US3675411A

US3675411A - World timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3675411A
Application number: US118334A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tadashi Sakuma
Original assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date: 1970-02-27
Filing date: 1971-02-24
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11
Also published as: GB1313631A; CH563608B5; JPS4924696B1; CH282571A4

Abstract

A timepiece capable of indicating the local time for localities in two to 24 time zones based on the universal time system and having a 24 hours indicating dial to make a single revolution for each 24 hours and a locative rim indicating the geographical locations of 24 local time zones (cities). The twenty-four hours indicating dial can be independently shifted without affecting the home-base time reading or said locative rim when entering a new time zone and rotates with said locative rim during adjustment thereof.

Description

(1 1 3,675,411 451 July 11,1972

United States Patent Sakuma s4] WORLD TIMEPIECE 2,128,970 9/1933 Smyaeret 2.910.825 11/1959 [72] Inventor. Tltlashl Salmma, Matsudo, Japan 3379.004 "968 [73] Assignee: Kabmliltl Katha Debi 3,472,021

Japan Sellwehl, Tokyo.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. W n Asia-tam Examiner-laminae R. Franklin Attorney-Blunt, Moscovitz. Friedman & Kaplan 3 an F] m .D. HA UH HR 30 Foreign Application ma 0.:-

A timepiece capable of indicating the local time for localities for each 24 hour: and a locative rim indicating the geographical locations of 24 local time zones (cities). The twenty-four hours dial can be independently ahified without atfecting the home-base time reading or said locative rim when entering a new time zone and rotates with said locative rim during adjustment thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I. nm h b SLM & Uh H me M 555 U 1,926,243 Russo ...tss/4a scum, 1011mm,

PATENTEnJuL 11 m2 3,575,41 1

sum 1 or 3 PATENTEUJUL 1 1 m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 I vain mmsum 1 1 m2 SHEET 38F 3 wonu) rnvmprscr:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a world timepiece adapted to indicate digitally the local time as well as the home-base time and to be easily adjustable when entering a new time zone without disturbing the home-base time reading. There are two different types of conventional world timepieces. On the one hand, a movable bezel, on which is printed the localities or the names of principal cities in the local time zone, is mounted on the periphery of the glass. These are usually expensive to manufacture, and have an undesirable appearance. Moreover, when entering a new time zone, the equation between the new local time and the home-base time must be read on the movable bezel and said bezel must be adjusted. Every time the wearer enters another new time zone, the movable bezel must be adjusted and reset in this manner. This arrangement is extremely complicated and troublesome. On the other hand, the other type of conventional world timepiece is the Greenwich mean time (GMT) timepiece which has a GMT hand which makes a full rotation for each 24 hours. The GMT hand is positively geared to the standard minute and hour hand of the watch, the several hands moving correspondingly when the watch is manually set. Accordingly, when entering a new time zone, the GMT hand must also be shifted. In this type of watch, the movable bezel must be shifted to establish the proper time displacement between local time and GMT after the wearer resets local time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of this invention is to provide a new world timepiece simplified in arrangement and manufactured at reduced cost.

The world timepiece in accordance with the invention includes a 24 hours indicating wheel interlockingly driven with the watch movement and a locative rim indicating local time zones. Means is provided for adjusting the setting position of said 24 hours wheel interlockingly with said locative rim and for independently adjusting said 24 hours indicating wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective plan view of a world timepiece in accordance with the invention without a dial;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. I taken along lines 2 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the

line

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4fof FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the improved world timepiece embodying the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating another concrete construction of the world timepiece in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a partial expanded view of a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. I and 2, showing the components of the watch, cannon pinion 11 is turned in conjunction with the ordinary gear train through minute wheel I2, minute wheel pinion 12a, and hour wheel I3.

Referring now to FIGS. I and 4, said cannon pinion 11 en gages with intermediate wheel 14 for changing the local time indication as described below, while said pinion II is connected with minute wheel 12 at another point thereon as more particularly shown in FIG. I. Said intermediate wheel I4 engages pinion 15a, which, in turn, turns driving disk 15 which tits on said pinion 15a, said driving disc and pinion being on an axle l6 projecting from plate G. Local time finger I8 is rotatably mounted on driving disk 15 by means of an axle l7 fitted in said driving disk at the proper distance from the center of said disk I5.

The flank of one end of the said local time finger I8 is connected to an axle l9 fixed in driving disk 15 by U-shaped spring 20. By this arrangement, spring 20 is strained and keeps said flank of finger I8 pressed against the side wall of said axle I6.

