EP1235120B1 - Analogical timepiece with a time indication based on a decimal system - Google Patents

Analogical timepiece with a time indication based on a decimal system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1235120B1
EP1235120B1 EP01200683A EP01200683A EP1235120B1 EP 1235120 B1 EP1235120 B1 EP 1235120B1 EP 01200683 A EP01200683 A EP 01200683A EP 01200683 A EP01200683 A EP 01200683A EP 1235120 B1 EP1235120 B1 EP 1235120B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
minutes
hours
timepiece
approximate
indicated
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EP01200683A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1235120A1 (en
Inventor
Carlo Abisette
Daniel Donzé
Clément Meyrat
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Swatch Group Management Services AG
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Swatch Group Management Services AG
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Priority to EP01200683A priority Critical patent/EP1235120B1/en
Priority to AT01200683T priority patent/ATE398301T1/en
Priority to DE60134384T priority patent/DE60134384D1/en
Publication of EP1235120A1 publication Critical patent/EP1235120A1/en
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Publication of EP1235120B1 publication Critical patent/EP1235120B1/en
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    • 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
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/08—Geometrical arrangement of the graduations
    • G04B19/085—Geometrical arrangement of the graduations varying from the normal 12 hour arrangement

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an analog display timepiece enabling the reading of a first conventional time indication by means of hours and minutes indicating organs, as well as the simultaneous reading of a second time indication based on a Decimal system according to which the time is divided at least in thousandths of days.
  • a general object of the present invention is to propose an analog display timepiece conventionally comprising a pair of hours and minutes indicating member for displaying a conventional time indication (for example the local time) and also permitting a reading. simultaneous time indication based on the abovementioned decimal system.
  • the timepiece described in this document CH 690 254 does not require any particular modification with respect to a conventional universal timepiece, such as the universal timepiece described in the document CH 451 827 .
  • This document presents a universal timepiece with analog display with hour and minute hands, and an additional 24-hour hand rotating next to a rotating outer bezel bearing the inscriptions of the twenty-four time zones. .
  • the timepiece CH 690 254 has a major disadvantage, especially for its application to a wristwatch, in that the user can not obtain an accurate indication of the time based on the decimal system. Indeed, given the small size of a wristwatch, it is in practice impossible to readlegibly a large number of graduations on the bezel (or on the dial of the room). As can be seen from the figures 2 and 3 of the document CH 690 254 graduation marks are practiced every five thousandths of a day at best, that is to say for intervals of time equivalent to 432 seconds, a little more than seven minutes. Given the dimensions, it is practically impossible to practice a higher number of graduation marks (in this case 200 marks). At this resolution, reading of the time indication is random and read errors of several tens of minutes may result.
  • the present invention thus relates to an analog display timepiece whose characteristics are set forth in independent claim 1.
  • the time indication based on the decimal system is obtained by the combined use of the minute indicating member and complementary analog display means indicating at least the approximate decimal value, expressed in thousandths of a day, full hours (1h, 2h, ..., 23h, 24h), or every 41 or 42 thousandths of a day (1 hour equals about 41.7 thousandths of a day) at least.
  • the minute indicating member indicates, on the one hand, the minute as is conventionally the case, and, on the other hand, a value corresponding decimal which is added to the approximate decimal value indicated by the complementary analog display means.
  • the minute indicating member and the additional display member provide the user with a sufficiently precise time indication for the it can be based on this decimal time indication in the optics of making appointments in particular.
  • the approximate decimal values are carried by a rotationally adjustable display member, independently of the hours and minutes indicating bodies, to allow correction of the decimal time indication according to the time zone where the user is located. .
  • the decimal time indication is indicated by the indicator organs of minutes and hours used to read the conventional time indication.
  • the complementary analog display means then use an additional display member adjustable in rotation on which at least the indications of the approximate decimal values of the full hours (cf. Figures 1 to 3 , and 8).
  • the decimal time indication is indicated by the minutes indicating member and by an additional member driven by the movement other than the hours indicating member.
  • an additional indicator member driven by the movement this indicator member being associated with a display member preferably rotatable on which appear at least the indications of approximate decimal values of the full hours (cf. Figures 4 to 6 ).
  • the other variant is to drive directly by the movement the display member on which appear the indications of the approximate decimal values, the indicator member being replaced in this case by a fixed index reported on the timepiece (cf. figure 7 ).
  • the figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a timepiece according to the invention.
  • the timepiece is in the form of a wristwatch with an analog display generally indicated by the reference numeral 1.
  • This wristwatch 1 comprises in particular and typically a box-middle part 2 containing a movement (no shown), a telescope 2a, an ice cream 3, first analog display means comprising a dial 5 and first and second hours and minutes indicating members 4a, 4b driven by the movement (here a pair of hour hands). and minutes), and a time-setting crown 6.
  • the movement used in the illustrated timepiece is a conventional 12-hour movement, i.e. entire revolution in twelve hours. It will be understood, however, that the invention is also applicable to a timepiece having a 24-hour movement in which the indicator member performs an entire revolution in twenty-four hours.
  • the timepiece further comprises second analog display means for simultaneous reading of a time indication based on a decimal system in which the time is divided at least in thousandths of a day.
  • the time consists of a three-digit number varying between "000” and “999", "000” corresponding to midnight, winter time, to the meridian passing through the city of Biel in Switzerland, hereinafter referred to as BMT (Biel Mean Time) by analogy to the abbreviation GMT, the average Greenwich time.
  • the second analog display means in particular share the dial 5 as well as the minutes indicating member 4b with the first analog display means.
  • This minute indicator organ 4b is used in conjunction with complementary analog display means forming the remaining portion of the second display means for forming the decimal time indication.
  • the complementary analog display means comprises the hour indicator member 4a and an additional display member adjustable in rotation, indicated by the numeral 7, formed in this example of a disc-like indicator disc of the days which is mounted concentrically to the indicator members 4a, 4b.
  • this display member 7 is not rotated by the movement and is subdivided into a different number of angular sectors. The angular position of this display member 7 is simply adjusted through the setting ring 6.
  • the mechanism used to allow this rotational adjustment is analogous to a conventional mechanism for correcting the well-known day of the person skilled in the art and will therefore not be described here.
  • the dial 5 commonly carries a plurality of indexes regularly distributed on its periphery and providing an indication of hours and minutes. In addition to these indications, the dial also has corresponding decimal values 51 over a total duration of sixty minutes. Expressed in thousandths of days, sixty minutes equals approximately 41.7 thousandths of a day. In this example, the dial is thus graduated every thousandths of days from "0" to "41" next to the graduations of the minutes.
  • the display member 7 is regularly subdivided into twelve angular sectors each carrying first and second approximate decimal values 71 corresponding to the full hours. Midnight BMT is indicated by the decimal value "000", 1h BMT by the approximate decimal value "042", 2h BMT by the approximate decimal value "083", etc., until 23h BMT which is indicated by the decimal value approximated "958". Since, in this example, the hour indicator organ 4a is used to derive the decimal time indication, this hour indicating member performing a revolution every twelve hours in this example, the display member 7 carries, in each angular sector, a pair of decimal values separated from each other by twelve hours, that is to say 500 thousandths of a day.
  • the display member 7 is adjusted for the time zone comprising the meridian of Bienne, that is to say that the pair of decimal values "000-500” is positioned at noon.
  • a user located in New York (- 6h compared to the city of Bienne) will have to position the display member 7 so that the pair of decimal values "000-500” is at 6 o'clock.
  • a user located in Moscow (+ 2h compared to the city of Bienne) will have to position the display member 7 so that the pair of decimal values "000-500” is at 2 o'clock.
  • the time indication based on the abovementioned decimal system is formed by adding the decimal values indicated respectively by the minute indicator member 4b and the hour indicator member 4a.
  • the time shown is 12:47 (PM).
  • the decimal value indicated on the dial 5 by the minute indicator member 4b is thus a little more than 32 thousandths of a day and the approximate decimal value indicated on the display member 7 by the hour indicator member 4a. is "500".
  • the total decimal value obtained by addition is 532 thousandths of a day, which corresponds to the equivalent, expressed in thousandths of a day, from 12:47 to the meridian of Bienne.
  • the figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention constituting a variant of the first embodiment of the figure 1 .
  • the difference lies here in the angular disposition of the indications of approximate decimal values 71 on the display member, here indicated by the reference numeral 7 *.
  • the approximate decimal values 71 are angularly shifted by 15 ° to the right so that the hours indicating member 4a always points in a given sector, here the angular sector comprising the pair of decimal values "000-500".
  • indicator disk used in the embodiments of the figures 1 and 2 can be replaced by any other rotatable indicator member, such as a rotating outer bezel for example. As illustrated in figure 3 .
  • the subdivisions of the display member 7, 7 * illustrated in the first and second embodiments of FIGS. figures 1 and 2 are in no way limiting. It is possible to alternatively subdivide the display member into 2 ⁇ 12, 3 ⁇ 12, 4 ⁇ 12 angular sectors or more, that is to say with time intervals of 30, 20, or 15 minutes between them. various approximate decimal values indicated on the display member. Note in particular that a subdivision every 30 or 15 minutes advantageously take into account the existence of time zones whose jet lag is not an integer multiple of one hour.
  • the display member (7, 7 *) can be subdivided into figures 1 and 2 respectively) in N x12 regular angular sectors, N being an integer, the approximate decimal values being indicated successively in each angular sector of the display member, in ascending and clockwise order, with equivalent time intervals. at 60 / N minutes.
  • the dial 5 is likewise subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values of the minutes over a period of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.
  • the figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention using a principle of embodiment similar to the principle employed for the embodiments of the figures 1 and 2 .
  • the display member is adjustable in rotation, in the form of an indicator disk in the figures 1 and 2 is, in this example, formed of a rotating outer bezel indicated generally by the numeral 8.
  • the approximate decimal values indicated are thus successively, in the clockwise direction, "000”, “021”, “042”, “063”, ..., “938", “958", “979”.
  • the dial 5 is thus also subdivided into two angular sectors each having a scale of "0" to "20", one marked 51a, extending from 12h to 6h, and the other, marked 51b, extending from 6h to 12h clockwise.
  • the hours and minutes indicating organs 4a and 4b respectively indicate the decimal values "521" and "11" approximately, that is to say 532 thousandths of a day after addition.
  • an AM / PM indicator mechanism well known to those skilled in the art, set to Bienne, can thus be used.
  • Such a mechanism may for example comprise an indicator organ performing a revolution per twenty-four hours rotating opposite an AM / PM subdivision (or alternatively 0 / + 500).
  • the timepiece comprises a disk 75 superimposed on the display member 7 bearing the approximate decimal values 71 of the full hours. Part of the disc 75 has not been shown to reveal the display member 7.
  • This disc 75 is provided with a first series of openings 76 (here in number of twelve) through which can appear, for a given angular position of the disc 75, the first approximate decimal values indicated in the various angular sectors of the display member 7 (here the values "000" to "458").
  • the disk 75 is provided with a second series of openings 77 (also twelve in number) angularly offset (by 15 ° in this example) with respect to the first series of openings 76 and through which it may appear, for a other given angular position of the disk 75, the second approximate decimal values indicated in the angular sectors of the display member 7 (here the values "500" to "958").
  • the second series of openings 77 reveals the second decimal values "500” to "958", while the first series of openings 76 is shifted relative to the indications of the approximate decimal values 71, the disc 75 thus masking the first approximate decimal values "000" to "458".
  • the disk 75 is driven so that it performs, every twelve hours, a rotation of an angular step alternately bringing the first series of openings 76 and the second series of openings 77 above respectively the first and second Approximate Decimal Values 71.
  • a complete revolution of the disk 75 is performed in twelve days, i.e., in twenty-four angular steps of 15 ° each. It will thus be understood that the disk 75 makes it possible to mask, by alternating twelve hours, the first or second approximate decimal values 71 indicated on the display member that can be adjusted in rotation 7.
  • the complementary analogue display means do not call on the hour indicator member 4a but on an additional member driven by the movement.
  • the figure 4 thus presents a fourth embodiment of the invention corresponding to this second embodiment.
  • the timepiece illustrated in this figure comprises, in accordance with what has already been mentioned above, a box-middle 2, an ice 3, organs indicating the hours and minutes 4a, 4b, a dial 5 and a crown 6.
  • This timepiece further comprises an additional indicator member 4c driven by the movement (here in the form of a needle) making a revolution every twenty-four hours and a body of additional display 9 concentrically mounted to the hours and minutes indicating bodies 4a, 4b below the dial 5.
  • This additional display member 9 carries inscriptions, labeled 91, approximate decimal values of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day. These inscriptions 91 are visible through a plurality of wickets 5a, in this example to the number of twenty-four, formed in the dial 5.
  • the display member carrying the indications of the decimal values can be subdivided into N ⁇ 24 regular angular sectors, N being an integer as before, the values approximated decimals being successively indicated in each angular sector of the indicator organ, in ascending order and in clockwise, with time intervals equivalent to 60 / N minutes.
  • the dial 5 is likewise subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values of the minutes over a period of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.
  • N 1 and the display member 9 bearing the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values is thus subdivided into twenty-four equal angular sectors, the dial 5 having only one sector carrying the corresponding decimal values 51 over a total duration sixty minutes, from "0" to "41" thousandths of a day.
  • the decimal time indication is formed by adding the decimal values indicated by the additional display member 9 and the indicating member 4c, on the one hand, and the indicating member minutes 4b and the dial 5, on the other hand, in this example again "500” and "32", or 532 thousandths of a day after addition.
  • the additional indicator member 4c it is not necessary for the additional indicator member 4c to be adjustable independently of the minutes and hours indicating members, provided that the display member 9 carrying the approximate decimal values 91 is rotatable. Nevertheless, it is perfectly possible to dispense with the use of a rotationally adjustable display member and to practice the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values directly on the dial (or on a bezel of the timepiece), in which case it is then necessary that the indicating member additional 4c is adjustable independently of the indicator organs of minutes and hours.
  • the solution of entering the approximate decimal values on a display member adjustable in rotation has certain advantages. Indeed, as illustrated in the figure 4 , by applying inscriptions, labeled 21, twenty-four hours (1h, 2h, ... 24h) opposite the various positions of the approximate decimal values 91 written on the display member 9 (in this case on a telescope 2a of the timepiece), the user has a simple and direct correspondence between the conventional and decimal time indications. In particular, the user can obtain an approximate conversion between the conventional duodecimal system and the decimal system. Indeed, let us assume that the user agrees to an appointment or program the deadline of an event for "300", it will easily find that this is approximately 7 o'clock in the morning, local time, in this example .
  • the figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention constituting a variant of the fourth embodiment of the figure 4 .
  • a difference lies here in the angular arrangement of the indications of the approximate decimal values 91 on the display member, here indicated by the reference numeral 9 *.
  • the decimal values are shifted angularly 7.5 ° to the right so that the additional indicator member 4c always points in a given sector, here the angular sector having the decimal value "500".
  • the figure 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention using a principle of embodiment similar to the principle employed for the embodiments of the figures 4 and 5 .
  • the display member is adjustable in rotation, in the form of an indicator disk in the figures 4 and 5 , in this example is formed a rotating outer bezel generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.
  • the approximate decimal values indicated are thus successively, in the clockwise direction, "000”, “010”, “021”, “031”, ..., “969”, “979", “990”.
  • the dial 5 is thus also subdivided into four angular sectors each comprising a graduation of "0" to "10” extending respectively from 12h to 3h, from 3h to 6h, from 6h to 9h and 9h to 12h in the clockwise direction, these graduations being respectively indicated by the reference numerals 51a to 51d in the figure 6 .
  • the inscriptions 21 twenty-four hours are further reported on the periphery of the dial 5.
  • the additional indicator organ 4c and the minutes indicating member 4b respectively indicate the decimal values "531" and "1", ie effectively 532 thousandths of a day after addition.
  • the figure 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the invention also corresponding to the second aforementioned embodiment.
  • the complementary analog display means comprise a fixed index 12 associated with a display member additional driven by the movement, indicated by the reference numeral 11, and bearing the indications of the approximate decimal values 111 of the full hours.
  • the additional display member 11 has the shape of a disc similar to the indicator disc (not driven) of the embodiments of the figures 1 , 2 , 4 or 5 , with the difference that it is driven by the movement to effect an entire revolution in twenty-four hours (clockwise in this example), the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values 111 being arranged in increasing order and direction counterclockwise because of the direction of rotation of the display member 11. It will be understood that the direction of rotation of the display member 11 can be reversed, that is to say, that this body is driven counter-clockwise by the use of an additional reference, in which case the entries of the approximate decimal values 111 should be arranged clockwise.
  • the fixed index 12 is arranged in this example at 12 o'clock on the dial 5 and indicates the decimal value to be considered on the additional display member 11. It will of course be understood that this index 12 can be transferred to another position or on another part of the timepiece, such as the bezel 2a.
  • the adjustment of the angular position of the display member 11 is done in a conventional manner by means of the setting ring 6.
  • a correction mechanism well known to those skilled in the art will be used. a correction in steps of one hour in this example (or in steps of 15, 20 or 30 minutes if another subdivision is adopted).
  • the present invention is obviously also applicable to timepieces different from a wristwatch, such as a table clock or a wall clock for example.

