US3811266A

US3811266A - Calendar timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3811266A
Application number: US00353366A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Samura
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-04-22
Filing date: 1973-04-23
Publication date: 1974-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-21
Also published as: JPS494569A; DE2321140A1

Abstract

A calendar timepiece, wherein a seven day calendar display having each day of the week arranged on a line with a plurality of calendar date representations arranged in several rows to form a lattice work, positioned in close proximity to said day calendar display. Also provided are a plurality of indicating members, adapted to be commonly driven by movement of the timepiece to advance a step each complete day.

Description

United States Patent [191 Samara [11] 3,811,266 1451 May 21, 1974 CALENDAR TIMEPIECE [75] Inventor: Hiroyoshi Samura, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Citizen-Watch Company Limited,

Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed t 1Apr.-23, 1973 211 A pl. No 353,366

' [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr.22, 1972 Japan 47-40721 [52] A u.s.c1..; ..58/58 51 1, 'lnt. c1. G04b 19/24 [58] Field of Search 58/4, 5, 58

[ 56] References Cited; A UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,276,198 10/1966 Barbera ..58/4A 11/1971 Takagi 58/58 3,712,043

1/1973 Eggeretal 58/5 Primary ExaminerGeorg e H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert T. Tobin, Esq.

ABSTRACT A calendar timepiece, wherein a seven day calendar display having each day of the week arranged on a line with a plurality of calendar date representations arranged in'several rows to form alattice work, positioned in close proximity to said day calendar display.

Also provided are a plurality of indicating members,"

adapted to be commonly driven by movement of the timepieceto advance a step each complete day. 1 f

r Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmzv m4 SHEET 2 BF 5 FIG. 3

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PATENTEUHAY 21 1914 3B 11; 266

SHEEI 3 0F 5 PATENTEBMY I m4 3.811.266

sum u 0F 5 FIG. 6

CALENDAR TIMEPIECE This invention relates to improvements in and relating to a calendartimepiece.

Conventional calendar timepieces generally have .a

structure that foreveryday, the correspondingdate and day of the week are displayed .through respective small viewingwindows,

If the person wearing the watch for instance, should desire to know What date, is 1h ext1Sunday?;What day of the week is thetenthof this month?, it can only be determined by the individual calculating the-answer.

A universal calendar timepiece is also known wherein all the dates of the month aresta-tionarily arranged,whilea' week day calendar is provided and adapted to be moved relative to thestationary monthly calendar. However, even in suchcalendar timepieces,

the representation of the currentdate is shown only through a small windowandby use of a separatedrive These and further objectls, features and advantages of the invention will appear more apparent when the following detailed descriptionof the invention is read by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of several preferred. embodiments of the invention.

IN THE DRAW-mos:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a watch embodying a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a second plan view of the timepiece shown in FIG. 1 with a portion thereof being shown in crosssection to illustrate some of the internal working parts.

FIG. 3 isa cross-sectional, view taken substantially along a sectionline III III shown in FIG. 2.

F IG; 4 is a plan .view ofan indicator dial employed in the first embodiment FIG. 5 is a plan view of a calendar dial employed in the first embodiment- FIG. 6 is a plan view of a watch embodying a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG; 7is a perspective view of a clock embodying a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view ofanother clock embodying a fourth'embodimentof' the invention. Now referring to FIGS. 1 5, numeral Irepresents a conventional watch case; 2 a time display dial at-- tached to a conventional watch movement. The dial 2 is formed with a substantially sector-shaped viewing window 2n and fitted with a weekday calendar representation 2b. representing SUNDAY", MONDAY" SATURDAY, displayed in their abbreviated form and placed alongside theinner or shorter peripheral curved side of the window, and-with a set of regular hour symbols 2c arranged on a circle concentric to and on the dial 2.

A conventional stem 3 is adapted for setting the time bymanipulation thereof in the conventional manner. 4, 5 and 6 represent 'a seconds, a minute and an hour hand, respectively. 7 represents a partial view of a watch band, detachably attached to the watch case.

