mois d'octobre, le doigt 26 commence à pénétrer dans une entrée 27 de la croix de Malte 17. Le mobile 13 est alors entraîné en rotation dans le sens de la flèche 28 si l'étoile tourne dans le sens de la flèche 29. Au milieu de sa révolution, soit entre les mois de novembre et de décembre, la croix de Malte occupe la position illustrée sur la fig. 3. Au mois de janvier, l'entrée 27 de la croix de Malte 17 va quitter le doigt 26 et en février l'arrondi 50 de la croix de Malte se trouve à nouveau en contact avec la partie circulaire 25 du doigt 26. Ainsi, la croix de Malte 17 et le mobile 3 qui lui est lié aura fait un quart de tour dans le sens de la flèche 28 et aura entrainé, via la denture 24, le pignon 22 et le second anneau 21 d'un quart de tour dans le sens inverse.From the month of October, the finger 26 begins to enter an entry 27 of the Maltese cross 17. The mobile 13 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow 28 if the star rotates in the direction of the arrow 29. In the middle of its revolution, that is to say between the months of November and December, the Maltese cross occupies the position illustrated in fig. 3. In January, the entry 27 of the Maltese cross 17 will leave the finger 26 and in February the round 50 of the Maltese cross is again in contact with the circular part 25 of the finger 26. Thus , the Maltese cross 17 and the mobile 3 which is linked to it will have made a quarter turn in the direction of the arrow 28 and will have driven, via the toothing 24, the pinion 22 and the second ring 21 by a quarter turn In the opposite way.

Dans une exécution pratique et comme on peut le voir en fig. 1, on dispose les faces visibles des anneaux 20 et 21 dans le même plan que la face visible du cadran 1. On divise la face visible du premier anneau 20 en quatre plages, la première portant l'indication «1», la seconde l'indication «2», la troisième l'indication «3» et la quatrième l'indication «bissextile». On appose un index 30 sur la face visible du second anneau 21. Depuis le mois de février au mois de septembre, l'aiguille des mois 3, le premier anneau 20 et le second anneau 21 tournent en synchronisme dans le sens de la flèche 41. L'index 30 reste centré en permanence devant la plage marquée «bissextile» du premier anneau 20, indiquant par là que l'année en cours est une année bissextile. Dès que l'aiguille 3 atteint le mois d'octobre, le second anneau 21 commence à tourner en sens inverse du premier anneau 20 et dans le sens de la flèche 31. Quand l'aiguille 3 aura atteint le mois de février, l'index 30 se trouvera centré sur l'indication «1» indiquant alors une première année prébissextile.In a practical execution and as can be seen in fig. 1, the visible faces of the rings 20 and 21 are arranged in the same plane as the visible face of the dial 1. The visible face of the first ring 20 is divided into four areas, the first marked "1", the second marked "2", the third marked "3" and the fourth marked "leap". An index 30 is affixed to the visible face of the second ring 21. From February to September, the month hand 3, the first ring 20 and the second ring 21 rotate in synchronism in the direction of the arrow 41 The index 30 remains permanently centered in front of the range marked "leap" of the first ring 20, thereby indicating that the current year is a leap year. As soon as the needle 3 reaches the month of October, the second ring 21 begins to rotate in the opposite direction to the first ring 20 and in the direction of the arrow 31. When the needle 3 has reached the month of February, the index 30 will be centered on the indication "1" indicating a first pre-leap year.

On notera à propos de cette exécution que l'aiguille 3 pourrait être remplacée par un index apposé sur le premier anneau 20, ledit index jouant alors le rôle d'indicateur des mois.It will be noted in connection with this embodiment that the hand 3 could be replaced by an index affixed to the first ring 20, said index then playing the role of indicator of the months.

On va décrire maintenant en s'aidant des fig. 4 et 5 une seconde variante d'exécution de l'invention.We will now describe with the aid of figs. 4 and 5 a second alternative embodiment of the invention.

