EP4113218A1 - Mechanism for combined display of a lunar calendar and the phases of the moon for a timepiece movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanism (24) for displaying a lunar calendar comprising a display hand (10) arranged to move opposite an indicating scale (12) of the lunar calendar in a maximum of thirty days, the mechanism (24) comprising a colored band (14) extending from one end to the other of the indicator scale (12) while being parallel to the latter, the colored band (14) having a clear portion (16) intended to at least partially illustrate the Moon, and a complementary dark portion (18), the proportion between said light (16) and dark (18) portions varying along the indicator scale (12) to take into account the evolution of the appearance of the Moon according to the lunar calendar, the display hand (10) having a circular window (20) arranged to move opposite the colored band (14) and delimit a display portion thereof, at any time, to display the phases of the Moon.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a mechanism for displaying a lunar date, for a watch movement, comprising a date wheel bearing a display hand arranged to move opposite a scale indicating the lunar date, the date wheel being intended to be driven by a driving wheel of the watch movement in such a way that the display hand is capable of traversing the indicating scale in a maximum of thirty days.

State of the art

While most timepieces with a calendar function include a watch movement whose operation is based on the Gregorian calendar which is a solar calendar, such display mechanisms based on the lunar cycle, for example the Hijri, Judaic, Chinese, Japanese or Korean, are also known in the prior art. In general, in the remainder of the text, the expression “lunar calendar” will be used to designate all of the calendar systems used in different cultures or nations which are based on the cycles of the Moon.

Thus, for example, the Parmigiani Fleurier company has been marketing, since the beginning of 2020, a Hijri perpetual calendar watch model in its Tonda range (registered trademark). This model is notably presented here: http://fr.worldtempus.com/article/montres/style-et-tendance/parmigiani-fleurier-calendrier-perpetuel-hegirien-28202.html .

As is the case with this model, watches with a calendar function sometimes have an additional mechanism for displaying the phases of the Moon. Indeed, the aforementioned timepiece has a display of the Hijri calendar arranged in a counter located at nine o'clock on the dial, as well as a mechanism for displaying the phases of the Moon arranged in a counter located at six o'clock.

More precisely, the mechanism for displaying the phases of the Moon is conventional here, since it implements a disc bearing a representation of the Moon rotating behind the dial, to reveal a portion of the disc through an aperture whose the specific contour defines a mask making it possible to represent the different phases of the Moon according to its evolution during a lunar month.

A large number of different constructions are known to implement cooperation between a disc carrying a representation of the Moon and a mask with the aim of displaying the phases of the Moon, preferably with the greatest possible precision. These display mechanisms are more or less bulky on the dial of the corresponding timepieces, but generally make the latter attractive for a certain category of customers.

Alternative construction mechanisms are also known in connection with Gregorian calendars, by which a less cumbersome display of the phases of the Moon can be implemented, generally at the expense of the accuracy of the display. Thus, for example, the company Jaquet Droz marketed in the early 2000s a wristwatch ("Les Lunes", with triple calendar) comprising a retrograde display of the phases of the Moon comprising five representations of the Moon associated with five successive instants of a lunar cycle and a retrograde hand, trained to position itself successively opposite these representations according to the advancement in a lunar cycle. The date (Gregorian) was displayed by means of a central date hand moving opposite a scale of 31 graduations arranged on the periphery of the dial. This same company presented in 2013 an evolution of its display mechanism making it both less bulky and more precise (in its "Eclipse" collection still marketed today). Indeed, the current mechanism for displaying the phases of the Moon comprises a fixed representation of the Moon opposite which moves a disc-shaped cover carried by the end of a needle driven in a complex movement. As regards the date display (Gregorian) associated, several variants are currently marketed: either the date is displayed by a central hand moving opposite a scale of graduations of 31 arranged on the periphery of the dial, or it is displayed by a date hand driven in such a way retrograde to move next to a scale of 31 graduations extending along a circular sector.