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Abstract

Watch comprises a dial (5), hour (4a) and minute (4b) hands. In addition to the conventional analogue display there is an additional decimal display (7) indicating decimal time value based on thousandths of a day. The thousandth of a day indications are aligned with the normal hour indications so that the hour hand also serves to indicate thousandths of a day elapsed. Means for adjusting the thousandths of a day indications according to time zone are also provided.

Description

La présente invention est relative à une pièce d'horlogerie à affichage analogique permettant la lecture d'une première indication horaire conventionnelle au moyen d'organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes, ainsi que la lecture simultanée d'une seconde indication horaire fondée sur un système décimal selon lequel le temps est divisé au moins en millièmes de jours.The present invention relates to an analog display timepiece enabling the reading of a first conventional time indication by means of hours and minutes indicating organs, as well as the simultaneous reading of a second time indication based on a Decimal system according to which the time is divided at least in thousandths of days.

Il a été proposé depuis peu un système alternatif de mesure du temps selon lequel le jour n'est plus divisé en heures, minutes et secondes comme cela est conventionnellement le cas, mais en millièmes de jour dénommés communément par l'appellation « beat » et dont la durée équivaut à 86,4 secondes. Vingt-quatre heures sont ainsi divisées en 1'000 millièmes de jour ou « beats », le temps évoluant entre les valeurs « 000 » et « 999 ». Ce système alternatif de mesure du temps vise particulièrement à être utilisé par les populations d'internautes et à s'affranchir des notions d'espace et de fuseaux horaires. Ce système de mesure du temps vise en outre à être clairement différencié d'une indication horaire conventionnelle.It has recently been proposed an alternative system of time measurement according to which the day is no longer divided into hours, minutes and seconds as is conventionally the case, but in thousandths of a day commonly referred to as "beat" and whose duration is 86.4 seconds. Twenty-four hours are thus divided into 1,000 thousandths of a day or "beats", the time evolving between the values "000" and "999". This alternative time measurement system is particularly aimed at being used by Internet users and eliminating the notions of space and time zones. This time measurement system also aims to be clearly differentiated from a conventional time indication.

