US3864904A

US3864904A - Watch with an adjustable time interval hand

Info

Publication number: US3864904A
Application number: US467475A
Authority: US
Inventors: Botho Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-08
Filing date: 1974-05-06
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11
Also published as: FR2229091B3; FR2229091A1

Abstract

In a watch, a time interval hand is mounted on a shaft with the minute and hour hands and it is axially displaceable on the shaft between a first position interconnected to the minute and hour hands and a second position where it is released from its interconnection and can be manually rotated about the shaft. An annular legend-bearing disc is provided about the watch dial for use with the time interval hand. A locking member is provided to hold the time interval hand in the first position, however, when it is moved to an unlocked position, a spring associated with the time interval hand automatically displaces it to the second position.

Description

United States Patent 91 Jung 7 [451 Feb. 11,1975

1 1 WATCH WITH AN ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVAL IIAND [76] Inventor: Botho Jung, Gruneburgw'eg 140,

D-6000 Frankfurt (Main), Germany [22] Filed: May 6, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 467,475

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 8, 1973 Germany 172277[U] [52] US. Cl. 58/22.9 [51] Int. Cl. G04f 3/02 [58] Field of Search 58/229, 39.5, 74, 85.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,255 7/1933 Porter 58/22.9 1,919,256 7/1933 'Porter 58/229 2,344,853 3/1944 De Haes 58/229 2,973,659 3/1961 Gallagher et a1. 58/229 X 3,431,720 3/1969 Ehner et al. 58/229 3,534,545 10/1970 Oster et a1. 58/229 X R22,570 Y 11/1944 Lux 58/229 Primary Examiner-George H. M iller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady and Stanger [57] ABSTRACT In a watch, a time interval hand is mounted on a shaft with the minute and hour hands and it is axially displaceable on the shaft between a first position interconnected to the minute and hour hands and a second position where it is released from its interconnection and can be manually rotated about the shaft. An annular legend-bearing disc is provided about the watch dial for use with the time interval hand. A locking member is provided to hold the time interval hand in the first position, however, when it is moved to an unlocked position, a spring associated with the time interval hand automatically displaces it to the second I position.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAT-M ami 1 1925 SHEET 2 OF 2 .FlG.2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a watch with a manually settable time interval hand and an interchangeable legend-bearing disc associated with the watch dial, and, more particularly, it concerns an arrangement for selectively locking and releasing the time interval hand.

Devices having a manually settable time interval hand are known in the art. In general they consist of a watch movement, and a dial, scale, or disc bearing a wide range of legends. The time interval hand is attached to a shaft which has a knob or a reinforcement at its end projecting outwardly from the dial or the legend-bearing disc, by means of which the time interval hand can be rotated counterclockwise. As a result of such rotation, while the time interval hand traverses the period of time for which it is set, the watch movement is wound. With such a watch it is not possible to tell the time of day, making it always necessary to have a second watch for that purpose.

It has also been proposed to provide a watch with a separate time interval hand. In such an arrangement, a small disc with hour and minute hands is eccentrically mounted on a relatively large disc in such a way that its edge is situated outside the center of the disc. Through the center of the disc, there has been placed a separate shaft for the time interval hand which is provided with its own train of wheels. The time interval hand is wound by a counterclockwise motion. Such a device is hard to read as well as being costly because of the separate train of wheels, as a result it was not successful on the market and due to subsequent developments it was abandoned.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present in- I vention to provide a watch having a manually settable time interval hand, which permits reading of the time of day as well as to set a period of time for performing a time-dependent operation. Such a watch is easy to read, is designed very simply with a standard watch movement withoutan additional train of wheels and permits the use of any legend-bearing disc in addition to the dial.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages previously experienced are overcome by means of a watch having a manually settable time interval hand, which is characterized by the fact that the time interval hand is arranged above the minute and second hands on the same shaft, it is positively connected with the shaft in its working position by meshed engagement with a time interval wheel, it runs synchronously with the minute and second hands, and it is axially displaceable over a short, limited distance from its working position on the shaft and, when not in operation, it can be freely rotated around the axis of the shaft.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

, 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view of a watch face embodying the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a view, partially broken away, of a train of wheels for the watch in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION IIIIII of In FIG. 1 a standard dial 1 is illustrated with a minute hand 3 and an hour hand 4 positioned on a shaft 5. Above these two hands, a time interval hand 2 is also arranged on the shaft 5. In its working position, the time interval hand 2 is positively connected with the shaft 5. In that position, the time interval hand 2 meshes with a wheel, not shown in FIG. 1, and rotates synchronously with the minute hand 3 and'the hour hand 4 of the watch.