Twenty-four hours indicating star wheel 21 is positioned for independent rotation by star wheel pinion 23 when hour wheel 13 is driven. Star wheel 21, adapted to make one complete rotation in each 24 hours as below, has 24 teeth 2Ia at regular intervals on its periphery so as to be able to engage with the other end of said local time finger I8. The 24 hours indicating wheel consists of star wheel 21 and twenty-four hours indicating disk 22, said 24 hours indicating disk 22 being mounted on and of a larger diameter than star wheel 21.

Referring now to FIGS. I and 6, 24 digits 220 from I to 24 are printed at regular intervals on the outer circumference on said 24 hours indicating disk 22 in order to display from one to 24 o'clock. Said 24 hours indicating star wheel 21 is incrementally turned once each hour. Between turnings, star wheel 2I is safely held in position on the root between adjoining teeth by the crest end of tooth 24a of local time jumper 24 as shown more particularly in full line in FIG. I. Said jumper settles star wheel 21 at each incremental position. A rim 25 is located at the same level as 24 hours indicating wheel 22 and adjacent to the outer circumference thereof.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 6, the annular top surface of rim 25, is imprinted with localities (main cities and nations) 25a found in different local time zones at appropriate intervals corresponding to digits 22a printed on the 24 hours indicating wheel. The internal part of said rim 25 is bent in an L-shaped under 24 hours indicating wheel 22. An internal gear is formed on the inner periphery of rim 25 below, said 24 hours indicating wheel having 24 teeth 25b at regular intervals each of which has a rectangular wall 25c and an inclined wall 25d.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, said rim 25 together with said hour wheel I3, said minute wheel pinion 120, said intermediate wheel 14 and said driving disk I5 are rotatably mounted on plate G, said parts being covered with a locative rim guard 26.

Intermediate lever 27 having two arms projecting in a different direction is rotatably mounted by an axle 28 fitted in plate G. One of said arms of intermediate lever 27 is positioned to engage each tooth 25b of said locative rim 25 as said rib is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to the position shown by phantom lines in FIG. I. The other of said arms engages with an arm 30a of local time corrector 30 which is rotatably mounted on an axle 26 fitted in the plate G. to drive the local time corrector in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. I. The local time corrector 30 is engaged by a U-shaped local time corrector spring 3| as shown in FIGS. l and 3 adapted to bias said local time corrector in the counter clockwise direction.

A corrector finger axle 32 is mounted on said local time corrector for supporting the end of a local time corrector finger 33 formed as a long and slender leaf spring.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 7, local time corrector 30 is formed with a second arm 30b having at its end a projecting part 30c which projects at an angle of about from arm 30a. The free end of finger 33 engages the side wall of the recea formed in projecting part 30c. The end of said finger 33 stretches over arm 30b to push a tooth 21a of the wheel 2 I.

Said local time corrector is also formed with an arm 30d, which is on the opposite side thereof relative to first-men tioned arm 30a. Arm 30d is aligned to turn local time corrector 30 about a fixed angle in the clockwise direction as shown by phantom lines in FIG. I against the pressure of spring 31, when arm 30d is pressed by a conventional setting lever such as setting lever 35 pivoted on axle 34 as shown in FIGS. I and 3.

A returning spring 37 is operatively cou led to setting lever 35. A flexible Iocative rim jumper 38 is positioned adjacent locative rim 25 with a projecting part 380 thereof nonnally pressed against the root between adjacent teeth 25b of rim 25 as shown by full lines in FIG. I.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, a clutch wheel 39 of conventional shape is mounted on the square portion of a winding stem 36. The clutch wheel is displaceable on said winding stem in three steps indicated in FlG. l as a, b and c; said displacement being in response to the longitudinal displacement of said winding stem.

The world timepiece according to the invention having a conventional cannon pinion ll driven by the usual watch movement (not shown), operates as follows. The minute and hour hands of the normal time indicating system are operated by an hour wheel 13 through a cannon pinion II, a minute wheel 12 and a minute wheel pinion 12a. At the same time said cannon pinion l 1 turns driving disk 15 one full revolution in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 through an intermediate wheel 14, which engages pinion ll, and a driving disk pinion 15a. The end of a local time finger l8 fixed on disk 15 catches and kicks away a tooth 21a of star wheel 21 in the counterclockwise direction once each hour. in this manner, 24 hours indicating wheel 22, joined with star wheel 21, advances the angle represented by one of the digits printed on said wheel 22.