Un but général de la présente invention est de proposer une pièce d'horlogerie à affichage analogique comportant conventionnellement une paire d'organe indicateur des heures et minutes pour afficher une indication horaire conventionnelle (par exemple l'heure locale) et permettant en outre une lecture simultanée d'une indication horaire fondée sur le système décimal susmentionné.A general object of the present invention is to propose an analog display timepiece conventionally comprising a pair of hours and minutes indicating member for displaying a conventional time indication (for example the local time) and also permitting a reading. simultaneous time indication based on the abovementioned decimal system.

Plus particulièrement, on désire proposer une pièce d'horlogerie qui nécessite un nombre de modifications réduit par rapport à une pièce d'horlogerie conventionnelle à affichage analogique.More particularly, it is desired to provide a timepiece that requires a reduced number of modifications compared to a conventional timepiece with analog display.

On connaît déjà du document CH 690 254 une pièce d'horlogerie à affichage analogique comportant des aiguilles des heures et minutes pour l'affichage d'une indication horaire conventionnelle, et des moyens d'affichage d'une seconde indication horaire fondée sur le système décimal susmentionné. Selon ce document, la lecture de l'indication horaire décimale s'effectue au moyen d'une unique aiguille additionnelle (préférablement une aiguille effectuant une révolution par vingt-quatre heures) qui tourne en regard d'une graduation en millième de jours disposée, par exemple, sur une lunette extérieure montée sur la pièce d'horlogerie, cette lunette extérieure étant préférablement montée rotative de manière à permettre un ajustement de l'indication horaire décimale en fonction du fuseau horaire où se trouve l'utilisateur.We already know document CH 690 254 an analog display timepiece having hour and minute hands for displaying a conventional time indication, and means for displaying a second time indication based on the aforementioned decimal system. According to this document, the reading of the decimal time indication is carried out by means of a single additional needle (preferably a needle performing a revolution per twenty-four hours) which rotates opposite a scale in thousandths of days arranged, for example, on an outer bezel mounted on the timepiece, this outer bezel is preferably rotatably mounted so as to allow adjustment of the decimal time indication according to the time zone where the user is located.

Mise à part la graduation en millièmes de jour reportée sur la lunette extérieure, la pièce d'horlogerie décrite dans ce document CH 690 254 ne nécessite aucune modification particulière par rapport à une pièce d'horlogerie universelle conventionnelle, telle que la pièce d'horlogerie universelle décrite dans le document CH 451 827 . Ce document présente en effet une pièce d'horlogerie universelle à affichage analogique comportant des aiguilles des heures et des minutes, ainsi qu'une aiguille 24-heures additionnelle tournant en regard d'une lunette extérieure rotative portant les inscriptions des vingt-quatre fuseaux horaires.Apart from the graduation in thousandths of a day reported on the outer bezel, the timepiece described in this document CH 690 254 does not require any particular modification with respect to a conventional universal timepiece, such as the universal timepiece described in the document CH 451 827 . This document presents a universal timepiece with analog display with hour and minute hands, and an additional 24-hour hand rotating next to a rotating outer bezel bearing the inscriptions of the twenty-four time zones. .

La pièce d'horlogerie CH 690 254 présente un inconvénient majeur, notamment en vue de son application à une montre-bracelet, en ce sens que l'utilisateur ne peut obtenir une indication précise de l'heure fondée sur le système décimal. En effet, compte tenu de la taille réduite d'une montre-bracelet, il est en pratique impossible de reporter de manière lisible un nombre élevé de graduations sur la lunette (ou sur le cadran de la pièce). Comme on peut s'en rendre compte sur les figures 2 et 3 du document CH 690 254 , des marques de graduation sont pratiquées tous les cinq millièmes de jour au mieux, c'est-à-dire pour des intervalles de temps équivalant à 432 secondes, soit un peu plus de sept minutes. Compte tenu des dimensions, il n'est en pratique pas envisageable de pratiquer un nombre plus élevé de marques de graduation (dans ce cas 200 marques). A cette résolution, la lecture de l'indication horaire est aléatoire et des erreurs de lecture de plusieurs dizaines de minutes peuvent en résulter.The timepiece CH 690 254 has a major disadvantage, especially for its application to a wristwatch, in that the user can not obtain an accurate indication of the time based on the decimal system. Indeed, given the small size of a wristwatch, it is in practice impossible to readlegibly a large number of graduations on the bezel (or on the dial of the room). As can be seen from the figures 2 and 3 of the document CH 690 254 graduation marks are practiced every five thousandths of a day at best, that is to say for intervals of time equivalent to 432 seconds, a little more than seven minutes. Given the dimensions, it is practically impossible to practice a higher number of graduation marks (in this case 200 marks). At this resolution, reading of the time indication is random and read errors of several tens of minutes may result.

Il convient ainsi de trouver une solution plus adéquate permettant une lecture suffisamment précise de l'indication horaire décimale pour qu'elle puisse être utilisée comme référence de temps en vue de la prise d'un rendez-vous, par exemple, ou de l'échéance d'un événement.It is thus necessary to find a more adequate solution allowing a sufficiently precise reading of the decimal hour indication so that it can be used as a reference time for the purpose of making an appointment, for example, or for expiry of an event.

Afin de répondre à ces buts, la présente invention a ainsi pour objet une pièce d'horlogerie à affichage analogique dont les caractéristiques sont énoncées dans la revendication indépendante 1.In order to meet these aims, the present invention thus relates to an analog display timepiece whose characteristics are set forth in independent claim 1.

Des modes de réalisations avantageux de la présente invention font l'objet des revendications dépendantes.Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Selon l'invention, l'indication horaire fondée sur le système décimal est obtenue par l'utilisation conjointe de l'organe indicateur des minutes et de moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires indiquant au moins la valeur décimale approchée, exprimée en millièmes de jour, des heures pleines (1h, 2h, ..., 23h, 24h), soit tous les 41 ou 42 millièmes de jour (1 heure équivaut à environ 41,7 millièmes de jour) au moins. Selon l'invention, l'organe indicateur des minutes indique, d'une part, la minute comme cela est conventionnellement le cas, et, d'autre part, une valeur décimale correspondante qui est additionnée à la valeur décimale approchée indiquée par les moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires. Malgré l'approximation des heures pleines (l'erreur d'approximation ne dépasse jamais un millième de jour), l'organe indicateur des minutes et l'organe d'affichage additionnel fournissent à l'utilisateur une indication horaire suffisamment précise pour que celui-ci puisse se baser sur cette indication horaire décimale dans l'optique d'une prise de rendez-vous notamment.According to the invention, the time indication based on the decimal system is obtained by the combined use of the minute indicating member and complementary analog display means indicating at least the approximate decimal value, expressed in thousandths of a day, full hours (1h, 2h, ..., 23h, 24h), or every 41 or 42 thousandths of a day (1 hour equals about 41.7 thousandths of a day) at least. According to the invention, the minute indicating member indicates, on the one hand, the minute as is conventionally the case, and, on the other hand, a value corresponding decimal which is added to the approximate decimal value indicated by the complementary analog display means. Despite the approximation of the peak hours (the error of approximation never exceeds one thousandth of a day), the minute indicating member and the additional display member provide the user with a sufficiently precise time indication for the it can be based on this decimal time indication in the optics of making appointments in particular.

Préférablement, les valeurs décimales approchées sont portées par un organe d'affichage réglable en rotation, indépendamment des organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes, afin de permettre une correction de l'indication horaire décimale en fonction du fuseau horaire où se trouve l'utilisateur.Preferably, the approximate decimal values are carried by a rotationally adjustable display member, independently of the hours and minutes indicating bodies, to allow correction of the decimal time indication according to the time zone where the user is located. .

D'une manière générale, on peut distinguer deux principes de réalisation préférés de la présente invention. Selon un premier principe de réalisation préféré, l'indication horaire décimale est indiquée par les organes indicateurs des minutes et des heures utilisés pour lire l'indication horaire conventionnelle. Les moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires font alors appel à un organe d'affichage additionnel ajustable en rotation sur lequel figurent au moins les indications des valeurs décimales approchées des heures pleines (cf. figures 1 à 3, et 8).In general, two preferred embodiments of the present invention can be distinguished. According to a first preferred embodiment, the decimal time indication is indicated by the indicator organs of minutes and hours used to read the conventional time indication. The complementary analog display means then use an additional display member adjustable in rotation on which at least the indications of the approximate decimal values of the full hours (cf. Figures 1 to 3 , and 8).

Selon un deuxième principe de réalisation préféré, l'indication horaire décimale est indiquée par l'organe indicateur des minutes et par un organe additionnel entraîné par le mouvement autre que l'organe indicateur des heures. Deux variantes de réalisation de ce deuxième principe sont décrites. L'une consiste à employer un organe indicateur additionnel entraîné par le mouvement, cet organe indicateur étant associé à un organe d'affichage préférablement ajustable en rotation sur lequel figurent au moins les indications des valeurs décimales approchées des heures pleines (cf. figures 4 à 6). L'autre variante consiste à entraîner directement par le mouvement l'organe d'affichage sur lequel figurent les indications des valeurs décimales approchées, l'organe indicateur étant remplacé dans ce cas par un index fixe reporté sur la pièce d'horlogerie (cf. figure 7).According to a second preferred embodiment, the decimal time indication is indicated by the minutes indicating member and by an additional member driven by the movement other than the hours indicating member. Two variants of this second principle are described. One is to use an additional indicator member driven by the movement, this indicator member being associated with a display member preferably rotatable on which appear at least the indications of approximate decimal values of the full hours (cf. Figures 4 to 6 ). The other variant is to drive directly by the movement the display member on which appear the indications of the approximate decimal values, the indicator member being replaced in this case by a fixed index reported on the timepiece (cf. figure 7 ).

