EP2821861B1 - Timepiece comprising a flower-shaped animation - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, a timepiece comprising a flower representation.

State of the art

In terms of watchmaking, there are few complications particularly for women's watches. Most of the time, the complicated pieces intended for a female audience, are content to decline in a movement of reduced size, the same complications that those classically adorn the men's watches. Frequently, one also plays on the dressing, to confer a more refined or more decorated design.

Among the symbols used to give a feminine style to a timepiece, the flower is probably the most common symbol. There are thus known flower-shaped boxes, or flower-shaped lids arranged to cover the watch and to open leaving visible display members. We have also arranged more or less complicated floral representations on the dial of the watch. Most of the time, these representations are static.

More recently, it has been proposed to produce an oscillating mass in the form of a stylized flower, mobile and visible on the dial side. The aesthetic effect thus conferred is particularly interesting and successful, although the animation proposed is relatively simple.

In addition, documents such as WO2006 / 077240 , JPH04259889, FR1023553 , in which there are described systems of movable shutters that can cover or leave free all or part of the dial of a watch.

The object of the present invention is to propose a timepiece comprising a flower representation, which is particularly original and capable of to offer a feminine watch endowed with a real exclusive, poetic complication and conferring a dazzling animation.

Disclosure of the invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a timepiece as proposed in the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1a et 1b sont des vues de dessus permettant de visualiser une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues de dessus montrant des détails de l'invention ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un détail supplémentaire de l'invention ;
• la figure 5 montre une vue d'une autre partie du mécanisme d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention ;
• les figures 6 et 7 représentent deux positions chronologiques d'une partie du mécanisme de la pièce d'horlogerie de l'invention ; et
• la figure 8 illustre un mécanisme de sonnerie susceptible d'être intégré dans une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention.

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• the figures 1a and 1b are top views for viewing a timepiece according to the invention;
• the figures 2 and 3 are top views showing details of the invention;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of a further detail of the invention;
• the figure 5 shows a view of another part of the mechanism of a timepiece according to the invention;
• the figures 6 and 7 represent two chronological positions of a part of the mechanism of the timepiece of the invention; and
• the figure 8 illustrates a striking mechanism that can be integrated into a timepiece according to the invention.

Embodiment of the invention

• un état dit "normal", représenté aux figures 1a et 1b, dans lequel chaque volet 2 participe à former la représentation de la fleur 1, et
• un état "escamoté", dans lequel chaque volet 2 est escamoté derrière un cache; un tel état est notamment représenté à la figure 3, bien que le cache ne soit pas illustré.

The figures 1a and 1b are schematic views of a timepiece according to the invention, which illustrates the fact that it is proposed to represent, in the timepiece, a flower 1 formed by a plurality of movable flaps 2 which represent the petals. As will be described in more detail below, each flap 2 is movably mounted independently of one another. Each is likely to evolve between:

• a state called "normal", represented in figures 1a and 1b , in which each flap 2 participates in forming the representation of the flower 1, and
• a "retracted" state, in which each shutter 2 is retracted behind a cover; such a state is represented in particular in figure 3 , although the cache is not shown.

The timepiece according to the invention also comprises a display member 300 with several positions, each of which is capable of appearing successively in a window of the timepiece.

To actuate the flaps 2 and the display member 300, the timepiece according to the invention also comprises a control member 400 arranged to simultaneously control the passage of at least one flap 2 from its normal state. in its retracted state, and the change of position of the display member 300.

Finally, a reset member 500 of the set of flaps 2 is provided to move the flaps 2 from their "retracted" state to their "normal" state.

As will be understood from reading the description which follows, the timepiece according to the invention allows to reproduce mechanically and with interest the game of "stripping of Marguerite", which consists of gradually tearing the petals of a flower, typically a daisy, stating with each grubbing one part of the sentence: "He / she loves me, a little, a lot, passionately, to madness, not at all. ".

We will now describe a preferred embodiment of a timepiece according to the invention.

With reference to the figure 2 , the control member 400 takes the form of a pusher 401 accessible from outside the timepiece, by a user. This pusher 401 actuates a pawl that defines an actuation nose 402. Preferably, the pusher 401 is rotatably mounted on the frame of the timepiece, to allow interaction with other parts, such as will describe it later.