Thus, as star wheel 21 is turned, local time jumper 24 bends and escapes as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. After the above-mentioned operation is ended, the crest part 240 of said jumper is pressed and held in the next position between adjacent teeth 21a to fix star wheel 21 in the next incremental position.

When a wearer wants to change the position of the locative rim in accordance with the present invention, he pulls winding stem 36 to the second stage at which clutch wheel 39 is located in the position a of FIG. 1. After clutch wheel 39 is located in the position a, projecting portion 394 thereof (FIG. 3) engages side wall 25c of a tooth 25b in locative rim 25. When winding stem 36 and clutch wheel 39 are turned in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1, said locative rim is kicked one tooth in the counterclockwise direction. When the locative rim 25 is turned, the end of one arm of intennediate lever 27 is engaged by a tooth 25a to turn said intermediate lever in the counterclockwise direction about pin 28 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 from the position shown by full lines in PK]. 1. At the same time, the end of the other arm of said lever 27 engages arm a of local time corrector 30 to rotate said corrector about axle 29 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. I from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in phantom lines.

Consequently, the end of local time corrector finger 33 which is held on the side wall 30c of second arm 30b of said local time corrector 30 rotates 24 hours indicating star wheel 21 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Star wheel 21 advances only one tooth to advance 24 hours indicating wheel 22 an increment equal to one of the digits 22a printed thereon.

Even though local time finger 18 is caught by a crest of a tooth 22a of star wheel 21, said finger presents no obstacle to rotation of said star wheel since finger 18 turns about axle 17 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 and escapes against the elastic force of a finger spring 20. After the mechanism is aligned to new time zone, the tooth 25b of localive rim 25 disengages intermediate lever 27. Local time cor rector 30 then rotates to return again from the position shown by phantom lines to the one shown by full lines in FIG. 1, due to the elastic pressure of locative corrector spring 31.

While local time corrector finger 33 engages the top of a tooth of said star wheel 2! said finger 33 escapes from the top of said tooth owing to its eleasticity, and returns from the position shown by phantom lines to the one shown by full lines in HO. 1. By repeating the above-mentioned action, expected time zones can be indicated in the expected position. Since 24 hours indicating wheel 22 is aligned with the locative rim, digits indicating the local time can be coordinated with the localities in the local time zone.

When only digits indicating the local time printed on the locative rim must be shifted, winding stem 36 must be pushed into the first stage to place clutch wheel 39 in the position b (solid lines) of FIG. 1. In this stage the rotation of the winding stem is not transmitted.

When the winding stem is pushed further, setting lever 35 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 around an axle 34, against the pressure of a returning spring 37. Said setting lever 35 is thus turned to the position shown by phantom lines in H6. 1 from the one shown by the dotted lines. The end of lever 35 acts to push down the third arm 30d Consequently, local time corrector finger 33 drives one tooth 21a of 24 hours indicating star wheel 21 in the clockwise direction as described above.

Thus, by repeatedly pushing the winding stem, the local time digits printed on 24 hours indicating wheel 22 can be shifted independently of the localities on the locative rim. After releasing the pressure on winding stem 36, the winding stem is reset and stabilized in the former position through the elastic pressure of returning spring 37.

When the winding stem 36 is pulled twice and placed in the third stage, clutch wheel 39 comes to the position c shown in FIG. I. In this state, the end of clutch wheel 39 is connected with minute wheel 12. When winding stem 36 is turned in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, the time is set, and at the same time, 24 hours indicating wheel 22 is rotated.

Referring now to H68. 5 and 6, a front view of two embodiments of the present invention are shown applied to otherwise conventional center second watches. The world timepiece shown in FIG. 5 indicates the local time in one local time zone through an aperture 40 positioned, for example, near the crown. The world timepiece shown in FIG. 6, indicates all local time digits in all local time zones printed on a wheel and rim through a colorless and transparent dial. The expected local time in the local time zone is shown by arrow 41 printed on the dial.

The following is a detailed explanation of the operation of a world timepiece shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the present invention.

a. Pull out winding stem 36 two steps to the third position, adjust the hour and minute hands according to home-base time of the wearer.

b. Set a winding stem 36 in the second position (clutch wheel 39 being in the position a in FIG. 1), and adjust locality of wearers home-base time (for example, London, in FIG. 5) to shift the name of said locality into the aperture 40.

c. Pushing winding stem 36 to turn 24 hours indicating wheel 22 so that the digit directed by the hour hand indicating the home-base time, appears in aperture 40a.

