Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
  • G04B19/04—Hands; Discs with a single mark or the like
• • 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
  • G04B19/26—Clocks or watches with indicators for tides, for the phases of the moon, or the like
  • G04B19/262—Clocks or watches with indicators for tides, for the phases of the moon, or the like with indicators for astrological informations
• • 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
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
• • 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
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
  • G04B45/0046—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork with oscillating motion, in pocket- or wrist watches
• • 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
  • G04B47/00—Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece
  • G04B47/04—Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece with attached ornaments or amusement apparatus
  • G04B47/044—Movable decorations and parts thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a watch provided with three-dimensional indicators, main or complementary, placed on the periphery of the movement, in the space defined by the middle part, the ice, the bottom and the movement.
• the mobility of these indicators can be the result of various kinematics that will be described below. They can also be decorated as is traditional in watchmaking.
• the watch described in this invention has the advantage and the effect of increasing the readability of the indicators on the one hand, by the fact that they are three-dimensional, on the other hand by the displacement of additional indications of time on the periphery of the dial.
• the invention thus relates equally to the improvement of the readability of the indicators and displaced functions that those who are not.
• This space can have the shape of a crown segment, a crescent, a crenel applied against the dial or a more complex shape that is better described by a graphic design. This space can also concern the entire circumference of the dial with a regular or irregular shape.
• the main time indicators are the hour, minute and second indicators.
• the complementary indicators are, the different dates, the power reserve, the time zones, the ringing with one or more hammers, an apparition, for example a cuckoo or another symbol, the indication of the moon phases, the lunar calendar and the lunation calendar, the march of the sun in the sky, the day / night indication, the representation of the sun-lit land, a walking indicator, a dynamograph, a chronograph, a week-end, mysterious calendars and cycles various in relation to time, especially play cycles.
• the complementary indicators may be designed in the form of additional modules to the movement of the watch. They can also be integrated into this last.
• the mechanisms that actuate the indicators or the functions, linked or not to the movement, allow their movement, particularly in rotation or in translation with respect to landmarks placed judiciously to be visible. State of the art
• Swiss patent application CH 666 380 G discloses a watch comprising a decorative disc having a shape cut-out freely rotating above the movement and a second movable element provided at its periphery with a crescent portion provided with brilliants, creating an unbalance and rotating freely on the same axis as the first decorative disk corresponding to the axis of the needles.
• This set has a purely decorative function with the particularity of a random animation of its two mobile elements caused by the movement of the arm of the wearer of the watch.
• US Pat. No. 3,665,700 discloses a watch with a housing provided with an extension in the form of a housing in which an elongated beam is visible. This balance is mechanically connected to the escapement which prints a movement indicating the operation of the latter. The description also indicates the decorative effect of the invention.
• the problem posed by this patent lies in the operation of the device.
• the principle of a pendulum clock, of the pendulum type, requires that the latter be placed in a vertical position to function properly.
• European Patent EP0566529 details a device for indicating the phases of the moon and the watch provided with such a device.
• the representation of the moon in three dimensions, is placed inside the case and driven by a kinematic allowing it to make the outer turn of the dial during a lunation, while making a turn on itself.
• the moon which also turns on itself during a lunation, is stationary in the space that has been reserved for it on the periphery of the dial and do not go around.
• International Patent Application WO9111756 shows a device for representing the moon, especially under the dial of a watch.
• the invention described here allows a wide variety of applications that are differentiated by the type of indicator or visible function set up, by the mechanism used and its integration to the movement, by its representation and by the position chosen at the periphery of the dial.
• One aspect of the invention lies in the fact of using the third dimension axis (Z) to house indicators or functions on the periphery of the dial, visible especially from the top of the watch, autonomous or connected to the movement and operated by it.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a watch free from the limitations of prior known devices and, in particular to provide a watch with three-dimensional aspect time indicators that can be connected to the movement or placed in the form of additional modules.
• the embodiment of the invention chosen, chosen in no way limiting, is a watch comprising a phase indicator lunar, the march of the sun in retrograde function and the representation of the earth lit by the sun, the three indicators being three-dimensional. This embodiment is described below using the following figures:
• Figure 1 Plan view of the watch
• FIG. 1 3D view iso 3 A before the watch
• Figure 3 3D view iso 3 A back of the watch
• Figure 4 View of the elements of the movement concerned by the indicators described
• Figure 5 Detail of the mechanism of the retrograde sun indicator in night position
• Figure 6 Detail of the mechanism of the retrograde sun indicator in day position
• FIG. 7 Exploded view of the elements concerned by the indicators described
• Figure 8 D-D section of the sun blocking mechanism in the night position
• Figure 9 C-C cut of the retrograde sun indicator and the slide
• FIG. 10 A-A section of the watch
• FIG. 1 B-B section of the watch
• Figure 12 View of a 2D indicator placed on the periphery of the watch;
• Figure 1 is a plan view of the watch.
• the usual elements of the dressing are particularly represented: the middle part 1, the crown 2, the dial 3, and the hands 4.
• the moon 5 in three dimensions is part of the lunar phase indicator.