Les deux principes de réalisation susmentionnés ont notamment pour caractéristiques communes, le fait que l'organe indicateur des minutes et des moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires permettent conjointement la lecture précise de l'indication horaire fondée sur le système décimal susmentionné.The two principles of embodiment mentioned above have, in particular, the common feature that the minute indicating member and the complementary analog display means jointly enable the precise reading of the time indication based on the abovementioned decimal system.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description détaillée qui suit, faite en référence aux dessins annexés donnés à titre d'exemples non limitatifs et dans lesquels :

  • les figures 1 à 3 montrent respectivement des premier, deuxième et troisième modes de réalisation de la présente invention répondant au premier principe de réalisation susmentionné faisant notamment appel aux organes indicateurs des minutes et des heures existants pour l'obtention de l'indication horaire décimale ;
  • les figures 4 à 7 montrent respectivement des quatrième, cinquième, sixième et septième modes de réalisation de la présente invention répondant au second principe de réalisation susmentionné faisant notamment appel à l'organe indicateur des minutes et un organe additionnel entraîné par le mouvement pour l'obtention de l'indication horaire décimale ; et
  • la figure 8 est une variante avantageuse du premier mode de réalisation illustré dans la figure 1 comportant un mécanisme additionnel permettant de masquer, par alternance de douze heures, des indications des valeurs décimales approchées indiquées sur l'organe d'affichage additionnel.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:
  • the Figures 1 to 3 show respectively first, second and third Embodiments of the present invention in accordance with the above-mentioned first embodiment, including the use of existing minutes and hours indicators for obtaining the decimal hour indication;
  • the Figures 4 to 7 show respectively fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh embodiments of the present invention corresponding to the above-mentioned second embodiment, including the minute indicating member and an additional member driven by the movement for obtaining the indication. decimal time; and
  • the figure 8 is an advantageous variant of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. figure 1 comprising an additional mechanism for masking, by alternating twelve hours, indications of the approximate decimal values indicated on the additional display member.

La figure 1 montre un premier mode de réalisation d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention. Dans cet exemple, la pièce d'horlogerie se présente sous la forme d'une montre-bracelet à affichage analogique indiquée généralement par la référence numérique 1. Cette montre-bracelet 1 comporte notamment et typiquement une boîte-carrure 2 renfermant un mouvement (non représenté), une lunette 2a, une glace 3, des premiers moyens d'affichage analogique comportant un cadran 5 et des premier et second organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes 4a, 4b entraînés par le mouvement (ici une paire d'aiguilles des heures et des minutes), et une couronne de mise à l'heure 6. Le mouvement utilisé dans la pièce d'horlogerie illustrée est un mouvement conventionnel 12-heures, c'est-à-dire que l'organe indicateur des heures effectue une révolution entière en douze heures. On comprendra cependant que l'invention est également applicable à une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mouvement 24-heures dans lequel l'organe indicateur effectue une révolution entière en vingt-quatre heures.The figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a timepiece according to the invention. In this example, the timepiece is in the form of a wristwatch with an analog display generally indicated by the reference numeral 1. This wristwatch 1 comprises in particular and typically a box-middle part 2 containing a movement (no shown), a telescope 2a, an ice cream 3, first analog display means comprising a dial 5 and first and second hours and minutes indicating members 4a, 4b driven by the movement (here a pair of hour hands). and minutes), and a time-setting crown 6. The movement used in the illustrated timepiece is a conventional 12-hour movement, i.e. entire revolution in twelve hours. It will be understood, however, that the invention is also applicable to a timepiece having a 24-hour movement in which the indicator member performs an entire revolution in twenty-four hours.

Selon la présente invention, la pièce d'horlogerie comporte en outre des seconds moyens d'affichage analogique permettant la lecture simultanée d'une indication horaire fondée sur un système décimal dans lequel le temps est divisée au moins en millièmes de jour. Comme mentionné en préambule, selon ce système décimal, le temps est formé d'un nombre à trois chiffres variant entre « 000 » et « 999 », « 000» correspondant à minuit, heure d'hiver, au méridien passant par la ville de Bienne en Suisse, ci-après dénommé BMT (Biel Mean Time) par analogie à l'abréviation GMT, le temps moyen de Greenwich.According to the present invention, the timepiece further comprises second analog display means for simultaneous reading of a time indication based on a decimal system in which the time is divided at least in thousandths of a day. As mentioned in the preamble, according to this decimal system, the time consists of a three-digit number varying between "000" and "999", "000" corresponding to midnight, winter time, to the meridian passing through the city of Biel in Switzerland, hereinafter referred to as BMT (Biel Mean Time) by analogy to the abbreviation GMT, the average Greenwich time.

Selon l'invention, les seconds moyens d'affichage analogique partagent notamment le cadran 5 ainsi que l'organe indicateur des minutes 4b avec les premiers moyens d'affichage analogique. Cet organe indicateur des minutes 4b est utilisé conjointement avec des moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires formant la partie restante des seconds moyens d'affichage permettant de former l'indication horaire décimale.According to the invention, the second analog display means in particular share the dial 5 as well as the minutes indicating member 4b with the first analog display means. This minute indicator organ 4b is used in conjunction with complementary analog display means forming the remaining portion of the second display means for forming the decimal time indication.

Comme mentionné en préambule, selon un premier principe de réalisation de l'invention illustré notamment par ce premier mode de réalisation, les moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires comprennent l'organe indicateur des heures 4a ainsi qu'un organe d'affichage additionnel ajustable en rotation, indiqué par la référence numérique 7, formé dans cet exemple d'un disque indicateur analogue à un disque des jours qui est monté concentriquement aux organes indicateurs 4a, 4b. A la différence d'un disque des jours, cet organe d'affichage 7 n'est toutefois pas entraîné en rotation par le mouvement et est subdivisé en un nombre différent de secteurs angulaires. La position angulaire de cet organe d'affichage 7 est simplement ajustée par le biais de la couronne de mise à l'heure 6. Le mécanisme utilisé pour permettre cet ajustement en rotation est analogue à un mécanisme conventionnel permettant la correction du jour bien connu de l'homme du métier et ne sera en conséquence pas décrit ici.As mentioned in the preamble, according to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in particular by this first embodiment, the complementary analog display means comprises the hour indicator member 4a and an additional display member adjustable in rotation, indicated by the numeral 7, formed in this example of a disc-like indicator disc of the days which is mounted concentrically to the indicator members 4a, 4b. Unlike a disc days, this display member 7, however, is not rotated by the movement and is subdivided into a different number of angular sectors. The angular position of this display member 7 is simply adjusted through the setting ring 6. The mechanism used to allow this rotational adjustment is analogous to a conventional mechanism for correcting the well-known day of the person skilled in the art and will therefore not be described here.

Le cadran 5 porte communément une pluralité d'index répartis régulièrement sur sa périphérie et fournissant une indications des heures et des minutes. Outre ces indications, le cadran porte également des valeurs décimales 51 correspondantes sur une durée totale de soixante minutes. Exprimées en millièmes de jours, soixante minutes équivalent à environ 41,7 millièmes de jour. Dans cet exemple, le cadran est ainsi gradué tous les millièmes de jours de « 0» à « 41 » en regard des graduations des minutes.The dial 5 commonly carries a plurality of indexes regularly distributed on its periphery and providing an indication of hours and minutes. In addition to these indications, the dial also has corresponding decimal values 51 over a total duration of sixty minutes. Expressed in thousandths of days, sixty minutes equals approximately 41.7 thousandths of a day. In this example, the dial is thus graduated every thousandths of days from "0" to "41" next to the graduations of the minutes.

L'organe d'affichage 7 est quant à lui subdivisé régulièrement en douze secteurs angulaires portant chacun des première et seconde valeurs décimales approchées 71 correspondant aux heures pleines. Minuit BMT est ainsi indiqué par la valeur décimale « 000 », 1h BMT par la valeur décimale approchée « 042 », 2h BMT par la valeur décimale approchée « 083 », etc., jusqu'à 23h BMT qui est indiqué par la valeur décimale approchée « 958 ». Etant donné que l'on utilise, dans cet exemple, l'organe indicateur des heures 4a pour déduire l'indication horaire décimale, cet organe indicateur des heures effectuant une révolution toutes les douze heures dans cet exemple, l'organe d'affichage 7 porte, dans chaque secteur angulaire, un couple de valeurs décimales séparées l'une de l'autre de douze heures, c'est-à-dire 500 millièmes de jour.The display member 7 is regularly subdivided into twelve angular sectors each carrying first and second approximate decimal values 71 corresponding to the full hours. Midnight BMT is indicated by the decimal value "000", 1h BMT by the approximate decimal value "042", 2h BMT by the approximate decimal value "083", etc., until 23h BMT which is indicated by the decimal value approximated "958". Since, in this example, the hour indicator organ 4a is used to derive the decimal time indication, this hour indicating member performing a revolution every twelve hours in this example, the display member 7 carries, in each angular sector, a pair of decimal values separated from each other by twelve hours, that is to say 500 thousandths of a day.

