Moon phase and ground phase display device for timepiece movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a moon and earth phase display device (100) for a timepiece movement, comprising a dial (130) on which are arranged a plurality of graphical representations (112) representing different consecutive phases of a celestial body, respectively, said display device (100) further comprising a drive mechanism (140) configured to move a display (110), the display (110) comprises at least two indicator members (111) having different appearances, the indicator members (111) being configured to represent the moon and the earth, respectively, such that positions of the indicator members (111) relative to the graphical representation (112) represent a moon phase indication and an earth phase indication, respectively.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular to a device for displaying time variables on a timepiece.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for displaying the phases of the moon and the phases of the earth for a watch movement. BACKGROUND

[0003] The phases of the moon display are well known in the watchmaking industry, as are the phases of the earth display, i.e. the display of the part of the earth visible from the moon.

[0004] The phases of the moon or the phases of the earth display device add significant complexity to the watch movement in which they are integrated.

[0005] Furthermore, it can be desirable to display the phases of the moon and the phases of the earth simultaneously for aesthetic reasons.

[0006] The present invention meets this need while simplifying the kinematics for displaying the phases of the moon and the phases of the earth simultaneously as much as possible. SUMMARY

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a device for displaying the phases of the moon and the phases of the earth for a watch movement. The display device comprises a dial on which a plurality of graphical representations are arranged, respectively symbolizing the different successive phases of a celestial body. The display device also comprises a driving mechanism configured to move a display comprising at least two indicator members having different appearances, configured to respectively symbolize the moon and the earth, so that the position of the indicator members relative to the graphical representations respectively represents a moon phase indication and an earth phase indication.

[0008] In particular embodiments, the invention can also include one or more of the following features, which must be considered separately or according to any technically possible combination.

[0009] In particular embodiments, the indicator members take the form of hands and the graphical representations are distributed uniformly around the periphery of the dial.

[0010] In particular embodiments, the display comprises at least two indicator members in the form of hands arranged successively to each other to form a straight angle.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the display comprises a plurality of teeth via which the display is intended to be moved by the driving mechanism at a rate of one step per day.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the driving mechanism comprises a minute wheel of a movement train, the driving wheel being kinematically connected to the minute wheel via a series of intermediate wheels, the driving wheel being intended to cooperate with a transmission wheel by means of a driving finger carried thereby.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the display device comprises a correction mechanism provided with control members configured to be kinematically linked with the corrector via a series of intermediate wheels.

[0014] The application also relates to a watch comprising a timepiece movement provided with a device for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Other features and advantages of the application will become apparent in the light of the following detailed description of specific embodiments, given by way of example and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0016] - Figure 1 a front view of a watch comprising a device for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth according to one example embodiment of the application is shown,

[0017] - Figure 2 a perspective view of the watch in Figure 1 is shown, in which several components have been masked to reveal the display device.

[0018] It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, for the sake of clarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 A watch 10 in an example embodiment of the application is shown, comprising a timepiece movement provided with a device 100 for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth.

[0020] The display device 100 comprises a display 110 comprising at least two indicator members 111 having different appearances, the indicator members 111 being configured to respectively symbolize the moon and the earth, as described in more detail below.

[0021] As can be seen in Figure 1 , the display device 100 further comprises a dial 130 on which a plurality of graphical representations 112 respectively symbolizing different successive phases of the celestial bodies are arranged. In particular, the dial 130 comprises at least four graphical representations 112 evenly distributed around its periphery, i.e. closer to the periphery of the dial 130 than to the center of the dial 130. In the example embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the dial 130 comprises eight graphical representations 112. In the example embodiment shown in Figure 1 , two diametrically opposed graphical representations 112 symbolize opposite phases.

[0022] Thus, the position of the indicator members 111 relative to the graphical representations 112 respectively represents a moon phase indication and an earth phase indication.

[0023] In Figure 1In the example embodiment of the application shown in the figures, the indicator members 111 take the form of pointers. In order to each have a different appearance from one another to symbolize the Moon and the Earth respectively, the indicator members 111 can have their own color, for example one can be blue, thereby symbolizing the Earth; and the other can be gray, thereby symbolizing the Moon. More particularly, the indicator members 111 can each have a body whose free end forms a point, the body and / or the point being decorated so that the indicator members 111 are different from one another.

