US3599421A - Watch with manually adjustable time-zone-setting mechanism - Google Patents

Watch with manually adjustable time-zone-setting mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3599421A
US3599421A US860712A US3599421DA US3599421A US 3599421 A US3599421 A US 3599421A US 860712 A US860712 A US 860712A US 3599421D A US3599421D A US 3599421DA US 3599421 A US3599421 A US 3599421A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
wheel
stem
watch
calendar
gear
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US860712A
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English (en)
Inventor
Erich Werner Walker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bulova Watch Co Inc
Original Assignee
Bulova Watch Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bulova Watch Co Inc filed Critical Bulova Watch Co Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3599421A publication Critical patent/US3599421A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G04B19/243—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator
    • G04B19/247—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars characterised by the shape of the date indicator disc-shaped
    • G04B19/25—Devices for setting the date indicators manually
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G04B19/226—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces three-dimensionally shaped, e.g. terrestrial globes, cylinders and the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G04B19/23—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces by means of additional hands or additional pairs of hands
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/24—Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators, i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/004—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means having several simultaneous functions, e.g. stopping or starting the clockwork or the hands
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/02—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means by making use of the winding means
    • G04B27/026—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means by making use of the winding means for several clockworks or pairs of hands and/or supplementary functions

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to timepieces; and more particularly to a watch whose local time hand may be adjusted incrementally to effect time zone changes.
  • Greenwich mean time is the local mean time of the Greenwich meridian (longitude The difference between standard time in any zone and GMT is equal to the longitude of the standard meridian of the zone expressed in hours (I hour for each GMT is expressed on a 24 hour or universal scale, whereas local time is generally indicated on a l2- hour scale, the 24-hour daily period being divided into am. and p.m. 12-hour intervals.
  • Watches are known that are capable of concurrently displaying both GMT and local time, which watches in addition to having the usual hour, minute and sweep-second hands, include a GMT hand which makes a full revolution per 24-hour period.
  • Watches are also known which are capable of incremental adjustment of the local hour hand to effect forward or backward correction thereof by one or more hours, so that the local hour setting may be made to correspond with a given time zone.
  • a general purpose crown is provided to manually set the hour and minute hands in the usual manner.
  • the watch further includes a date calendar indicator, an alarm mechanism, or other auxiliary indicators operated by the timepiece motor, additional crowns or manual operation members on the outside of the case are ordinarily required to effect adjustment ofthe auxiliary indicators.
  • a watch equipped with three or more crowns is disadvantageous, and not only because this number of external crowns is unattractive from the commercial and aesthetic standpoint.
  • Each crown is attached to a stem extending into the case so that in a waterproof watch, special sealing gaskets are required in conjunction with each stem.
  • a watch having three crowns and stems and other elements as sociated therewith is excessively complicated and expensive, as well as more difficult to service and maintain.
  • a watch having a general purpose crown for the usual adjustment of the hands and a special purpose crown to effect, in one axial position, a manual adjustment of a time-zone-setting mechanism for the local hour hand only, and, in another axial position, an adjustment of a date calendar or other indicator.
  • the same crown may be used in one axial position to set the hands and in another axial position to incrementally set the local hour hand to a desired time zone.
  • a watch in accordance with the invention may have two hour hands, one hand being permanently coupled to the drive motor (electronic or mechanical) to indicate either local time at a home base or GMT, and a special, incrementally adjustable hour hand to indicate local time in a given zone.
  • This special our hand may also be permanently coupled to the motor by way of differential gears or the like, or the watch may be equipped to bring about a temporary disengagement of this special hour hand and the drive means therefor.
  • the coupling between the motor and the hour hand or hands may be temporarily disconnected when setting the hands.
  • a single hour hand for the watch is sufficient, which single hand may be adjusted in accordance with the time zone the wearer enters.
  • another incrementally adjustable indicator may be provided to indicate by how many hours local time differs from the time indicated by the home base or GMT hand, or how many hours are to be added to or subtracted from local time, in order to determine home base time or GMT.
  • a watch in accordance with the invention has special advantages in an arrangement wherein the setting stem serves in one operative position to effect incremental adjustment ofthe hour hand and in another position to set a calendar indicator provided with quick-set means to advance a date indicator ring in that, under certain circumstances, after a back setting of the incrementally adjustable hour hand is effected to set it for another time zone, the hour hand may display midnight twice, as a consequence of which the date ring is moved twice within one or a few hours instead of once. In such rare instances, this incorrect indication of date may be corrected quickly and without difficulty by reason of the 'quick-set device.
  • both setting functions i.e., calendar and time zone adjustment
  • a single setting arrangement makes possible the manufacture of a modern mechanical watch of the winding or self-winding type, or of the electronic type provided with a date indicator and a time zone adjustment mechanism with only two setting crowns.
  • one crown serves as a general purpose crown to adjust the hands and also, in the case ofa spring-wound watch, to effect winding
  • the other crown serves as a special purpose crown to allow adjustment of the date ring and also possibly a day ring as well as to effect incremental time zone adjustment ofthe local hour hand.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a wrist watch in accordance with the invention in a first setting position
  • FIG. 2 is the same as FIG, 1 except that the watch is in a second setting position