Dans l'exemple illustré à la figure 1, l'organe d'affichage 7 est ajusté pour le fuseau horaire comprenant le méridien de Bienne, c'est-à-dire que le couple de valeurs décimales « 000-500 » est positionné à midi. Un utilisateur situé à New York (- 6h par rapport à la ville de Bienne) devra positionner l'organe d'affichage 7 de manière à ce que le couple de valeurs décimales « 000-500 » se trouve à 6h. Un utilisateur situé à Moscou (+ 2h par rapport à la ville de Bienne) devra quant à lui positionner l'organe d'affichage 7 de manière à ce que le couple de valeurs décimales « 000-500 » se trouve à 2h.In the example shown in figure 1 , the display member 7 is adjusted for the time zone comprising the meridian of Bienne, that is to say that the pair of decimal values "000-500" is positioned at noon. A user located in New York (- 6h compared to the city of Bienne) will have to position the display member 7 so that the pair of decimal values "000-500" is at 6 o'clock. A user located in Moscow (+ 2h compared to the city of Bienne) will have to position the display member 7 so that the pair of decimal values "000-500" is at 2 o'clock.

Selon ce premier principe de réalisation de l'invention, l'indication horaire fondée sur le système décimal susmentionné est formée par addition des valeurs décimales indiquées respectivement par l'organe indicateur des minutes 4b et l'organe indicateur des heures 4a. Dans le cas d'espèce, l'heure indiquée est 12h47 (PM). La valeur décimale indiquée sur le cadran 5 par l'organe indicateur des minutes 4b est ainsi d'un peu plus de 32 millièmes de jours et la valeur décimale approchée indiquée sur l'organe d'affichage 7 par l'organe indicateur des heures 4a est « 500 ». La valeur décimale totale obtenue par addition est de 532 millièmes de jour environ, ce qui correspond effectivement à l'équivalent, exprimé en millièmes de jour, de 12h47 au méridien de Bienne.According to this first embodiment of the invention, the time indication based on the abovementioned decimal system is formed by adding the decimal values indicated respectively by the minute indicator member 4b and the hour indicator member 4a. In this case, the time shown is 12:47 (PM). The decimal value indicated on the dial 5 by the minute indicator member 4b is thus a little more than 32 thousandths of a day and the approximate decimal value indicated on the display member 7 by the hour indicator member 4a. is "500". The total decimal value obtained by addition is 532 thousandths of a day, which corresponds to the equivalent, expressed in thousandths of a day, from 12:47 to the meridian of Bienne.

La figure 2 montre un second mode de réalisation de l'invention constituant une variante du premier mode de réalisation de la figure 1. La différence réside ici dans la disposition angulaire des indications des valeurs décimales approchées 71 sur l'organe d'affichage, ici indiqué par la référence numérique 7*. Par rapport à l'exemple illustré dans la figure 1, les valeurs décimales approchées 71 sont décalées angulairement de 15° vers la droite de sorte que l'organe indicateur des heures 4a pointe toujours dans un secteur déterminé, ici le secteur angulaire comportant le couple de valeurs décimales « 000-500 ».The figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention constituting a variant of the first embodiment of the figure 1 . The difference lies here in the angular disposition of the indications of approximate decimal values 71 on the display member, here indicated by the reference numeral 7 *. Compared to the example illustrated in figure 1 , the approximate decimal values 71 are angularly shifted by 15 ° to the right so that the hours indicating member 4a always points in a given sector, here the angular sector comprising the pair of decimal values "000-500".

Il convient de mentionner que le disque indicateur utilisé dans les modes de réalisation des figures 1 et 2 peut être remplacé par tout autre organe indicateur ajustable en rotation, telle une lunette extérieure tournante par exemple. Comme illustré dans la figure 3.It should be mentioned that the indicator disk used in the embodiments of the figures 1 and 2 can be replaced by any other rotatable indicator member, such as a rotating outer bezel for example. As illustrated in figure 3 .

Il convient d'autre part de mentionner que les subdivisions de l'organe d'affichage 7, 7* illustrées dans les premier et deuxième modes de réalisation des figures 1 et 2 ne sont nullement limitatives. On peut en effet alternativement subdiviser l'organe d'affichage en 2 x 12, 3 x 12, 4 x12 secteurs angulaires voire plus, c'est-à-dire avec des intervalles de temps de 30, 20, ou 15 minutes entre les diverses valeurs décimales approchées indiquées sur l'organe d'affichage. On notera en particulier qu'une subdivision toutes les 30 ou 15 minutes permettra avantageusement de prendre en compte l'existence de fuseaux horaires dont le décalage horaire n'est pas un multiple entier d'une heure.On the other hand, it should be mentioned that the subdivisions of the display member 7, 7 * illustrated in the first and second embodiments of FIGS. figures 1 and 2 are in no way limiting. It is possible to alternatively subdivide the display member into 2 × 12, 3 × 12, 4 × 12 angular sectors or more, that is to say with time intervals of 30, 20, or 15 minutes between them. various approximate decimal values indicated on the display member. Note in particular that a subdivision every 30 or 15 minutes advantageously take into account the existence of time zones whose jet lag is not an integer multiple of one hour.

De manière générale, on peut subdiviser l'organe d'affichage (7, 7* dans les figures 1 et 2 respectivement) en N x12 secteurs angulaires réguliers, N étant un nombre entier, les valeurs décimales approchées étant indiquées successivement dans chaque secteur angulaire de l'organe d'affichage, dans un ordre croissant et dans le sens horaire, avec des intervalles de temps équivalant à 60 / N minutes. Le cadran 5 est de même subdivisé en N secteurs angulaires égaux indiquant chacun les valeurs décimales correspondantes des minutes sur une durée de 60 / N minutes pour chaque secteur angulaire.In general, the display member (7, 7 *) can be subdivided into figures 1 and 2 respectively) in N x12 regular angular sectors, N being an integer, the approximate decimal values being indicated successively in each angular sector of the display member, in ascending and clockwise order, with equivalent time intervals. at 60 / N minutes. The dial 5 is likewise subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values of the minutes over a period of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.

Compte tenu des dimensions typiques d'une pièce d'horlogerie et des contraintes en terme de lisibilité des inscriptions sur le cadran et sur l'organe d'affichage, le nombre de subdivisions pouvant être pratiquées est limité. Ainsi 48 (N=4) voire 96 (N=5) constituent typiquement le nombre maximum de subdivisions qu'il est possible d'envisager sur l'organe d'affichage.Given the typical dimensions of a timepiece and the constraints in terms of readability of the inscriptions on the dial and on the display member, the number of subdivisions that can be practiced is limited. Thus 48 (N = 4) or 96 (N = 5) typically constitute the maximum number of subdivisions that can be envisaged on the display member.

La figure 3 montre un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention faisant appel à un principe de réalisation analogue au principe employé pour les modes de réalisation des figures 1 et 2. Une différence réside notamment dans le fait que l'organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation, sous la forme d'un disque indicateur dans les figures 1 et 2, est formé dans cet exemple d'une lunette extérieure tournante indiquée généralement par la référence numérique 8. Une autre différence réside dans le fait que cette lunette tournante 8 est subdivisée en 2 x 12 = 24 secteurs angulaires réguliers (N = 2) et que les valeurs décimales approchées, repérées 81, sont indiquées successivement dans chaque secteur angulaire avec des intervalles de temps équivalant à 60 / 2 = 30 minutes environ, soit tous les 20 ou 21 millièmes de jours. Les valeurs décimales approchées indiquées sont ainsi successivement, dans le sens horaire, « 000 », « 021 », « 042 », « 063 », ..., « 938 », « 958 », « 979 ». Le cadran 5 est ainsi également subdivisé en deux secteurs angulaires comportant chacun une graduation de « 0 » à « 20 », l'une, repérée 51a, s'étendant de 12h à 6h, et l'autre, repérée 51b, s'étendant de 6h à 12h dans le sens horaire.The figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention using a principle of embodiment similar to the principle employed for the embodiments of the figures 1 and 2 . One difference lies in the fact that the display member is adjustable in rotation, in the form of an indicator disk in the figures 1 and 2 is, in this example, formed of a rotating outer bezel indicated generally by the numeral 8. Another difference lies in the fact that this rotating bezel 8 is subdivided into 2 × 12 = 24 regular angular sectors (N = 2) and that the approximate decimal values, marked 81, are indicated successively in each angular sector with time intervals equivalent to 60/2 = approximately 30 minutes, ie every 20 or 21 thousandths of a day. The approximate decimal values indicated are thus successively, in the clockwise direction, "000", "021", "042", "063", ..., "938", "958", "979". The dial 5 is thus also subdivided into two angular sectors each having a scale of "0" to "20", one marked 51a, extending from 12h to 6h, and the other, marked 51b, extending from 6h to 12h clockwise.

Dans le cas de figure illustré, les organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes 4a et 4b indiquent respectivement les valeurs décimales « 521 » et « 11 » environ, soit effectivement 532 millièmes de jour après addition.In the illustrated case, the hours and minutes indicating organs 4a and 4b respectively indicate the decimal values "521" and "11" approximately, that is to say 532 thousandths of a day after addition.

