US3837161A - Universal time watch - Google Patents

Universal time watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3837161A
US3837161A US00428149A US42814973A US3837161A US 3837161 A US3837161 A US 3837161A US 00428149 A US00428149 A US 00428149A US 42814973 A US42814973 A US 42814973A US 3837161 A US3837161 A US 3837161A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
coupling member
spindle
hour hand
auxiliary
hour
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00428149A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
P Wuthrich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Priority to US00428149A priority Critical patent/US3837161A/en
Priority to CA197,025A priority patent/CA983276A/en
Priority to GB1603174A priority patent/GB1419720A/en
Priority to DK201374A priority patent/DK201374A/da
Priority to SE7404929A priority patent/SE398561B/xx
Priority to JP49043853A priority patent/JPS50117462A/ja
Priority to NO741415A priority patent/NO136898C/no
Priority to AU68090/74A priority patent/AU473391B2/en
Priority to BE143482A priority patent/BE814035A/xx
Priority to NL7405648A priority patent/NL7405648A/xx
Priority to FR7414903A priority patent/FR2256459B1/fr
Priority to DE19742421434 priority patent/DE2421434C3/de
Priority to CH612774D priority patent/CH612774A4/xx
Priority to CH612774A priority patent/CH599592B5/xx
Priority to IT50812/74A priority patent/IT1011402B/it
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3837161A publication Critical patent/US3837161A/en
Priority to HK453/76*UA priority patent/HK45376A/xx
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/005—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means stepwise or on determined values
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G04B19/223—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces with rotary disc, rotary bezel, or rotary dial
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G04B19/23—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces by means of additional hands or additional pairs of hands