. When a wearer moves into a new time zone, he must adjust winding stem 36 to the second position and set the place name of the new time zone in aperture 40. Since said indicating wheel 22 follows the locative rim as abovementioned, the local time in new time zone is indicated in an aperture 40a. There is no motion of the hour and minute hands indicating the home-base time so that said hour and minute hands always indicate home-base time. The 24 hours indicating wheel 22 is turned at one tooth each hour, so that the change of local time is visible through an aperture 400.

When the wearer moves to still a further new time zone, all that is required is a repetition of the operation explained in d above.

On the other hand, the following is a detailed explanation of a world timepiece shown in FIG. 6.

a. Pull out twice winding stem 36 to the third position, and adjust the hour and minute hands according to the homebase time of the wearer. (See TOKYO 22:09 in FIG. 6)

b. Push winding stem 36 to turn the 24 hours indicating wheel 22, to position the digits directed by the hour hand indicating the home-base time in the position of the 10- cality of the home-base time zone. See "TOKYO" and "22 in FIG. 6)

The local time in 24 world-famous cities can now be read. Moreover, since the 24 hours indicating wheel is turned once each hour, the change of local time in said world-famous cities can be read.

c. When the wearer moves into a new time zone, the local time in the new time zone can be read without any adjustments. However, the following adjustment makes the new local time easier to read. Pulling winding stem 36 once to the second position, align the place name of the new local time zone to arrow 41 by turning locative rim 25. The 24 hours indicating wheel 22 follows the movement of said rim 25, so that the relation of said wheel 22 and said rim 25 cannot be disturbed.

The following are the advantages of a world timepiece in accordance with the present invention as described above.

i. By putting a locative rim 25 and the 24 hours indicating wheel 22 under a glass, the appearance of the timepiece is made simpler than usual world timepieces. The cost for manufacturing said timepiece is cut to lower than that of the known timepieces.

ii. The alignment and operation of the timepiece are easier than that of the usual world timepieces which must be set afier determining the difference in time.

iii. The local time setting, the first position of the hour hand indicating home-base time, need not be disturbed. Moreover, once the local time is set, a change in the local time can be read thereafter.

iv. In accordance with the construction particularly shown in FIG. 6, the local standard times in 24 world-famous cities are indicated, and furthermore the changes of the local times can be read without any questions. Even if the wearer moves into a new time zone, there is no need of some operations, therefore the timepiece is very convenient in practical use.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

l. A world timepiece comprising a watch movement; a 24 hours indicating wheel interlockingly driven with said watch movement; a locative rim having on an outer surface thereof indicia of local time zones; and means for selectively adjusting the setting position of said 24 hours indicating wheel interlockingly with said locative rim, and independently thereof.

2. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said 24 hours indicating wheel and said locative rim are each formed with top surfaces bearing said 24 hours indication and said local time zones indicia, respectively, the top surface of said locative rim being substantially annular in shape and surrounding said 24 hours indicating wheel top surface.

3. A world timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said 24 hours indicating wheel top surface and said locative rim top surface lie substantially in a single plane.

4. A world timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means includes 24 teeth projecting at regular intervals from the internal periphery of said annular locative rim; winding stem means for longitudinal displacement between a plurality of predetermined positions; first coupling means for coupling said winding stem means and said locative rim when said winding stem means is positioned in a first of said positions for rotating said locative rim an incremental angular distance corresponding to one of said teeth in response to the rotation of said winding stem means in a predetermined direction; second coupling means for cou ling said locative rim to said 24 hours indicating wheel for t e incremental rotation of said 24 hours indicating wheel in response to the rotation of said locative rim.

5. A world timepiece as recited in claim 4, wherein said second coupling means includes an intermediate lever rotatably mounted for engagement by one of said locative rim teeth to rotate said intermediate lever in response to the rotation of said locative rim; a rotatably mounted local time corrector having a first arm positioned for engagement by said intermediate lever during the rotation thereof for the rotation of said local time corrector; a 24 hours indicating star wheel coupled to said 24 hours indicating wheel and formed with 24 teeth spaced at regular intervals on the outer periphery thereof; a local time corrector finger formed of an elastic material, said local time corrector being formed with a second arm having said local time corrector finger mounted thereon and positioned so that said finger engages a tooth of said 24 hours indicating star wheel to rotate said 24 hours indicating star wheel and said 24 hours indicating wheel in the same direction as said locative rim an incremental distance represented by one of said star wheel teeth in response to the rotation of said local time corrector, and therefore of said locative rim.