If the juxtaposition of the displays of the phases of the Moon and the date on a watch dial requires the use of a large portion of the corresponding dial, it has of course also been proposed to superimpose them to limit the surface that they occupy together . Thus, for example, the Montblanc company markets a model named " Star Legacy Moonphase" (viewable here: https://www.montblanc.com/en-ch/wrist-watch_cod10163292706843707.html ) in which the date and moon phase displays (both conventional) are arranged coaxially. The dimensions of the moon phase display are limited by the diameter of the dial, so that it does not encroach on the central hand, which gives rise to a scale indicating the date whose values have a reduced height and difficult to read. In addition, the gain in display surface is made to the detriment of the thickness of the display mechanism due to the coaxiality of the two displays.

It emerges from the foregoing that it remains advantageous for a manufacturer of watch mechanisms or movements to be able to offer a combined mechanism for displaying the date and the phases of the Moon which is both precise and legible, compact and of simple.

Disclosure of Invention

A main object of the present invention is therefore to propose a mechanism for displaying a lunar calendar combined with a display of the phases of the Moon of appearance and construction different from those of known display mechanisms and which is both precise and readable, compact and of simple construction.

• par le fait qu'il comporte une bande colorée s'étendant sensiblement d'une extrémité à l'autre de l'échelle indicatrice en étant sensiblement parallèle à cette dernière, la bande colorée présentant une portion claire destinée à illustrer au moins partiellement la Lune, et une portion sombre complémentaire, la proportion entre les portions claire et sombre variant le long de l'échelle indicatrice pour prendre en compte l'évolution de l'apparence de la Lune en fonction du quantième lunaire, et
• par le fait que l'aiguille d'affichage présente un guichet sensiblement circulaire agencé pour se déplacer en regard de la bande colorée et en délimiter une portion d'affichage, à chaque instant, pour afficher les phases de la Lune.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a display mechanism of the type indicated above, characterized

• in that it comprises a colored band extending substantially from one end of the indicator scale to the other, being substantially parallel to the latter, the colored band having a light portion intended to at least partially illustrate the Moon, and a complementary dark portion, the proportion between the light and dark varying along the indicator scale to take into account the evolution of the Moon's appearance according to the lunar calendar, and
• in that the display hand has a substantially circular aperture arranged to move opposite the colored band and delimit a display portion thereof, at any time, to display the phases of the Moon.

Thanks to these characteristics, an extremely compact combined display of the lunar calendar and the phases of the Moon is obtained, of simple construction, without affecting either the readability of the calendar display or the precision of the phase display. from the moon. Indeed, by way of non-limiting example, the Hijri calendar being a lunar calendar, its months have a variable length, either twenty-nine days or thirty days, to take into account the actual duration of the lunar cycle or period synodic (about twenty-nine days, twelve hours and forty-four minutes). The fact that a single and same display hand simultaneously indicates the lunar calendar and the phases of the Moon makes it possible to guarantee a display of the phases of the Moon, as a function of the lunar calendar displayed, which is permanently correct.

Preferably, provision can be made for the display mechanism to be arranged in such a way that the calendar wheel exhibits a retrograde movement, the indicator scale being open. In this case, provision can also be made for the date wheel set to be rotatable, the indicator scale and the colored band then extending along two arcs of a circle substantially parallel to each other.

• comporte un mobile de rétrograde comprenant une roue, destinée à être entrainée par le mobile d'entrainement du mouvement horloger pour faire un tour sur elle-même en trente jours maximum, ainsi qu'une came en colimaçon,
• qu'il comporte un râteau portant un bec coopérant avec la périphérie de la came ainsi qu'un secteur denté agencé en prise avec une denture du mobile de quantième, et qu'il comporte un organe de rappel élastique agencé pour tendre à maintenir le bec en appui contre la périphérie de la came.

