EP3738004B1 - Timepiece movement comprising a display member simultaneously visible on both sides of the movement. - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a watch movement, for a timepiece, comprising a first side intended to be visible through a first crystal of the timepiece and a second side intended to be visible through a second crystal. of the timepiece, the timepiece movement comprising at least one drive wheel, intended to drive a current time display member, as well as a display wheel of an additional size intended to be displayed on the first and second sides of the watch movement.

As will emerge from the explanations which will follow, by "display" of the additional size on the first and second sides of the watch movement, it should be understood that a display member of this additional size must be readable for an observer looking at the watch movement from one or the other of its sides, without the information relating to the additional size necessarily being located in the same plane of one or the other of the sides of the movement. Thus, the indications carried by a display member at least partially visible but located in a plane other than that corresponding to one side of the watch movement, most of the time between the two sides of the movement, will be readable. It will also be noted that the information can be read by observation of the display member through an optical device provided on the watch movement, preferably of the magnifying type, the information relating to the additional quantity then being made readable under the form of a virtual image probably located outside the volume of the watch movement.

The invention also relates to a timepiece provided with such a timepiece movement.

State of the art

Watch movements of this type have already been disclosed, as for example in the patent CH 709155 B1 that describes a watch movement making it possible in particular to display the current second in such a way that it is visible on both sides of the corresponding timepiece. The construction of this horological movement has the advantage of proposing a simplification with reference to the horological movements with a double-sided type display which were known hitherto, some of which are mentioned as prior art in this patent, as well as a increased flexibility in the relative placement of the two display mobiles of the second, that is to say that these mobiles are not necessarily arranged by being superimposed.

However, this construction has a not insignificant bulk which can prove to be problematic for the production of certain watch movements in which the bulk constraints are significant. For example, the occupation of space in a watch movement comprising several complications can quickly become critical and the watchmaker may prefer to implement an additional complication, in a certain volume available, rather than a mechanism allowing to postpone the display of a predefined quantity already present on one side of the watch movement in such a way that it is also present on the other side.

We also know, for example, mechanisms with band, as in GB 193 867 A , but these mechanisms are very bulky and are more suitable for clocks.

Disclosure of Invention

A main object of the present invention is therefore to propose an alternative to this type of known constructions, by proposing an alternative construction for such a watch movement comprising a display on its two sides of a predefined quantity by means of a mechanism of display with as little space as possible.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a watch movement of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the display mobile drives a display member of the additional size, of substantially planar general shape and carrying at least one first indication relating to the additional quantity on a first of its two faces and at least one additional indication relating to the additional quantity on its second face, the display member of the additional magnitude being arranged in such a way that the additional magnitude is displayed simultaneously on the first and second sides of the watch movement.

Thanks to these characteristics, in particular the fact that a single and same display member is used to display the same magnitude on either side of the watch movement, the corresponding double-sided display mechanism has an overall size that is clearly lower than that of the previous mechanisms mentioned above.

Moreover, such a construction offers other significant advantages such as a reduction in the number of components and therefore a simplification of the assembly of the watch movement with reference to the movements of the prior art.

In general, it is possible to provide for the additional quantity to be taken from the group comprising: the second, the minute, the hour, the date, the day of the week, the month, the year, the number of the year in the cycle of leap years, the phases of the Moon, the difference between civil time and solar time (or equation of time), the power reserve, etc...

Preferably, the first indication and the additional indication comprise the same series of values or patterns relating to the additional quantity.

By way of example, when the additional quantity is the date, the first indication and the additional indication each comprise a series of numbers from 1 to 31.

• que l'organe d'affichage présente la forme générale d'un disque ou d'un anneau, et
• qu'une valeur donnée ou un motif donné pris dans l'indication additionnelle, projeté dans un plan moyen de l'organe d'affichage, soit agencé en un emplacement différent en référence à la projection de la même valeur ou du même motif pris dans la première indication.

According to a variant embodiment, it is possible to provide

• that the display member has the general shape of a disc or a ring, and
• that a given value or a given pattern taken from the additional indication, projected in a mean plane of the display member, is arranged in a different location with reference to the projection of the same value or the same pattern taken from the first hint.