Dans le cadre des modes de réalisation des figures 1 à 3, il pourra être utile d'adjoindre un mécanisme indicateur AM/PM permettant de distinguer laquelle des deux valeurs décimales approchées inscrites sur l'organe d'affichage (7, 7* ou 8 dans les figures) doit être considérée à un instant donné. Dans les modes de réalisation des figures 1 à 3, on aura constaté que les première et seconde valeurs décimales approchées inscrites sur l'organe d'affichage complémentaire sont disposées sur deux cercles distincts, l'un extérieur et l'autre intérieur. Les valeurs décimales approchées inscrites sur le cercle intérieur correspondent à la matinée (AM) au niveau du méridien de Bienne et les valeurs décimales inscrites sur le cercle extérieur correspondent à l'après-midi (PM) au niveau du méridien de Bienne. Afin de distinguer laquelle des deux valeurs décimales doit être considérée à un instant donné, un mécanisme indicateur AM/PM bien connu de l'homme du métier, réglé sur Bienne, pourra ainsi être utilisé. Un tel mécanisme pourra par exemple comprendre un organe indicateur effectuant une révolution par vingt-quatre heures tournant en regard d'une subdivision AM/PM (ou alternativement 0/+500).In the context of the modes of realization of Figures 1 to 3 it may be useful to add an AM / PM indicating mechanism to distinguish which of the two approximate decimal values inscribed on the display member (7, 7 * or 8 in the figures) must be considered at a given moment. In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 it will be found that the first and second approximate decimal values inscribed on the complementary display member are arranged on two distinct circles, one outside and the other inside. Decimal values The approximate inscribed on the inner circle corresponds to the morning (AM) at the meridian of Bienne and the decimal values on the outer circle correspond to the afternoon (PM) at the meridian of Bienne. In order to distinguish which of the two decimal values should be considered at a given moment, an AM / PM indicator mechanism well known to those skilled in the art, set to Bienne, can thus be used. Such a mechanism may for example comprise an indicator organ performing a revolution per twenty-four hours rotating opposite an AM / PM subdivision (or alternatively 0 / + 500).

Comme déjà mentionné, on comprendra que l'on pourra également appliquer le principe décrit ci-dessus à un mouvement 24-heures, c'est-à-dire un mouvement dont l'organe indicateur des heures effectue une révolution entière en vingt-quatre heures, auquel cas il ne sera pas nécessaire d'utiliser un mécanisme indicateur AM/PM additionnel pour distinguer laquelle des deux valeurs décimales inscrites dans le secteur angulaire considéré doit être prise en compte à un instant donné, chaque secteur angulaire de l'organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation ne comprenant en effet qu'une seule valeur décimale inscrite.As already mentioned, it will be understood that the principle described above can also be applied to a 24-hour movement, that is to say a movement whose hour indicator organ performs an entire revolution in twenty-four hours. hours, in which case it will not be necessary to use an additional AM / PM indicator mechanism to distinguish which of the two decimal values in the relevant angular sector must be taken into account at a given moment, each angular sector of the rotationally adjustable display comprising only one decimal value inscribed.

Avantageusement, on pourra adjoindre à la pièce d'horlogerie un mécanisme permettant de masquer, par alternance de douze heures, les premières ou les secondes valeurs décimales approchées indiquées sur l'organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation. La figure 8 présente une illustration d'un tel mécanisme appliquée au premier mode de réalisation illustré dans la figure 1. Outre les éléments déjà présentés en référence à la figure 1 (repérés par les mêmes références numériques dans la figure 8), la pièce d'horlogerie comporte un disque 75 superposé à l'organe d'affichage 7 portant les indications des valeurs décimales approchées 71 des heures pleines. Une partie du disque 75 n'a pas été représentée pour laisser apparaître l'organe d'affichage 7.Advantageously, it will be possible to add to the timepiece a mechanism making it possible to mask, by alternating twelve hours, the first or the second approximate decimal values indicated on the display member that can be adjusted in rotation. The figure 8 an illustration of such a mechanism applied to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. figure 1 . In addition to the elements already presented with reference to figure 1 (referenced by the same numerical references in the figure 8 ), the timepiece comprises a disk 75 superimposed on the display member 7 bearing the approximate decimal values 71 of the full hours. Part of the disc 75 has not been shown to reveal the display member 7.

Ce disque 75 est pourvu d'une première série d'ouvertures 76 (ici au nombre de douze) au travers desquelles peuvent apparaître, pour une position angulaire donnée du disque 75, les premières valeurs décimales approchées indiquées dans le divers secteurs angulaires de l'organe d'affichage 7 (ici les valeurs « 000 » à « 458 »). Le disque 75 est pourvu d'une deuxième série d'ouvertures 77 (également au nombre de douze) décalées angulairement (de 15° dans cet exemple) par rapport à la première série d'ouvertures 76 et au travers desquelles peuvent apparaître, pour une autre position angulaire donnée du disque 75, les secondes valeurs décimales approchées indiquées dans les secteurs angulaires de l'organe d'affichage 7 (ici les valeurs « 500 » à « 958 »). Dans l'exemple de la figure 8, la deuxième série d'ouvertures 77 laisse apparaître les secondes valeurs décimales « 500 » à « 958 », alors que la première série d'ouvertures 76 est décalée par rapport aux indications des valeurs décimales approchées 71, le disque 75 masquant ainsi les premières valeurs décimales approchées « 000 » à « 458 ».This disc 75 is provided with a first series of openings 76 (here in number of twelve) through which can appear, for a given angular position of the disc 75, the first approximate decimal values indicated in the various angular sectors of the display member 7 (here the values "000" to "458"). The disk 75 is provided with a second series of openings 77 (also twelve in number) angularly offset (by 15 ° in this example) with respect to the first series of openings 76 and through which it may appear, for a other given angular position of the disk 75, the second approximate decimal values indicated in the angular sectors of the display member 7 (here the values "500" to "958"). In the example of the figure 8 the second series of openings 77 reveals the second decimal values "500" to "958", while the first series of openings 76 is shifted relative to the indications of the approximate decimal values 71, the disc 75 thus masking the first approximate decimal values "000" to "458".

Le disque 75 est entraîné de manière à ce qu'il effectue, toutes les douze heures, une rotation d'un pas angulaire amenant alternativement la première série d'ouvertures 76 et la seconde série d'ouvertures 77 au dessus respectivement des premières et secondes valeurs décimales approchées 71. Dans cet exemple, une révolution complète du disque 75 est effectuée en douze jours, c'est-à-dire en vingt-quatre pas angulaires de 15° chacun. On comprendra ainsi que le disque 75 permet de masquer, par alternance de douze heures, les premières ou les secondes valeurs décimales approchées 71 indiquées sur l'organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation 7. Ainsi, douze heures plus tard, c'est-à-dire à 0h47, le disque 75 sera décalé angulairement de 15° et laissera apparaître uniquement les valeurs décimales approchées « 000» à « 458 ». L'indication horaire décimale obtenue par addition équivaudra alors à effectivement à 32 millièmes de jour.The disk 75 is driven so that it performs, every twelve hours, a rotation of an angular step alternately bringing the first series of openings 76 and the second series of openings 77 above respectively the first and second Approximate Decimal Values 71. In this example, a complete revolution of the disk 75 is performed in twelve days, i.e., in twenty-four angular steps of 15 ° each. It will thus be understood that the disk 75 makes it possible to mask, by alternating twelve hours, the first or second approximate decimal values 71 indicated on the display member that can be adjusted in rotation 7. Thus, twelve hours later, this means that is to say at 0:47, the disc 75 will be shifted angularly by 15 ° and will only show the approximate decimal values "000" to "458". The hourly decimal indication obtained by addition will then be effectively equivalent to 32 thousandths of a day.

Selon un deuxième principe de réalisation de l'invention qui va maintenant être présenté en référence aux figures 4 à 7, les moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires font appel non à l'organe indicateur des heures 4a mais à un organe additionnel entraîné par le mouvement.According to a second embodiment of the invention which will now be presented with reference to Figures 4 to 7 the complementary analogue display means do not call on the hour indicator member 4a but on an additional member driven by the movement.

La figure 4 présente ainsi un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention répondant à ce deuxième principe de réalisation. La pièce d'horlogerie illustrée dans cette figure comporte, conformément à ce qui a déjà été mentionné plus haut, une boîte-carrure 2, une glace 3, des organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes 4a, 4b, un cadran 5 et une couronne de mise à l'heure 6. Cette pièce d'horlogerie comporte en outre un organe indicateur additionnel 4c entraîné par le mouvement (ici sous la forme d'une aiguille) effectuant une révolution toutes les vingt-quatre heures ainsi qu'un organe d'affichage additionnel 9 monté concentriquement aux organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes 4a, 4b en dessous du cadran 5. Cet organe d'affichage additionnel 9 porte des inscriptions, repérées 91, des valeurs décimales approchées des heures pleines exprimées en millièmes de jour. Ces inscriptions 91 sont visibles au travers d'une pluralité de guichets 5a, dans cet exemple au nombre de vingt-quatre, ménagés dans le cadran 5.The figure 4 thus presents a fourth embodiment of the invention corresponding to this second embodiment. The timepiece illustrated in this figure comprises, in accordance with what has already been mentioned above, a box-middle 2, an ice 3, organs indicating the hours and minutes 4a, 4b, a dial 5 and a crown 6. This timepiece further comprises an additional indicator member 4c driven by the movement (here in the form of a needle) making a revolution every twenty-four hours and a body of additional display 9 concentrically mounted to the hours and minutes indicating bodies 4a, 4b below the dial 5. This additional display member 9 carries inscriptions, labeled 91, approximate decimal values of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day. These inscriptions 91 are visible through a plurality of wickets 5a, in this example to the number of twenty-four, formed in the dial 5.

