Moon phase and ground phase display device for timepiece movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a moon phase and earth phase display device (100) for a timepiece movement, the device comprising: a display (110) comprising a plurality of graphical representations (120) respectively symbolizing different consecutive phases of a celestial body; a dial (130) provided with two apertures (131) arranged to simultaneously display two diametrically opposite graphical representations (120), one graphical representation (120) representing the moon phase and the other graphical representation (120) representing the earth phase; and a driving mechanism (140) configured to drive the display (110) in a sequential movement manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly to a device for displaying time variables on a timepiece.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for displaying the moon phase and the Earth phase in a watch movement for a wristwatch. Background Technology

[0003] Moon phase displays are well-known in the watchmaking industry, as are terrestrial phase displays (i.e., those showing the portion of the Earth visible from the Moon).

[0004] Moon phase or terrestrial phase displays significantly increase the complexity of the watch movements in which they are integrated.

[0005] In addition, for aesthetic reasons, it may be desirable to display both the lunar phase and the Earth phase simultaneously.

[0006] This invention meets this requirement while simplifying the kinematics used to simultaneously display lunar and terrestrial phases as much as possible. Summary of the Invention

[0007] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a moon phase and terrestrial phase display device for a watch movement. The display device includes: a display comprising a plurality of graphical representations, each symbolizing a different consecutive phase of a celestial body; a dial having two apertures arranged to simultaneously display two graphical representations, one symbolizing the moon phase and the other symbolizing the terrestrial phase; and a drive mechanism configured to drive the display in a sequential movement manner.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the invention may also include one or more of the following features, which must be considered individually or in any combination that is technically possible.

[0009] In a particular embodiment, the display takes the form of a ring and includes multiple graphical representations and the same number of teeth, the display being designed to be driven by a drive mechanism in a sequential moving manner via the teeth.

[0010] In a particular embodiment, the display takes the form of a ring and includes thirty graphical representations and thirty teeth. The display is designed to move at a rate of one step per day via a drive mechanism, and the two openings are arranged opposite each other in the diametrical direction.

[0011] In a particular embodiment, at least one of these apertures includes aperture glass that gives an appearance different from that of the graphic representation visible in another aperture.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the graphical representation of the display is transparent or semi-transparent, such that the decoration arranged to face the side of the display opposite the dial is visible through one or each of these openings, thereby allowing the distinction between lunar and terrestrial phases within the openings.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the one or more decorations are in the form of a colored surface.

[0014] In a particular embodiment, the drive mechanism includes an hour wheel of a gear train of moving parts, with a drive wheel kinematically connected to the hour wheel via an intermediate wheel. The drive wheel is designed to cooperate with the teeth of the display by means of drive fingers carried thereon.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the display device includes a correction mechanism with a control member configured to be kinematically connected to the corrector via a series of intermediate wheels.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a watch movement having, as described above, a means for displaying the moon phase and the Earth phase. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Referring to the accompanying drawings, other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specific embodiments, given by way of example and in no way limiting, in which:

[0018] - Figure 1 This image shows a front view of a watch including a moon phase and geodetic display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] - Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The image shows a perspective view of a watch, with some components obscured to reveal the display device.

[0020] It should be noted that, for clarity, the accompanying drawings may not be drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 The illustration shows a watch 10 including a watch movement equipped with a device 100 according to the invention for displaying the moon phase and the earth phase.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the display device 100 includes a ring-shaped display 110, which includes a plurality of graphical representations 120, each symbolizing a different continuous phase of a celestial body. The celestial bodies represent the Earth or the Moon, as described in more detail below.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as such Figure 2As shown, the display 110 preferably has thirty graphical representations 120. More specifically, as indicated below, the display 110 is designed to rotate sequentially at a rate of one step per day, thereby completing one rotation every thirty days.

[0024] Another option is that the display 110 may have fewer than thirty graphical representations 120 (e.g., twenty-eight or twenty-nine) or more than thirty (e.g., thirty-one).

[0025] The display device 100 includes a dial 130 (shown on...). Figure 1 In the display 110, the dial 130 is arranged above the display 130 to obscure all graphic representations 120 except for two diametrically opposed graphic representations visible through apertures 131 provided in the dial 130. More specifically, the dial 130 is provided with two apertures 131, which are arranged such that two diametrically opposed graphic representations 120 appear simultaneously, one of which symbolizes a lunar phase and the other symbolizes a terrestrial phase.

[0026] It should be noted that the aperture 131, and therefore the visible graphic representation 120, are arranged such that they are opposite each other in the diametrical direction, i.e., such that when the display has an even number of graphic representations 120, they form an angle of 180 degrees.

[0027] For example, one of the apertures 131 may include aperture glass that gives the graphic representation 120 a different appearance from the graphic representation 120 visible in the other aperture 131, allowing the user to distinguish between lunar phases and terrestrial phases. For this purpose, the aperture glass may have a tint (e.g., blue or gray), or the aperture glass may have decorations or markings symbolizing continents or craters.

[0028] Decorations may also be made on the dial 130 near at least one of the apertures 131 (e.g., around it) to indicate which aperture 131 represents the moon phase or the earth phase.