Sur la fig. 5, qui est une coupe partielle du mécanisme selon cette seconde variante, on retrouve l'étoile des mois 6 et le mobile 13 pivotant sur l'étoile. Ce mobile comprend également une came des années 12 et une croix de Malte (non représentée) qui lui est attachée au moyen de la vis 18. Cette disposition est la même que celle qui a été expliquée à propos des trois premières figures. Sur l'étoile des mois 6, rivée sur le canon 4, est vissé un seul anneau 35. L'ensemble ainsi formé pivote sur le tenon 5.In fig. 5, which is a partial section of the mechanism according to this second variant, we find the month star 6 and the mobile 13 pivoting on the star. This mobile also includes a cam from the 12s and a Maltese cross (not shown) which is attached to it by means of the screw 18. This arrangement is the same as that which has been explained in connection with the first three figures. On the star of months 6, riveted on the barrel 4, is screwed a single ring 35. The assembly thus formed pivots on the tenon 5.

Dans cette variante, la came des années 12 est surmontée d'un disque indicateur des années 36 qui y est chassé et tourne donc avec elle. L'anneau 35 est pourvu d'un guichet 37 qui laisse apparaître des informations portées par le disque. Selon les explications qui ont été données plus haut, le disque 36 va faire une révolution en quatre ans et présenter à travers le guichet 37 quatre plages différentes, le changement de plage s'opérant sur quatre mois (octobre à janvier) de telle façon que l'indication de l'année courante apparaisse nettement lorsqu'on aborde le mois de février. Ainsi, le disque indicateur des années 36 tourne sur lui-même à chaque changement d'année et gravite autour de tenon 5 en une année entraîné qu'il est par l'étoile 6 et l'anneau 35 solidaire de ladite étoile.In this variant, the cam from the 12s is surmounted by an indicator disc from the 36s which is chased there and therefore rotates with it. The ring 35 is provided with a window 37 which reveals information carried by the disc. According to the explanations that were given above, the disc 36 will make a revolution in four years and present through the window 37 four different tracks, the change of track taking place over four months (October to January) so that the indication of the current year appears clearly when we approach the month of February. Thus, the indicator disc for years 36 turns on itself at each change of year and revolves around tenon 5 in a year driven by the star 6 and the ring 35 secured to said star.

La fig. 4 est une vue de dessus de l'indicateur selon cette seconde variante d'exécution. La surface visible de l'anneau 35 se trouve au même niveau que le dessus du cadran 1 de la montre. Ce cadran porte les indications 2 des mois. L'indicateur des mois est ici un index 38 apposé sur l'anneau, mais ce pourrait être une aiguille chassée sur le canon 4 (voir fig. 5), comme cela était le cas dans la première variante ci-dessus exposée. Le disque 36 comporte quatre informations réparties à égale distance l'une de l'autre dont trois sont relatives aux années prébissextiles et marquées «1», «2» et «3» et dont la quatrième est relative à l'année bissextile et marquée «BIS». Une de ces informations apparaît dans le guichet 37 puis change à chaque révolution de l'index 38.Fig. 4 is a top view of the indicator according to this second variant. The visible surface of the ring 35 is at the same level as the top of the dial 1 of the watch. This dial bears the indications 2 of the months. The month indicator here is an index 38 affixed to the ring, but it could be a needle driven out of the barrel 4 (see fig. 5), as was the case in the first variant described above. The disc 36 contains four pieces of information distributed at equal distance from each other, three of which relate to the pre-leap years and marked "1", "2" and "3" and the fourth of which relates to the leap year and marked "BIS". One of this information appears in the window 37 and then changes with each revolution of the index 38.

On comprendra que cette seconde variante d'exécution met à profit directement la rotation du mobile 13 pivotant sur l'étoile 6 pour afficher l'année courante puisqu'il n'est plus nécessaire d'équiper le mécanisme d'un pignon engrenant avec une denture comme dans la première variante d'exécution. Cependant, cette seconde variante nécessite un anneau 35 de grand diamètre pour que les indications portées par le disque 36 soient encore lisibles dans le guichet. Cet inconvénient pourrait être évité par contre si l'on remplaçait chiffres et lettres par des points du couleur, par exemple rouge pour l'année bissextile, blanc, noir et bleu pour les années prébissextiles.It will be understood that this second variant of embodiment directly takes advantage of the rotation of the mobile 13 pivoting on the star 6 to display the current year since it is no longer necessary to equip the mechanism with a pinion meshing with a toothing as in the first variant. However, this second variant requires a ring 35 of large diameter so that the indications carried by the disc 36 are still legible in the window. This drawback could be avoided by replacing numbers and letters with colored dots, for example red for the leap year, white, black and blue for the pre-leap years.