[0024] In Figure 1 In the example shown in the figures, the indicator members 111 are arranged continuously from one another so as to form a straight angle. Thus, in this example, the pointers are diametrically opposite one another. More particularly, the frequency of occurrence of the phases of the Moon is identical to the frequency of occurrence of the phases of the Earth, and the phases of the Moon and the phases of the Earth are exactly opposite. In other words, as the surface of the Moon visible from the Earth decreases, the surface of the Earth visible from the Moon increases by the same proportion and vice versa. The dial 130 has an even number of graphical representations 112, so that the indicator members 111 simultaneously point to opposite graphical representations 112.

[0025] The pointers can constitute a single one-piece element or two independent elements stacked together and rotating integrally.

[0026] As Figure 1 shown in the figures, the graphical representations 112 are arranged on the dial 130 so that they can be indicated continuously by the indicator members 111. To this end, the drive mechanism 140 with which the display device 100 is equipped is configured to move the display 110.

[0027] In Figure 2 the example embodiment shown in the figures, the display 110 comprises a transmission wheel 113 intended to be moved by the drive mechanism 140 at a rate of one step per day via the transmission wheel 113. The transmission wheel 113 is rigidly connected to the indicator members 111 in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example by means of a rod onto which the wheel and the members are driven.

[0028] To move the display 110, the drive mechanism 140 preferably comprises a date drive mechanism. In particular, as Figure 2 shown in the figures, the drive mechanism 140 comprises a minute wheel 141 of a movement train, the minute wheel 141 rotating in a manner known in the prior art, for example two revolutions per day. The drive mechanism 140 also comprises a drive wheel 142, in Figure 2 In the example embodiment of the application shown in the figures, the drive wheel 142 is kinematically connected to the minute wheel 141 by a series of intermediate wheels 144. The drive wheel 142 is intended to cooperate via a drive finger 143 with a toothed interface of the transmission wheel 113 of the display 110.

[0029] In the example embodiment shown in the attached drawings, the transmission wheel 113 preferably has an even number of teeth, for example 28 or 30. In particular, to make the indicator member 111 point to the graphic representation 112 at each step of the movement of the display 110, the number of teeth of the transmission wheel 113 can be equal to the number of graphic representations 112. In this case, it should be understood that, in the example embodiment of the application shown in Figure 2 In the example embodiment of the application shown in

[0030] Conventionally, as shown in Figure 2 The stability of the position of the display 110 is ensured by a pawl cooperating with the teeth of the transmission wheel 113, as shown in

[0031] Advantageously, the display device 100 can comprise a correction mechanism 150 provided with control members, in the example embodiment of the application shown in the attached drawings, the control members are formed by a crown handle shaft 151 linked to an upper crown button 152. The crown handle shaft 151 is configured to be kinematically linked to a corrector 153 by means of a series of intermediate wheels 154. Such a correction mechanism 150 is shown in the figures, but not described in detail in the text, as it is well known to the person skilled in the art.

[0032] The present application advantageously makes it possible to exploit the existing design of a watch with a date display. This is because, to implement it, the present application requires very few adaptations, only the dial 130 and the display 110 of the watch 10 need to be replaced. Moreover, thanks to the features of the present application, the quick date correction mechanism can easily be adapted to correct the lunar phase and the terrestrial phase.

[0033] More generally, it should be noted that the above-considered embodiments and examples have been described by way of non-limiting example, and therefore other alternatives are also feasible.

[0034] It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, components known to the person skilled in the art of a timepiece movement have not been 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 comprises a dial (130) on which a plurality of graphical representations (112) are arranged, respectively symbolizing different successive phases of celestial bodies, the display device (100) further comprising a drive mechanism (140) configured to move a display (110) comprising at least two indicator members (111) having different appearances, respectively symbolizing the Moon and the Earth, so that the position of the indicator members (111) relative to the graphical representations (112) respectively represents a lunar phase indication and a terrestrial phase indication.

2. The display device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the indicator members (111) take the form of hands and the graphical representations (112) are uniformly distributed around the periphery of the dial (130).

3. The display device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display (110) comprises at least two indicator members (111) in the form of hands arranged in succession to each other so as to form a straight angle.

4. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display (110) comprises a transmission wheel (113) via which the display (110) is intended to be moved by the drive mechanism (140) at a rate of one step per day.

5. The display device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism (140) comprises a time cannon wheel (141) of a movement train, a drive wheel (142) being kinematically connected to the time cannon wheel (141) via a series of intermediate wheels (144), the drive wheel (142) being intended to cooperate with the transmission wheel (113) by means of a drive finger (143) carried thereby.

6. The display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a correction mechanism (150) provided with a control member configured to be kinematically linked to a corrector (153) via a series of intermediate wheels (154).

7. A watch (10) characterized in that, It comprises a timepiece movement provided with a lunar and terrestrial phase display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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