EP1989597B1 - Watch with at least one three-dimensional indicator comlementary to time information - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

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. To allow the positioning of indicators on the periphery, it is necessary to create a space in the housing by increasing the internal dimension of the caseband relative to the outer dimension of the dial at the location of the location of one of these indicators. . 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

The state of the art contains various documents which are quoted below. The Swiss patent application CH 666 380G discloses a watch having a decorative disc having a shape cut-out freely rotating above the movement and a second movable member, 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.

The US patent US3665700 exposes 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.

The 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 important difference with this patent is that in the present invention, 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. It comprises a circular support held in rotation by a drive mechanism housed in the watch case and carrying means for representing the moon, movable with the support along a window formed in the dial of the watch. Compared to the patent cited above, this patent application claims a mechanism that makes the moon turn a dial by day. The support represents the sky and includes a window specifying the position of the moon between sunrise and sunset. The same remark as for the preceding patent applies here, that is to say that the mechanism of the moon occupies the entire periphery of the dial, which prevents the placing of other counters or functions in three dimensions.

The Japanese patent JP63052088 discloses a clock that contains two three-dimensional indicators that rotate together on the same axis.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention is defined by the appended claims. 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.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 :

Vue en plan de la montre ;

Figure 2 :

Vue en 3D iso ¾ avant de la montre ;

Figure 3 :

Vue en 3D iso ¾ arrière de la montre ;

Figure 4 :

Vue des éléments du mouvement concernés par les indicateurs décrits ;

Figure 5 :

Détail du mécanisme de l'indicateur soleil rétrograde en position nuit;

Figure 6 :

Détail du mécanisme de l'indicateur soleil rétrograde en position jour ;

Figure 7 :

Vue éclatée des éléments concernés par les indicateurs décrits ;

Figure 8 :

Coupe D-D du mécanisme de blocage du soleil en position nuit ;

Figure 9 :

Coupe C-C de l'indicateur de soleil rétrograde et de la coulisse ;

Figure 10 :

Coupe A-A de la montre ;

Figure 11 :

Coupe B-B de la montre ;

Figure 12 :

Vue d'un indicateur 2D placé en périphérie de la montre ;

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;

Figure 2:

3D iso view before the watch;

Figure 3:

3D view iso ¾ 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;

Figure 7:

Exploded view of the elements concerned by the indicators described;

Figure 8:

DD section of the sun blocking mechanism in night position;

Figure 9:

CC cup of retrograde sun indicator and slide;

Figure 10:

AA cut of the watch;

Figure 11:

BB cup of the watch;

Figure 12:

View of a 2D indicator placed on the periphery of the watch;

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

The 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 11, in which is the outer bearing and an inner bearing 46, visible on the figure 7 , provide the necessary rigidity by the fact 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 is provided with a retrograde function, that is to say that at the end of its diurnal race, the sun 7 turns back to be placed in a housing 12, see figure 3 who conceals it during the twelve hours at night. 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.

The figure 2 is a three-dimensional view iso ¾ front of 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.

The figure 3 is a view comparable to the previous one, but in position ¾ back. The retrograde sun is visible on this view, as well as its housing 12 for the night position.

The figure 4 is a general overview of mechanisms for animating 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 the CC cuts, figure 9 and DD, figure 8 is also visible.

The figure 5 describes 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. On the axis of the pinion 19 is mounted in the lower position the toothed wheel 21 which drives the arcuate and toothed slide 20 to which is attached the sun 7 by means of the support 31. When the safety of the mechanism requires it, an unbalance balancing can be realized by a second slide 20 ', not shown in the drawing placed under or on the first and moving in the opposite direction, in that it is engaged by an intermediate wheel 52, and placed between this second slide 20' and the adjoining gear 21, which may be provided with a shock absorber. A spiral return spring 22 is placed between the pinion 19 and the wheel 21. It is stretched during the movement of the slide 20, respectively of the second slide 20 'during the daylight of the sun and relaxes when the non-toothed segment 18 of the wheel 16 releases the pinion 19. The force of the return spring 22 makes it possible to bring the slide 20, the second slide 20 'and the sun 7 back to their starting position, that is to say the night position. . A sun blocking security 7 in the night position is placed between the wheel 16 and the slide 20. This safety device, proposed by way of example, 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 further comprises an upper cam 24 and a spacer 28, see FIG. figure 8 placed between the two cams, the two parts being rotatably mounted on the axis 30. The upper cam 24 is provided with a pin 25 which can 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.