D'une manière générale, selon ce deuxième principe de réalisation de l'invention, on peut subdiviser l'organe d'affichage portant les indications des valeurs décimales en N x 24 secteurs angulaires réguliers, N étant un nombre entier comme précédemment, les valeurs décimales approchées étant indiquées successivement dans chaque secteur angulaire de l'organe indicateur, dans un ordre croissant et dans le sens horaire, avec des intervalles de temps équivalant à 60 / N minutes. Le cadran 5 est de même subdivisé en N secteurs angulaires égaux indiquant chacun les valeurs décimales correspondantes des minutes sur une durée de 60 / N minutes pour chaque secteur angulaire.In a general manner, according to this second embodiment of the invention, the display member carrying the indications of the decimal values can be subdivided into N × 24 regular angular sectors, N being an integer as before, the values approximated decimals being successively indicated in each angular sector of the indicator organ, in ascending order and in clockwise, with time intervals equivalent to 60 / N minutes. The dial 5 is likewise subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values of the minutes over a period of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.

Dans le mode de réalisation illustré à la figure 4, N équivaut à 1 et l'organe d'affichage 9 portant les inscriptions des valeurs décimales approchées est ainsi subdivisé en vingt-quatre secteurs angulaires égaux, le cadran 5 ne comportant qu'un secteur portant les valeurs décimales correspondantes 51 sur une durée totale de soixante minutes, soit de « 0 » à « 41 » millièmes de jour.In the embodiment illustrated in figure 4 , N equals 1 and the display member 9 bearing the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values is thus subdivided into twenty-four equal angular sectors, the dial 5 having only one sector carrying the corresponding decimal values 51 over a total duration sixty minutes, from "0" to "41" thousandths of a day.

De manière analogue à ce qui a été décrit précédemment, l'indication horaire décimale est formée par addition des valeurs décimales indiquées par l'organe d'affichage additionnel 9 et l'organe indicateur 4c, d'une part, et l'organe indicateur des minutes 4b et le cadran 5, d'autre part, dans cet exemple à nouveau « 500 » et « 32 », soit 532 millièmes de jour après addition.In a manner analogous to that previously described, the decimal time indication is formed by adding the decimal values indicated by the additional display member 9 and the indicating member 4c, on the one hand, and the indicating member minutes 4b and the dial 5, on the other hand, in this example again "500" and "32", or 532 thousandths of a day after addition.

On comprendra qu'il n'est pas nécessaire que l'organe indicateur additionnel 4c soit ajustable indépendamment des organes indicateurs des minutes et des heures, pour autant que l'organe d'affichage 9 portant les valeurs décimales approchées 91 soit ajustable en rotation. On peut néanmoins parfaitement renoncer à utiliser un organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation et pratiquer les inscriptions des valeurs décimales approchées directement sur le cadran (ou sur une lunette de la pièce d'horlogerie) auquel cas il est alors nécessaire que l'organe indicateur additionnel 4c soit ajustable indépendamment des organes indicateurs des minutes et des heures.It will be understood that it is not necessary for the additional indicator member 4c to be adjustable independently of the minutes and hours indicating members, provided that the display member 9 carrying the approximate decimal values 91 is rotatable. Nevertheless, it is perfectly possible to dispense with the use of a rotationally adjustable display member and to practice the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values directly on the dial (or on a bezel of the timepiece), in which case it is then necessary that the indicating member additional 4c is adjustable independently of the indicator organs of minutes and hours.

La solution consistant à inscrire les valeurs décimales approchées sur un organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation offre cependant certains avantages. En effet, comme illustré dans la figure 4, en appliquant des inscriptions, repérées 21, des vingt-quatre heures (1h, 2h, ... 24h) en regard des diverses positions des valeurs décimales approchées 91 inscrites sur l'organe d'affichage 9 (dans ce cas sur une lunette 2a de la pièce d'horlogerie), l'utilisateur dispose d'une correspondance simple et directe entre les indications horaires conventionnelle et décimale. En particulier, l'utilisateur peut obtenir une conversion approximative entre le système conventionnel duodécimal et le système décimal. En effet, admettons que l'utilisateur convienne d'un rendez-vous ou programme l'échéance d'un événement pour « 300 », celui-ci constatera aisément que ceci correspond approximativement à 7 heures du matin, heure locale, dans cet exemple.The solution of entering the approximate decimal values on a display member adjustable in rotation, however, has certain advantages. Indeed, as illustrated in the figure 4 , by applying inscriptions, labeled 21, twenty-four hours (1h, 2h, ... 24h) opposite the various positions of the approximate decimal values 91 written on the display member 9 (in this case on a telescope 2a of the timepiece), the user has a simple and direct correspondence between the conventional and decimal time indications. In particular, the user can obtain an approximate conversion between the conventional duodecimal system and the decimal system. Indeed, let us assume that the user agrees to an appointment or program the deadline of an event for "300", it will easily find that this is approximately 7 o'clock in the morning, local time, in this example .

La figure 5 montre un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention constituant une variante du quatrième mode de réalisation de la figure 4. Une différence réside ici dans la disposition angulaire des indications des valeurs décimales approchées 91 sur l'organe d'affichage, ici indiqué par la référence numérique 9*. Par rapport à l'exemple illustré dans la figure 4, les valeurs décimales sont décalées angulairement de 7,5° vers la droite de sorte que l'organe indicateur additionnel 4c pointe toujours dans un secteur déterminé, ici le secteur angulaire comportant la valeur décimale « 500 ».The figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention constituting a variant of the fourth embodiment of the figure 4 . A difference lies here in the angular arrangement of the indications of the approximate decimal values 91 on the display member, here indicated by the reference numeral 9 *. Compared to the example illustrated in figure 4 , the decimal values are shifted angularly 7.5 ° to the right so that the additional indicator member 4c always points in a given sector, here the angular sector having the decimal value "500".

Une autre différence par rapport au mode de réalisation de la figure 4 réside dans le fait que les inscriptions 21 des vingt-quatre heures « 1 » à « 24» sont reportées sur le cadran 5 et non plus sur la lunette 2a.Another difference compared to the embodiment of the figure 4 resides in the fact that the inscriptions 21 twenty-four hours "1" to "24" are reported on the dial 5 and not on the bezel 2a.

La figure 6 montre un sixième mode de réalisation de l'invention faisant appel à un principe de réalisation analogue au principe employé pour les modes de réalisation des figures 4 et 5. Une différence réside notamment dans le fait que l'organe d'affichage ajustable en rotation, sous la forme d'un disque indicateur dans les figures 4 et 5, est formé dans cet exemple d'une lunette extérieure tournante indiquée généralement par la référence numérique 10. Une autre différence réside dans le fait que cette lunette tournante 10 est subdivisée en 4 x 24 = 96 secteurs angulaires réguliers (N = 4) et que les valeurs décimales approchées, repérées 101, sont indiquées successivement dans chaque secteur angulaire avec des intervalles de temps équivalant à 60 / 4 = 15 minutes environ, soit tous les 10 ou 11 millièmes de jours. Les valeurs décimales approchées indiquées sont ainsi successivement, dans le sens horaire, « 000 », « 010 », « 021 », « 031 », ..., « 969 », « 979 », « 990 ». Le cadran 5 est ainsi également subdivisé en quatre secteurs angulaires comportant chacun une graduation de « 0 » à « 10 » s'étendant respectivement de 12h à 3h, de 3h à 6h, de 6h à 9h et 9h à 12h dans le sens horaire, ces graduations étant indiquées respectivement par les références numériques 51a à 51d dans la figure 6. Les inscriptions 21 des vingt-quatre heures sont en outre reportées sur la périphérie du cadran 5.The figure 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention using a principle of embodiment similar to the principle employed for the embodiments of the figures 4 and 5 . One difference lies in the fact that the display member is adjustable in rotation, in the form of an indicator disk in the figures 4 and 5 , in this example is formed a rotating outer bezel generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. Another difference lies in the fact that this rotating bezel 10 is subdivided into 4 × 24 = 96 regular angular sectors (N = 4) and that the approximate decimal values, labeled 101, are indicated successively in each angular sector with time intervals equivalent to 60/4 = approximately 15 minutes, ie every 10 or 11 thousandths of a day. The approximate decimal values indicated are thus successively, in the clockwise direction, "000", "010", "021", "031", ..., "969", "979", "990". The dial 5 is thus also subdivided into four angular sectors each comprising a graduation of "0" to "10" extending respectively from 12h to 3h, from 3h to 6h, from 6h to 9h and 9h to 12h in the clockwise direction, these graduations being respectively indicated by the reference numerals 51a to 51d in the figure 6 . The inscriptions 21 twenty-four hours are further reported on the periphery of the dial 5.

Dans le cas de figure illustré, l'organe indicateur additionnel 4c et l'organe indicateur des minutes 4b indiquent respectivement les valeurs décimales « 531 » et « 1 », soit effectivement 532 millièmes de jour après addition.In the illustrated case, the additional indicator organ 4c and the minutes indicating member 4b respectively indicate the decimal values "531" and "1", ie effectively 532 thousandths of a day after addition.

On rappellera à nouveau que le nombre de subdivisions peut être différent. Par exemple, afin d'alléger quelque peu la lisibilité de la pièce d'horlogerie, on pourra choisir une division toutes les 20 minutes (N = 3) et ainsi subdiviser la lunette tournante 10 et le cadran 5 en respectivement 72 et 3 secteurs angulaires réguliers.It will be recalled again that the number of subdivisions may be different. For example, in order to lighten somewhat the legibility of the timepiece, we can choose a division every 20 minutes (N = 3) and thus subdivide the rotating bezel 10 and the dial 5 respectively 72 and 3 angular sectors regular.