Dans cette seconde variante, le disque 36 pourrait être remplacé par une aiguille dont l'axe serait solidaire du mobile 13 et traverserait l'anneau 35. Dans ce cas, les indications «1», «2» et «3» et «bissextile» seraient directement apposées sur l'anneau 35.In this second variant, the disc 36 could be replaced by a needle whose axis would be integral with the mobile 13 and would cross the ring 35. In this case, the indications "1", "2" and "3" and "leap "Would be affixed directly to the ring 35.

Claims (5)

1. Perpetual calendar mechanism for a timepiece comprising a month star (6) effecting one revolution per year, a month cam (7) fixed to the month star and exhibiting full radius segments (9) corresponding to thirty-one day months, shallow notches (10) corresponding to thirty day months and an opening (11) between the full radius segments corresponding to January (9') and March (9"), a rotatable assembly (13) journalled on the month star and including a year cam (12) arranged to effect one revolution every four years, said year cam exhibiting four sides which appear successively in said opening, a month indicator (3) and a four year cycle indicator, characterized by the fact that the four year cycle indicator (21, 36) is controlled by the rotatable assembly (13) journalled on the month star (6).
2. Perpetual calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further includes a first ring (20) fixed to the month star (6), that the month indicator is a hand (3) borne by a pipe (4) fixed to the star and that the four-year cycle indicator comprises a second ring (21) fixed to a pinion (22) journalled on the pipe, said second ring being able to turn freely within the first ring and said pinion being arranged to mesh with teeth (24) borne by the rotatable assembly journalled on the star.
3. Perpetual calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the first (20) and second (21) rings exhibit two visible surfaces substantially coplanar with the visible surface of the timepiece dial (1), the visible surface of the first ring being divided into four sectors the first three of which bear information concerning normal years and the fourth bears information concerning leap-year, the visible surface of the second ring bearing an index (30) marker which passes from one sector to the next with each full revolution of the month hand.
4. Perpetual calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a ring (35) fixed to the month star, that the month indicator is an index (38) placed on the periphery of the ring and that the four-year cycle indicator comprises a disc (36) located under the ring and fixed to the rotatable assembly (13) journalled on the star (6), said ring having an opening (37) through which appear informations borne by the disc.
5. Perpetual calendar mechanism as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that the ring (35) exhibits a visible surface substantially coplanar with the visible surface of the timepiece dial (1) said disc (36) bearing four items of information three of which concern normal years and the fourth concerning leap-year, said information items appearing successively in said opening (37) with each full revolution of the month indicator index (38).
EP84110154A 1983-08-30 1984-08-25 Perpetual calender comprising a quadrennial cycle indicator Expired EP0135823B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4748/83 1983-08-30
CH474883A CH649433GA3 (en) 1983-08-30 1983-08-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0135823A1 EP0135823A1 (en) 1985-04-03
EP0135823B1 true EP0135823B1 (en) 1987-11-19

Family

ID=4281838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84110154A Expired EP0135823B1 (en) 1983-08-30 1984-08-25 Perpetual calender comprising a quadrennial cycle indicator

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4541725A (en)
EP (1) EP0135823B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6071976A (en)
CH (1) CH649433GA3 (en)
DE (1) DE3467644D1 (en)
HK (1) HK5193A (en)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2834234B2 (en) * 1989-02-14 1998-12-09 シチズン時計株式会社 Calendar display device
CH684815B5 (en) * 1993-07-15 1995-07-14 Longines Montres Comp D Mechanism annual calendar timepiece.
CH688069B5 (en) * 1994-05-27 1997-11-14 H D G S A R L Timepiece including a perpetual calendar.
CH687494B5 (en) * 1995-07-18 1997-06-30 Utc Service Ag Clock with two ads for two different local times.
USD435474S (en) * 2000-01-04 2000-12-26 Buddy Ray Benson Watch face
JP3772763B2 (en) * 2002-02-28 2006-05-10 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Electronic clock with date display function
ATE476688T1 (en) * 2005-12-23 2010-08-15 Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd MECHANISM FOR DISPLAYING VALUES IN VARIABLE CYCLES, ESPECIALLY IN A LUNAR AND SOLAR CALENDAR
EP1818738A3 (en) * 2006-02-14 2011-05-11 Franck Müller Watchland SA Four hundred year perpetual calendar
US8266831B2 (en) 2010-09-24 2012-09-18 Chee Wing Louie Promotional multi-year rotational calendar
EP2624075B1 (en) * 2010-11-03 2014-10-15 Rolex Sa Timepiece
EP3502790A1 (en) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-26 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Timepiece comprising a device for attaching a dial
JP6548799B2 (en) * 2018-09-21 2019-07-24 和郎 曽野 calendar
EP3696617B1 (en) * 2019-02-14 2023-07-05 Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH Mechanism for displaying month and leap year for a timepiece
EP4369112A1 (en) * 2022-11-09 2024-05-15 Montres Breguet S.A. Mechanism for displaying the next years of a clock movement with perpetual date display