The actuation spout 402 is arranged to cooperate with a drive star 41 of a control wheel 40 and advance it by one step each actuation of the pusher 401. The control wheel 40 also comprises, integral with the training star 41, a first pinion 410 which forms the first element of a kinematic connection allowing the passage of flaps 2 from their normal state to their retracted state.

As can be seen from the figure 3 , this kinematic linkage comprises a junction wheel 50. The latter is provided with a wheel 53 engaged with a return of the kinematic link, and, mounted coaxially and integral in rotation, a first 51 and a second 52 drive cams. These are arranged so as to respectively drive a first 61 and a second 62 transmission trains, via stars not visible on the figure 3 . Advantageously, the drive cams are defined so that, at each actuation of the control member 400, only one of the two cams or the two cams drive their respective transmission train. For this purpose, it is observed that the drive cams 51 and 52 have teeth with different sequences.

Each of the transmission trains is respectively connected to a first 610 and a second 620 drive levels, each formed by a ring provided with an internal toothing and concentrically surrounding the entire timepiece. As can be seen better on the figure 4 each training level is associated respectively with a series of drive pins. These first 611 and second 622 sets of drive lugs are arranged to actuate, respectively, the flaps 2 of a first 610 and a second 620 levels. The lugs of the first 610 and second 620 levels are also arranged in different intervals so as to, in combination with the different sequences of the drive cams 51 and 52, operate the flaps 2 in a pseudo-random manner. The term pseudo-random is used because the user has the impression of a random draw, even if it corresponds to a sequence of events defined mechanically. Those skilled in the art can optimize these sequences by calculation and / or simulation.

Still referring to the figure 4 , we will now describe more specifically how the two levels of flaps 2 can be arranged. Preferably, it is mounted on a common axis 63, two flaps 2 respectively corresponding to the two levels. Thus, on this axis 63, there is a first positioning plate 710 which comprises on the one hand, a finger 71 shaped so as to cooperate with the lugs of the first series 611 unidirectionally. More specifically, the lug drives the finger 71 in a first direction when the driving ring is driving, but the lug and the finger 71 are shaped so that the finger 71 does not drive the lug when it is driven in a second direction by the reset member 500 as will be described later.

On the other hand, the first positioning plate 710 comprises two notches 72, with which a first jumper 73 can cooperate. A first flap 21 is mounted on the axis 63, integrally with the first positioning board 710. For reasons of construction, this first component 21 is located at the opposite end of the axis 63 relative to the first positioning plate 710. The flaps of the first level 610, corresponding to a higher level with reference to the dial of the timepiece , comprise a long arm 210 and a blade 211 forming a bend 212 with the arm 210, the blade 211 as such representing the petal of the flower 1. According to the notch 72 with which the jumper 73 cooperates, the shutter 21 is in its normal position or in its retracted position.

Similarly to what has just been described, there is also on this axis 63, a second positioning plate 720 which comprises firstly, a finger 74 shaped so as to cooperate with the second series of pins 622 of the second drive level 620 unidirectionally. On the other hand, the second positioning board 720 comprises two notches, with which a second jumper 75 can cooperate. A second flap 22 is mounted on the axis 63, integrally with the second positioning board 720. For reasons of construction , the second positioning plate 720 and the second flap 22 are situated between the first positioning plate 710 and the first flap 21. The flaps of the second level 620, corresponding to a lower level with reference to the dial of the timepiece and with reference to the first 610 level, include a short arm 220 and a blade 221 forming a bend 222 with the arm 220, the blade 221 as such representing the petal of the flower 1. Depending on the notch with which the jumper 75 cooperates, the flap 22 is in its normal position or in its retracted position.

With reference to the drawing, it can be seen that actuation of the control member 400 causes the first and second 610 and 620 drive levels to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. In this example, the flaps 2 go from their normal state to their retracted state by pivoting also in the counterclockwise direction.

One can still see on this axis 63, a first 81 and a second 82 reset fingers respectively secured to the first 710 and the second 720 positioning boards. These reset fingers are directly superimposed and are arranged to be actuated via the reset member in the normal state 500, in the second direction of rotation, as will be described in more detail later.