A viewer can observe at a glance through the window 2a substantially a half part of a composite week day and date'calendar tableI8a representing two groups of successive thirty one date characters 1 31 covering two odd months or send arranged in five concentric rows, as shown, each visible row including small seven successive date-representing square or rectangular spaces of which, however, several may be blank without carrying figures. Thus, the part of the composite calendar table,8a visible through the viewing window 2a constitutes only a partof the whole day calendar representation, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

A ring-shaped calendar dial 8 carries, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5, not only the first composite day calendar table 8a, but also a second composite calendar table 8b of substantially similar design, yet comprising two groups of date figures covering two even months or so and being arranged diametrally in opposition to the first composite calendar table. In fact, each concentric row of the table contains thirteen small date display spaces. It should be mentioned that each radial space or division of a concentric-row of either composite date calendar table 8a' or 81) corresponds to one of thirty five dotted lines. The number of these teeth 80 corresponds to the aforementioned thirty five date calendar display divisions.

The data calendar 8 is rotatably guided by several positioning plates 12 which are only schematically and partially shown in dotted line in FIG. 3. These plates 12 are mounted in turn fixedly on a pillar plate 11 of the watch movement by means of several screw means or similar conventional, fastening means, although not shown only for convenience.

A conventional jumper spring, not shown, adapted for cooperation with the teeth 8c is provided for accurately positioning the date calendar dial 8 at each of the stepped positions. i

As most clearly seen from FIG. 1, each radial division of the day calendar display 2b corresponds precisely to a radial division of the data calendar tables 8a; 8b.

In FIG. 3, numeral 13 represents a conventional cannon pinion which is coupled with a conventional cannon wheel 14. An indicator wheel 10 comprises a gear part 10a having thirty five gear teeth. An indicator disc 10b is fixedly attached to said gear part and is rotatably mounted on the wheel 14.

The indicator disc 10b shown specifically in FIG. 4 is made of a transparent material preferably plastic, and is'provided with five indicator sectionsltlc'; 10d; 10e; 10f and 10g, preferably colored. These sections, preferably projections, are staggered mutually and radially so as to have mutually difi'erent radial lengths corresponding respectively to those of the five concentric rows of the calendar dial tables 8a; 8b, yet having a mutually constant peripheral angular space. Thus, the central angle, including two peripherally neighboring indicator sections, corresponds to US of a complete circle.

Numeral 15 represents an intermediate composite wheel, having a larger gear part which meshes with the cannon wheel 14; and a smaller gear part which meshes with a date feed gear 16 to be described. Said wheel 15 is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 11a which in turn is mounted rigidly on the plate 11. In a similar way, the date feed gear 16 is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 11b which in turn is mounted rigidly on the plate 11. This gear l6has a studded feed pin 16a adapted for intermittent drive of the larger gear part 10a. Motion will be transmitted from cannon wheel 14 constituting a member of the conventional time-keeping gear train, not shown, of the watch movement, through the intermediate wheel 15 to the'date feed gear 16 so as to rotate the latter a complete revolution every 24 hours. Thus, the gear part 10a will be rotated a complete revolution every 24 hours by means of the drive pin 16a. There is provided a jumper spring 17 shown in FIG. 2; the root portion thereof is fixedly mounted on the pillar plate 11, while the tip and actuating end of the jumper l7 cooperates with the gear part 10a to assure a stepped feeding position of the composite wheel 10 to bring a selected one of the five indicator sections 10c 10g into correct registration with a proper date representation of either of the two calendar tables 8a;-8b.*

Correction lever 18 is rotatably mounted on a pivot by engagement with one of the teeth 8c. Directly upon execution of the calendar feed, the pawl wheel a disengages from contact with correction lever wheel 18 which thus becomes free and restores its neutral position shown, under the influence of the resiliently acting positioning spring 19. By repeating this manipulating operation, the calendar ring 8 can be successively turned and rotatingly shifted for any occasionally required calendar correction;

In contradistinction, when pawl wheel 20a is rotated in the opposite or clockwise direction in FIG. 2, so as to rotate the correction lever 18 counter clockwise, the indicator wheel 10 is advanced by one step. Upon execution of this movement, pawl wheel 20a disengages from contact with the lever 18 which is thus returned to its neutral position again. By repeating this operation, the indicator disc 10b can be successively corrected until the desired date correction is realized.