Thus, for example, provision can be made for the additional quantity to be displayed on a radius corresponding to the noon position on a first side of the movement and that it is displayed on a shelf corresponding to the 7 o'clock position on the second side of the movement. The watchmaker therefore has great flexibility in implementing the double-sided display according to the invention and can adapt its construction according to his own needs, in particular to take into account the size of any other complications.

According to a variant embodiment, it is possible to provide for the mobile display to be of the jumping and/or retrograde type.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece, preferably of the pocket watch or wristwatch type, comprising a case having first and second faces, each of which has at least one crystal, and housing a watch movement meeting the characteristics below. above.

• que l'organe d'affichage de la grandeur supplémentaire soit situé plus proche de la deuxième face que de la première face, et
• que la pièce d'horlogerie comporte un organe grossissant situé entre l'organe d'affichage et la première face de manière à améliorer la lisibilité de l'organe d'affichage depuis la première face.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is possible to provide

• that the additional size display device is located closer to the second face than to the first face, and
• that the timepiece includes a magnifying member located between the display member and the first face so as to improve the readability of the display member from the first face.

In this case, provision can also be made for the magnifying member to define a reading aperture on the side of the first face.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente une vue de dessus d'une première face d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue de dessus de la deuxième face de la pièce d'horlogerie de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 représente une vue d'un détail de construction de la pièce d'horlogerie de la figure 1, avec le même angle de vue que la figure 1, et
• la figure 4 représente une vue du détail de construction de la figure 3, avec le même angle de vue que la figure 2.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• there figure 1 shows a top view of a first face of a timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• there figure 2 represents a top view of the second face of the timepiece of the figure 1 ;
• there picture 3 represents a view of a construction detail of the timepiece of the figure 1 , with the same viewing angle as the figure 1 , And
• there figure 4 represents a view of the construction detail of the picture 3 , with the same viewing angle as the picture 2 .

Embodiment(s) of the Invention

THE figures 1 and 2 represent a timepiece 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in top view, respectively, from a first face and from a second face.

The timepiece 1 is illustrated by way of non-limiting illustration and will not be described entirely in detail insofar as many of its characteristics are not important for the implementation of the present invention.

The timepiece 1 comprises a case 2 containing a watch movement 4 according to the present invention, visible by its dial side on the figure 1 and by its side bridges over the figure 2 , according to the customary convention for identifying the two sides of a watch movement.

Case 2 comprises lugs 6 for fixing a bracelet, not shown, as well as a winding and time-setting crown 8, positioned at three o'clock, and a correction pusher 10, positioned at noon and whose function will not be presented here.

The construction details of the watch movement 4 will also not be exposed.

The watch movement 4 comprises a source of mechanical energy (not visible) arranged to sustain the oscillations of a mechanical oscillator defining a time base for the operation of the watch movement 4, the time base here having the shape of a tourbillon steering wheel 12 positioned at six o'clock, in a non-limiting illustrative manner.

• d'une aiguille d'affichage 14 de la réserve de marche de la source d'énergie mécanique, positionnée à trois heures,
• d'un anneau 16 bombé et positionné à midi pour indiquer l'heure courante sur vingt-quatre heures, en relation avec un repère fixe 18 et avec une calotte sphérique 20 portant une représentation de la Terre vue depuis le pôle Nord,
• d'un mécanisme 22 d'affichage représentatif du mouvement de la Lune autour de la Terre et de son éclairage par le Soleil, agencé autour de l'anneau 16,
• d'une aiguille 24 d'affichage rétrograde de la minute courante, positionnée à neuf heures, et
• d'un mécanisme 26 d'affichage du quantième positionné entre sept et huit heures.