In order to move the time interval hand 2 out of its working position when not in use, it is axially displaceable over a short, limited distance along the shaft 5. A wide range of constructions of this type are known-and may be used for the purpose of solving the object at hand. To permit proper control of the time interval hand 2, for the purpose of moving and setting it, a knob or enlargement 6 is provided at the outer end of an inner shaft section 5" mounted within the shaft 5, note FIG. 3. The minute hand 3 and the hour hand 4 remain, of course, unaffected by the axial displacement of the time interval hand 2.

The time interval hand 2 can also be designed to be automatically disengageable, with disengagement occurring at a zero position. For this purpose, too, known arrangements are available.

Moreover, a signal transmitter of any known design can be arranged in the final position or in intermediate positions of the time interval hand so that optical and- /or acoustical signals indicate the expiration of the setv period or the expiration of a set intermediary period.

An exemplified embodiment of the design of the train of wheels for the watch in accordance with the invention is illustrated schematically andpartially broken away in FIG. 2 and 3. In this arrangement, the shaft 5 of the hands is formed out of three concentric

hollow shafts

5, 5", and 5", of which the outer hollow shaft 5' carries the hour hand 4, the middle hollow shaft 5" the minute hand 3, and the inner hollo'w shaft 5" the time interval hand 2. The inner hollow shaft 5" is axially displaceably and pivotably fitted onto a bearing bolt 9 mounted to the movement casing 8 and terminates in a flange 10 on which a Z-shaped spring 11 is mounted, note FIG. 2. This spring 11 engages a sawtooth ring 13 with its bent ends 12 in the manner of a ratchet if the components are in the working position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this example the sawtooth ring 13 forms the time interval wheel and is mounted concentrically on the minute gear wheel 14, which is attached to the middle hollow shaft 5" in a manner to be explained below and which mates with a driving pinion 15. The driving pinion 15 is mounted to the drive shaft 16 of the watch movement, not shown in further detail, which can be of any known design and, preferably, uses a battery as a power source.

In the working position illustrated in FIG. 3, the minute gear wheel 14 carries the time interval hand 2 along via the sawtooth ring 13 and the spring 11 so that the the same angular speed in the same directionof rotation. Inserted between the minute hand gear wheel 14 and the flange is a pressure helical spring 17 causing, in the zero position of the time interval hand 2, an automatic disengagement of the spring 11 from the sawtooth ring 13. In that event, a locking member 18 mounted to the flange 10 and maintaining in working position the positive connection between the spring 11 and the sawtooth ring 13, enters a depression 19 (FIG. 2) as a result of which the spring 17 axially displaces the inner hollow shaft 5" and the time interval hand 2 over a short distance so that the hand 2 is arrested in its zero position. Positioned on the outer end of the shaft 5 is a setting knob 6, shown in FIG. 3, which is twist-resistantly affixed onto the inner hollow shaft 5". In the disengaged rest position, the time interval hand 2 can be freely rotated by means of the setting knob 6, however, in the embodiment illustrated this is not possible'on account of the described engagement of the locking member 18 in the recess 19. In its working position, however, the time interval hand 2 can be rotated clockwise by means of the setting knob 6 if the engagement between the locking member 18 and the recess 19 is neutralized through pulling on the setting knob 6, 'that is to say, by moving the inner hollow shaft 5" outwardly through axial displacement. Following a rotation by 360 during which the bent ends 12 of the spring 11 skip over the teeth of the sawtooth ring 13 and run ahead of the rotary motion of the minute wheel 14 provided by the watch movement, the rest position is attained again in which the time interval hand 2 is automatically'disengaged as a result of the means described Followi ng the pulling outward of the setting knob 6, the time interval hand can be manually turned into any desired angular position and is immediately positively taken along from that position by the watch movement. 1