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A horological device with a regular hour hand and including an auxiliary hour hand for indicating a different time zone than the local time.
  • the auxiliary hour hand is connected to the regular hour hand through a coupling member permitting relative rotation between the regular hour hand and the auxiliary hour hand when the crown is rotated in one direction and permitting normal setting of the hour hand and minute hand, with the auxiliary hour hand moving in unison, when the crown is rotated in the opposite direction.
  • the coupling member is normally driven by the hour wheel through a peripheral friction coupling, and is held in place during setting of the auxiliary hour hand by a one-way ratchet utilizing weak radial spring arms.
  • This invention relates generally to horological devices, and more particularly to a time zone setting mechanism utilizing the same crown and stem assembly to change time zone, as well as to set the regular time on the horological device.
  • Time zone watches with auxiliary hour hands on dials are well known in the art, and various mechanisms have been proposed for setting the auxiliary hands or dials.
  • one objective of the present invention is to provide a time zone setting mechanism with a positive drive between the regular and auxiliary hour hands, in which the auxiliary hand may be set to a new timezone with the regular time setting stem and crown
  • Another objective of the invention is to provide an improved time zone setting mechanism which is simple to construct and requires a minimum of parts.
  • the invention comprises first and second coaxially mounted hour hand spindles carrying the regular and auxiliary hour hands, an hour wheel connected to drive one of the spindles, a coupling member v comprising a flexible disk with a friction coupling engaging the hour wheel, and a spring stop member with flexible radial spring arms engaging and forming a oneway ratchet connection with the coupling member.
  • FIG. I is a horizontal cross section through the hour hand drive and setting mechanism
  • FIG. 2 is a view of a time zone watch
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spring stop member
  • FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the coupling member
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the same coupling member, viewed along line V-V of FIG. 4,
  • FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the hour wheel
  • FIG. 7 is an assembled plan view of the auxiliary and regular setting mechanism.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings only the parts necessary to an understanding of the present invention are shown, the remainder of elements being conventional.
  • the hand drive and setting mechanism shown generally as l, is carried on a bridge member 2. Power to drive the hands enters through the sweep second staff 3 carrying a sweep second hand 4, staff 3 is journaled at one end in a bearing 5 and inside a fixed spindle 6 attached-to bridge 2. Power is transmitted from staff 3 through a gear train (not shown) to crown gear 7 which includes time setting and time zone setting crown teeth 8 The crown teeth 8 are engageable through conventional mechanism (not shown) by means of an external crown and stem assembly 9 when the stem is retracted and rotated in either direction. Crown 7 is connected to a minute pinion l0 and also journaled in bridge 2.
  • the gear train between staff 3 and crown gear 7 also drives via wheel 30 by conventional means a cannon pinion l1 journaled on fixed spindle 6 and carrying a minute hand 12.
  • the minute pinion 10 drives an hour wheel 13 attached to hollow spindle 14 which is rotatably journaled on cannon pinion 11 and carrys a regular hour hand 15.
  • the foregoing described portions of the watch are conventional.
  • a second hollow spindle 16 is rotatably mounted coaxiallywith spindle 14 and carries anauxiliary hour hand 17 on one end and a special coupling member 18 on its other end.
  • Coupling member 18 is flexibly engageable through a frictional coupling connection on one side of hour wheell3, and through a one-way ratchet connection on its other side with a springstop member 19.
  • Member 19 is carried beneath and fixed to the dial face 20 of the watch.
  • FIG. 2 of the drawing a typical watch is seen, indicating the arrangement of second hand, 4, minute hand '12 and hour hand 15, which are conventional, and the auxiliary hour hand 17 showing the time in a zone three hours ahead of local time.
  • FIG. 3 of the drawing is a perspective view of the spring stop member 19 illustrating the construction.
  • a ring 21 has upstanding tabs 22 on its inner periphery which lock the member 19 to the dial face by means of notches 28'(see FIG. 1).
  • Extending from the outer periphery are radial spring arms 23 which are relatively flexible and which are engageable with the ratchet coupling member 18 beneath raised tabs 24.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of the coupling member 18 showing it to comprise a flexible disk having raised tabs 24 uniformly spacedaround its outer periphery. The disk curves from its center to its outer periphery 25.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan viewof the hour wheel 13 having a flat surface and teeth 26- engageable with the minute pinion. When assembled together with the coupling member 18, as shown in FIG. 1, the periphery 25 of coupling member 18 engages the surface of hour wheel 13 and is spring-loaded against it. The peripheral engagement tends to prevent any slippage during normal running or setting of the time.
  • FIG. 7 the assembly of hour wheel 13, ratchet coupling member 18, and spring stop member 19 are shown with the dial face removed.
  • the mechanism is can move in a counterclockwise direction by slippage of the frictional coupling between the periphery 25 of coupling member 18 and hour wheel 13 (see FIG. 1).
  • crown assembly 9 is retracted and rotated so as to turn hour wheel 13 counterclockwise.
  • Radial spring arms 23 engage beneath raised tabs 24 on the coupling member 18 as it attempts to rotate with the hour wheel and hold it in place. Slippage of the friction coupling at point 27 takes place due to flexibility of member 18 so that spindles l4 and 16 can rotate relative to one another. Therefore the regular hour hand can be moved relative to the fixed auxiliary hand can be moved relative to the fixed auxiliary hand to indicate the time difference of a particular time zone. This can be set at hour intervals or any fraction thereof by eye.
  • the crown assembly 9 For normal setting of the hands, the crown assembly 9 is rotated in the opposite or normal driving direction to rotate hour wheel 13 clockwise.
  • the spring loading of coupling 18 against the hour wheel 13 causes both regular and auxiliary hands to move together, while the fixed flexible radial arms 23 disengage from and pass over tabs 24.
  • the minute pinion is driving the hour wheel during normal running of the watch mechanism, the hands are driven together, again through the frictional coupling at the periphery which is much less subject to slippage than prior art frictional couplings at the hubs. Since the radial arms 23 are very flexible, they do not interfere materially and consume little additional power because of the very weak ratcheting action.
  • Regular and auxiliary hour hand driving and setting mechanism for a horological device having a dial comprising:
  • said ratchet coupling member comprises a flexible disk having uniformly spaced raised tabs on its outer periphery and engaging said hour wheel near said outer periphery.
  • said fixed spring stop member comprises a ring having flexible spring arms uniformly spaced and extending radially therefrom.
  • said one-way ratchet connection comprises a plurality of flexible radial arms on the spring stop member arranged to engage a plurality of raised tabs on the periphery of said coupling member.
  • said coupling member connected to drive said second spindle, said coupling member comprising a flexible disk coaxially mounted adjacent said hour wheel and having a plurality of raised tabs uniformly spaced about its periphery and curving to flexibly engage said hour wheel flat surface at said periphery forming a frictional coupling there between, and
  • a fixed spring stop member disposed adjacent said couplingmember and connected to said dial, said spring stop member having a plurality of flexible arms extending radially and forming a one-way ratchet connection with the raised tabs on the coupling member.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
US00428149A 1973-12-26 1973-12-26 Universal time watch Expired - Lifetime US3837161A (en)