The watch movement 4 is arranged in such a way that it can ensure the drive of various display elements, via suitable drive mobiles, in particular, on the dial side:

• a hand 14 for displaying the power reserve of the mechanical energy source, positioned at three o'clock,
• a domed ring 16 positioned at noon to indicate the current time over twenty-four hours, in relation to a fixed marker 18 and with a spherical cap 20 bearing a representation of the Earth seen from the North Pole,
• a display mechanism 22 representing the movement of the Moon around the Earth and its illumination by the Sun, arranged around the ring 16,
• a retrograde display hand 24 for the current minute, positioned at nine o'clock, and
• a mechanism 26 for displaying the date positioned between seven and eight o'clock.

• du quantième, par lecture d'une valeur portée par un disque de quantième 28 et située à midi, soit ici le 31,
• d'une heure, dans un guichet 30, qui peut être l'heure courante ou encore l'heure dans un autre fuseau horaire,
• du numéro de l'année dans le cycle de quatre ans des années bissextiles, dans un guichet adjacent 32,
• du jour de la semaine dans un guichet supplémentaire 34, et
• du mois, dans un autre guichet supplémentaire 36.

It also appears from figure 2 that the watch movement 4 is also arranged to ensure the display, bridge side,

• of the date, by reading a value carried by a date disc 28 and located at noon, i.e. here 31,
• one hour, in a 30 window, which can be the current time or the time in another time zone,
• of the number of the year in the four-year cycle of leap years, in an adjacent aperture 32,
• of the day of the week in an additional window 34, and
• of the month, in another additional window 36.

By comparing the views of figures 1 and 2 , it can be seen that the date disc 28 is also the display device making it possible to display the date on the dial side of the watch movement 4.

THE figures 3 and 4 represent the date disc 28 and the display mechanism 26 with respective viewing angles identical to those of the figures 1 and 2 , the orientation of the date disc 28 being unchanged between these two figures.

Two different shades have been deliberately used here for the two faces 40 and 42 of the date disc 28, for greater clarity and in a non-limiting illustrative manner.

It emerges from a comparative examination of the two faces 40 and 42 that they both include the same indications relating to the date, namely a series of digits and numbers extending from 1 to 31.

It is also noted here that these series of date values extend over the two faces 40 and 42 along the same angular extent less than 360 degrees, without limitation. The date disc 28 here has the form of a transparent disc, for example made of sapphire, on each side of which a band bearing the values of the date is printed, painted or deposited by screen printing or any other suitable equivalent technique. The transparent disc is engaged by its center on a hub 44 (visible on the figure 2 ) to be able to control its angular orientation from a suitable mechanism of the watch movement 4, in particular from a non-visible drive wheel set. The wheel set for driving the date disc 28 is here of the retrograde type, which is why the indications carried by its two faces 40 and 42 can extend over less than 360 degrees. Those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in implementing any suitable mechanism for driving the date disc 28 according to their own needs, without departing from the scope of the invention, or even in implementing a non-retrograde training.

It is noted, moreover, that each date value taken in the series of one of the faces 40 or 42, when it is projected in a mean plane of the date disc 28, is arranged in a different location with reference to the projection of the same date value taken from the series on the other side 40 or 42.

Thanks to this feature, the watchmaker has great flexibility in arranging the date displays on either side of the watch movement 4, given that the two respective series of numbers can be arranged according to a relative positioning not presenting affect the operation of the corresponding display mechanism. As emerges from the above, the date value is displayed here on a spoke of the watch movement 4 located between the seven and eight o'clock positions, on the dial side, whereas it is displayed on a spoke passing through noon on the bridges side .

On the other hand, it should still be noted that, in the view from the dial side of the figure 1 or the picture 3 , the date disc 28 is controlled to make jumps in the direction of anti-clockwise rotation to pass from a given value of the date to the following value, which implies that this same date disc 28 simultaneously shows jumps in the direction of clockwise rotation when viewed from the bridge side, on the figure 2 And 4 . Thus, the series of date values to be displayed extends in the direction of clockwise rotation on face 40, dial side, and in the anti-clockwise direction of rotation on face 42, bridge side, to obtain the desired display on both sides of timepiece 1.

Moreover, returning to figures 1 and 2 , insofar as the date disc 28 is located on the bridge side of the watch movement 4, it may be preferable or advantageous to seek to improve the readability of the indications that it bears on its face 40 located on the dial side, this is that is, its face furthest from the crystal of the timepiece 1 opposite which it is located.