For this purpose, provision may preferably be made for the display mechanism

• comprises a retrograde wheel set comprising a wheel, intended to be driven by the drive wheel of the watch movement to make one turn on itself in a maximum of thirty days, as well as a spiral cam,
• that it comprises a rake carrying a spout cooperating with the periphery of the cam as well as a toothed sector arranged in engagement with a toothing of the date mobile, and that it comprises an elastic return member arranged to tend to hold the spout bearing against the periphery of the cam.

The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a driving wheel arranged to drive the date wheel of a display mechanism according to the above characteristics.

More particularly, provision can advantageously be made for the drive wheel set to be arranged in such a way that the date wheel set exhibits a movement, once a day, such that the display hand traverses the indicator scale in a maximum of thirty days.

According to a preferred embodiment, provision can also be made for the watch movement to include a short month correction member arranged to cause the display hand to advance directly from value 29 of the indicator scale to value 1 at the end of the last day of the month of twenty-nine days.

According to an advantageous variant embodiment, provision may be made for the driving wheel set to be a date disc.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement according to the above characteristics.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente une vue de face partielle simplifiée d'un exemple de pièce d'horlogerie selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention, et
• la figure 2 représente une vue de face simplifiée d'une partie d'un mouvement horloger selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention.

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 example and in which:

• the figure 1 shows a simplified partial front view of an example of a timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and
• the figure 2 shows a simplified front view of part of a timepiece movement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment(s) of the Invention

The figure 1 shows a simplified view of part of a timepiece 1 according to the present invention.

The covering elements of the timepiece 1 are not shown for the sake of simplification and insofar as they do not play any particular role for the implementation of the present invention. In addition, the timepiece 1 is deliberately presented here in a basic form for the same sake of simplification, and the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching according to his own needs, in order to carry out a timepiece whose elements not directly related to the implementation of the invention may differ from those presented here, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Timepiece 1 comprises a timepiece movement (which will be partially described in relation to the figure 2 ) surmounted by a dial 2 carrying indexes 4 for displaying the current time in relation to the central hands of the current hours 6 and the current minutes 8.

In accordance with the present invention, the timepiece 1 also comprises a hand 10 for displaying the lunar date, here of the retrograde type by way of non-limiting illustration. The hand 10 is intended to be driven by the watch movement in such a way that its free end moves opposite a fixed indicator scale 12 of the lunar date carried by the dial 2. As mentioned above, the lunar calendars typically comprise months of twenty-nine or thirty days, also the indicating scale 12 comprises thirty date graduations, only the odd values being indicated here without limitation.

Furthermore, dial 2 further comprises a fixed colored band 14 extending substantially from one end to the other of indicator scale 12 while being substantially parallel to the latter. The colored band 14 has a clear portion 16 intended to at least partially illustrate the Moon, and a complementary dark portion 18, the proportion between the light 16 and dark 18 portions varying along the indicator scale 12 to take into account the evolution of the Moon's appearance as a function of the lunar calendar.

As will have been understood, a broad interpretation of the term "colored" must be considered here, the really important characteristic here being to be able to clearly distinguish the two portions 16 and 18 from each other, which could also be suitable with a white 16 portion and a black or gray 18 portion. The dark portion 18 could also comprise light patterns symbolizing stars, in a known manner.

It can be seen that the hand 10 has a substantially circular window 20, arranged here close to its free end to move opposite the colored band 14 and delimit a display portion thereof, at any time, to display the phases of the moon.

Thanks to this arrangement, the aperture 20 scans the entire colored band 14 during a given month and makes it possible to display the phases of the Moon precisely throughout the month (lunar, for example Hijri), from and to the new moon, the first and thirty of the month, passing through the full moon, the fifteenth of the month.

The figure 2 represents a front view of part of a watch movement 22 making it possible to control the movements of the hand 10 to implement the display which has just been described.

