US3765162A

US3765162A - Watch indicating many times

Info

Publication number: US3765162A
Application number: US00223101A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Ikegami; T Ushiyama; M Shinohara
Original assignee: Suma Seikosha K K
Current assignee: Suma Seikosha K K; SUMA SEIKOSHA K K JA
Priority date: 1971-02-05
Filing date: 1972-02-03
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16
Also published as: CH604229B5; GB1380492A; HK43176A; DE2205637B2; DE2205637A1; FR2124469B1; CH156372A4; FR2124469A1

Abstract

A watch having a plurality of time displays includes a first time display having a first indicating member operated by the watch to indicate the time and a second time display having a second indicating member to indicate another time. An adjustment means for adjusting the time displays has one operable position for simultaneously adjusting the first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting the second indicating member independently of the first indicating member.

Description

United States Patent 1 [111 3,765,162

Ushiyama et a1. Oct. 16, 1973 [54] WATCH INDICATING MANY TIMES 3,540,207 11/1970 Kee1er 58/23 R [75] lnvemms: Taka" Ushiyama, Okayai Masat 3,653,204 4/1972 mi 232.; Shinohara; Tflshilmma Ikegami, 2,777,281 1/ 1957 Berry 58/425 x both of Chino, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suma Seikosha, primary Examiner Richard Wilkinson Tokyo, Japan Assistant ExaminerEdith C. Jackmon 22 Filed; Feb, 3 1972 Attorney-Robert E. Burns et a1.

[21] Appl. No.: 223,101

[57] ABSTRACT 30 Fore A licatio Prio Data 1 F b 5 n nty 4 42 4 A watch having a plurality of time displays includes a e 9 l apan 6/ 5 first time display having a first indicating member p erated by the watch to indicate the time and a second [52] US. Cl 58/425, 58/433328; time display having a second indicating member to dicate another time. An adjustment means for adjustg gf 'i' G04b 19/22 2 21 ing the time displays has one Operable position for si- 1 1e 0 58 85 multaneously adjusting the first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting the second indicating member independently of the [56] References cued first indicating member.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,611,703 10/1971 Borel 58/425 8 Cl aims, 4 Drawing Figures I2 2 1117 i. I 1 i Z 1 l I F f w 28 I8 I6 20 26 24 I0 WATCH INDICATING MANY TIMES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a watch having a plurality of time displays and more particularly to a watch having two hour hands whereby one hour hand indicates the local time and a second hour hand indicates the hour in another time zone. Thus the watch is provided with the normal second, minute, and hour hand to indicate local time in a normal manner. However, a fourth hand is provided to indicate the hour in any other desired locality. These types of watches are convenient for travellers, for example, in that they will be able to read the local time and at the same time having an indication of the time in their normal place of residence.

I-Ieretofore, one known watch of this type has employed two stems for correction the time, that is one stem for correcting the local time and another stem for correcting the hour hand which indicates the hour in another time zone.

In other known prior art watches, adjusting the second hour hand would interfer with the setting of the first hour hand so that if the time was set exactly when leaving the home locality, the necessity of having to adjust the second hour hand would result in introducing an inaccuracy in the time shown on the watch.

Another prior art watch is known wherein an hour hand is adjusted or advanced without interfering with the motor drive mechanism for the watch or with the minute hand. However, such conventional watch utilizes a complicated clutch device having a large number of gears and levers.

In other known watches, when the hour and minute hand indicating local time are adjusted, the second hour hand indicating the hour in another time zone is not adjusted. According to the present invention, when the hour and minute hand indicating local time is adjusted, the second hour hand indicating the hour in another time zone is also adjusted, However, when correcting the second hour hand, the watch continues to run without interference or interruption of the first hour hand and minute hand so that there is no lost time on the watch when the adjustment of the second hour hand is being made.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a watch having one time display indicating local time and another time display indicating the time in another time zone wherein means are provided for adjusting the second time display without disturbing the setting of the hour and minute hand constituting the first time display and wherein further means are provided for simultaneously adjusting the hour and minute hand constituting the first time display and the hour hand constituting the second time display.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of prior art devices by providing a watch which may be easily and readily adjusted by applying a simple and readily manufacturable mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cluch mechanism for a watch which permits a plurality of time displays to rotate simultaneously but which also permits adjustment of one of said time displays relative to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of examples of the invention, appended claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a clutch mechanism for a watch in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of a correcting mecha nism which is used in combination with the clutch mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. a