Priority Applications (16)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00428149A US3837161A (en) 1973-12-26 1973-12-26 Universal time watch
CA197,025A CA983276A (en) 1973-12-26 1974-04-08 Universal time watch
GB1603174A GB1419720A (en) 1973-12-26 1974-04-10 Universal time watch
DK201374A DK201374A (da) 1973-12-26 1974-04-10
SE7404929A SE398561B (sv) 1973-12-26 1974-04-10 Driv- och instellningsmekanism for en ordinarie och en extra timvisare i ett med en urtavla forsett ur
JP49043853A JPS50117462A (da) 1973-12-26 1974-04-18
AU68090/74A AU473391B2 (en) 1973-12-26 1974-04-19 Universal time watch
NO741415A NO136898C (no) 1973-12-26 1974-04-19 Anordning ved universaltidsur
BE143482A BE814035A (fr) 1973-12-26 1974-04-22 Montre universelle
NL7405648A NL7405648A (nl) 1973-12-26 1974-04-26 Universele tijd aanwijzend uurwerk.
FR7414903A FR2256459B1 (da) 1973-12-26 1974-04-29
DE19742421434 DE2421434C3 (de) 1973-12-26 1974-05-03 Stellmechanismus für den Stundenzeiger und einen HilfsStundenzeiger einer Uhr
CH612774D CH612774A4 (da) 1973-12-26 1974-05-06
CH612774A CH599592B5 (da) 1973-12-26 1974-05-06
IT50812/74A IT1011402B (it) 1973-12-26 1974-05-07 Orologio con orario universale
HK453/76*UA HK45376A (en) 1973-12-26 1976-07-15 Universal time watch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00428149A US3837161A (en) 1973-12-26 1973-12-26 Universal time watch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3837161A true US3837161A (en) 1974-09-24

Family

ID=23697745

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00428149A Expired - Lifetime US3837161A (en) 1973-12-26 1973-12-26 Universal time watch

Country Status (14)

Country Link
US (1) US3837161A (da)
JP (1) JPS50117462A (da)
AU (1) AU473391B2 (da)
BE (1) BE814035A (da)
CA (1) CA983276A (da)
CH (2) CH599592B5 (da)
DK (1) DK201374A (da)
FR (1) FR2256459B1 (da)
GB (1) GB1419720A (da)
HK (1) HK45376A (da)
IT (1) IT1011402B (da)
NL (1) NL7405648A (da)
NO (1) NO136898C (da)
SE (1) SE398561B (da)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4012900A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-03-22 Bunker Ramo Corporation Setting means for estimated time of arrival clock hands
US4692031A (en) * 1985-06-20 1987-09-08 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Moon phase display clock
US4811312A (en) * 1988-07-22 1989-03-07 Emhart Industries, Inc. Timer with improved clutch and method of manufacturing the same
US4932011A (en) * 1989-11-06 1990-06-05 Timex Corporation Three hand movement for a timepiece with improved timesetting gear train
US5155712A (en) * 1992-04-20 1992-10-13 Timex Corporation Wheel and pinion assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece
FR2735570A1 (fr) * 1995-06-15 1996-12-20 Clerc Olivier Henri Lucien Dispositif de presentation en relief d'informations et/ou de mesures
US20100238771A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
US20100238772A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
US20140056112A1 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH674116GA3 (en) * 1988-04-07 1990-05-15 Watch with 12-hour and 24-hour displays - has hand-setting knob with two positions for adjustment of one or both of hour hands
DE4304000A1 (de) * 1993-02-11 1994-08-18 Skf Gmbh Spannvorrichtung für Treibriemen
DE102005010604B3 (de) * 2005-03-06 2006-07-20 Lange Uhren Gmbh Uhr
EP2602674B1 (fr) 2011-12-07 2014-06-25 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Dispositif d'affichage d'horlogerie à combinaison d'afficheurs