The viewing window 2a has such opening dimensions so as to have a central angle of 360/5 degrees, through which successive seven date sections of either date c al endar table 8a or 8b are always visible.

. Either calendar table 8a or 8b has thirteen date positions per each concentric row, as was already referred to and the date figures are so arranged that when the pin 11c which is rigidly mounted on the pillar plate 11.

This lever 18 is formed with a firstpawl 18a which is adapted for cooperation with the teeth 8c on the calendar disc 8; and a second pawl 18b which is adapted for cooperation with gear part 10a of the indicator wheel 10. The lever l8.is normally kept under the influence of an elongated resilient spring 19 havingits root portion fixedly attached to pillar plate 11 as shown in FIG. 2, at its off-service position wherein both pawls 18a; 18b are held out of contact with the teeth 86 and gear 100, respectively.

Numeral 20 represents a correction transmitting composite wheelconsisting of a twin pawl wheel 20a and a gear 20b made integral therewith and rotatably mounted on plate 11. For avoidance of. complexity of the drawing, the gear 20b has been shown as if it be a plain wheel. This will be applied to a correcting clutch wheel 21 which meshes with the gear 20b. Both pawls on the wheel 200 are adapted to cooperate with aprojecting part of the lever 18, as shown clearly in FIG. 2.

A second or auxiliary stem 90 is provided which is fitted with a crown 9 and rotatably mounted on the plate 11, as in the case of the main stem 3, although not 'spe-,

cifically shown because it is well known. For simplicity, the first or main stem 3 is shown together with its crown without specificnotation. i

Stem 90 has a square-sectioned part 9b on which the clutch wheel 21 is mounted to slide axially. The clutch wheel rotates naturally in unison with the stem 9.

By .turning the second stem 90 manually, motion will be transmitted therefrom through clutch wheel 21 and intermediate composite wheel 20, thereby the pawl wheel 20a is turned counter clockwise in FIG. 2, as an example, depending upon the occasional turning direction of the auxiliary stem 9a.

200, lever wheel 18 will be turned clockwise in FIG. 2

.65 By the counter clockwise rotation of the pawl wheel calendar digit 1 is brought into radial registration with any oneof week days of the day calendar display 2b, all the data digits covering a complete odd or even month arevisible through the viewing window 2a, in the similar way as a wall calendar.

In succession to 31" or the final date of an odd month, there are four date digits 1 4" in a row in the case of the first calendar table 80, for the purpose of showing next months several dates when the final odd month day arrives. In the similar way, five date digits 1 5" are demonstrated in a row in succession after 30" in the case of the second calendar table 8b, for the purpose of showing next months several dates when the final even month day arrives. The effect attainable with such digits arrangement will be described more fully hereinafter.

The operation of the first embodiment so far shown and described is as follows:

It isnow assumed that the present month is an odd one and begins on Tuesday, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1,

The operator manipulates the auxiliary crown 9 so as to turn its stem 9a in such direction that the pawl wheel 20a is rotated in counter clockwise direction in FIG. 2 for stepwise advancing rotation of the calendar disc, or more precisely ring 8, until the first date digit 1 on the uppermost row of the first date calendar table 8a is brought into radial registration with the second day representation TUE. on the display 2b.

When the present date is the first one of a month, pawl wheel 20a is turned clockwise in FIG. 2 by manipulation with the auxiliary crown 9, so as to shift the indicator wheel'l0 to bring the indicator section 10c into registration with the date digit 1" of the insidemost row of the calendar table 2a.