6. A world timepiece as recited in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes means for independently adjusting said 24 hours indicating wheel including a rotatably mounted setting lever; third coupling means for coupling said setting lever and said winding stem means when said winding stem means is positioned at a second of said predetennined positions so that said setting lever is rotatable in response to the longitudinal inward displacement of said winding stern means from said second position; said local time corrector being formed with a third arm positioned for engagement by said setting lever during the rotation thereof for the rotation of said local time corrector, which in turn, rotates said 24 hours in dicating wheel through said local time corrector finger and said 24 hours indicating star wheel.

7. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means includes means for independently adjusting said 24 hours indicating wheel including a setting lever; winding stem means longitudinally displaceabie between a plurality of predetermined locations; third coupling means for coupling said setting lever and said winding stern means so that said setting lever is rotated when said winding stem means is longitudinally inwardly displaced from a second of said predetermined locations; a rotatably mounted local time corrector formed with a third arm positioned for engagement by said setting lever during the rotation of said setting lever for rotating said local time corrector; a local time corrector finger formed of elastic material; a 24 hours indicating star wheel coupled with said 24 hours indicating wheel for rotation therewith, said 24 hours indicating star wheel being formed with 24 teeth regularly spaced along the periphery thereof, said local time corrector being formed with a second arm sup porting said local time corrector finger in position to engage One of said 24 hours indicating star wheel teeth for the rotation of said 24 hours indicating star wheel and said 24 hours indicating wheel an incremental distance represented by one of said star wheel teeth in response to the rotation of said local time corrector, and therefore the displacement of said winding stem means from said second position.

8. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said watch includes a dial having an aperture therethrough in regis tration with said 24 hours indications and said local time zones indicia, for providing a visual indication of a portion of said 24 hours indicating wheel and said locative rim.

9. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said timepiece includes a casing means adapted to permit the viewing of the entire printed face of said 24 hours indicating wheel and of said locative rim, and including a transparent dial extending over said 24 hours indicating wheel and said locative rim.

i l i II C

Claims

1. A world timepiece comprising a watch movement; a 24 hours indicating wheel interlockingly driven with said watch movement; a locative rim having on an outer surface thereof indicia of local time zones; and means for selectively adjusting the setting position of said 24 hours indicating wheel interlockingly with said locative rim, and independently thereof.

4. A world timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means includes 24 teeth projecting at regular intervals from the internal periphery of said annular locative rim; winding stem means for longitudinal displacement between a plurality of predetermined positions; first coupling means for coupling said winding stem means and said locative rim when said winding stem means is positioned in a first of said positions for rotating said locative rim an incremental angular distance corresponding to one of said teeth in response to the rotation of said winding stem means in a predetermined direction; and second coupling means for coupling said locative rim to said 24 hours indicating wheel for the incremental rotation of said 24 hours indicating wheel in response to the rotation of said locative rim.

6. A world timepiece as recited in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes means for independently adjusting said 24 hours indicating wheel including a rotatably mounted setting lever; third coupling means for coupling said setting lever and said winding stem means when said winding stem means is positioned at a second of said predetermined positions so that said setting lever is rotatable in response to the longitudinal inward displacement of said winding stem means from said second position; said local time correcTor being formed with a third arm positioned for engagement by said setting lever during the rotation thereof for the rotation of said local time corrector, which in turn, rotates said 24 hours indicating wheel through said local time corrector finger and said 24 hours indicating star wheel.

7. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means includes means for independently adjusting said 24 hours indicating wheel including a setting lever; winding stem means longitudinally displaceable between a plurality of predetermined locations; third coupling means for coupling said setting lever and said winding stem means so that said setting lever is rotated when said winding stem means is longitudinally inwardly displaced from a second of said predetermined locations; a rotatably mounted local time corrector formed with a third arm positioned for engagement by said setting lever during the rotation of said setting lever for rotating said local time corrector; a local time corrector finger formed of elastic material; a 24 hours indicating star wheel coupled with said 24 hours indicating wheel for rotation therewith, said 24 hours indicating star wheel being formed with 24 teeth regularly spaced along the periphery thereof, said local time corrector being formed with a second arm supporting said local time corrector finger in position to engage one of said 24 hours indicating star wheel teeth for the rotation of said 24 hours indicating star wheel and said 24 hours indicating wheel an incremental distance represented by one of said star wheel teeth in response to the rotation of said local time corrector, and therefore the displacement of said winding stem means from said second position.

8. A world timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said watch includes a dial having an aperture therethrough in registration with said 24 hours indications and said local time zones indicia, for providing a visual indication of a portion of said 24 hours indicating wheel and said locative rim.