The figure 6 describes in detail the operation of the mechanism of the retrograde sun indicator in 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. In this movement, 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. When the last tooth of the slide 20 has released the lower cam 23, 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. In this position, 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.

The figure 7 shows a general view of the movement elements, 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. With respect to the figure 7 the gear train 42 () may comprise an additional wheel to 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 11. On this wheel set is still fixed 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 11 '.. A corrector, of the same type as that used for the moon, not represented on the figure 7 , allows the adjustment of the position of the earth in relation 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.

According to this aspect of the invention, 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. In the example shown in the figure 1 , in particular, 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 hours, everything being rotated by the corresponding gear trains.

The figure 8 is a DD section of the retrograde sun blocking mechanism in the night position. The line of cut is visible on the figure 4 . The parts are mounted on the plate of the movement 13. The arcuate and toothed slide 20 is engrainée by the lower cam 23. On the same axis are visible the spacer 28 and the upper cam 24. A side and at the same height is the wheel 16 with toothed and non-toothed segments. The two pieces are not in contact in this phase of night position.

The figure 9 is a CC section of the retrograde sun indicator and the slide. The line of cut is visible on the 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.

The figure 10 is a 6H-12H cut 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.

According to this embodiment of the invention, 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.

The figure 11 shows the BB cup. The line of cut is visible on the figure 1 . This section shows a way of fixing the movement 13 in the caseband 1 by means of fastening tabs 50 held by screws 49. In this example, the caseband 1 is milled in the mass and allows the direct assembly of the movement 13. Parts intermediates, such as cages or rings, can also be used in other embodiments. Are still visible in this figure: the ice 43, the bottom 9, the bottom ice 44 and the crown 2.

The figure 12 represents 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.

Claims (11)

1. Watch, comprising at least one three-dimensional indicator (5, 6, 7) that is complementary to the time and located at the periphery of the movement (13) of said watch, a dial (3) and marks (51) that are provided on at least one visible element of the watch, said periphery being the space delimited by the movement (13), a middle (1), a glass (43), and a back (9), said at least one three-dimensional indicator being actuatable by at least one mechanism enabling its movement, characterised in that said at least one indicator (6) is located outside the dial (3) and is rotatable about an axis of rotation maintaining a fixed position relative to the middle (1), and in that the watch comprises at said periphery and outside the dial (3) a second three-dimensional indicator (7) of the retrograde type and/or a third two- or three-dimensional indicator (5, 53), which is rotatable about another axis of rotation maintaining a fixed position relative to the middle (1), the other axis of rotation being different from the axis of rotation of said at least one indicator (6).
2. Watch according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the three-dimensional indicators (5, 6, 7) have different shapes, particularly shapes suggesting their functions, dimensions, symbols, or colours that allow their distinction.
3. Watch according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that:

   ▪ said at least one indicator (6) represents the earth in three dimensions and is driven by rotating about an axis (11') at a speed of one turn in 24 hours;

   ▪ the third indicator (5) represents the moon in three dimensions and is driven by rotating about an axis (11) at a speed of one turn in one lunation;

