FR2836245A1 - Equipment for window type date display on clock, comprises separate drives for lower indicating face which has thirteen positions for numerals and upper transparent indicating face which has eleven. - Google Patents

Abstract

The window display for dates on a clock uses two separately driven numbered faces. The lower face (3) has thirteen number positions (4) with numbers 1-9 and 30 and 31 appearing immediately and symmetrically against them and two more figures 1 and 2 which are marked to the left. The upper transparent face has eleven positions with ten used for the symmetrical placement of numbers 0-9.

Description

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The present invention relates to a date display device with a window for a watch, the window being arranged along the axis from 12 am to 6 am or close to this axis, as well as a method of activating the display device. .

The large window date display systems existing on watches, in particular wristwatches, all use, for reasons of space available on mobile display parts, double or paired windows such as dates 1 9 of each month read either 0-unit or empty-unit space. This way of doing things is not very aesthetic and it would be desirable to have a display centered in the window both for dates consisting of a single digit (1 to 9) and for dates with two digits ( 10 to 31).

However, this aesthetic requirement is apparently incompatible with the use of large numbers in view of the space available at the periphery of a single display disc, especially when the display is done on the axis 12h-6h or at its immediate proximity, because it would be necessary to divide the periphery of the circle into 31 equal spaces in each of which one could print the dates 1 to 31 centered in the corresponding spaces.

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 The object of the present invention is to propose a display device making it possible to display in a window located on the axis 12 pm to 6 am or in its immediate vicinity the dates 1 to 31 centered in the window and using relatively figures great.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a first and second superimposed discs of identical and concentric dimensions of which at least the upper disc is made of a transparent material, that the first disc is divided by thirteen virtual spokes in as many identical sectors and it includes near its periphery the numbers 1 to 9 located on nine consecutive virtual rays, the numbers 1 and 2 to the left of two consecutive virtual rays and the numbers 30 and 31 whose numbers are located on either side of the last two virtual rays, that the second disc is divided by eleven virtual rays into as many identical sectors and it includes near its periphery the numbers 0 to 9 located to the right of the ten consecutive virtual rays, the region of the eleventh virtual ray carrying no inscription, and that the display device comprises means arranged to drive the two disks es so as to successively display the dates from 1 to 31 centered in the window.

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The advantage of this device is that instead of dividing the peripheral part of a disc to 31 equal parts in which we should be able to arrange the numbers 1 to 31 so that they are centered on the space that will be displayed behind the window, two superimposed discs are used, one of which is transparent comprising thirteen sectors, while the other has eleven sectors, which makes it possible to use relatively large numbers. In addition, the arrangement of the figures in relation to the virtual departments makes it possible to obtain centering of the display.

According to an alternative embodiment, the transparent disc is made of glass or sapphire or any other transparent material.

According to another alternative embodiment, the means which drive the discs are mechanical means.

According to another alternative embodiment, the means controlling the drive of the discs are electronic means. Indeed, it is easy in electronic watches to provide a microprocessor controlling the rotation of each of the discs according to the date to be displayed.

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 Finally, the invention relates to a method for activating said device, characterized by the following steps: a. the first disc is arranged so as to display the number 1 located on the virtual shelf, while the second disc is located opposite the counter with the region without writing, b. then the first disc rotates in 24 hour periods of 1 / 13th of a turn to successively display the numbers 2 to 9, c. then, the first disc rotates 1/13 of a turn to display the number 1 located to the left of the virtual department and simultaneously the second disc rotates 1/11 to display the figure 0 of the first ten, d. then the second disc rotates by 24 hour period 1 / 11th of a turn to display the units 1 to 9, e. then, the first disc spins zende tour to display the number 2 located to the left of the virtual department and the second disc spins 2 / llème to return to 0 and thereafter it spins by 24 hour period of 1 / 11ème tour to display units 1 to 9,

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 f. then the first disc rotates 1 / 13th of a turn to display the number 30, while the first disc rotates by l / llth of a turn to return to the position without writing and then the first disc rotates of 1/13 of a turn to display the number number 31, g. finally, the first disc rotates 1 / 13th of a turn to display the number 1 located on the virtual department, and the cycle begins again.

It is also planned, for the months not including 31 days, to advance the display device by mechanical or electronic means between the last day of a month and the number 1 of the following month.

The invention will be described in more detail using the attached drawing.

Figure 1 shows schematically a wristwatch with a display with large numbers which is located on the axis 12h-6h.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the first disc.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the second disc.

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In Figure 1, we have shown in a completely schematic manner a watch 1 having the usual elements and a window 2 for displaying the date located on the periphery of the bezel and on the axis 12h-6h. The window can be slightly shifted to the left or right or be located at the bottom, so close to the number 6, also centered or shifted slightly to the left or right.

To be able to obtain a display with figures as large in proportion to the watch as those indicated on this display, the device is composed (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of a first disc 3 and of a second disc 5 whose diameters are identical and are mounted coaxially in the watch case. The disc located near the dial, which can either be disc 3 or 5, must be made of a transparent material, for example glass or sapphire or any other transparent material. The other disc could also be made of a transparent material, but this is not essential.

The first disc 3 is divided by virtual departments 4 into thirteen equal parts. The numbers 1 to 9 are printed on a peripheral zone of the disc 3 centered with respect to the virtual departments 4. Next, the numbers 1 and 2 are printed in

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les espaces consécutifs, mais légèrement décalés par rapport aux rayons virtuels, ces deux chiffres vont constituer les dizaines pour les dates commençant par 1, respectivement 2. La partie restante comprend les nombres 30 et 31 dont les chiffres 3 0 et 3 1 sont disposés de part et d'autre des rayons virtuels. De cette manière, les nombres 1 à 9 seront exactement centrés dans le guichet 2, ainsi que les nombres 30 et 31.

consecutive spaces, but slightly offset from the virtual rays, these two numbers will constitute the tens for the dates starting with 1, respectively 2. The remaining part includes the numbers 30 and 31 of which the numbers 3 0 and 3 1 are arranged with on either side of the virtual shelves. In this way, the numbers 1 to 9 will be exactly centered in the window 2, as well as the numbers 30 and 31.

Regarding the dates between 10 and 29, the display will be explained later when we have also described the presentation of the second disc.

1 The second disc 5 identical in dimensions to the first disc 3 is divided into eleven equal parts by eleven virtual departments 6. The numbers 0 to 9 are written to the right of the virtual departments in nine consecutive positions and these figures will constitute the units for the dates between 10 and 29. Finally, the eleventh region corresponding to the virtual department referenced 7 has no inscriptions. This part of the disc 5 will be located opposite the window 2 when the numbers 1 to 9 illustrating the dates 1 to 9 will also be located opposite the window, which will make it possible to have a presentation centered in said window.

The means for driving these two discs according to the actuation method which will be described

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 thereafter are either purely mechanical means, or means controlled by electronic means.

We will now describe the method of activating the display device.

At the start, the two discs are arranged so that 1 in the window displays the number 1 and the part of the second disc without writing.

From this position, the first disc 3 is moved 1 / 13th of a turn eight consecutive times per 24-hour period to display in the window 2 the dates 1 to 9. During this time, the second disc 5 remains stationary. When the date goes from the number 9 to the number 10, the first disc 3 is moved 1 / 13th of a turn to display the number 1 representing the first ten, while the second disc 5 is moved by 1/11 of a turn to display the unit number, in this case 0. Thereafter, and by period always of 24h, the second disc 5 is moved by l / llth of a turn to obtain the successive display of the dates 11 to 19 and during this time, the first disc 3 remains stationary. For the passage of the date 19 to 20, the first disc 3 is moved 1 / 13th of a turn to display in the window the number 2 representing the ten dates starting with two, while the

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 second disc 5 is moved 2 / 13th so that the display of the number 0 appears in the window.

suivante 30, le premier disque se déplace dz de tour et le second disque de l/llème pour revenir dans la position neutre. Pour afficher la date 31, le premier disque se déplace encore de 1/13ème, ainsi la totalité des dates est affichée. Thereafter, the first disc 3 remains stationary, while the second disc moves 1 / llth of a turn to successively display the units of the dates starting with 2. To move to the date

following 30, the first disc moves dz of turn and the second disc of l / llème to return to the neutral position. To display the date 31, the first disc moves another 1 / 13th, so all the dates are displayed.

To return to the starting position, so between the 31st and the 1st, the first disc moves 1 / 13th, while the second moves 1/11 th so as to return to the date 1 which will also be centered in window 2. Subsequently, the cycle starts again in the same way. Means, of course, are provided for moving the disc when the month does not contain 31 days.

The advantage therefore of this display device is the fact that one can display in a window located on the midday-6 o'clock axis or close to this axis the dates with relatively large numbers and centered in the window.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1. Date display device with window for watch, the window being arranged along the axis 12h- 6h or close to this axis, characterized in that it comprises first and second superimposed discs of identical dimensions and concentric of which at least the upper disc is made of a transparent material, that the first disc is divided by thirteen virtual rays into as many identical sectors and it includes near its periphery the numbers 1 to 9 located on nine consecutive virtual rays , the digits 1 and 2 to the left of the next two consecutive virtual departments and the numbers 30 and 31 whose figures are located on either side of the last two virtual departments, that the second disc is divided by eleven virtual departments in as many identical sectors and it includes near its periphery the numbers 0 to 9 located to the right of the ten consecutive virtual rays, the region of the eleventh virtual ray does not ant no registration, and that the display device comprises means arranged to drive the two discs so as to successively display the dates from 1 to 31 centered in the window. <Desc / Clms Page number 11> 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc of transparent material is made of glass, or sapphire, or any other transparent material. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for driving the discs are mechanical means. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the means ensuring the drive of the two discs are controlled by electronic means. 5. Method for activating the display device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the following steps: a. the first disc is arranged so as to display the number 1 located on the virtual shelf, while the second disc is located opposite the counter with the region without writing, b. then, the first disc rotates in 24 hour periods of 1 / 13th of a turn to successively display the numbers 2 to 9, c. then, the first disc rotates 1/13 of a turn to display the number 1 located to the left of the virtual department and simultaneously the second disc <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  turns 1 / 11th to display the number 0 of the first ten, d. then the second disc rotates in 24 hour periods 1/11 of a turn to display the units 1 to 9, e. then the first disc spins 1 / 13be of a turn to display the number 2 located to the left of the virtual department and the second disc spins 2 / llth to return to 0 and thereafter it spins in 24 hour periods by 1 / 11th turn to display units 1 to 9, f. then the first disc rotates 1 / 13th of a turn to display the number 30, while the first disc rotates by l / llth of a turn to return to the position without writing and then the first disc rotates by 1/13 of a display number 31, g. finally, the first disc rotates 1 / 13th of a turn to display the number 1 located on the virtual department, and the cycle begins again. 6. Method of actuation according to claim 5, characterized in that for the months not comprising 31 days, the display device is advanced by means <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  mechanical or electronic between the last day of a month and the number 1 of the following month.