EP4050424A1

EP4050424A1 - Timepiece

Info

Publication number: EP4050424A1
Application number: EP22158703.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Toshinori Nakazawa
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2021-02-26
Filing date: 2022-02-25
Publication date: 2022-08-31
Also published as: CN114967403A; JP2022131021A

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a timepiece including: an hour hand and a minute hand, a dial having a plurality of time scales for displaying time of day by being indicated by the hour hand and the minute hand, and an auxiliary hand having a shaft member disposed at a position overlapping with at least one of the time scales in plan view as viewed in a direction along an axis of the hour hand and the minute hand, the auxiliary hand being configured to indicate information other than the time of day by rotating about the shaft member serving as an axis of rotation.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a timepiece.

2. Related Art

There has been disclosed an electronic timepiece in which, in addition to time display hands for indicating the time of day, a display hand and a scale plate for displaying a duration time until the display of the time of day is stopped are provided.
In an electronic clock disclosed in JP-A-2011-247708 , by displaying the time of day using time display hands, and by displaying a duration time using a display hand, both of the time of day and the duration time can be simultaneously checked.
In JP-A-2011-247708 , a display hand and a scale plate for displaying a duration time are disposed at a portion where a scale that is indicated by the time display hands is provided. Specifically, the display hand and the scale plate for displaying a duration time are disposed at a portion where the scale at a nine o'clock position is to be provided. Accordingly, scales for indicating the time of day cannot be partially displayed on a dial so that there has been a drawback that it becomes difficult for a user to read the display of the time of day that the time display hands indicate.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a timepiece including, an hour hand and a minute hand, a dial having a plurality of time scales for displaying time of day by being indicated by the hour hand and the minute hand, and an auxiliary hand having a shaft member disposed at a position overlapping with at least one of the time scales in plan view as viewed in a direction along an axis of the hour hand and the minute hand, the auxiliary hand being configured to indicate information other than the time of day by rotating about the shaft member serving as an axis of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a timepiece according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a main portion of the timepiece according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the main portion of the timepiece according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment

Hereinafter, a timepiece 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the timepiece 1 according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the timepiece 1 is a watch that a user wears on his/her wrist. In the present embodiment, the timepiece 1 includes an outer case 2, a dial 3, a date indicator 4, a crown 5, time scales 6, an hour hand 11 as a pointer, a minute hand 12 as a pointer, and a seconds hand 13 as a pointer, an auxiliary hand 14, a pointer shaft 15, and a movement not illustrated in the drawing. The hour hand 11, the minute hand 12, and the seconds hand 13 are center hands in each of where the pointer shaft 15 is disposed at a center position of a planar surface of the dial 3.

Dial

The dial 3 is a circular plate shaped member, and a small window 31 is formed in the dial 3. Further, the date indicator 4 can be visually recognized through the small window 31. Further, the dial 3 includes a plurality of the time scales 6 for displaying the time of day by being indicated by the hour hand 11, the minute hand 12, and the seconds hand 13.
In the present embodiment, in plan view as viewed in an axial direction of the pointer shaft 15, a first time scale 61 disposed at a twelve o'clock position is formed in a pentagonal shape, and second time scales 62 respectively disposed at a three o'clock position, a six o'clock position, and a nine o'clock position are respectively formed in a rectangular shape. With such a configuration, the visibility of the time scales 61, 62 provided at a so-called cross line is enhanced. Further, third time scales 63 respectively disposed at a one o'clock position, a two o'clock position, a four o'clock position, a five o'clock position, a seven o'clock position, an eight o'clock position, a ten o'clock position, and an eleven o'clock position are respectively formed in a circular shape.
Here, in the present embodiment, surfaces of the time scales 6 are coated with a fluorescent coating material. With such a configuration, the visibility when a user checks the time of day by the timepiece 1 in a dark place, such as underwater can be enhanced.
Further, in the present embodiment, the dial 3 is provided with information scales 32 at a position in a direction of eight o'clock with respect to the center of the dial 3. In the present embodiment, the information scales 32 are configured to display a battery residual amount of the timepiece 1 by being indicated by the auxiliary hand 14. Here, the battery residual amount is an example of information other than the time of day in the present disclosure.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the dial 3 is provided with the information scales 32. Accordingly, for example, compared to a case where scales indicated by the auxiliary hand 14 are provided to a dial ring or the like, the positional alignment between the auxiliary hand 14 and the information scales 32 can be facilitated. Accordingly, assembling of the timepiece 1 can be facilitated.

