US3775965A

US3775965A - Calendar timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3775965A
Application number: US00249816A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Besson; A Schneiter; R Meister
Original assignee: Ebauches SA
Current assignee: Ebauches SA
Priority date: 1971-05-05
Filing date: 1972-05-03
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04
Also published as: GB1385070A; CH543763A; DE2222424B2; IT957702B; CH667871A4; DE2222424A1; FR2135362A1; DE2222424C3; FR2135362B1

Abstract

A calendar timepiece, with indicators of the days of the week and of the dates, comprising a control stem capable of disposition in at least two axial positions, in one of which positions it permits the setting of the timepiece and in the other of which positions it permits the correction of the days and dates indicators, the control stem in the last-named position being connected to one of the indicators of the dates and of the days so that it operates in the two directions, a one-way coupling mechanism being interposed between these two indicators in such a way that, in one direction of rotation of the stem, only one of the indicators is driven while, in the other direction of rotation of the stem, the two indicators are driven, one being driven by the other through the intermediary of the coupling mechanism.

Description

Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-Kenwoo'd Ross et al.

CALENDAR TIMEP IECE v p j [75 Inventors: Ren Besson; Ali Schneiter; Rene 'Meister, all of Neuchatel,

Switzerland v 73 ,Assignee: Ebauches S.A., Neuchatel,

[57] ABSTRACT A calendar timepiece, withindicators of the days of the week and of the dates, comprising a control stem capable of disposition in at least two axial positions, in

Switzerland 22 Filed: May a, '1972 one of which positions it permits the setting of the timepiece and in the other of which positions it per- 7 mits the correction'of the days and dates indicators, the control stem inthe last-named position being connected to one of the indicators of the dates and of the May 5, 1971 Switzerland..............,......... 6678/71 v days so that it operates in the two directions, a oneway coupling mechanism being interposed between G04, these two indicators in such a way that, in one direc- [58] Field of 58/4, 5, 58 the Stem only indium v is driven while, in the other direction of rotation of the stem, the two indicators are driven, one being driven [51] Int.

a [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS by the other through the intermediary of the coupling mechanism.

3,645,090 2/1972 Mochizjuki et 58/58 v 10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEU DEC 4 I975 sum 1 OF 7 PATENTEU DEC 4 I975 SHEET 2 BF 7 FIG. 3

PATENTEDBEE 4W 3.775.965-

SHEET b 0F 7 FIG. 8

PATENTED DEC 4 I975 SHLU 8 UF 7 FIG. 72

' modifications.

- tion.

CALENDA-RTIMEPIECE "The present invention relates to a calendar time- This timepiece is characterized by thefact that, :in

this last position, the control stem is connected to one of "the "indicators of the .date orof theday being operable in two directions, aone-way coupling mechanism being interposed between these two indicators in such'a way that, in onedirectionof'rotation of the said stem, only one of the indicators-is driven while, in the other direction of rotation ofthe said'stem; the two indica t ors are driven, one being driven by the'other through the. intermediary of the said coupling mechanis 'm.

The drawing shows, by way of example,-one 'embodi-' ment of the object of the invention and modifications. FIG. 1 is a plan view from above, of the bridge side 7 of the movement, with the bridges being removed, showing certain of the elements ofthe movement of an electric wrist watch.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views, from above,*of a portion of the'wrist watchrepresented in FIG. l,-i n two different positions of the control mechanism, respectively.

"FIG. 4 is asecti'on'al view along line IV- 'IVqof FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectionalview along the line VV of FIG.

FIG. 7' is a-perspective view, fromabove, of a detail of the watch represented,at an enlarged scale.

- FIG. 8'is a sectional view of this detail. I

FIGS. 9. and 10 are plan vviews, from above, of two FIG. 11; is a plan "viewofa detailof another modifica- FIG. l2 is a sectional view along line XII-XII of FIG. 11. I 1

FIG. 13 is a'plan view of adetail of a last modification, and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13. l

The watch represented in FIGS. 1 to 8 is'anelectric wrist-watch in which the frequency. standard is constituted by a tuning fork, the arms of which, designated described in detail since it is out of the scope of the present invention, and which rotates at th'e rfate of one revolution per 24 hours. The watch comprises moreover an indicator of the day of the week, constitutedby awheel 4 rotating on a central plate 5. This wheel 4 is.

provided on its upper face, that is the face opposite the one facing the dial,"with a central bridge provided with a to'othing 4a,'of .l 4 teeth, with which cooperates,-once '2 each 24 hours, the driving mechanism 3, for rotating wheel 4 of the valve of one tooth.=This wheel-'4 carries two sets of indications of the 71'days'ofv the week. A

. -jumpber'-6,subjectto the, action of a return spring 7, cooperates with the toothing 2a of the crown 2 indicatingthe-dates (FIG.'1), 10, while a jumperB, subject to the act-ion of a return spring9, cooperates with, the

. toothing 4a of the indicator 4 of the days of the week.