[0029] This decoration or such decorations may also be located below the display 110, i.e., on the side facing the display 110 opposite to the dial 130, and visible through one or more openings 131. These decorations may be in the form of a colored surface, for example, formed from a disc that may or may not emit light. In this case, the graphic representation 120 is transparent or translucent. In particular, they may be formed by cutouts through the display 110.

[0030] exist Figure 1In the diagram, corresponding to the shape of the graphic representation 120 symbolizing a solid celestial body, the aperture 131 has a circular shape. However, the aperture 131 can have any shape and size suitable for viewing the graphic representation 120.

[0031] The graphical representations 120 are arranged such that they are evenly distributed around the display 110, such that two graphical representations 120 opposite each other in the diametrical direction symbolize opposite phases, such as... Figure 2 As shown in the diagram. More specifically, lunar phases occur at the same frequency as terrestrial phases, and the lunar and terrestrial phases are exactly opposite. In other words, as the visible surface of the Moon decreases from Earth's perspective, the visible surface of the Earth from the Moon increases proportionally, and vice versa.

[0032] To move the display 110, the display device 100 has a driving mechanism 140, which preferably includes a date driving mechanism. Specifically, as... Figure 2 As shown, the drive mechanism 140 includes an hour wheel 141 of a gear train of moving parts, which rotates in a manner known in the art, for example, two revolutions per day. The drive mechanism 140 also includes a transmission wheel 142, in... Figure 2 In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown, the drive wheel 142 is kinematically connected to the hour wheel 141 via an intermediate wheel 144. The drive wheel 142 is intended to be connected to the display 110, particularly as shown in the example embodiment, via a drive finger 143. Figure 2 The teeth 111 shown cooperate with those provided on the periphery of the display 110.

[0033] The number of teeth 111 of the toothed device of the display 110 is the same as the number of graphical representations 120, so that for each step produced by the display 110, a new graphical representation 120 can be seen through the aperture 131. Figure 2 In the example embodiment shown, the toothed connection of the display 110 is arranged on its inner periphery; however, it may also be arranged on its outer periphery. Preferably, as Figure 2 As shown, in order to be driven to rotate once every thirty steps, the toothed device of the display 110 includes thirty teeth 111.

[0034] In this case, the display 110 is driven sequentially. However, the display can be driven continuously by replacing the drive finger 143 with a gear that meshes with the toothed device of the display 110.

[0035] Typically, the stability of the position of the display 110 is ensured by a pawl that cooperates with the tooth 111 (not shown in the attached figure).

[0036] Advantageously, the display device 100 may include a correction mechanism 150 provided with a control member, which, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, is formed by a winding stem 151 connected to a winding button 152. The winding stem 151 is configured to be kinematically connected to a corrector 153 by means of a series of intermediate wheels 154. Such a correction mechanism 150 is shown in the figures but is not described in detail in the text because it is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0037] This invention advantageously allows for the use of existing designs of watches with date displays. This is because, for implementation, the invention requires minimal adaptation, requiring only the replacement of the watch face 130 and the display 110. Furthermore, due to the features of this invention, the quick date correction mechanism can be easily adapted to correct the moon phase and Earth phase.

[0038] More generally, it should be noted that the implementation schemes and embodiments considered above have been described by way of non-limiting examples, and therefore other alternatives are also possible.

[0039] It should be noted that, for clarity, components of watch movements known to those skilled in the art are not described in this text and do not appear in the figures.

Claims

1. A moon and earth phase display device (100) for a timepiece movement, characterized in that, The display device (100) comprises a display (110) comprising a plurality of graphical representations (120) respectively emblematic of different successive phases of celestial bodies, a dial (130) provided with two apertures (131) arranged to simultaneously display two graphical representations (120), one graphical representation (120) emblematic of the lunar phase and the other graphical representation (120) emblematic of the terrestrial phase, and a drive mechanism (140) configured to move the display (110).

2. The display device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the display (110) takes the form of a ring and comprises a number of graphical representations (120) and the same number of teeth (111), the display (110) being intended to be driven in a sequential moving manner by the drive mechanism (140) via the teeth (111).

3. The display device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the display (110) takes the form of a ring and comprises thirty graphical representations (120) and thirty teeth (111), the display (110) being intended to be moved by the drive mechanism (140) at a rate of one step per day via the teeth (111), the two apertures (131) being arranged diametrically opposite to each other.

4. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the apertures (131) comprises an aperture glass giving the graphical representation (120) a different appearance from the graphical representation (120) visible in the other aperture (131).

5. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the graphical representations (120) of the display (110) are transparent or translucent, so that a decoration arranged to face the side of the display (110) opposite to the dial (130) is visible through one or each of the apertures (131), thereby allowing to distinguish the lunar phase from the terrestrial phase in the apertures (131).

6. The display device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the one or more decorations take the form of a colored surface.

7. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive mechanism (140) comprises a minute wheel (141) of a movement train, a transmission wheel (142) being kinematically connected to the minute wheel (141) via an intermediate wheel (144), the transmission wheel (142) being intended to cooperate with the teeth (111) of the display (110) by means of a drive finger (143) carried thereby.

8. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a correction mechanism (150) provided with control members configured to be kinematically linked via a series of intermediate wheels (154) with a corrector (153).

9. A watch (10) characterized in that, The watch comprises a timepiece movement provided with a lunar and terrestrial phase display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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