Auxiliary hand

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a main portion of the timepiece 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the main portion of the timepiece 1. Here, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the auxiliary hand 14 is disposed at a position in a direction of eight o'clock with respect to the center of the dial 3, and is configured to indicate the information scales 32.
In the present embodiment, the auxiliary hand 14 includes a shaft member 141, a disc portion 142, and a hand portion 143.
The shaft member 141 is a rod-shaped member, and a proximal end side of the shaft member 141 is attached to a movement not illustrated in the drawing, and the disc portion 142 is attached to a distal end side of the shaft member 141. With such a configuration, when the shaft member 141 is rotated by the movement, the disc portion 142 and the hand portion 143 are also rotated. That is, the auxiliary hand 14 is configured to rotate about the shaft member 141 serving as an axis of rotation.
Further, in the present embodiment, the shaft member 141 is disposed at a position overlapping with the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15. To be more specific, the shaft member 141 is disposed at a position overlapping with the center of the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15. That is, the shaft member 141 penetrates the center of the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position.
Here, assuming that the shaft member 141 is disposed at a position different from the center of the time scale 6 in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15, the center of rotation of the auxiliary hand 14 and the center of the time scale 6 are displaced from each other and hence, there is a possibility that a user feels discomfort.
To the contrary, in this embodiment, as described above, the shaft member 141 is disposed at the position overlapping with the center of the time scale 6 in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15 and hence, the center of rotation of the auxiliary hand 14 and the center of the time scale 6 agree with each other. Accordingly, the possibility that the user feels discomfort can be reduced. That is, the auxiliary hand 14 can be disposed without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece 1 and hence, the design property of the timepiece 1 can be enhanced.
The disc portion 142 is formed in a circular shape, and is attached to the distal end side of the shaft member 141 as described above. Here, the disc portion 142 is an example of an end member of the present disclosure.
The hand portion 143 is provided at an outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 142, and is configured to indicate the information scales 32. In the present embodiment, the hand portion 143 is formed such that a distal end portion of the hand portion 143 is positioned outside an outer periphery of the time scale 6, in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15. With such a configuration, the distal end portion of the hand portion 143 can be positioned closer to the information scales 32 and hence, the visibility of the indication of the hand portion 143 by the information scales 32 can be enhanced.
Here, in the present embodiment, the disc portion 142 is configured such that an area of the disc portion 142 becomes less than one half of an area of the time scale 6 disposed at a position overlapping with the shaft member 141 in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15. In other words, in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15, the area of the time scale 6 disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member 141 is twice as large as the area of the disc portion 142 or larger. With such a configuration, the area of the time scale 6 covered by the disc portion 142 of the auxiliary hand 14 can be made small. Accordingly, the visibility of the time scale 6 disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member 141 of the auxiliary hand 14 can be enhanced.
Manner of operation and advantageous effect of embodiment.
According to the present embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the shaft member 141 of the auxiliary hand 14 indicating the battery residual amount, that is information other than the time of day, is disposed at a position overlapping with the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position. With such a configuration, a battery residual amount can be indicated by the auxiliary hand 14 without eliminating the time scale 6. Accordingly, reading of a display of the time of day indicated by the hour hand 11, the minute hand 12, and the seconds hand 13 can be facilitated, and a battery residual amount can be displayed.
In the present embodiment, the time scales 6 are coated with a fluorescent coating material. With such a configuration, for example, the visibility when a user checks the time of day by the timepiece 1 in a dark place, such as underwater can be enhanced.
In the present embodiment, the shaft member 141 is located at the center of the time scale 6 and hence, the auxiliary hand 14 can be disposed without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece 1. Accordingly, the design property of the timepiece 1 can be enhanced.
In the present embodiment, the auxiliary hand 14 is configured to indicate the battery residual amount. With such a configuration, the user can check the battery residual amount of the timepiece 1.
In the present embodiment, in plan view as viewed in a direction along the pointer shaft 15, the area of the time scale 6 disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member 141 is twice as large as the area of the disc portion 142 or larger. With such a configuration, the area of the time scale 6 covered by the auxiliary hand 14 can be made small. Accordingly, the visibility of the time scale 6 disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member 141 of the auxiliary hand 14 can be enhanced.
In the present embodiment, the dial 3 is provided with the information scales 32 to be indicated by the auxiliary hand 14 and hence, the battery residual amount can be displayed by the auxiliary hand 14 and the information scales 32. Further, the dial 3 is provided with the information scales 32. Accordingly, for example, compared to a case where scales indicated by the auxiliary hand 14 are provided to a dial ring or the like, a positional alignment between the auxiliary hand 14 and the information scales 32 can be facilitated. Accordingly, assembling of the timepiece 1 can be facilitated.
In the present embodiment, the hand portion 143 is formed such that the distal end portion of the hand portion 143 is positioned outside the outer periphery of the time scale 6, in plan view as viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 15. With such a configuration, the distal end portion of the hand portion 143 can be positioned closer to the information scales 32 and hence, the visibility of the indication of the hand portion 143 by the information scales 32 can be enhanced.

