ON-DEMAND DISPLAY MECHANISM FOR CLOCK

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a clockwork display mechanism on demand, comprising a plurality of primary mechanisms each capable of determining the value of a quantity, and at least one actuator operable by a user for selecting the display of the instantaneous value of a particular quantity determined by one of the primary mechanisms, each display being carried out by the cooperation of a movable display, comprising a hand or a disc, with a complementary display comprising at least one graduated index.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising at least one such display mechanism.

[0003] The invention relates to the field of watch display mechanisms. Background of the invention

[0004] Complication timepieces are popular with users, but the displays quickly become difficult to read when they involve a wide variety of measurements. The small size of the markings exacerbates the reading difficulty. And there is a risk of confusion for the user if each display is not unambiguous.

[0005] Document EP1959317A1, in the name of MAURICE LACROIX, describes a switchable transmission mechanism intended for integration into a watch movement. It comprises a transmission pinion driven in rotation by a first moving part of the movement to represent a first piece of information to be displayed. An element carrying a first split-seconds heart is mounted freely on the transmission pinion and is driven in rotation by the first or a second moving part of the movement to represent a second piece of information to be displayed. A second split-seconds heart is fixed to the transmission pinion. A transmission wheel is mounted freely around the transmission pinion and carries a first, or respectively a second, hammer pre-stressed by a first, or respectively a second, pre-stress spring against the first, or respectively, heart.a commutator wheel being rotatably mounted on the periphery of the transmission wheel and carrying a first, respectively a second, cam acting on the first, respectively second, hammer so as to alternately break contact between the first hammer and the first heart, respectively the second hammer and the second heart, in order to switch the position of the transmission wheel according to the first, respectively the second, information to be displayed, an intermediate control wheel being freely mounted around the transmission pinion and meshing with the commutator wheel, the intermediate control wheel being fixed to a control wheel that can be rotated in a controlled manner by means of a control mechanism of the transmission mechanism.

[0006] Document JP H08 220257, issued on behalf of RHYTHM WATCH, describes a multifunctional display clock capable of clearly showing the time and other information. The first dial has a time index to display a portion of the time, and an information index to display information other than the time. Similarly, the second dial has a second time index that obscures the first information index of the first dial and complements it. In this case, the time indicated by the first and second time indices, and the information indicated by the first information index, can be clearly selected for display by moving the second dial.

[0007] Document EP2887158A1, issued on behalf of ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, describes a watch setting device designed to be affixed to the crystal of a watch with multiple display means. This device is arranged to allow the user to view said display means during their setting. The device includes at least one indexing mark for its angular indexing relative to a reference point on the watch, and for at least one specific display of the watch, it provides at least one additional piece of information related to that specific display to facilitate its setting.

[0008] Document JP2014102189A describes a timepiece in which the same set of hands can be used, on demand, to display the current time and / or additional information. The timepiece has a dial with apertures beneath which a disc bearing graduated markers can move to reveal to the user the markers relating to the additional information to be displayed. Summary of the invention

[0009] As is well known, watches can display information using hands or apertures. It is also known that memory systems allow two different indications to be displayed on demand on the same display, for the same size.

[0010] The invention aims to enable the display of two indications of different magnitudes, or having different units, on the same display medium, and in particular but not limited to, to achieve the combination of the display of the month and the date on the same display.

[0011] The invention thus aims to provide the user of a watch with reliable information relating to the quantity whose position he observes, with a simplified display, and advantageously larger than in known mechanisms.

[0012] For this purpose, the invention relates to an on-demand clock display mechanism, according to claim 1.

[0013] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising at least one such display mechanism. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, with reference to the attached drawings, where: there figure 1 represents, schematically and in front view, a watch comprising an on-demand display mechanism according to the invention, switchable between a date display position and a current month display position, by the same hand and on the same graduated sector; figure 2 represents, in a similar way to the figure 1 , another watch featuring a ring with apertures and a ring graduated in numerals for the days and letters for the months, movable relative to each other, shown in a month display position; the figure 3 represents, in a similar way to the figure 1, another watch featuring a ring with apertures and a ring graduated in numerals for the days and letters for the months, movable relative to each other, shown in a date display position; the figure 4 represents, in a similar way to the figure 1 , a disc of such a watch featuring a graduated scale alternating between numerals for the days and letters for the months; the figure 5 represents, in a similar way to the figure 1, such a mechanism for displaying the current month or date on demand, comprising an actuator for controlling a column wheel which in turn controls the position of a control rocker for an isolator, which isolator forms one stage of a block of coaxial and superimposed moving parts further comprising a month wheel equipped with a month lever and a month spring and capable of interfering with this isolator, a day wheel equipped with a day lever and a day spring, and a display moving part carrying a pointer and a control heart which is capable of cooperating both with the day lever with which it is in permanent contact, and with the month lever with which it is in contact when the user presses the actuator button; the figure 6 is a block diagram representing a watch with several such display mechanisms. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0015] The invention relates to a clockwork display mechanism 100 on demand, comprising a plurality of primary mechanisms 10 each capable of determining the value of a quantity, and at least one actuator 20 operable by a user for selecting the display of the instantaneous value of a particular quantity determined by one of the primary mechanisms 10. Each display is made by the cooperation of a movable display 1, comprising a hand or a disc, with a complementary display 2 comprising at least one graduated index 3.