La figure 7 montre un septième mode de réalisation de l'invention répondant également au deuxième principe de réalisation susmentionné. A la différence des modes de réalisation des figures 4 à 6, les moyens d'affichage analogique complémentaires comprennent un index fixe 12 associé à un organe d'affichage additionnel entraîné par le mouvement, indiqué par la référence numérique 11, et portant les indications des valeurs décimales approchées 111 des heures pleines. L'organe d'affichage additionnel 11 présente la forme d'un disque analogue au disque indicateur (non entraîné) des modes de réalisation des figures 1, 2, 4 ou 5, à la différence près que celui-ci est entraîné par le mouvement pour effectuer une révolution entière en vingt-quatre heures (dans le sens horaire dans cet exemple), les inscriptions des valeurs décimales approchées 111 étant disposées dans un ordre croissant et le sens anti-horaire du fait du sens de rotation de l'organe d'affichage 11. On comprendra que le sens de rotation de l'organe d'affichage 11 peut être renversé, c'est-à-dire prévoir que cet organe soit entraîné dans le sens anti-horaire par l'utilisation d'un renvoi supplémentaire, auquel cas les inscriptions des valeurs décimales approchées 111 devront être disposées dans le sens horaire.The figure 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the invention also corresponding to the second aforementioned embodiment. Unlike the embodiments of the Figures 4 to 6 the complementary analog display means comprise a fixed index 12 associated with a display member additional driven by the movement, indicated by the reference numeral 11, and bearing the indications of the approximate decimal values 111 of the full hours. The additional display member 11 has the shape of a disc similar to the indicator disc (not driven) of the embodiments of the figures 1 , 2 , 4 or 5 , with the difference that it is driven by the movement to effect an entire revolution in twenty-four hours (clockwise in this example), the inscriptions of the approximate decimal values 111 being arranged in increasing order and direction counterclockwise because of the direction of rotation of the display member 11. It will be understood that the direction of rotation of the display member 11 can be reversed, that is to say, that this body is driven counter-clockwise by the use of an additional reference, in which case the entries of the approximate decimal values 111 should be arranged clockwise.

L'index fixe 12 est disposé, dans cet exemple, à 12h sur le cadran 5 et indique la valeur décimale devant être considérée sur l'organe d'affichage additionnel 11. On comprendra bien évidemment que cet index 12 peut être reporté à une autre position ou sur une autre partie de la pièce d'horlogerie, telle la lunette 2a.The fixed index 12 is arranged in this example at 12 o'clock on the dial 5 and indicates the decimal value to be considered on the additional display member 11. It will of course be understood that this index 12 can be transferred to another position or on another part of the timepiece, such as the bezel 2a.

L'ajustement de la position angulaire de l'organe d'affichage 11 est effectué de manière conventionnelle au moyen de la couronne de mise à l'heure 6. Préférablement, on utilisera un mécanisme de correction bien connu de l'homme du métier permettant une correction par pas d'une heure dans cet exemple (ou par pas de 15, 20 ou 30 minutes si une autre subdivision est adoptée).The adjustment of the angular position of the display member 11 is done in a conventional manner by means of the setting ring 6. Preferably, a correction mechanism well known to those skilled in the art will be used. a correction in steps of one hour in this example (or in steps of 15, 20 or 30 minutes if another subdivision is adopted).

On comprendra que diverses modifications et/ou améliorations évidentes pour l'homme du métier peuvent être apportées aux divers modes de réalisation décrits dans la présente description sans sortir du cadre de l'invention défini par les revendications annexées. En particulier, on comprendra que les organes indicateurs des heures et des minutes peuvent être réalisés sous la forme d'organes indicateurs différents d'une aiguille, tel un disque rotatif portant un index par exemple. On comprendra de manière générale que tout affichage analogique qui donne, par définition, une indication de temps par déplacement relatif d'un repère et d'une échelle (typiquement une aiguille et un cadran comme illustré dans les diverses figures) pourra être utilisé pour obtenir le résultat escompté.It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, it will be understood that the hours and minutes indicating organs can be made in the form of indicator members different from a needle, such as a rotary disc bearing an index, for example. It will be understood in general that any analog display which gives, by definition, an indication of time by relative displacement of a reference mark and a scale (typically a hand and a dial as illustrated in the various figures) can be used to obtain the expected result.

On comprendra également que la présente invention est également applicable à un mouvement 24-heures où l'organe indicateur des heures effectue une révolution entière en vingt-quatre heures.It will also be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to a 24-hour movement where the hour indicator organ performs an entire revolution in twenty-four hours.

La présente invention est bien évidemment également applicable à des pièces d'horlogerie différentes d'une montre-bracelet, telles une horloge de table ou une horloge murale par exemple.The present invention is obviously also applicable to timepieces different from a wristwatch, such as a table clock or a wall clock for example.

Claims (10)

  1. Timepiece allowing a reading of first conventional time information by means of first analogue display means including a dial (5) and hours (4a) and minutes (4b) indicator members driven by a movement of the timepiece, this timepiece including second analogue display means allowing a simultaneous reading of second time information based on a decimal system wherein time is divided at least into thousandths of a day,
    characterized in that said second analogue display means include said dial (5) and said minutes indicator member (4b) in addition to complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12) indicating at least approximate decimal values (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day,
    said minutes indicator member (4b) indicating on said dial (5), in addition to the minutes, corresponding decimal values (51; 51 a, 51b; 51 a to 51 d) over a total duration of one hour,
    said second time information based on the decimal system being formed by adding the decimal value (51; 51 a, 51 b; 51 a to 51 d) indicated on said dial (5) by said minutes indicator member (4b) and the approximate decimal value (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) indicated by said complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12).
  2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary analogue display means include said hours indicator member (4a) associated with a rotatably adjustable display member (7; 7*; 8) mounted on the timepiece and on which at least said approximate decimal values (71; 81) of the full hours are indicated.
  3. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that said hours indicator member (4a) makes one complete revolution in twelve hours and in that said rotatably adjustable display member (7; 7 *; 8) is subdivided into 12 x N equal angular sectors, N being an integer number,
    each angular sector including indications of first and second approximate decimal values (71; 81) separated from each other by twelve hours, these first and second approximate decimal values being indicated successively in each angular sector, in ascending order and in the clockwise direction, with time intervals equivalent to 60 / N minutes,
    said dial (5) being subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values (51; 51 a; 51 b) of the minutes over a duration of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.
  4. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that it further includes an AM/PM indicator mechanism allowing which of said first and second approximate decimal values (71; 81) has to be considered at a given moment.
  5. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that it further includes a mechanism (75, 76, 77) allowing said first or second approximate decimal values (71), indicated on said rotatably adjustable display member (7), to be masked alternately every twelve hours.
  6. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary analogue display means include an indicator member (4c) driven by said movement and making a complete revolution in twenty-four hours associated with a rotatably adjustable display member (9; 9*; 10) mounted on the timepiece and on which at least said approximate decimal values (91; 101) of the full hours are indicated.
  7. Timepiece according to claim 6, characterized in that said rotatably adjustable display member (9; 9*; 10) is subdivided into 24 x N equal angular sectors, N being an integer number,
    each angular sector including an indication of an approximate decimal value (91; 101), this approximate decimal value being indicated successively in each angular sector, in ascending order and in the clockwise direction, with time intervals equivalent to 60 / N minutes,
    said dial (5) being subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values (51; 51 a to 51 d) of the minutes over a duration of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.
  8. Timepiece according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said timepiece includes an indication (21) of the twenty-four hours facing the corresponding approximate decimal values (91; 101) indicated on said rotatably adjustable display member (9; 9*; 10).
  9. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said complementary analogue display means include a fixed index (12) associated with a display member (11) driven by said movement on which at least said approximate decimal values (111) of the full hours are indicated.
  10. Timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that said driven display member (11) makes a complete revolution in twenty-four hours and is subdivided into 24 x N equal angular sectors, N being an integer number,
    each angular sector including an indication of an approximate decimal value (111), this approximate decimal value being successively indicated in each angular sector, in ascending order, with time intervals equivalent to 60 / N minutes,
    said dial (5) being subdivided into N equal angular sectors each indicating the corresponding decimal values (51) of the minutes over a duration of 60 / N minutes for each angular sector.
EP01200683A 2001-02-23 2001-02-23 Analogical timepiece with a time indication based on a decimal system Expired - Lifetime EP1235120B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01200683A EP1235120B1 (en) 2001-02-23 2001-02-23 Analogical timepiece with a time indication based on a decimal system
AT01200683T ATE398301T1 (en) 2001-02-23 2001-02-23 ANALOG CLOCK WITH A TIME DISPLAY BASED ON A DECIMAL SYSTEM
DE60134384T DE60134384D1 (en) 2001-02-23 2001-02-23 Analog clock with a decimal time based time display

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01200683A EP1235120B1 (en) 2001-02-23 2001-02-23 Analogical timepiece with a time indication based on a decimal system

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EP1235120A1 EP1235120A1 (en) 2002-08-28
EP1235120B1 true EP1235120B1 (en) 2008-06-11

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AT (1) ATE398301T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60134384D1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6579004B1 (en) * 1999-10-12 2003-06-17 Romanson Watch Co., Ltd. Internet clock

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EP1235120A1 (en) 2002-08-28
DE60134384D1 (en) 2008-07-24
ATE398301T1 (en) 2008-07-15

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