   ▪ the second indicator (7) represents the sun in three dimensions and is driven by a displacement between a position indicating sunrise and a position indicating sundown during the diurnal hours and hidden during the nocturnal hours.
4. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the marks (51) are divisions, signs, markings, adjustable indices for the indication of a determined moment, numbers, symbols, inscriptions, images, or colours, alternatively or in combination.
5. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by indicators of the main time which indicate the hour, the minute, or the second.
6. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the indicators providing complementary time indications indicate, among others: different calendar days, the power reserve, time zones, striking works having one or multiple hammers, the appearance of a symbol, moon phases, a lunation calendar, the diurnal course of the sun, a counter or countdown, a representation of the earth, the operation of the watch, a chronograph, dynamograph, week indicator, mysterious calendars, ludic events, or indications of different cycles relating to time.
7. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the mechanism which actuates one or multiple three-dimensional complementary time indicators arranged at the periphery is the movement of the watch (13) or an independent movement.
8. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said periphery is a space that covers the entire contour of the movement (13) to accommodate at least one three-dimensional main time indicator or covers a part of the contour of the dial to accommodate at least one three-dimensional main or complementary time indicator.
9. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a complementary time indicator at the periphery that represents the sun (7) and is actuated by a wheel (14) that is fixed to the tube of the main movement (13) on which the hands (4) are mounted, said wheel (14) driving a large wheel (15) that is connected to a segmented wheel (16) mounted on the same axle, the segmented wheel being divided into four segments: two opposite toothed segments (17) and two other, untoothed segments (18), the toothed segments (17) driving a pinion (19) during the day which is connected to an adjacent toothed wheel (21) while the untoothed segments (18) liberate the pinion (19) from this driving relationship, the latter phase corresponding to the night position, said adjacent toothed wheel (21) in turn driving a curved and toothed rack (20) to which the sun (7) is attached by means of a support (31) and which moves in a recess (47), the movement of the sun being equal to twelve hours of operation like the duration of the night position during which the sun is positioned in a receptacle (12) where it is invisible, an imbalance compensation being realized, if required, by a second rack (20') that is arranged underneath or above the first one and moves in the inverse direction due to the fact that it is meshing with an intermediate wheel (52) arranged between this second rack (20') and the adjacent toothed wheel (21), a spiral return spring (22) arranged between the pinion (19) and the adjacent toothed wheel (21) being tensioned during the movement of the rack (20), respectively of the second rack (20') in the diurnal course of the sun and released when the untoothed segment (18) liberates the pinion (19), the force of the return spring (22) allowing the return of the rack (20), respectively the second rack (20'), and the sun (7) to the night position, the sun (7) being maintained in this position by a locking and unlocking device that acts upon the rack (20) and is actuated by the segmented wheel (16), which also acts upon the locking device via the toothing of the toothed segment (17) to release the rack (20) approximately one tooth space before the opposite toothed segment (17) of the segmented wheel (16) enters into contact with the pinion (19) for a new diurnal course of the sun.
10. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a complementary time indicator at the periphery that represents the moon in three dimensions (5) and the progression of the moon phases, the mechanism for its driving being composed of a wheel train that starts from the wheel (14) that is fixed to the tube of the main movement (13) on which the hands (4) are mounted, which wheel is meshing with a toothed wheel (45) that is in turn coupled to a gear train (42) comprising an additional non-represented wheel for inverting the direction of rotation of the moon, said gear train (42) being connected to a subordinated wheel (37) that is meshing with a receiving pinion (36) which is itself connected to the axle of the moon (5) that is supported by two bearings, an inner bearing (46) and an outer bearing accommodated in a support (11), the multiplication of the wheel train making the moon (5) turn once around itself in a lunation of twenty-nine and a half days while the wheel (14) makes one turn in twelve hours, which ratio is neither exact nor constant in reality, therefore necessitating a corrector that is arranged between the last element of the gear train (42) and the subordinated wheel (37).
11. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a complementary time indicator at the periphery that represents the earth in three dimensions (6), the mechanism for its driving being composed of a wheel train that starts from the wheel (14) that is fixed to the tube of the main movement (13), which is meshing with a toothed wheel (45) which in turn is coupled to a gear train (41) whose last element engages a pinion (40) that drives the axle of the earth (6) which is supported by two bearings, an inner bearing (46') and an outer bearing accommodated in a support (11'), the multiplication of the wheel train making the earth (6) turn once around itself in twenty-four hours while the wheel (14) makes one turn in twelve hours, the mechanism further comprising a corrector that is arranged between the last element of the gear train (41) and the pinion (40), which corrector allows setting the position of the earth according to the longitude.

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