  • FIG. 3 which is in a scale enlarged with respect to FIGS. 1
  • FIGS. I and 2 A general purpose crown 3, shown in FIGS. I and 2, and its associated mechanism (not shown) serve to set the hour and minute hands of the watch in the usual manner.
  • the main spring, the escapement and other conventional components ofthe watch which are well known to those skilled in the art, are omitted. Only those elements of the gear train are shown which are relevant to either a calendar device or to a time-zone-setting mechanism.
  • the watch is also provided with a special purpose crown 4, attached to the end of stem 5, which crown makes possible two distinct adjustments.
  • the first adjustment which is illustrated in FIG. I, is to advance the calendar ring.
  • the second adjustment which is illustrated in FIG. 2, is to effect incremental adjustment of the local time hour hand?
  • i Stem 5 as best seen in FIG. 3, is provided with a neck portion 6 of reduced diameter and a square-shaped portion 7.
  • Loosely fitting on stem portion 7 is a wheel 8 having a square hole whereby stem portion 7 may be shifted axially with respect to wheel 8 but cannot rotate relative thereto.
  • a setting lever 11 (note FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided, the lever having two arms 11A and 11B and being rotatable about a pivot pin 10.
  • Arm 11A of lever 11 carries a pin 9 which is received within the groove defined by neck portion 6 of the stem and is movable therewith to cause the lever to swing.
  • the free end of the other arm 11B of the lever presses against the periphery of a slide plate 12 which is rotatable about a fixed pivot point 15.
  • First wheel 16 drives a second wheel 17 whose axle 18 passes through an opening in slide plate 12 and is affixed to a third wheel 19.
  • a flat spring 20, which is bent into a configuration, is held on the surface of third wheel 19 by several spaced pins 21, which are disposed on alternate sides of the spring whereby the spring is trapped therebyv
  • One end of spring 20 is extended to provide a finger 20A for engaging a tooth 25 on the inner periphery of calendar 24 and to move this ring in a stepwise manner.
  • a so-called date lock 26 is provided which is biased by a spring 27.
  • Lock 26 is pivotally mounted and is arranged to enter the space between adjacent teeth 25 in the calendar ring.
  • Carried on slide plate 12 on an axle 28 is a fourth wheel 29 which rotates freely thereon.
  • Third wheel 19 and fourth wheel 29 are permanently in meshing engagement.
  • a wheel 31, which intermeshes with a wheel 33, is loosely mounted in axle 28 ofthe fourth wheel 29.
  • a sector-shaped driver 30 is fixed to wheel 29. When rotating wheel 29, driver 30 is caused to abut the end of an arc-shaped bar 32, whereby wheel 31 is moved thereby.
  • Driver 30 and bar 32 allow for a relatively large play. As will be later seen. this is ofimportance when switching one ofthe hour hands.
  • Wheel 33 which may be designated the time zone hour wheel, is fixed to a tube 34 carrying the adjustable local time hour hand 36. Attached to the lower end of tube 34 is a star wheel 35. This star wheel is engaged by the hook-shaped end ofa bent spring 38, held by hour wheel 37. Hour wheel 37 is driven in the conventional manner by a reduction gear train not shown) whose pinion meshes with the toothing at the lower end of a minute tube 40 which at its upper end carries a minute hand 39.
  • Hour heel 37 intermeshes with an intermediate hour wheel 42.
  • the intermediate hour wheel 42 is combined with a pinion 43 which acts to transfer rotation of the hour wheel 42 .toa second hour wheel 44 mounted on a tube 45 to which is fixed the GMT hand 46 which is not adjustable.
  • the ratio of gearing between the hour wheels 37 and 44 is selected so that GMT hour hand 46 turns only halfas fast as local time hour hand 36.
  • the GMT hand makes a full revolution in 24 hours, whereas the local time hand completes a revolution in 12 hours.
  • the second hand 50, the second hand axle 49, as well as the supporting tube 48 therefor The various hands rotating with respect to a watch dial 51.
  • a rotation of stem 5 by crown 4 causes wheel 8 on the stem to drive wheels 16, 17, 19 and 29 as well as the drive device constituted by section 30 and bar 32. Consequently, the star wheel 35 is rotated until the end ofa spring 38 jumps into the next gap.
  • rotation of star wheel 31 and hence of hand 36 may be carried out in either direction and the local time hour hand 36 may be shifted incrementally by one or several hours according to the existing time difference when traveling from one time zone to another.
  • a calendar watch provided with an hour hand, an insidetoothed calendar ring, motor means to operate said hour hand and said ring, and manually operated selective means for incrementally adjusting said hour hand to a particular time zone or for setting said ring, said selective means comprising:
  • a slide plate pivoted on a fixed axis having a first gear wheel rotatably mounted thereon, said first gear wheel meshing with said stem wheel in both said first and second positions of said stern, said slide plate carrying both gearwheel-drive means to advance said calendar ring and a drive wheel meshing with said gearwheel-drivc means to adjust said hour hand, and
  • C. means opcratively coupling said stem to said slide platc whereby when said stem is moved to said first position said plate is caused to slide to a position in which said drive wheel engages a'lse'cond gear whe'elso coupled to said hour hand that its rotation results. in an incremental adjustment thereof without interrupting its normal drive, and when said stem is moved to said second position said plate is caused to slide to a position in which said gearwheel-drive means engages said calendar ring to effect setting thereof.
  • said means operatively coupling said stem to said slide plate is constituted by a double-arm lever the free end of one arm cooperating withsaid stem, the free end of the other arm cooperating with the slide plate, such that when pulling out the stem, the slide plate is swung about said fixed axis against the force of a spring in a direction toward the center of the watch movement, whereby said gear-wheel-drive means is disengaged from said calendar ring and said drive wheel is brought into mesh with said second gear wheel in order to adjust said hour hand.
  • said gear-wheeldrive means includes a third gear wheel mounted on an axle which carries a driving member cooperating with the inside toothing of said calendar ring.
  • said driving member for adjusting said calendar ring is constituted by a flat spring having a free end which pushes against a stop pin when said member acts to move said calendar ring, whereas the free end is lifted by the teeth of said calendar'ring and jumps over them when said calendar ring is advanced automatically in I normal operation of the drive means therefor.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
US860712A 1969-03-11 1969-09-24 Watch with manually adjustable time-zone-setting mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3599421A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH360669A CH503304A (de) 1969-03-11 1969-03-11 Uhr mit einem beim Übertritt in eine andere Zeitzone schrittweise verstellbaren Stundenzeiger

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3599421A true US3599421A (en) 1971-08-17

Family

ID=4259598

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US860712A Expired - Lifetime US3599421A (en) 1969-03-11 1969-09-24 Watch with manually adjustable time-zone-setting mechanism

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3599421A (sv)
CH (2) CH503304A (sv)
DE (2) DE7002292U (sv)
FR (1) FR2034804B1 (sv)
GB (1) GB1289756A (sv)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766730A (en) * 1970-06-01 1973-10-23 Suwa Seikosha Kk Universal watch
US3844107A (en) * 1972-07-24 1974-10-29 Ebauches Sa Timepiece
JPS5472069U (sv) * 1977-10-31 1979-05-22
US5524102A (en) * 1995-03-14 1996-06-04 Industrial Technology Research Institute Global timepiece
DE19815072A1 (de) * 1998-04-05 1999-10-07 Int Watch Co Iwc Anzeigestellvorrichtung für eine Uhr
US20080056070A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2008-03-06 Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Time counting assembly with a display for world time zones
US20090016174A1 (en) * 2005-03-06 2009-01-15 Lange Uhren Gmbh Watch

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH657007GA3 (sv) * 1984-08-23 1986-08-15 Tissot Sa
DE19758080A1 (de) * 1997-12-30 1999-07-01 Hermle Franz & Sohn Gmbh & Co Zeigerwerk für eine Uhr

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3318085A (en) * 1964-12-11 1967-05-09 Lee Shao-Tang Setting means for universal timepiece
US3421311A (en) * 1966-03-30 1969-01-14 Bulova Watch Co Inc Actuating mechanism for timepiece date indicator

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3318085A (en) * 1964-12-11 1967-05-09 Lee Shao-Tang Setting means for universal timepiece
US3421311A (en) * 1966-03-30 1969-01-14 Bulova Watch Co Inc Actuating mechanism for timepiece date indicator

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766730A (en) * 1970-06-01 1973-10-23 Suwa Seikosha Kk Universal watch
US3844107A (en) * 1972-07-24 1974-10-29 Ebauches Sa Timepiece
JPS5472069U (sv) * 1977-10-31 1979-05-22
JPS5820947Y2 (ja) * 1977-10-31 1983-05-02 セイコーエプソン株式会社 時計の切換機構
US5524102A (en) * 1995-03-14 1996-06-04 Industrial Technology Research Institute Global timepiece
DE19815072A1 (de) * 1998-04-05 1999-10-07 Int Watch Co Iwc Anzeigestellvorrichtung für eine Uhr
US20090016174A1 (en) * 2005-03-06 2009-01-15 Lange Uhren Gmbh Watch
US8036066B2 (en) * 2005-03-06 2011-10-11 Lange Uhren Gmbh Watch
US20080056070A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2008-03-06 Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Time counting assembly with a display for world time zones
US7639568B2 (en) * 2006-04-12 2009-12-29 Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Time counting assembly with a display for world time zones

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH360669A4 (sv) 1970-10-30
GB1289756A (sv) 1972-09-20
FR2034804B1 (sv) 1974-03-01
DE7002292U (de) 1971-05-06
CH503304A (de) 1970-10-30
DE2003044A1 (de) 1970-09-17
FR2034804A1 (sv) 1970-12-18

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