Modification

Here, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like are also included in the present disclosure within the scope in which the object of the present disclosure can be achieved.
In the present embodiment, the shaft member 141 of the auxiliary hand 14 is disposed at the position overlapping with the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position in plan view as viewed in the direction along the pointer shaft 15. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the shaft member of the auxiliary hand may be disposed at a position overlapping with the time scale disposed at the five o'clock position. That is, it is sufficient for the shaft member of the auxiliary hand to be disposed at a position overlapping with at least one of the plurality of time scales.
Further, in the present embodiment, the shaft member 141 is disposed at the position overlapping with the center of the time scale 6 disposed at the eight o'clock position in plan view as viewed in the direction along the pointer shaft 15. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the shaft member may be disposed at a position different from the center of the time scale. That is, it is sufficient for the shaft member to be disposed at a position overlapping with the time scale.
In the embodiment described above, the time scales 6 include the first time scale 61 having the pentagonal shape, the second time scales 62 having the rectangular shape, and the third time scales 63 having the circular shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, all of the plurality of time scales may have the same shape, and the shape of the time scales can be set arbitrarily.
In the embodiment described above, the auxiliary hand 14 is configured to indicate the battery residual amount as information other than the time of day. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the auxiliary hand may be configured as a so-called functional hand for indicating a duration time of a power source, such as a battery or a mainspring, of the timepiece 1, information about the day of the week, and information related to reception of satellite signals.
In the embodiment described above, the surfaces of the time scales 6 are coated with the fluorescent coating material. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a case where the fluorescent coating material is not applied by coating to the time scales and the auxiliary hand member is also included in the present disclosure.
In the embodiment described above, the auxiliary hand 14 includes the disc portion 142 that is attached to the distal end portion of the shaft member 141 and has a circular shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the auxiliary hand 14 may include an end member that is attached to the distal end portion of the shaft member 141 and is formed in a rectangular shape.
Further, the auxiliary hand 14 may be configured such that the hand portion 143 is directly attached to the distal end portion of the shaft member 141 by omitting the disc portion 142.
In the embodiment described above, the time scale 6 disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member 141 is configured such that the area of the time scale 6 is twice as large as the area of the disc portion 142 or larger. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the time scale disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member may be configured such that the area of the time scale is set to less than twice as large as the area of the disc portion. That is, it is sufficient for the time scale to be configured such that the area of the time scale becomes larger than the area of the disc portion.
In the embodiment described above, the dial 3 is provided with the information scales 32 indicated by the auxiliary hand 14. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the information scales indicated by the auxiliary hand may be provided to a dial ring or the like.
In the embodiment described above, the timepiece 1 includes the hour hand 11, the minute hand 12, and the seconds hand 13 for displaying the time of day by indicating the time scales 6. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the timepiece may be a timepiece having no seconds hand.
In the embodiment described above, the shaft member 141 passes through the dial 3 and the time scale 63, and the disc portion 142 and the hand portion 143 rotate about the shaft member 141 serving as the axis of rotation. That is, the time scale 63 and the disc portion 142 are configured as separate members. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a time scale at a position where an auxiliary hand is provided is omitted, an end member having a shape and a texture close to those of a time scale is disposed at a distal end side of a shaft member, and a hand portion is provided at an outer peripheral edge of the end member. Further, a surface of the end member may be coated with a fluorescent coating material in the same manner as other time scales. With such a configuration, advantageous effects substantially equal to the advantageous effects obtained by the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained with a smaller number of parts.