• a light half and a dark half move according to the rotation printed by a mechanism described later.
• a support 1 1, in which is the outer bearing and an inner bearing 46, visible in Figure 7, provide the necessary rigidity in that the sphere of the moon is held at each end of its axis.
• the same principle is used for the sun-lit earth indicator 6.
• the operation of its mechanism is as follows: earth 6 is represented by a sphere on which are inscribed the five continents.
• the sun is represented by rays 39 or landmarks whose imaginary center corresponds to the zenith with respect to the earth, which is located at the center of the indicator.
• the continent which lies on the longitude passing through the imaginary center of the sun indicates that it is at its zenith on this fictitious line.
• the inner face of the bottom 8 is visible in the background of these two indicators. It can represent landmarks or symbols.
• the march of the sun 7 is preferably placed outside the portion 10h to 2h of the dial.
• the sun is represented by a sphere 7 which moves in the clockwise direction throughout the day. His daily run is twelve hours. This indicator also functions as a day / night indicator.
• the setting of the retrograde sun function is done at the same time as the time setting of the watch, the setting of the start and the end of the sun stroke being set to six. hours and eighteen hours
• a device could be built into the mechanism to reduce or increase the duration of the sun's course of travel according to latitude. It is also possible to perform a mechanism with an automatic sunrise and sunset correction to follow seasonal variations. This latter mechanism should preferably be housed in an independent frame. It could also include a dial that would indicate the time of sunrise and sunset. Similarly, it is planned to integrate a counter or a countdown of the number of solar cycles that would indicate, for example, the number of days remaining before a deadline or the number of vacation days remaining.
• This indicator has a retrograde function, that is to say that at the end of its daytime running, the sun 7 turns back to be placed in a housing 12, see Figure 3, which conceals it during the twelve nocturnal hours.
• the race of the sun is above the inner face of the bottom 8, which may have marks or symbols.
• the highlights 10 are solid portions of the middle part that extend to the dial. They can be openwork or purified according to the constraints of aesthetics. They allow, in this form of execution, to hide the fasteners of the movement to the middle part. They could also be used to separate the indicators from each other.
• Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view iso 3A before the watch.
• the three orthogonal axes X, Y, Z are placed there so as to facilitate the description.
• the interest of this view and the following view is to show the use of space, especially the depth (Z axis) to change the indicators described in this embodiment.
• the moon phase indicator 5 is clearly recognizable in this view.
• Figure 3 is a view comparable to the previous one, but in position% back. The retrograde sun is visible on this view, as well as its housing 12 for the night position.
• Figure 4 is a general view of the mechanisms for animating the indicators. Apart from needles 4, used as a reference point, all the elements listed here are related to the operation of the indicators. The position of sections C-C, FIG. 9 and D-D, FIG. 8 is also visible.
• Figure 5 depicts the detail of the mechanism of the indicator of the retrograde sun in night position.
• a wheel 14 is fixed to the tube on which the needles 4 are mounted. It drives a large wheel 15, which is secured to a second wheel 16 mounted on the same axis in the upper position.
• This second wheel 16 is divided into four segments: two opposite toothed segments 17 and two non-toothed segments 18. The segments toothed 17 will drive the pinion 19 of the adjoining mobile during the day, while the non-toothed segments 18 release the same pinion 19, which corresponds to the night position.
• a spin on wheel 16 is two days and two nights.
• This safety device is composed of a lower cam 23, fastened integrally on the axis 30 , which engages with the slide 20 when it returns to the night position.
• the device also comprises an upper cam 24 and a spacer 28, see FIG.
• the upper cam 24 is provided with a tenon 25 capable of to be in contact with the lower cam 23 and a lever 27 which is actuated by the toothing 17 of the wheel 16 at the beginning of the day phase and released at the beginning of the night phase.
• a pawl spring 26 is in contact with the lower cam 23 and the pin 25 of the upper cam 24.
• a jumper spring 29 rests on another part of the lower cam 23. Its role is to maintain this cam in the day position .
• the locking in the night position is as follows: when the slide 20 is returned to the night position by the action of the return spring 22 on the wheel 21, the first teeth of the slide 20 engrain with the toothed portion of the lower cam 23, which is held in place by the spring pawl 26.
• This spring support 26 is possible by the fact that the cam 23 is positioned to receive the pawl spring 26 under the action of the return of the slide 20.
• the cam 23 provided with a lug (visible in a broken line in the figure) repositioned the cam 24 via the pin 25 Since the lever 27 of the cam 24 is not in contact with the toothed segment 17, this arrangement allows the spring pawl 26 to pick the cam 23.
• Figure 6 details the operation of the mechanism of the retrograde sun indicator in the day position.
• the engagement of the mechanism takes place when the toothing of the toothed segment 17 of the wheel 16 comes into contact with the lever 27 of the locking device, approximately one pitch of teeth before the opposite toothed segment 17 of the wheel 16 enters in contact with the pinion 19.
• the lever 27 moves the spring pawl 26 through the pin 25 of the lower cam 23, which releases the slide 20 and allows its movement.