The watch movement 22 comprises a display mechanism 24 of the lunar calendar of the basic type, by way of non-limiting illustration. By analogy with the complication called "simple (Gregorian) calendar", the watch movement 22 which will be partially described below is intended to control the movements of the hand 10 in such a way that it advances each month by one step. per day, to pass from the value 1 of the indicator scale 12 to the index corresponding to 30, before returning to the position located opposite 1. When a given month has only twenty-nine days, the user can correct the value displayed for the lunar calendar, from the 30th to the ^1st of the following month, by acting on an external control device, for example a crown (not visible) carried by a stem 26 of correction. Of course, a dedicated pusher or corrector could be provided as an alternative.

The watch movement 22 can advantageously comprise a basic watch caliber including a calendar mechanism, of the simple date type, in the most basic version. This calendar mechanism typically includes a date disc or ring driven from a twenty-four hour wheel to advance one step per day and perform one revolution on itself in thirty-one days. Most of the time, this date disc is driven by internal toothing.

Thus, it is possible to replace the conventional date disc with a date disc 28 slightly modified to have external toothing 30 in addition to its conventional internal toothing. The date disc 28 can then act as a driving wheel for the display mechanism 24 of the lunar date, by acting on the latter once a day.

The lunar date display mechanism 24 comprises a frame 32, preferably secured to the plate of the basic watch caliber, bearing a star 34 whose branches cooperate with the external toothing 30 of the date disc 28. The star 34 is secured a pinion 36 engaged with a wheel 38 of a retrograde wheel set further comprising a spiral cam 40.

The frame 32 also carries a rotary rake 42 carrying a beak 44 arranged to cooperate with the periphery of the cam 40, as well as a toothed sector 46 arranged in engagement with a wheel 48 of a date wheel set 50 carrying the hand 10 for displaying the lunar calendar and the phases of the Moon.

An elastic return member 52, here taking the form of a spiral spring, acts on the shaft of the date wheel set 50 to tend to rotate the hand 10 in the anti-clockwise direction on the view of the figure 2 . The rake 42 thus also tends to rotate in the anti-clockwise direction, which has the effect of maintaining its beak 44 in permanent contact against the periphery of the cam 40.

A jumper 54 is also provided to maintain the angular orientation and the end of the jumps of the star 34, in a conventional manner.

It is understood from the foregoing that the date disc 28 causes the star 34 to advance by one step each day, the latter in turn driving the cam 40 in rotation, in the direction of clockwise rotation on the view of the figure 2 , at an angle such that the hand 10 moves from one date scale to the next.

At the end of the thirtieth day of each month of thirty days, the beak 44 leaves the portion of the periphery of the cam 40 of greater radius to fall on its portion of smaller radius under the effect of the action of the elastic return member 52. During this movement, the rake 42 pivots in the direction of counter-clockwise rotation in such a way that the needle 10 suddenly passes from the index corresponding to 30 to graduation 1 of the indicating scale 12 .

As mentioned above, when a month which has just ended had only twenty-nine days, the user must manually intervene on a short month correction device, on the ^1st of the following month while the needle 10 again points to the index corresponding to the 30th of the (previous) month, to advance the star 34 by one step and cause the beak 44 to fall on the portion of the periphery of the cam 40 of smallest radius, and thus move hand 10 to value 1 on indicator scale 12. The short month correction member can also be actuated to adjust the date following prolonged stoppage of watch movement 22.

Of course, it is possible to provide as an alternative for the display mechanism 24 to include a directly integrated short month correction device, to correct the value of the date at the end of short months, in the manner of the complication called "annual calendar" in relation to the Gregorian calendar taking into account the difference in duration between the months of thirty days and the months of thirty-one days. A large number of technical solutions have already been presented in relation to the Gregorian calendar for carrying out this type of correction, and the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty for the implementation of such a month correction organ. courts integrated into the display mechanism 24, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Alternatively, it is also possible to implement the display mechanism according to the invention in conjunction with a perpetual lunar calendar mechanism, such as the perpetual Hijri calendar mechanism implemented in the watch mentioned above, marketed by Parmigiani Fleurier. Such a mechanism could in particular make it possible to ensure the drive of the wheel 38 in such a way that it makes one turn on itself in twenty-nine days or in thirty days depending on the duration of the current month, sparing any user intervention.