To this end, the display mechanism 26 comprises a magnifying member, here at least one conventional lens 46, defining a reading window for the date on the dial side, in association with its support fixed to the frame of the watch movement 4.

Thanks to the characteristics which have just been presented, it is understood that the present invention makes it possible to make visible additional information, that is to say other than the current time, on both sides of a watch movement without thereby increasing the size of the corresponding display mechanism. Indeed, in the case of the timepiece according to the preferred embodiment which has been described, it is possible, for example, to display a complete calendar on the side of the bridges, therefore in particular the date by means of the date disc 28, and if you do not necessarily want to implement a magnifying device, it suffices to provide that at least one surface corresponding to a date value to be displayed is visible from the dial side so that the date is readable on both sides of the coin watchmaking, without the addition of any additional component.

The foregoing description sets out to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, such as for example the number or nature of quantities displayed by the timepiece which has just been described. If the relevance of the invention increases with the number of complications of the corresponding watch movement, the implementation of the invention nevertheless has certain advantages even in relation to a watch movement without any particular complication. As mentioned above, the present invention makes it possible to display an additional quantity chosen from among a large number of possible quantities on both sides of the corresponding watch movement, in particular the second, the minute, the hour, the date, the day of the week, month, year, number of the year in the cycle of leap years, phases of the Moon, difference between civil time and solar time (or equation of time), power reserve, etc.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art may implement any suitable construction to allow or improve the reading of the value displayed on one side or the other of the watch movement without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, he may provide for the timepiece to include a fixed marker to define a reading marker facing the display member on one and/or the other side of the movement.

In general, those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching according to their own needs and producing a horological movement allowing the display on both sides of a predefined quantity, using a single and single display member at least partially visible from both sides of the movement and bearing at least one indication relating to the quantity to be displayed on each of its faces.

Claims (10)

1. Horological movement (4), for a timepiece (1), comprising a first side intended to be visible through a first glass of the timepiece (1) and a second side intended to be visible through a second glass of the timepiece (1), the horological movement (4) comprising at least one driving wheel, intended to drive a current time display organ (16, 24), and a display wheel for an additional quantity intended to be displayed on said first and second sides of the horological movement (4),
   characterized in that said display wheel drives a display organ (28) for said additional quantity, of generally substantially flat form and bearing at least one first indication relating to said additional quantity on a first of its two faces (40) and at least one additional indication relating to said additional quantity on its second face (42), said display organ (28) for said additional quantity being arranged in such a way that said additional quantity is displayed simultaneously on said first and second sides of the horological movement (4).
2. Horological movement (4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said first indication and said additional indication comprise a same series of values or of patterns relating to said additional quantity.
3. Horological movement (4) according to Claim 2, characterized in that said display organ (28) has the general form of a disc or of a ring, and in that a given value or a given pattern taken from said additional indication, projecting in a median plane of said display organ (28), is arranged in a different location with reference to the projection of the same value or of the same pattern taken from said first indication.
4. Horological movement (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said display wheel is of jumping type.
5. Horological movement (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said display wheel is of retrograde type.
6. Horological movement (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said additional quantity is taken from the group comprising: the second, the minute, the hour, the date, the day of the week, the month, the year, the number of the year in the leap year cycle, the phases of the moon, the difference between civil time and solar time (or the equation of time), the power reserve.
7. Timepiece (1) comprising a case (2) having first and second faces, each of which has at least one glass, characterized in that it comprises a horological movement (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 6.
8. Timepiece (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that said display organ (28) for said additional quantity is situated closer to said second face of the timepiece (1) than its first face, and in that it comprises a magnification organ (46) situated between said display organ (28) and said first face so as to enhance the legibility of said display organ (28) from said first face.
9. Timepiece (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that said magnification organ (46) defines a reading aperture on the side of said first face.
10. Timepiece (1) according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said horological movement (4) is arranged in such a way that said display organ (28) for said additional quantity allows the date value to be displayed in a retrograde jumping manner simultaneously on said two faces of the timepiece (1) .

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