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a clutch mechanism for a watch in accordance with-another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to the drawings FIG. 1 shows a cannon pinion 10 on which a first hour gear bushing 12 is disposed. The first hour gear bushing 12 carries a first hour hand 14 to indicate the hour in the locality where the watch is being used. A minute hand and second hand are indicated at 15 and 17 respectively. A first hour gear 16 is affixed to the first hour gear bushing 12. The first hour gear 16 meshes with the pinion of a minute gear 18 whereby the latter and the cannon pinion 10 function similarly to a minute gear train used in a conventional watch. The drive from the power source and a frictional clutch may also be conventional although it is to be understood that the structure of the present invention may be used and combined with any watch motor or any motion work train structure.

Disposed about the first hour hand gear bushing 12 is the second hour gear 20 on which a second hour hand 22 is mounted. A plurality of detents in the form of teeth 24 (12 in the illustrated embodiment) are provided on the first hour bushing 12. A jumper spring 26 having a generally arcuate configuration has one end portion 28 secured to the second hour gear 20 and has another end portion 30 having a projecting part which biasingly engages the teeth 24 on the first hour gear bushing 12. The teeth 24 on the first hour gear bushing 12 and the jumper spring 26 on the second hour gear 20 cooperate to define a clutch means to permit adjustment of the second hour hand 22 relative to the first hour hand 14.

As previously indicated the first hour gear 16 meshes with the pinion of the minute gear 18. Accordingly, since the jumper spring 26 provides a drive connection between the first hour gear bushing 12 and the second hour gear 20, when the watch is driven by a motor or when the hands setting mechanism is operated, the first hour gear 16, first hour gear bushing 12, first hour hand 14, second hour gear 20, and second hour hand 22 will be driven as a unit. Thus, in normal operation, the second hour hand 22 will rotate with the first hour hand 14 in fixed relationship thereto.

In order to adjust the second hour hand 22 relative to the first hour hand 14, a second hour correction transmitting gear 32 is provided. This latter gear meshes with the second hour gear 20. Thus rotation of the second hour hand correction transmission gear 32 will rotate the second hour gear 20 and the second hour hand 22 relative to the first hour gear 16 and first hour hand 14. The reason for this is that the first hour gear 16 is fixed or prevented from rotation due to engagement with the minute gear 18 and the motor which drives the latter. Accordingly, as second hour gear is rotated by the second hand hour correction transmitting gear 32, the end portion 30 of jumper spring 26 passes over the teeth 24 on the first hour gear bushing 12, as the end portion 30 of the jumper spring 26 flexes radially outwardly. Thus, where there are 12 teeth 24 provided, advancement of second hour gear 20 so that the jumper spring end portion 30 passes over one tooth 24 will advance the second hour hand 22-30 or 1 hour relative to the first hour hand 14.

It is to be understood that alternatively the teeth 24 may have a configuration other than that shown in FIG. 2. Also, instead of l2 teeth, 24 teeth may be employed. In this latter case, the second hour hand 22 would be corrected in 30 minutes increments rather than 1 hour increments. It is also to be understood that the jumper spring 26 may take on a configuration other than that shown in FIG. 2.

It will be seen that the second hour hand 22 is advanced in increments as the jumper spring 26 engages successive teeth 24. Because of the bias of the jumper spring 26 against the teeth 24, the second hour gear 20 need only be advanced a portion of its incremental travel (e.g., 70 percent) before the end portion 30 of jumper spring 26 begins to engage the incline on the next tooth 24 whereupon the second hour gear 20 will automatically jumpinto placeas the end portion of jumper spring 26 biasingly seeks a resting place between adjacent teeth 24.

It is possible to provide for advancement of the second hour gear 20 in both rotational directions. Since a FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein there is provided a cannon pinion 50 about which a first hour bear bushing 52 is disposed. The first hour gear bushing 52 carries a first hour hand 54 to indicate the hour in the locality where the watch is being used. A minute hand and second hand are indicated at 55 and 57 respectively. A first hour hand gear 56 is affixed to the first hour gear bushing 52. The first hour gear 56 meshes with the pinion of a minute gear (not shown in FIG. 4 but similar to the minute gear 18 shown in FIG. 1) whereby the latter and the cannon pinion 50 function similarly to a minute gear train used in a conventional watch.