Thus, on the same axis are mounted flaps 2 arranged to be juxtaposed in the representation of the flower 1, being oriented along two different radii, with respect to the center of the timepiece which defines the center of the flower 1. A plurality of similar axes are distributed around the timepiece, making it possible to radially distribute a series of petals. In the illustrated example, there are twelve petals positioned in pairs on six axes. The arrangement of the shutters 2 on two distinct levels allows a superposition of the shutters 2 of the same axis, as well as their movement independently of one another and without collision. The arms and blades are of course dimensioned and positioned to avoid any collision with the neighboring axes.

The control wheel 40 is also designed to advance the display member 300 with each actuation of the control member 400. The control wheel 40 also comprises, integral with the drive star 43, a wheel 42 in kinematic connection with a second pinion 420 secured to a cam 45. The latter presents along its length. circumference, a succession of portions, the radius of which varies from one portion to another, the radius being substantially constant for each portion.

A display flip-flop 310 terminated by a feeler 31 is positioned so that the feeler 31, here taking the form of a roller, is held by a spring member 32 adapted, resting on the periphery of the cam 45. The rocker display 310 is also secured to a rack 33 meshing with a train of display wheels 34. In the example shown, the spring member 32 is a spiral mounted coaxially with one of the wheels of the gear train display 34. This ends with a pinion 35 meshing with the external toothing of a ring 320 which forms the display member 300. On this ring 320 are inscribed, by sector, the indications "a little" , "A lot," "passionately," "madly," "not at all." It may be noted that the beginning of the sentence, namely "He loves me" or an equivalent inscription, can be worn fixedly on a part of the dial. The different positions of the display member 300 may be held by a jumper spring 36 cooperating with recesses 37 formed in the thickness of the disc or in a board which is integral therewith.

Depending on the design chosen for the timepiece, the skilled person can adapt the display member 300 according to his convenience. It may in particular use a needle, or an index moving relative to fixed indications. In the case of a ring 320, the indications can appear successively through a window or in a defined display area. The ring 320 may advantageously be used to form the cover behind which the flaps 2 are positioned when in their retracted state. Note that the cache could also be made directly by part of the dial.

We will now describe the reset member 500 of the set of flaps 2 already mentioned above. It allows the shutters 2 to go from their "retracted" state to their "normal" state, typically, when, after removing all the petals of the flower 1 and thus having finished a game, we wish to redo a game or, the if necessary, stop playing.

The reset member 500 of the flaps 2 takes the form of a second pusher 501, also accessible from outside the timepiece by a user. Preferably, the pusher 501 is also rotatably mounted on the frame of the timepiece. The second pusher 501 has two branches for actuating two different locations of the mechanism.

A first 91 of these branches is terminated by a rake 90 engaged with a double pinion 93, which forms a vertical return. This double gear 93 is also engaged with a toothed sector 94 secured to a third drive level 630, superimposed on, but independent of, the first 610 and second 620 drive levels. The third drive level 630 includes a third set of lugs 633 arranged to cooperate unidirectionally, simultaneously with the first 81 and second 82 reset fingers, of all axes. With reference to the drawing, it can be seen that an actuation of the second pusher 501 makes it possible to drive the third drive level 630 in the direction of clockwise. This will have the effect of returning to their normal state flaps 2 which are in their retracted state. The reset fingers flaps 2 which would still be in their normal state, are not located in the race of the pins of the third series 633.

It can be noted that, by choosing for the double pinion 93, two gears of different diameter, we obtain a reduction that allows to have a sufficient stroke for the third drive level 630, despite a race of the second pusher 501 limited, in because of the limited space available. It will also be noted that the second pusher 501 is subjected to the action of a spring which tends to keep it in its rest position. This spring allows, after a return to the normal state flaps 2, to bring the third drive level 630 to its initial position, retrograde manner.

The second branch 92 of the second 501 pusher ends with a first lever 95 arranged to cooperate with a second lever 96 that includes the display rocker 310. As shown in FIG. figure 6 , when the second pusher 501 is actuated, the first lever 95 crosses the second lever 96 and actuates the display rocker 310 to rotate it, against the force exerted by the spring member 32. Accordingly, the probe 31 is no longer supported on the periphery of the cam 45. The control wheel 40 and the display member 300 are then disconnected. Thus, advantageously, the position of the display member 300 is not influenced by the rotation of the flaps 2, when they are returned to their normal state, despite the rotation of the cam 45.