• the support of the jumper spring 29 in a suitable notch places the lower cam in the receiving position of the slide 20 for the night, which again triggers the function of blocking described in the previous figure.
• the lower cam 23 holds the upper cam 24, via the pin 25 out of contact with the toothed segment 17 of the wheel 16.
• FIG. 7 shows a general view of the elements of the movement, in particular mechanisms actuating the moon 5 and the earth 6.
• the sun 7 and its support 31 fixed on the slide 20 are easily recognizable.
• the mechanism animating the moon 5 consists of a wheel train leaving the wheel 14, also used by the mechanism of the retrograde sun.
• the wheel 14 engages the toothed wheel 45, itself connected to the gear train 42, the latter being secured to the wheel 37.
• the gear train 42 () may comprise an additional wheel for reverse the direction of rotation of the moon.
• the wheel 37 engages the pinion 36, which drives the axis of the moon 5. It is supported by two bearings, an inner bearing 46 and an outer bearing housed in its support January 1.
• the device for correcting the position of the moon consisting of the corrector 38, which acts on the correction wheel 33, the star wheel 35 and leaf springs 34 adequate to index the latter.
• This correction device is known and therefore does not require a more detailed description.
• a more precise indication of the position of the moon is made by a lunar calendar, comprising twenty-nine days and connected to the pinion 36.
• the earth 6 is rotated by the same wheels 14 and 45 as the moon, then by the train gear 41, the last wheel driving the pinion 40, which drives the axis of the earth 6. It is supported by two bearings, as for the moon, an inner bearing 46 'and an outer bearing housed in its support 1 1 '.
• a corrector of the same type as that used for the moon, not shown in Figure 7, allows the adjustment of the position of the earth with respect to time zones or continents.
• a more accurate indication of the earth can be achieved by integrating a counter indicating the instantaneous time zone corresponding to the zenith of the sun.
• the axes of rotation relative to the rotation of the earth 6 and the moon 5 are stationary, in the sense that they keep a fixed position relative to the watch and the dial 3.
• the axis of the moon 5 is at 7 o'clock, when the axis of the earth 6 is at 5 o'clock, relative to the dial 3.
• the moon 5 and the earth 6 are still in position at 7 o'clock, respectively at 5 o'clock, all being rotated by the corresponding gear trains.
• Figure 8 is a D-D section of the retrograde sun blocking mechanism in the night position.
• the cutting line is visible in FIG. 4.
• the parts are mounted on the plate of the movement 13.
• the arcuate and toothed slide 20 is engrained by the lower cam 23.
• On the same axis are visible the spacer 28 and the upper cam 24.
• the wheel 16 with toothed and non-toothed segments. The two pieces are not in contact in this phase of night position.
• Figure 9 is a section CC of the retrograde sun indicator and the slider.
• the section line is visible in Figure 4.
• the sun 7 is screwed onto a support 31, which is fixed to the slide 20 by means of two screws 48, one of which is visible in the figure.
• the bleeding 47 practiced in the platinum movement 13 allows the passage of the support 31 during the movement of the sun 7.
• Figure 10 is a 6H-12H section of the watch. The purpose of this section is to show a part of the space in which the retrograde sun 7 and the moon 5 are moving. The earth is not visible in the drawing. The cut shows the movement 13 with the dial 3 and the hands 4 placed in the middle 1. The ice 43 and under the watch, the bottom 9 also provided with an ice 44 close the space.
• the watch includes, inside the box, a peripheral space in which the complementary indicators are found, for example, indicators representing celestial bodies in three dimensions, such as the moon, the sun, or the earth, or two-dimensional indicators.
• the peripheral space is delimited by the movement 13, the middle 1, the ice 43 and the bottom 9 and is at least partially visible through the ice 43.
• the complementary indicators are then outside the dial 3.
• Figure 11 shows the section B-B.
• the section line is visible in Figure 1.
• This section shows a way to fix the movement 13 in the middle part 1 by means of mounting lugs 50 held by screws 49.
• the middle part 1 is milled in the mass and allows the direct mounting of the movement 13.
• Intermediate parts, such as cages or rings, can also be used in other embodiments.
• Figure 12 shows a 2D indicator placed in the space described above.
• the third dimension (the z axis) is used here to allow the vertical and axial shift of a relatively large indicator relative to the available space, which allows a partial but sufficient display of this indicator.
• the marks are placed here on a disc. In this configuration, the needle can be fixed and the mobile disk or the reverse.
• the embodiment that has just been described demonstrates the feasibility of the invention and the ability to extend it to other indicators, in particular the main indicators that show the hour, the minute or the second or of other functions as listed above.

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• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
• Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-02-28 EP EP07726557.7A patent/EP1989597B1/de active Active
  • 2007-02-28 US US12/281,231 patent/US7859948B2/en active Active
  • 2007-02-28 JP JP2008556780A patent/JP5038335B2/ja active Active
  • 2007-02-28 WO PCT/EP2007/051921 patent/WO2007099134A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2007-02-28 CN CN2007800153965A patent/CN101432667B/zh active Active

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