The date feed wheel 16 makes a complete revolution every 24 hours, being driven by the conventional timekeeping gear train, (not shown), of the watch movement. Thereby the drive pin 16a moves the indicator wheel 10 by just a tooth pitch per complete day. At arrival of the next succeeding day, the indicator section Similarly, at arrival of. the thirteenth calendar day of the same month, the next following, one-step radially staggered indicator section We will appear at the viewing window so as to cover the thirteenth date digit 13 of the same month in the third line of the table 8a.

At arrival of the twentieth calendar day of the same month, the next following, one-step radially further staggered indicator section 10f will appear at the viewing window so as to cover the twentieth date digit of the same month in the fourth line of the same table At arrival of the twenty seventh calendar day of the same month, the next following indicatorsection 10g will appear so as tocover the twenty seventh date digit 27 in the fifth line ofthe table 8a.

At arrival of thethird day of the next month, the first indicator 100 will appear from left at the viewing window and in the first or innermostline of the calendar table 8a. At this time, the operator must select. either one of the calendar tables8a; 811, depending upon the odd or even nature of the practical month, and to bring the third day digit 3 in the second row into radial registration with the day representation SUN." It will thus be seen that there is nonecessity to correct the indicator wheel 10 in its position, as long as the watch movement continues to operateregularly, which is a substantial advancement in the art. 1

I On account of the five row date digit system employed ofthis invention at the calendar table 8a or 8b,

I a sixth digit'row would be. required to display 30; 31

or 30" thereinso as; to show these digits when the present monthshould havebegun with-FRIDAY or SATURDAY and the final day of the monthwil-l terminate at-20th or 30th.

For the adoption of the aforementioned five row digit calendar system so far shown and described, these digits 30"; the have been placed on thefirst or innermost row of the calendar table 8a or 8b, respectively. By; adopting this measure, the date representations can be made rather larger for'a predetermined limited display area. On the other hand, the first indicator 100 will appear with the disappearance of the. last indicator 10g and thus, there is no need for positional correction of the indicator wheel 10, aslong as the. watch movement continues to operate regularly.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the secondembodiment of the invention will be described in-detail. Here, how- 6 ever, the or similar constituentfpart of the calendar control mechanism as those used in the. foregoing first embodiment have been shown by the respective same reference numerals, with the prefix 100 add thereto.

In this embodiment, the day calendar display 102b has been arranged vertically, with day legends arranged horizontally. The substantially sector-shaped viewing window 102a is formed at a convenient position in close proximity to the hour symbol representing three oclock on the regular dial 102. The frist calendar table 108a is seen at the viewing window 102a, while the second calendar table 108b, not shown, is-hidden. The lattice work of each of these calendar tables has been shifted just 90 degrees.

The digits appearing in each of the concentric rows of the calendar table increase gradually in their value in the clockwise direction.

. The viewing window may be provided in close proximity to any selected time display symbols of nine or twelve oclock, if occasiondesires it, although not specifically shown.

The indicators C, 1 10d; 110e, l l0fand 110g have been designed into corresponding number of indicator hands of difi'e'rent lengths, although only one of them has been shown at ll0e only partially and schematically in full lines, while the remainders have been shown in dotted lines. These hands may be provided by printing them on the front surface of indicator 'disc of transparent material, although not specifically shown. These indicators may have arrow portion as shown'and made integral therewith. The rotational direction of the indicator disc 110 is naturally the opposite of that employed in the first embodiment. The construction and operation of the indicator feed mechanism and the correction mechanisms for the date indicator and date representations may be substantially the same as before.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the viewing window 202 has been cut througha shell-shaped clock casing 201 and thus the calendar disc can be formed onto the peripheral cylindrical surface of a hollowcylinder, although not specifically shown. Several other parts have been shown with the respective same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, each having, however, the prefix 200 added.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the viewing window 302a has been cut through the cone surface of a clock casing 301. The calendar disc has naturally been transformed into a cone, although not specifically shown. I v

Although, in these third and fourth embodiments shown in FIGS. 7and 8, respectively, the inner working parts have not been shown, these may be easily carried into effect without any inventive activities by any person skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an ,exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as" follows:

1. In a calendar timepiece havinga viewing window on the face thereof, the improvement comprising:

a weekday calendar display, mounted adjacent the viewing window;

a plurality of monthly calendar date tables, each of said tables arranged in five rows or seven dates each, rotatably mounted within said timepiece for positioning under said viewing window in alignment with-the weekday calendar display,

a plurality of indicating members, driven by the timepiece mechanism, each of said indicating members aligned with a different row of the monthly calendar tables and positioned to by driven by the timepiece mechanism to advance one date on the calendar table every 14 hours, said indicating members also being positioned relative to each other so that each indicating member advances sequentially across its respective row in the viewing window prior to the advancement of any other indicating member on its row in the viewing window. 2. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are two monthly calendar date tables arranged in a matrix of thirteen columns and five rows, said vmatrix having the dates arranged in sequential order across each row, starting with the first day at the seventh column, said matrices repeating in sequential order the integers representing the commencement of a new month after the last dates of the month in the fifth row and said matrixes also having the last days of the month in the first one ortwo' columns of the first viewing window of said timepiece indicating the day and date for an entire month and the beginning of the next month.

3. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first of said monthly calendar date tables represents a month of thirty-one days and thesecond of said monthly calendar date tables represents a month of thirty days.

4. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a control means for changing the calendar matrix within the viewing window to align the proper date with the proper day of the week, andcontrol means to align an indicating member with a date on said matrix.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETEE Patent No. 3,811,266

Dated May 21, 197

Column line Column 5, line Column 6,

line

'line Column 7, line (SEAL) Attest:

line

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR, Attesting Officer Inventor(s) Hiroyoshi Samura It is certi'fied that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

change "data" to date,

delete "the, the first occurrence, before or similar, insert same change "add" to added correct spelling of "frist" to m first after "has been" insert M rotatingly change "or" to of change "by" to be first occurrence,

change "matrixes to matrices Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 197 C. NARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents FORM r c-1050 (10-69) USCOMM'DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I909 036G334,

Patent No.

Dated May 21, 197

Column 5, line line Column 6, line I line line 'line 60,

line 6 Column 7, line 16,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer Inventor(s) Hiroyoshi Samura It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

change "data" to date,

delete the, the first occurrence,

before "or similar, insert same change "add" to added correct spelling of "frist" to first after "has been" insert m rotatingly change "or" to of change "by" to be first occurrence,

change "matrixes" to matrices Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 197 C. NARSELRLL DANN Commissioner of Patents )RM Po-m so (10-69) USCOMM-DC GOING-P69 a 11.5. GOVERNMENT ramrmc OFFICE: I969 oass-sa4.

Claims

1. In a calendar timepiece having a viewing window on the face thereof, the improvement comprising: a weekday calendar display, mounted adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of monthly calendar date tables, each of said tables arranged in five rows or seven dates each, rotatably mounted within said timepiece for positioning under said viewing window in alignment with the weekday calendar display, a plurality of indicating members, driven by the timepiece mechanism, each of said indicating members aligned with a different row of the monthly calendar tables and positioned to by driven by the timepiece mechanism to advance one date on the calendar table every 24 hours, said indicating members also being positioned relative to each other so that each indicating member advances sequentially across its respective row in the viewing window prior to the advancement of any other indicating member on its row in the viewing window.

2. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are two monthly calendar date tables arranged in a matrix of thirteen columns and five rows, said matrix having the dates arranged in sequential order across each row, starting with the first day at the seventh column, said matrices repeating in sequential order the integers representing the commencement of a new month after the last dates of the month in the fifth row and said matrixes also having the last days of the month in the first one or two columns of the first row, whereby a monthly calendar appears within the viewing window of said timepiece indicating the day and date for an entire month and the beginning of the next month.

3. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first of said monthly calendar date tables represents a month of thirty-one days and the second of said monthly calendar date tables represents a month of thirty days.

4. In a calendar timepiece in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a control means for changing the calendar matrix within the viewing window to align the proper date with the proper day of the week, and control means to align an indicating member with a date on said matrix.