A controlmechanism permits the setting and the correction of the date and day indicators. This control mechanism comprises a stem 10 able to occupythree axial positions, one pu'shed (FIG. 1 and 4 ),inwhich it is inoperative, the second one partially pulled (FIG."2 and 5), in which-it permits the setting of the date and day indicators, and'the third one, entirely'pulled (FIG.

3 and 6), in which it permits the setting of the hours and'minute's hands (not represented) of the watch.

This mechanism comprises a lever 11 '(FIG. 1,2 and 3) rotatably mounted at 12 on theframe of the movement andonwhich is rotatably mounted a wheel 13 meshing with a sliding pinion 14 carried by the stem .10.

This lever 11 is provided with an arm 11a engaged in 'agroove 15 of the sliding pinion 14, in such a waythat the displacements of this sliding pinion are synchronised with the displacements of the lever and'that the sliding pinion l4-ren1ains continuouslymeshing with '16 the purpose of which will be explained later.

10.6 is a sectionalview along line vr -vi of FIG.

TThe lever 11 is subjected tothe action of areturn spring 17 which urges it to rotate around its axis of rotation 12 in the clockwise direction. Its displacements in the reverse direction, against theaction ofthespring 1,7, are produced by a trigger piece 18 articulated at 19 on the frame'of the movement and which carries a pin 20 engaged in a groove 21 at the stem 10. This trigger piece carriesmoreover a'pin 22 with which cooperates a jumper 23 ensuring the stability of the three axial positions of the stem 10.

When the-stem occupies its pushed position represented in FIGS. land 4, it is inoperative, the wheel 13 as well asrthe wheel 16 not being meshed with any organof the movement. I

When the stemis pulled in itsintermediary position (FIG. 2 and 5), the spring l7 rocks thelever 11 in the clockwise direction, thus bringing the wheel 16 to mesh with the inner toothing 2a of the dates indicating crown 2, in such a way that the stem 10 rotated in one direction or the other produces the rotation, in one direction or in the other,'of the date indicating crown 2.

I When the stem 10 is entirely pulled (positions of FIG.

- 3 and 6), the trigger piece 18, acting on a portion 11b of the leverl-l, rotates this lever in the counterclockwise direction against the action of its return spring 17, bringing the wheel 13 to mesh with the setting wheel 24, in such a way that the rotation of the stem 10 produces the driving of the hours and minutes hands, so as to allow the setting of the watch.

A one-way coupling mechanism interposed between ge'st are engaged in the deepest free spaces of the toothing 4a, while the short teeth 25a are engaged between v separated axially therefrom. Moreover, the teeth 25a are slightly narrower than the free spaces between the teeth of the toothing 4a, so that angular play remains between the crown 25 and the wheel 4.

' The crown 25 is provided with a protrusion consti-' tuted by a tongue 25b, bent at a right angle (FIG. 7), which cooperates with a ratchet toothing 2b of the dates indicating crown 2 (FIG. 1); the number of the teeth of this toothing being 31, the same as the number of the teeth of its driving toothing 2a.

When the dates indicating crown 2 is driven in the direction of the arrow 28 (FIG. 2) by the stem 10, during the manual correction of the calendar, the toothing 2b acts on the elastic tongue 25b of the crown 25 which operates like a pawl, so that the crown 25 and, consequently, the wheel 4 are driven in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow 29. However, as the displacements of the dates indicating crown 2 are effected step by step at the rate of 1/31 revolution for each step while the displacements of the wheel 4 of the days are effected step by step at the rate of H14 revolution for each step, the crown 2 can only start the displacements of the wheel 4, these displacements being ended by the jumper 8.

When the dates indicating crown 2 is driven in the direction of the arrow 30 (FIG. 2) by the stem l0, during the manual correction of the calendar, the wheel 4 of the days of the week is not driven, since the ratched toothing 2b of the crown 2 jumps on the tongue 25b of the crown 25, which operates like a pawl.