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US268902A (en) * 1882-12-12 Calendar-clock
US46577A (en) * 1865-02-28 Improvement in calendar-clocks
US79026A (en) * 1868-06-16 William a
US527386A (en) * 1893-10-12 1894-10-09 Calendar-clock
US675763A (en) * 1899-11-21 1901-06-04 Josef Wejrostek Calendar-clock.
US2764828A (en) * 1955-03-09 1956-10-02 Nora Young Wolaver Sequence mechanism
US3628322A (en) * 1970-04-30 1971-12-21 Samuel E Mcduffee Biblical timepiece
CH642809B (en) * 1980-11-07 Longines Montres Comp D WATCH WITH A PERPETUAL CALENDAR MECHANISM.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Les montres-calendrier modernes, B. Humbert, Ed. Scriptar SA, CH-1000 Lausanne (1953), p. 35-46 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK5193A (en) 1993-01-29
US4541725A (en) 1985-09-17
JPS6071976A (en) 1985-04-23
JPH0246914B2 (en) 1990-10-17
CH649433GA3 (en) 1985-05-31
DE3467644D1 (en) 1987-12-23
EP0135823A1 (en) 1985-04-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0135823B1 (en) Perpetual calender comprising a quadrennial cycle indicator
EP0940833B1 (en) Calendar mechanism for watch movement
CH697662B1 (en) Mechanism of perpetual or annual calendar.
EP0756217A1 (en) Annual calendar mechanism for timepieces
EP0869410A1 (en) Timepiece,especially wrist-watch
EP0549941B1 (en) Mechanical and/or electromechanical timepiece provided with automatic retrograde display means
EP1070996B1 (en) Timepiece with date display
EP0987609B1 (en) Annual calendar mechanism for clockwork-movement
EP1536299B1 (en) Calendar mechanism for a watch comprising two superposed date annuli
EP1536300B1 (en) Calendar mechanism for a watch comprising two superposed date annuli
EP1058166B1 (en) World time watch
EP1701227A1 (en) Device for displaying moon phases
EP1305675B1 (en) Timepiece
EP3779609B1 (en) Display device for a timepiece
EP3667434B1 (en) Large date mechanism and timepiece comprising such a mechanism
EP3696617B1 (en) Mechanism for displaying month and leap year for a timepiece
EP1321831B1 (en) Jump-dial watch and mechanism for quick update of time zone
CH703447B9 (en) timepiece movement provided with a moon phase indicator or a date indicator.
WO2020065574A2 (en) Display mechanism with a single aperture
CH689601A5 (en) Day of the month mechanism for timepiece
CH660440GA3 (en) Perpetual calendar mechanism
EP3989011B1 (en) Retrograde display mechanism for a timepiece of the driving type provided with a lever for disengagement of the display
EP3667435B1 (en) System for adjusting the position of a first toothed moving part relative to a support on which the first toothed moving part is pivotably mounted, and timepiece comprising such a system
CH696986A5 (en) Retrograde or continuous display device for e.g. wristwatch, has transparent parts through which mark corresponding to index zone appears when index is indicated, where indexes in one scale zone are not aligned on indexes in other zones
CH712123A2 (en) Calendar mechanism, movement and timepiece.

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19850506

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19860825

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3467644

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19871223

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970721

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19970818

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970820

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980825

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980825

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990430

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST