Timepiece movement comprising means for displaying at least two time zones

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising means for displaying the time in at least two time zones, the display means comprising: minute display means (M), means (H1) for displaying a current hour representing a first time zone, means (H2) for displaying a local hour representing a second time zone, the means (H1) for displaying the current hour and the means (H2) for displaying the local hour are superimposed, the movement further comprising: a mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone, the mechanism being arranged to move with the means (H2) for displaying the local hour; and a mechanism for synchronizing the member (H1) for displaying the current hour and the member (H2) for displaying the local hour, the mechanism being arranged to reposition the member (H2) for displaying the local hour to overlay the member (H1) for displaying the current hour so as to leave only one hour indicating that the members (H1, H2) are visible.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of timepieces and more particularly to a timepiece movement comprising a device for displaying at least two time zones.

[0002] It is known from the prior art that timepiece movements are designed to display a plurality of time zones.

[0003] EP2008159 describes a wristwatch with a switching mechanism that can selectively display the time in either of two time zones on a single display. At the push of a button, a single hour hand selectively displays the local hour or the time in a second time zone. The switching mechanism includes a heart-shaped cam and two levers. The offset between the local hour and the hour in the second time zone is determined by the relative position of one lever relative to the other.

[0004] One of the disadvantages of the described switching mechanism is that it includes mechanisms for display selection and regulation which are very complex, involving two differentials and a very large number of components.

[0005] On the other hand, known dual time zone mechanisms can advance by the hour, by the half hour or to the nearest minute without a reset mechanism.

[0006] Depending on the mechanism, the standard requires the equivalent of twelve or twenty-four steps of correction to cover the full 360° and return to the initial position.

[0007] CN101685292A describes a mechanism for displaying two time zones, wherein the second time zone is corrected by means of a toothed ring. Such a mechanism does not allow easy correction of the time zone by incremental advancement of the hour hand showing the current hour. On the other hand, resetting the second time zone and setting the time are more complicated and time-consuming.

[0008] CH687494B5 describes a mechanism for displaying two time zones, wherein the second time zone is corrected by means of a push rod. Resetting the second time zone is time-consuming, since it requires incrementally setting the number of hours to be adjusted.

[0009] Other products, such as the one of the applicant, provide a dual time zone mechanism that is adjustable to the minute, allowing corrections in both directions via independent time mechanism levers.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece movement having at least two time zones embedded in the centre of the movement, taking over its driving force and enabling it to be reset at any time.

[0011] In the case of the invention, the complication rotates continuously with the current hour and thus completes 360° in twelve or twenty-four hours, which makes the traditional correction and reset principles unusable without the arrangement of the invention.

[0012] According to the invention, a timepiece movement comprising a device for displaying the time in at least two time zones comprises:

[0013] -Minute display component;

[0014] - means for displaying a current hour in a first time zone; and

[0015] - means for displaying the local hour representing a second time zone;

[0016] Widgets for displaying the current hour and the local hour are superimposed.

[0017] The movement also includes:

[0018] - a mechanism for setting the time in a second time zone, the mechanism being arranged to move a member for displaying the local hour, and

[0019] - a mechanism for synchronising the member for displaying the current hour and the member for displaying the local hour, the mechanism being arranged to reposition the member for displaying the local hour to overlap the member for displaying the current hour so as to leave only one hour indicating member visible.

[0020] In one embodiment, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone includes an hour wheel of a component for displaying the local hour, which cooperates with an hour wheel carrying a component for displaying the current hour, and a jumping hour setting spring is arranged on the hour wheel of the component for displaying the local hour to drive the center wheel carrying the component for displaying the local hour.

[0021] Preferably, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone comprises a rocker designed to drive a centre wheel.

[0022] In one embodiment, the mechanism for synchronizing the display of the current hour and the local hour includes a further rocker which cooperates with a wheel driving a jumping hour setting spring, the jumping hour setting spring being arranged to cooperate with a star wheel pressed on a heart-shaped cam and which drives the synchronization of the display of the current hour and the local hour when the synchronizing mechanism is actuated.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the movement comprises a first control member arranged to move the member for displaying the local hour by one twelfth of a revolution or by one twenty-fourth of a revolution each time said control member is actuated.

[0024] In one embodiment, the movement comprises a second control member arranged to synchronize a member for displaying the current hour and a member for displaying the local hour upon each actuation of the second control member, the member for displaying the local hour moving the shortest distance in either direction towards the member for displaying the current hour.

[0025] The characteristics of the invention will become more apparent after reading the description of one embodiment given purely by way of example, which is in no way limited by reference to the schematic diagram in which:

[0026] - Figure 1 A timepiece according to the invention comprising a display of two time zones is shown;

[0027] - Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a portion of a movement according to the invention;

[0028] - Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 An exploded view of the rear of the movement shown;

[0029] - Figure 4 An exploded view of the hour wheel arranged in the movement to display the hour for each time zone is shown;

[0030] - Figure 5 An exploded view of the center wheel is shown;

[0031] - Fig. 6A A view showing the mechanism for correcting the stationary hours;

[0032] - Figure 6B A view showing a mechanism for correcting the hours of activity;

[0033] - Fig. 7A a view showing the mechanism for synchronizing the hour hand of a stationary hour; and

[0034] - Figure 7B A view showing the mechanism for synchronizing the hour hand of the active hour.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the timepiece is characterized by means for displaying the hour in two time zones. The display means comprises:

[0036] - a display member in the form of a minute hand M;

[0037] - a member for displaying the current hour in a first time zone, in the form of a current hour hand H1;

[0038] - a member for displaying the local hour representing a first time zone, in the form of a local hour hand H2.