Disposed about the first hour gear bushing 52 is the second hour gear 58 on which a second hour hand 60 is mounted. The second hour gear 58 carries a plurality of pins 62 which project slightly beyond the lower surjumper spring is employed between the first and second hour gears, a brake is not applied to the normal movement.

One embodiment of a mechanism for adjusting the second hour hand 22 is shown in FIG. 3. An operating stem 34 which protrudes outside of the casing of the watches has three operating positions. In one position, the stem 34 is rotatable to wind a spring. In the second position the stem 34 is operable to adjust a calendar wheel 36 and to adjust the second hour hand 22, depending in which direction the stem 34 is rotated. In the third position, the stem 34 is operable to adjust the first hour hand 14 and the minute hand 15. The stem 34 is shown in the first position in FIG. 3.

Rotation of the stem 34 rotates setting gear 42 which in turn drives gears 44 and 46 mounted on a lever 48.

When the stem 34 is pulled out from the position shown in FIG. 3, a flange 50 on the stem 34 rocks levers 51 and 52 to free lever 38 so that the latter may be freely rocked clockwise or counterclockwise about pivot 39. Accordingly, when the stem 34 is rotated, setting gear 42 will rotate gear 40.

When gear 46 is rotated in a clockwise direction, gear 46 will engage correction gear 40 to initially pivot the lever 38 counterclockwise about pivot 39 until correction gear 40 engages second hand hour correction transmitting gear 32 to thereby adjust the second hour hand 22 as previously described.

When gear 46 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, gear 46 will engage correction gear 40 to initially pivot the lever clockwise about pivot 39 until correction gear engages calendar wheel 36 whereupon continued rotation of correction gear 40 will rotate calendar wheel 36 to thereby adjust the calendar date exhibited on the watch.

face of the second hour gear 58. 12 holes 64 are provided in the first hour gear 56 at circumferentially spaced intervals of 30. The holes 64 and pins 62 are disposed along the same circumferential diameter so that the pins 62 are in general alignment with the holes 64. A spring 66 disposed between a flange 68 on the first hour gear bushing 52 and the second hour gear 58 urges the second hour gear 58 and the first hour gear 56 towards one another in a biasing relationship so that the lower ends of the pins 62 normally project into the holes 64 to provide a driving connection between the first hour hand 54 and the second hour hand 60.

It will be observed in FIG. 4 that the lower ends of the pins 62 are rounded or tapered. Thus, it will be apparent that when the second hour gear 58 is rotated by a correcting transmitting gear 70, the second hour gear 58 will be displaced or elevated slightly against the bias of spring 66 so that the pins 62 will come out of their respective holes 64 until the second hour gear 58 has been rotated thirty degrees whereupon the pins 62 will fall into the next set of corresponding holes 64. In this regard it will be observed that during rotation of the second hour gear 58 as just described, the second hour gear 58 will be displaced slightly axially against the bias if spring 66 as the turning force applied to the second hour gear 58 causes the sloping ends of the pins 62 to engage the edges of the holes 64 thereupon ride out of the respective hole 64.

Thus it will be seen that the second hour hand 60 may be adjusted without affecting the position of the first hour hand 54. On the other hand, when the first hour hand 54 is adjusted, the second hour hand 60 is rotated therewith because the spring 66 continues to urge the pins 62 into the openings 64.

Any number of pins 62 may be provided, for example one, three or 12. Also, alternatively, the pins 62 may be in the first hour gear 56 and the holes 64 in the second hour gear 58.

The provisions of a mechanism for simultaneously correcting the first hour hand and the second hour hand and for correcting the second hour hand independently of the first hour hand by using only a single stem results in a watch having an attractive appearance, reduced number of component parts, and a simplified case structure.

- Correction of the first hour hand wherein the second hour hand is also rotated encompasses correction of the minute hand. Accordingly, it is necessary that the stem be rotatable in both directions. However, when the second hour hand is corrected, it is not necessary that the stem be rotatable in both directions to effect such correction. Accordingly, when the stem is in position to correct the second hour hand, provision is made so that when the stem is rotated in a direction opposite to that used for correcting the second hand, a calender gear may be corrected. Thus various corrections may be effected by a single stem including winding of a spring in a watch which is driven by a spring.

The clutch mechanism of the present invention may be used with a watch having a 24 hour dial rather than a 12 hour dial. It can also be applied to a watch having a single hour hand fitted to the second hour gear 20.