Thus, when the stem occupies its intermediary position, in one direction of rotation it drive the two indicators'of the calendar, i.e. the dates indicating crown 2 and the wheel 4 of the days of the week while, in the other direction, it drives only the dates indicating crown 2. The correction of these two indicators has to be effected after the watch has stopped, for instance, while the correction of the dates indicator crown has to be effected at the end of the months of 30 days.

It is to be noted that, in case of any wrong operation in which the days of the week would let out of order, while only the dates would haveto be corrected, it

would be easy to reset the day, the driving by means of the wheel 16 being very rapid, and followed by the correction of the dates, bymeans of an operation of the stem 10 in the reverse direction.

It is also to be noted that the angular play provided between the crown 25 carried by the wheel of the days 4 and the wheel itself allows a back movement of both the

indicators

2 and 4 when they are driven by the gear train of the movement. As a matter of fact, this driving is effected instantaneously since these indicators go beyond their normal rest positions. 1f the above mentioned play did not exist, the elastic tongue 25b, operating as a pawl and cooperating with the ratched toothing 2b of the dates indicator, would risk preven- 4 tion of the

indicators

2 and 4 to return back in their rest position. a

The modification of FIG. 9 distinguishes from the first embodiment with respect to the connecting mechposed pawls 34 subject to the action of return springs 35. These pawls cooperate with the toothing 4a of the days indicating wheel 4 so as to drive it one tooth, two times for each revolution of the wheel 33.

The modification of FIG. 10 distinguishes from the one of FIG. 9 by the fact that the pawls 34 are directly carried by a wheel corresponding to the wheel 31 of FIG. 9, this wheel 36 having seven teeth and not six as in the case of wheel 31. Thus the two indicators, when they are both operated by the control stem 10, rotate in opposite directions. I

In the modification of the FIGS. 11 and 12, the elements which are the same as in the first embodiment have been designated by the same reference numbers. Thisis the case, for instance, of the manual correcting device, the stem 10 of which allows the driving of, by the intermediary of a sliding pinion 14, a wheel 13 rigid with a five teeth wheel 16 cooperating directly with the inner toothing 2a of the dates indicating crown 2 when the stem 10 occupies its half pulled position.

In this modification, the one-way connecting mechanism interposed between the two indicators, of the days of the week and of the dates, is different. The disc carrying the indications of the days of the week, designated by 37, is rigid with its toothing 37a and not in two pieces, with an angular play, as in the first embodiment.

The connection between the two indicators is ensured by a movable element comprising a first six teeth wheel 38, meshing with inner toothing 2a of the dates indicator 2 and a second wheel 39, rigid with the first one, rotatably mounted on a pivot40 of the frame of the movement. This wheel 39 is provided with three teeth meshing with the toothing 37a of the indicator 37 of the days of the week. The axis of the pivot 40 is situated outwards of the radius, designated by 41 in FIG. 11, passing through the middle of the free space between two teeth of the toothing 37a situated opposite the element 38-39. There results that, in one direction of rotation of this element, that is to say in the direction of the arrow 42 of FIG. 11, the indicator 37 of the days of the week is driven by the wheel 39 a quantity sufficient to allow jumper 43, which acts on the toothing 37a, toachieve the movement so that, at each passage of one tooth of the wheel 39, the indicator 37 is driven by one tooth 'of its own toothing 37a. On the contrary, when the wheel 39 rotates in the direction opposite to that'indicated by the arrow 42, the displacement of the indicator 37 produced thereby is not sufficient so that one tooth 37a passes over the extremity of the jumper 43, so whereby this jumper returns backwards the indicator 37 into its initial position.

Under these circumstances, during the manual correction of the calendar, in one direction of rotation of the stem 10, the two indicators, of the dates 2 and the days of the week 37, are driven, while, in the opposite directionof rotation, only the indicator of thedates 2 is driven.

"ltis to be noted that the driving of the indicators 2 and 37by the gear train of the movement is effected by means of a mechanism identicalto the mechanism 3 of the first embodiment. ,v a 1 In the modification of FIGS. 13 and 14, the mechanism ensuring the driving of the dates and days indicators by the wheel train of the movementcomprises a movable element constituted by a wheel 43 meshing with a hours wheel 44 of the movement and which'is rigid with a pinion 45 meshing with an intermediary pinion 46. This latter meshes with a wheel 47 rotating at the rate of one revolution per 24 hours, rigid with a control finger 48 actingon thetoothing 2a of the dates indicator 2.