When the display rocker 310 is subjected to the action of the second pusher 501, it can be provided that the display member 300 then has an additional position, called the rest position, in which none of the indications related to the set is presented. In a preferred embodiment, it will be possible to provide a locking system 100 of the display member 300 that can be engaged by the reset member 500.

Typically, this locking system 100 takes the form of a latch 110 which comprises, on the one hand, a latch 10 arranged to cooperate with a crampon 11 secured to the display rocker 310. The latch 110 is subjected to the action of a spring 12 which tends to tilt towards its locking position, that is to say, to rotate it in the direction of clockwise, with reference to figures 6 and 7 . During the game, as can be seen on the figure 2 the latching latch 110 is positioned by a sliding surface 13 on the spike 11. The sliding surface 13 allows the display latch 310 to pivot freely. The action of the second pusher 501 brings the crampon 11 into the hooking position, illustrated on the figure 6 . The crampon 11 is then subjected to the action of the latch 10. The springs of the latch respectively latch 110 and display 310, maintain the display latch 310 locked by the latch 110, even when the second pusher 501 returns to his rest position ( figure 7 ). The display of the rest position is thus secure, especially with respect to possible shocks that would suffer the timepiece.

To unlock the display rocker 310, the latch 110 also comprises an unlocking portion 120. This is arranged to be actuated by a release pin 403 secured to the control member 400. Thus, during the first actuation of the control member 400 during a game, the release finger 403 will drive the latch 110 in the opposite direction of the clockwise, thus releasing the display latch 310 which will come to be positioned, by its probe 31, on the periphery of the cam 45.

Preferably, it can be provided that each actuation of the control member 400, actuates a ring system 900 or the striking of a stamp 910 by a hammer 920. Such a system 900 is shown in FIG. figure 8 . A ringing star 930 is mounted integral with the second pinion 420 and the cam 45. It is thus rotated each time the first pusher 401 is actuated. The ringing star 930 is arranged in such a way as to actuate the lifting of a ring. hammer 920. According to the example, and because of the distance between the striking star 930 of the lift 920, these two elements are connected by a system of articulated levers 940. Advantageously, in order to limit the bulk of the 900 ring system, the hammer 920 is pivotally mounted along an axis parallel to the plane of the frame 960 of the timepiece, the hammer 920 striking the stamp 910 in a substantially vertical direction. Conventionally, the stamp 910 is fixed on a stamp holder 950 and can be wound around the timepiece.

In operation, the timepiece is in the rest position when it is not in play. The display rocker 310 is in the locked position and the display member 300 has a corresponding indication, called rest, which can be a blank or a drawing. The shutters 2 are all in their normal position, and a flower 1 with all its petals is represented.

At the first actuation of the control member 400 by the user, at the same time as the drive cams 51 and 52 are actuated, the display rocker 310 is unlocked. According to the pseudo-random position of the cams of FIG. 51 and 52 and the first 610 and second 620 drive levels, the first set of lugs 611 and the second set of lugs 622 will operate either a flap of the first level 21 or a flap of the second level 22, one part of each level and this, irregularly. This or these component (s) is / are then brought (s) in their retracted state. Simultaneously, the display member 300 indicates one of the available indications. The position initially displayed varies according to the position of the cam 45 at the end of the previous game. This makes it possible to obtain a greater variability of the combinations and results of the game. The number of combinations and the interest of the game are also reinforced by the fact that the training cams 51 and 52 have differentiated and irregular actions on the shutters 2.

It should be noted that a heart could be arranged integrally with the cam 45, if one still wanted to start the game by displaying the indication "a little", a hammer 46 cooperating with the cam 45 during a reset normal shutters 2.

A ring also sounds when the control member 400 is actuated.

The user repeats the operations described above, until the flower 1 no longer has a petal and all the shutters 2 are in their retracted state. The user can then read the indication displayed by the display member 300. Finally, by actuating the second pusher 501, the user returns all the shutters 2 to their normal position and the display member 300 to its rest position. The display latch 310 is locked, the game is ready for a new game that can start immediately or later.