[0039] The hour hands for the current hour H1 and the local hour H2 are superimposed and positioned at the center of the movement, they are coaxial and display the two-hour time difference between the current hour H1 and the local hour H2.

[0040] In the example shown, the hour hands for the current hour H1 and the local hour H2 are positioned one above the other so that they coincide when only the current hour H1 is to be displayed. The movement also includes a mechanism for setting the time in a second time zone, the mechanism being arranged to move the local hour hand H2; and a mechanism for synchronizing the current hour hand H1 and the local hour hand H2, the mechanism being designed to reposition the local hour hand H2 superimposed with the current hour hand H1 so as to leave only one hour hand H1, H2 visible.

[0041] like Figures 2 to 5 As illustrated, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone comprises: an hour wheel 52 for the local hour hand, which cooperates with an hour wheel 9 carrying the current hour hand; a jumping hour set spring 3, which is arranged on the hour wheel 52 for the local hour hand to drive the center wheel 4 carrying the local hour hand H2.

[0042] The hour wheel 52 of the local hour hand is press-fitted onto the hour wheel of the movement 51. This hour wheel 52 sends information back via a return wheel 10 to the hour wheel 9 carrying the current hour hand.

[0043] Jumping hour set spring 3 is mounted on the hour wheel of the local hour hand and drives center wheel 4 which carries the local hour hand.

[0044] In our example, to correct the time by two hours, button 15 (see Figure 1 ) is pressed twice in succession to activate joystick 1 (see Fig. 6A and Figure 6B ). Each time the button is pressed, the rocker 1 drives the center wheel 4 one step, which is equal to one twelfth of a circle.

[0045] like Fig. 6A , Figure 6B , Fig. 7A and Figure 7B As shown, the mechanism for synchronizing the current hour hand with the local hour hand comprises another rocker 2 which is coupled to a spring 3 (see Figure 2 ) wheel 53 (see Figure 4 ) which cooperates with a jumping hour set spring arranged to cooperate with a star wheel 43 pressed on a heart-shaped cam 42 and which drives the synchronization of the current hour hand and the local hour hand when the synchronization mechanism is actuated by pressure on a button 16 positioned on the winding crown of the timepiece.

[0046] The button 16 is arranged to synchronize the current hour hand and the local hour hand whenever it is actuated, wherein the local hour hand moves the shortest distance in either direction towards the current hour hand.

[0047] In our example, pressing button 16 on the winding crown will move the local hour hand counterclockwise until it is aligned with the current hour hand.

[0048] This complication rotates continuously with the current hour and thus completes 360° in 12 hours.

[0049] According to the invention, the hour hand is synchronized like the rattrapante mechanism, but can be desynchronized in the clockwise direction and then, if necessary, catch up with the current hour hand position in one direction or the other via a heart-shaped cam defining the shortest path.

[0050] The invention thus makes it possible to display a second time zone embedded in the heart of the movement, taking over its driving force and enabling it to be reset at any time.

Claims

1. A watch movement, comprising a device for displaying the time in at least two time zones, the display device comprising: - minute display member (M); - a member (H1) for displaying a current hour representing a first time zone and a member (H2) for displaying a local hour representing a second time zone, said member (H1) for displaying said current hour and said member (H2) for displaying said local hour being superimposed; - a mechanism for setting the time in said second time zone, said mechanism being arranged to move said member (H2) for displaying said local hour, and - a mechanism for synchronizing the member (H1) for displaying the current hour and the member (H2) for displaying the local hour, the mechanism being arranged to reposition the member (H2) for displaying the local hour so as to overlap the member (H1) for displaying the current hour so as to leave only one hour indication member (H1, H2) visible Features The control member (16) is arranged to synchronize the member (H1) for displaying the current hour and the member (H2) for displaying the local hour upon each actuation of the second control member (16), the member (H2) for displaying the local hour moving the shortest distance in either direction towards the member (H1) for displaying the current hour.

2. A movement according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism (H2) for setting the time in the second time zone includes an hour wheel (52) of the component (H2) for displaying the local hour, the hour wheel cooperating with the hour wheel (9) carrying the component (H1) for displaying the current hour, and a jumping hour positioning spring (3) is arranged on the hour wheel (52) of the component (H2) for displaying the local hour to drive the center wheel (4) carrying the component (H2) for displaying the local hour.

3. Movement according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism (H2) for setting the time in the second time zone comprises a rocker (1) arranged to drive the centre wheel (4).

4. A movement according to claim 3, wherein the mechanism for synchronizing the display of the current hour (H1) and the local hour (H2) comprises a further rocking arm (2), which cooperates with a wheel (53) driving a jumping hour positioning spring (3), the jumping hour positioning spring being arranged to cooperate with a star wheel (43) pressed on a heart-shaped cam (42), the star wheel driving the synchronization of the display of the current hour (H1) and the local hour (H2) when the synchronization mechanism is actuated.

5. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control member (15) arranged to move the member (15) for displaying the local hour (H2) by one twelfth of a revolution or one twenty-fourth of a revolution each time the control member is actuated.

6. Movement according to one of claims 2 to 5, when claim 5 or 6 is dependent on claim 2, wherein the hour wheel of the movement (51) is press-fitted onto the hour wheel (52) of the local hour display (H2).

7. A timepiece comprising a movement according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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