The connection between the two indicators is ensured by a wheel 49, coaxial to the wheel 47, provided with eight teeth,. meshing with a toothing 2a of the dates indicator 2, and which carries eight pins 49a cooperating with a toothing 50a of the indicator of the days of the week 50. a a An asymmetrical jumper 51 cooperates with the inner toothing 2a of the dates indicator 2, in sucha way that, in one direction of rotation, this indicator is driven while, in the opposite direction, it is not driven.

What we claim is:

1. in a calendar timepiece with and of the day ing: 7 I

a rotatable control stem shiftable between a first position for allowing thesetting of the timepiece and a second position for allowing the correction of the date and day, indicators, one-way coupling mechanism interposed between the two indicators, the control stem in the second position being connected to one of the indicators for selective operation in opposite direction of rotation with one of the indicators being driven during control stem rotation in one direction'and with the two indicators being driven during control stern rotation in the opposite direction'th'rough the intermediary of the coupling mechanism, a pawl carried indicators of the date of the week,-the improvement comprisby the day indicator and a ratcheted toothing car-' ried by the date indicator and cooperant with the pawl with an angular play therebetween.

2. In a calendar timepiece as set forth in claim 1 including: the ratcheted toothing of the date indicator comprising 31 teeth equal to the number of teeth of a driving toothing of the day indicator.

'of the daY indicator.

5. Timepiece as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the intermediary wheel being driven by the date indicator by means of an intermediary pinion so that the days indicator is driven by and in the direction of the date indicator. v

6. Timepiece as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the driving element being constituted by a pawl carried by the intermediary wheel.

7. Timepiece as claimed in claim 6 characterized by the intermediary wheel carrying two diametrically opposed pawls for operating the day indicator twice per each revolution.

8. Timepiece as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the driving element being constituted by a wheel rigid with the intermediary wheel.

9. Timepiece as claimed in claim 8, the axis of the intermediary wheel being situated beyond the radius passing through the middle of the free space between two teeth-of the wheel driven by the wheel rigid with the intermediary whee] situated opposite'this axis so that, in one direction of rotation of the intermediary wheel, one of the indicators be driven on a value not sufficient to that a jumper acting thereon achieves its movement and rotates it, while in the opposite direction this function is effected.

10. Timepiece asclaimed in claim 8, an asymmetrical jumper acting on the indicator with which cooperates the wheel rigid with the intermediary wheel so that the jumper achieves the movement of the indicator in only one direction of rotation.

Claims

1. In a calendar timepiece with indicators of the date and of the day of the week, the improvement comprising: a rotatable control stem shiftable between a first position for allowing the setting of the timepiece and a second position for allowing the correction of the date and day indicators, a one-way coupling mechanism interposed between the two indicators, the control stem in the second position being connected to one of the indicators for selective operation in opposite direction of rotation with one of the indicators being driven during control stem rotation in one direction and with the two indicators being driven during control stem rotation in the opposite direction through the intermediary of the coupling mechanism, a pawl carried by the day indicator and a ratcheted toothing carried by the date indicator and cooperant with the pawl with an angular play therebetween.

3. In the calendar timepiece as set forth in claim 1 including: a disc coaxial and angularly rigid with the day indicator, the pawl comprising a blade cut at the disc periphery.

4. Timepiece as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises an intermediary wheel driven, at least indirectly, by the toothing of the date indicator, this intermediary wheel carrying at least one driving element cooperating with a toothing of the daY indicator.

5. Timepiece as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the intermediary wheel being driven by the date indicator by means of an intermediary pinion so that the days indicator is driven by and in the direction of the date indicator.

9. Timepiece as claimed in claim 8, the axis of the intermediary wheel being situated beyond the radius passing through the middle of the free space between two teeth of the wheel driven by the wheel rigid with the intermediary wheel situated opposite this axis so that, in one direction of rotation of the intermediary wheel, one of the indicators be driven on a value not sufficient to that a jumper acting thereon achieves its movement and rotates it, while in the opposite direction this function is effected.

10. Timepiece as claimed in claim 8, an asymmetrical jumper acting on the indicator with which cooperates the wheel rigid with the intermediary wheel so that the jumper achieves the movement of the indicator in only one direction of rotation.