Thus is proposed a timepiece incorporating a new complication that is actually one, particularly for a women's watch. Those skilled in the art may consider other embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In particular, even if the proposed embodiment is advantageous in terms of the possible combinations of draws, it would also be possible to envisage a system for random launching of the display disk 320, the latter stopping in an indeterminable position at the beginning of each new Such a system can be obtained by manual tensioning of a spring which can be released suddenly by driving a display disk 320, free to rotate and only subject to a positioning pawl which brakes and ensures that he stops in a reading position. One could then simplify the retraction system shutters 2, for example by retracting one by one. Advantageously, the number of positions of the display disc 320 should be increased, for example by duplicating each inscription or only some of them. It will also be noted that those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the design of the drive cams, so as to optimize according to their choice or their constraints, the sequence of retraction of the shutters 2.

One could also consider a variant in which, after a random launch of the display disc 320, the flaps 2 are removed automatically, by connecting the control wheel 40 to the movement of the timepiece. We can then adjust the time required for the stripping of all the daisy, or warn the wearer of the watch with a special ring when the game is over. It will then be preferred to have a power source dedicated to the actuation of the shutters 2, in order to disturb as little as possible, the running of the watch.

Claims (11)

1. A timepiece including:

   - an illustration of a flower (1) formed by a plurality of moving flaps (2) each mounted moving independently of one another, each flap (2) being able to go between a so-called "normal" state, in which it forms the illustration of the flower (1), and a so-called "retracted" state, in which it is retracted behind a maskmask (320),

   - a display organ (300) with several positions, such that, in each of those positions, said display organ (300) can appear successively in a display zone of the timepiece,

   - a control organ (400) arranged so as to simultaneously commend the passage of at least one flap (2) from its normal state to its retracted state, and the change in position of the display organ (300), and

   - an organ (500) for returning all of the flaps (2) to the normal state.
2. The timepiece according to claim 1, arranged such that, each time the control organ (400) is actuated, one or both flaps (2) go from their normal state to their retracted state, the number of actuated flaps (2) being pseudo-random.
3. The timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the flaps (2) are positioned alternating on a first level (610) and a second level (620), and wherein each time the control organ (400) is actuated, zero or one flap(s) (2) per level and no more than two flaps (2) in all go from their normal state to their retracted state.
4. The timepiece according to claim 3, wherein the control organ (400) is arranged to actuate a control wheel (40) kinematically coupled to a first drive level (610) and a second drive level (620), each of the drive levels being associated respectively with a first (611) and second (622) series of driving spigots, respectively arranged to actuate the flaps (2) of the first level (610) and the second level (620) irregularly.
5. The timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the driving spigots are arranged so as each to cooperate with a positioning plate (710, 720) with two positions, each positioning plate (710, 720) being secured to a flap (2), the driving spigots being able to cause said positioning plate (710, 720) to go from one of its positions to the other, respectively corresponding to the normal and retracted state of the flaps (2).
6. The timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display organ (300) is a ring (320), said ring (320) forming the mask behind which the flaps (2) can retract.
7. The timepiece according to one of claims 5 and 6, when it depends on claim 3, wherein the organ (500) for returning to the normal state is arranged so as to actuate a third drive level (630) comprising a third series of spigots (633) arranged to simultaneously actuate the flaps of the first (610) and second (620) levels and to cause the flaps (2) that are in their retracted state to go to their normal state.
8. The timepiece according to claim 7, when it depends on claim 4, in which the organ (500) for returning to the normal state is arranged to disconnect the control wheel (40) and the display organ (300) when returning the flaps (2) to the normal state.
9. The timepiece according to one of claims 7 and 8, comprising a locking system (100) for the display organ (300), said locking system (100) being able to be engaged by the organ (500) for returning to the normal state.
10. The timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control organ (400) is further arranged so as to actuate a striking system (900) each time a user acts on the control organ (400).
11. The timepiece according to claim 10, wherein the striking system (900) comprises a hammer (920) able to strike a gong (910), the hammer (920) being rotatable around an axis parallel to the plane of the frame (960) of the timepiece.

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