The present invention may be applied to an electronic watch having a quartz crystal oscillator. A quartz crystal watch is a high precision watch, and the first and second hour hands are rarely corrected at the same time. Since the second hour hand is more often corrected relative to the first hour hand, the operating stem may be provided with three steps. When the stem is longitudinally pulled out to the second step, the second hour hand is corrected. When the stem is longitudinally pulled out to the third step, the first hour hand is corrected. The click from the first step to the second step may be made weak whereas the click from the second step to the third step may be made strong.

in a high precision watch such as a quartz crystal watch or tuning fork watch, a device is normally provided for adjusting the second hand. Where the stem is placed in a hand-setting position, the second hand can be stopped by the operation of the second hand adjusting mechanism. The present invention may be employed with a watch employing the aforementioned mechanism. In such a case, only the hour hand is adjusted independently without interrupting the continued movement of the second hand which may have been previously set precisely before entering the new time zone. I

What is claimed is:

1. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated .by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, said connecting means comprising coaxial first and second rotating members operatively connected respectively with said first and second time display means, one of said rotating members having twelve detents and the other of said rotating members having at least one clutch means engageable selectively with said detents and spring means rotating with and acting between said first rotating member and said second rotating member to urge said clutch means into engagement with said detents to couple said rotating members for rotating together, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said spring means permitting said clutch means to ride over from one detent to another for said adjustment of said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member.

2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein said first time display means comprises an hour hand and a min ute hand and said second time display means comprises a second hour hand.

3. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said first time display means comprising a first gear and said second time display means comprising a second gear, one of said gears having a plurality of projections, the other of said gears having a spring affixed thereto with a portion of said spring biasingly engaging the spaces between said projections whereby the spring operatively connects the first and second gears for simultaneous rotation.

4. A watch according to claim 3, wherein said spring has an arcuate configuration with one end portion having a projecting part biasingly engaging the spaces between the projections on said one gear.

5. A watch according to claim 4, wherein said spring is arranged and disposed to provide an operable drive connection between said second and first time display means when the first time display means is driven by said watch movement and to provide for independent rotation of said second time display means relative to said first time display means when said second time display means is rotated by said adjusting means.

6. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said first time display means comprising a first gear and said second time display means comprising a second gear, one of said gears having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins, the other of said gears having a plurality of circumferential spaced openings, said pins having projecting ends adapted to e received in said openings, and spring means rotatable with and acting between said gears to urge said one gear towards said other gear whereby the said pins project into said openings, said pins being urged out of said openings against the bias of said spring means when said other gear is rotated to provide independent movement of the latter relative to said one gear.

7. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said stem being operable to adjust said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said stem being operable in said second position to be rotated in one direction to adjust said second indicating member and in the opposite direction to adjust a calender wheel.

8. A watch according to claim 1 wherein said watch movement has a quartz crystal oscillator at an oscillating source position.

Claims

1. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, said connecting means comprising coaxial first and second rotating members operatively connected respectively with said first and second time display means, one of said rotating members having twelve detents and the other of said rotating members having at least one clutch means engageable selectively with said detents and spring means rotating with and acting between said first rotating member and said second rotating member to urge said clutch means into engagement with said detents to couple said rotating members for rotating together, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said spring means permitting said clutch means to ride over from one detent to another for said adjustment of said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member.

2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein said first time display means comprises an hour hand and a minute hand and said second time display means comprises a second hour hand.

6. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a firSt indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said first time display means comprising a first gear and said second time display means comprising a second gear, one of said gears having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins, the other of said gears having a plurality of circumferential spaced openings, said pins having projecting ends adapted to be received in said openings, and spring means rotatable with and acting between said gears to urge said one gear towards said other gear whereby the said pins project into said openings, said pins being urged out of said openings against the bias of said spring means when said other gear is rotated to provide independent movement of the latter relative to said one gear.

7. A watch having a plurality of time displays comprising a watch movement, a first time display means having a first indicating member operated by said watch movement to indicate the time, a second time display means having a second indicating member to indicate the time, means operatively connecting said second indicating member with said first indicating member whereby said first and second indicating members move together simultaneously, and an adjusting means having one operable position for simultaneously adjusting said first and second indicating members and another operable position for adjusting said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said adjusting means comprising a control stem having a plurality of positions, in one position said stem being operable to adjust said first and second time displays simultaneously, and in another position said stem being operable to adjust said second indicating member independently of said first indicating member, said stem being operable in said second position to be rotated in one direction to adjust said second indicating member and in the opposite direction to adjust a calender wheel.