Summary of present disclosure

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a timepiece including: an hour hand and a minute hand, a dial having a plurality of time scales for displaying time of day by being indicated by the hour hand and the minute hand, and an auxiliary hand having a shaft member disposed at a position overlapping with at least one of the time scales in plan view as viewed in a direction along an axis of the hour hand and the minute hand, the auxiliary hand being configured to indicate information other than the time of day by rotating about the shaft member serving as an axis of rotation.
With such a configuration, the shaft member of the auxiliary hand indicating information other than the time of day is disposed at the position overlapping with at least one of the plurality of time scales indicating the time of day. Accordingly, information other than the time of day can be indicated by the auxiliary hand without omitting the time scale. Accordingly, reading of a display of the time of day by the hour hand and the minute hand can be facilitated, and the information other than the time of day can be displayed.
In the timepiece of the present disclosure, the time scale may be coated with a fluorescent coating material.
With such a configuration, for example, the visibility when a user checks the time of day by the timepiece in a dark place, such as underwater can be enhanced.
In the timepiece of the present disclosure, as viewed in the plan view, the shaft member may be disposed at a position overlapping with a center of the time scale disposed at a position overlapping with the shaft member.
With such a configuration, the shaft member is located at the center of the time scale and hence, the auxiliary hand can be disposed without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece. Accordingly, the design property of the timepiece can be enhanced.
In the timepiece of the present disclosure, the auxiliary hand member may be configured to indicate a battery residual amount as the information.
With such a configuration, the user can check the battery residual amount of the timepiece.
In the timepiece of the present disclosure, the auxiliary hand includes: an end member attached to a distal end portion of the shaft member, and a hand portion provided at the end member, and as viewed in the plan view, an area of the time scale disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member may be set be equal to or more than twice as large as an area of the end member.
With such a configuration, the area of the time scale covered by the auxiliary hand can be made small. Accordingly, the visibility of the time scale disposed at the position overlapping with the shaft member of the auxiliary hand can be enhanced.
In the timepiece of the present disclosure, the dial may be provided with an information scale indicated by the auxiliary hand.
With such a configuration, information other than the time of day can be displayed by the auxiliary hand and the information scale. Further, the dial is provided with the information scale. Accordingly, for example, compared to a case where scales indicated by the auxiliary hand are provided to a dial ring or the like, a positional alignment between the auxiliary hand and the information scale can be facilitated. Accordingly, assembling of the timepiece can be facilitated.

Claims

A timepiece comprising:
an hour hand and a minute hand;

a dial having a plurality of time scales for displaying time of day by being indicated by the hour hand and the minute hand; and

an auxiliary hand having a shaft member disposed at a position overlapping with at least one of the time scales in plan view as viewed in a direction along an axis of the hour hand and the minute hand, the auxiliary hand being configured to indicate information other than the time of day by rotating about the shaft member serving as an axis of rotation.
The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein
the time scales are coated with a fluorescent coating material.
The timepiece according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein
as viewed in the plan view, the shaft member is disposed at a position overlapping with a center of the time scale disposed at a position overlapping with the shaft member.
The timepiece according to any of claims 1-3, wherein
the auxiliary hand is configured to indicate a battery residual amount as the information.
The timepiece according to any of claims 1-4, wherein
the auxiliary hand includes an end member attached to a distal end portion of the shaft member, and a hand portion provided at the end member, and

as viewed in the plan view, an area of the time scale disposed at a position overlapping with the shaft member is twice as large as an area of the end member or larger.
The timepiece according to any of claims 1-5, wherein
the dial is provided with an information scale indicated by the auxiliary hand.