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695035A (en) * 1969-10-27 1972-10-03 Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis Timepiece movement
US3722207A (en) * 1970-05-22 1973-03-27 Centre Electron Horloger Universal timepiece
US3765162A (en) * 1971-02-05 1973-10-16 Suma Seikosha K K Watch indicating many times

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695035A (en) * 1969-10-27 1972-10-03 Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis Timepiece movement
US3722207A (en) * 1970-05-22 1973-03-27 Centre Electron Horloger Universal timepiece
US3765162A (en) * 1971-02-05 1973-10-16 Suma Seikosha K K Watch indicating many times

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4012900A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-03-22 Bunker Ramo Corporation Setting means for estimated time of arrival clock hands
US4692031A (en) * 1985-06-20 1987-09-08 Seikosha Co., Ltd. Moon phase display clock
US4811312A (en) * 1988-07-22 1989-03-07 Emhart Industries, Inc. Timer with improved clutch and method of manufacturing the same
US4932011A (en) * 1989-11-06 1990-06-05 Timex Corporation Three hand movement for a timepiece with improved timesetting gear train
US5155712A (en) * 1992-04-20 1992-10-13 Timex Corporation Wheel and pinion assembly with friction drive/slip coupling for a timepiece
FR2735570A1 (fr) * 1995-06-15 1996-12-20 Clerc Olivier Henri Lucien Dispositif de presentation en relief d'informations et/ou de mesures
US20100238771A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
US20100238772A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
US8210740B2 (en) * 2009-03-17 2012-07-03 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
US8277117B2 (en) * 2009-03-17 2012-10-02 Nivarox-Far S.A. Radial clamping system for a timepiece component
RU2525324C2 (ru) * 2009-03-17 2014-08-10 Ниварокс-Фар С.А. Устройство для радиального зажима детали в часах
RU2525321C2 (ru) * 2009-03-17 2014-08-10 Ниварокс-Фар С.А. Устройство для радиального зажима детали в часах
US20140056112A1 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism
US9164482B2 (en) * 2012-08-21 2015-10-20 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE398561B (sv) 1977-12-27
NO136898C (no) 1977-11-23
NO741415L (da) 1975-07-21
CA983276A (en) 1976-02-10
DK201374A (da) 1975-08-18
FR2256459B1 (da) 1977-09-30
CH599592B5 (da) 1978-05-31
JPS50117462A (da) 1975-09-13
CH612774A4 (da) 1977-07-15
DE2421434A1 (de) 1975-07-03
AU6809074A (en) 1975-10-23
GB1419720A (en) 1975-12-31
NL7405648A (nl) 1975-06-30
SE7404929L (da) 1975-06-27
BE814035A (fr) 1974-08-16
DE2421434B2 (de) 1975-10-23
NO136898B (no) 1977-08-15
IT1011402B (it) 1977-01-20
HK45376A (en) 1976-07-23
AU473391B2 (en) 1976-06-17
FR2256459A1 (da) 1975-07-25

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331