To permit setting the time of day by means of the hands 3 and 4, the attachment between the middle hollow shaft 5" and the minute wheel 14 is designed in customary fashion in such a way that a slip clutch is provided between the pinion 20 twist-resistantly mounted on the middle hollow shaft 5" and the minute gear wheel 14 whose friction contact can be neutralized by setting means (not shown). The pinion 20 mates with a larger toothed wheel 22 driving the hour gear wheel 24 fixed on the outer hollow shaft 5' via a smaller toothed wheel 23 in a manner customary with such watch movements. The

wheels

22 and 23 are mounted rotatably and axially undisplaceably on a bearing bolt 25. A metallic support plate 26 supports the

wheels

14, 20 and 24 situated on the shaft 5, respectively the outer and middle

hollow shafts

5 and 5", counter to the force of the pressure helical spring 17 and prevents the axial displacement of these components.

For the purpose of electrical actuation of a single transmitter in the zero position of the time interval hand 2, a microswitch 27, see FIG. 2, is mounted in the movement housing 8, and its control arm 28 is actuated by a tongue 29 mounted on the flange 10. Such microswitches can be adjustably provided on the watch casing for setting intermediary positions, thereby affording optical and/or acoustic signals indicating the intermediate positions during the revolution of the time interval hand 2.

FIG. 3Yalso shows the dial land an annular legend bearing disc 7 which, in this exemplified embodimenni is interchangeably fitted onto a-projecting crystal 30 abutting against the flange 31 of-the watch casing.

In the embodiment illustrated, dots are shown on the dial to denote hours, whereas the dial 1 bears the

numbers

5, 10 and so on up to 60 for the time interval hand 2. In lieu of these numbers, other symbols can be used since telling time by the time interval hand is unessential, because time can be read by means of the minute and hour hands. The rotary speed of the time interval hand can be adjusted to the'object of the watch and set accordingly.

This novel watch arrangement is suited, in particular, to indicate work cycles to be performed sequentially like those required in cooking. Accordingly, the dial 1 can be surrounded by a legend-bearing disc 7 listing the work cycles A, B, C, D, etc. The time interval hand 2 is longer than the radius of the dial 1 so'that its free end 2a projects beyond the edge 1a of the dial 1 and rotates 1 position through axial displacement into its working position. If it is intended to start with the work phase A corresponding normally to the rest position of the time interval hand 2, that hand need only be axially pushed into its operating position.

Interchangeable legend-bearing discs imprinted with different work cycles can be provided for the watch. For that purpose, the legend-bearing discs are annularly-shaped with a centrall cut-out of the size of the watch dial 1 and an indentation in the cut-out affords passage of the free end 2a of the time interval hand 2. A number of devices are available for the attachment of the interchangeable indicator dials and can be selected as desired. They can be attached to the edge 1a of the dial 1, to the watch casing 8,'or at any other suitable point of the watch. The legend-bearing discs can be provided with cooking recipes whose sequential work cycles are listed chronometrically around the disc. The time interval hand will then indicate the respective phase to be initiated and completed for the preparation of a dish. The combination of the watch and the time interval hand is very simple and permits a compact design of the entire device, offering simultaneously further combination possibilities through the use of interchangeable legend-bearing discs.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A watch comprising a shaft, a minute hand mounted on said shaft, first means associated with said minute hand for rotating it about said shaft,'an hour hand mounted on said shaft, second means associated with said hour hand for rotating it about said shaft, a dial positioned transversely of and extending outwardly from said shaft and located so that said minute and hour hands pass over said dial, a legend-bearing disc associatedwith said dial, wherein the improvement comprises a time interval hand mounted on said shaft ated with said time interval hand and mounted on said shaft for axial displacement thereon between a first position for positively connecting said time interval hand for rotation with said minute hand, and a second position for freely rotating said time interval hand around the axis of said shaft.

2. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a casing encloses said shaft, a crystal mounted in said casing and forming a closure over said minute hand, second hand and time interval hand, said third hollow shaft extending through said crystal, and a knob mounted on the outer end of said third hollow shaft outwardly from said crystal so that by gripping said knob said third hollow shaft can be axially displaced for selectively setting said time interval hand.

3. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said legend-bearing disc is an annular member having a central opening and said annular member is disposed outwardly about the circumferential edge of said dial, and said time interval hand extends radially outwardly from said shaft with its free end located outwardly from the circumferential edge of said dial so that it passes over said legend-bearing disc.

4. A watch, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said leencloses said shaft and supports said dial and said legend-bearing disc, a locking member positioned on said casing for providing locking engagement with said le- 6 gend bearing disc.

means comprises a minute hand gear wheel mounted on said shaft, and a sawtooth ring secured to said minute hand gear wheel, said third means comprises a first spring axially displaceable on said shaft and engageable with said sawtooth for rotation of said time interval hand with said minute hand. I

8. A watch, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said shaft comprises a first hollow shaft supporting said second means, a second hollow shaft coaxial with and positioned within said first hollow shaft and supporting said first means, a third hollow shaft coaxial with and positioned within said second hollow shaft and supporting said third means, and a bearing pin extending into one end of and supporting said third hollow shaft so that it is axially displaceable on said bearing pin.

9. A watch, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a flange is secured to and extends outwardly from the end of said third hollow shaft mounted on said bearing pin,- said first spring is Z-shaped and is mounted on said flange, said third means includes a locking member secured to said flange and engageable with said bearing pin for locking said time interval hand in the firstposition and being movable into an unlocked position, and a second spring positioned between said first spring and said minute hand gear wheel for biasing said time interval hand into the second position when said locking member is in the unlocked position.

10. A watch, as set forth in claim 9, including a signal transmitter, a member secured to said flange and displaceable into the path of said signal transmitter for providing a signal when a predetermined position of.

said time interval hand has been reached.

* l l =l

Claims

1. A watch comprising a shaft, a minute hand mounted on said shaft, first means associated with said minute hand for rotating it about said shaft, an hour hand mounted on said shaft, second means associated with said hour hand for rotating it about said shaft, a dial positioned transversely of and extending outwardly from said shaft and located so that said minute and hour hands pass over said dial, a legend-bearing disc associated with said dial, wherein the improvement comprises a time interval hand mounted on said shaft and arranged to pass over said dial, third means associated with said time interval hand and mounted on said shaft for axial displacement thereon between a first position for positively connecting said time interval hand for rotation with said minute hand, and a second position for freely rotating said time interval hand around the axis of said shaft.

4. A watch, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said legend-bearing disc is interchangeably mounted about said dial and the diameter of its central opening corresponds substantially to the diameter of the circumferential edge of said dial.

5. A watch, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said dial has a locking member on its circumferential edge for providing locking engagement with said legend-bearing disc.

6. A watch, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a casing encloses said shaft and supports said dial and said legend-bearing disc, a locking member positioned on said casing for providing locking engagement with said legend-bearing disc.

7. A watch, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a minute hand gear wheel mounted on said shaft, and a sawtooth ring secured to said minute hand gear wheel, said third means comprises a first spring axially displaceable on said shaft and engageable with said sawtooth for rotation of said time interval hand with said minute hand.

9. A watch, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a flange is secured to and extends outwardly from the end of said third hollow shaft mounted on said bearing pin, said first spring is Z-shaped and is mounted on said flange, said third means includes a locking member secured to said flange and engageable with said bearing pin for locking said time interval hand in the first position and being movable into an unlocked position, and a second spring positioned between said first spring and said minute hand gear wheel for biasing said time interval hand into the second position when said locking member is in the unlocked position.

10. A watch, as set forth in claim 9, including a signal transmitter, a member secured to said flange and displaceable into the path of said signal transmitter for providing a signal when a predetermined position of said time interval hand has been reached.