Thanks to the characteristics which have just been presented, a mechanism for the combined display of a lunar calendar and the phases of the Moon is obtained which is compact, precise, offering excellent readability and which, moreover, can be easily adapted to a mechanism existing.

The implementation of the present invention is not limited to certain particular characteristics as they have been illustrated and described. Indeed, those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching to their own needs and implementing a display mechanism incorporating only some of these characteristics without departing from the scope of the present invention. as defined by the claims. Thus, for example, the hand displaying the date and the phases of the Moon could present a non-retrograde circular movement, the indicator scale and the colored band then being closed on themselves, or even a retrograde translation movement , the indicator scale and the colored band being linear in this case. The driving wheel set, in the watch movement, as well as the transmission chain up to the date display wheel set may take different forms while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. The star could for example be rotated in steps under the effect of the action of a rocker. Alternatively, even if such a variant would have less readability, it is possible to provide that the distribution between the light and dark portions of the colored band be made in such a way that the latter includes representations of the Moon arranged side by side. others and illustrating the evolution of the phases of the Moon throughout the month, the number of representations of the Moon depending essentially on the length of the colored band.

Claims (9)

Mechanism for displaying (24) a lunar date, for a watch movement (22), comprising a date mobile (50) carrying a display hand (10) arranged to move opposite an indicating scale (12 ) of the lunar calendar, said calendar wheel set (50) being intended to be driven by a driving wheel set (28) of the watch movement (22) in such a way that said display hand (10) is capable of traversing said scale indicator (12) in a maximum of thirty days, characterized in that it comprises a colored band (14) extending substantially from one end to the other of the said indicator scale (12) while being substantially parallel to the latter, the said colored band (14) presenting a clear portion (16) intended to at least partially illustrate the Moon, and a complementary dark portion (18), the proportion between said light (16) and dark (18) portions varying along said indicator scale (12) to take into account the evolution of the appearance of the Moon according to the lunar calendar, and in that said display hand (10) has a substantially circular window (20) arranged to move facing said colored band (14) and delimit a display portion thereof, at any time, to display the phases of the moon. Mechanism (24) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged in such a way that the said date wheel set (50) exhibits a retrograde movement, the said indicating scale (12) being open. Mechanism (24) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said date wheel set (50) is rotatable, the said indicator scale (12) and the said colored band (14) extending along two circular arcs substantially parallel to each other. Mechanism (24) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a retrograde wheel set comprising a wheel (38), intended to be driven by the drive wheel set (28) of the watch movement (22) to make one turn on itself in a maximum of thirty days, as well a spiral cam (40), in that it comprises a rake (42) carrying a beak (44) cooperating with the periphery of said cam (40) as well as a toothed sector (46) arranged in engagement with a toothing of said calendar wheel set (50), and in that it comprises an elastic return member (52) arranged to tend to hold said beak (44) bearing against the periphery of said cam (40). Watch movement (22) comprising a driving wheel set (28) arranged to drive the date wheel set (50) of a display mechanism (24) according to one of the preceding claims. Timepiece movement (22) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said drive wheel set (28) is arranged in such a way that the said date wheel set (50) exhibits a movement, once a day, such that the said hand (10 ) display runs through said indicator scale (12) in a maximum of thirty days. Timepiece movement (22) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a short month correction member arranged to cause said display hand (10) to advance directly from value 29 of said indicator scale (12) to the value 1 at the end of the last day of a month of twenty-nine days. Clock movement (22) according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the said driving wheel (28) is a date disc. Timepiece (1) comprising a timepiece movement (22) according to one of Claims 5 to 8.

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