[0016] Display 1 and / or complementary display 2 is common to all displays that can be produced by display mechanism 100.

[0017] More specifically, both the display 1 and the complementary display 2 are common to all the displays that the display mechanism 100 can produce.

[0018] More specifically, the additional display 2 has a plurality of graduated indexes 3, each corresponding to the display of the value of a particular quantity.

[0019] According to the invention: or the additional display 2 is movable relative to a window 4, so as to show, at any given moment, only one graduated index 3 in view of the user; or the display mechanism 100 includes a window 4, which is movable above the additional display 2, so as to show, at any given moment, only one graduated index 3 in view of the user.

[0020] More specifically, the 100 display mechanism includes a single disc, which carries all 3 graduated indexes.

[0021] More specifically, the display mechanism 100 includes a quantity indicator 5 associated with each graduated index 3 for displaying to the user the name of the quantity whose value is displayed at a given time, or a symbol representing that quantity.

[0022] In one variant, such a magnitude indicator 5 is movable relative to a window 6, so as to show, at any given moment, only one name or magnitude symbol to the user.

[0023] In another variant, the display mechanism 100 includes a window 6 which is movable above the size indicator 5, so as to show, at any given moment, only one size name or symbol to the user.

[0024] More specifically, the 100 display mechanism includes a single disc, which carries all the magnitude indicators 5.

[0025] More specifically, the display mechanism 100 comprises a single disc carrying all the graduated indexes 3 and all the magnitude indicators 5.

[0026] More specifically, each of the primary mechanisms 10 is a mechanical memory mechanism. More specifically, when the display mechanism 100 includes an aperture 6, this mechanical memory mechanism is arranged to control the relative position between the magnitude indicator 5 and the aperture 6. In a particular variant, at least one of the mechanical memory mechanisms is a mechanism comprising at least one memory wheel, notably as described by document EP2362276B1 on behalf of MONTRES BREGUET SA.

[0027] More specifically, the actuator 20 is arranged to be operated by a simple press by the user, to control the change of display value from one quantity to the value of another quantity, according to a fixed sequence of different quantities.

[0028] In one variant, the actuator 20 is arranged to take, upon action by the user, different positions each corresponding to the display of the value of a different quantity.

[0029] More specifically, the mobile display 1 is a retrograde display.

[0030] More specifically, the 100 display mechanism concerns quantities that all have different units.

[0031] More specifically, one of the primary mechanisms 10 is a display of the months.

[0032] The invention lends itself well to a wide variety of primary mechanisms 10, including but not limited to: date display mechanism; power reserve display mechanism; alarm mode display mechanism; day / night display mechanism; AM / PM display mechanism; time zone display mechanism; ambient pressure display mechanism; ambient temperature display mechanism.

[0033] The invention also relates to a 1000 timepiece comprising at least one such display mechanism 100.

[0034] The invention is illustrated for a particular, non-limiting case, where the mechanism according to the invention allows the display of two distinct clock values ​​to be performed by the same display, here a single hand. In this example illustrated by the Figures 1 And 5 The primary mechanisms 10 are a date mechanism and a month mechanism, which may naturally include common elements.

[0035] This particular embodiment makes it possible to obtain the configuration visible on the Figures 1 And 2 with the display of the date and month, alternately by pushing a button, and twelve equidistant dates, including twelve successive dates, specifically the first twelve dates, serving as the month number. figure 1 illustrates the date display position, and the figure 2 the display position for the current month.

[0036] In particular, the actuator 20 is arranged to control the position of a column wheel 12 determining the position of a control rocker 14 arranged to control an isolator 15, which is arranged to disengage one of the primary mechanisms 10 of the display 1 in an inactive state of the actuator 20, and to engage it with the display 1 when the actuator 20 is activated, and so as to then exert on the display 1 a torque greater than that exerted on the same display 1 by another primary mechanism 10 that comprises the display mechanism 100.

[0037] Preferably, but not exclusively, the insulator 15 is coaxial with three other moving parts; their superposition comprises four levels: a first level comprising a display moving part with the display 1, which is integral with a display core 18, which extends further over a second and a third level; the second level comprising a first wheel 16 of a first primary mechanism 10 carrying a first lever 161 returned to the display core 18 by a first spring 162; the third level comprising a second wheel 17 of a second primary mechanism 10 carrying a second lever 171 returned to the display core 18 by a second spring 172; and a fourth level comprising the insulator 15, which carries a locking element or a pin 150.extending into the third level so as to interact with the second lever 171 to keep it away from the display core 18 in the absence of user action on the actuator 20.,

[0038] The display mechanism 100 thus comprises the following: an actuator 20 which controls the pivoting of a first control rocker 11 to control the rotation of a column wheel, or similar; this first control rocker 11 has an elastic arm 111 carrying a drive finger 112 at its distal end; a column wheel 12, pivoting about an axis D12, which conventionally has external teeth 121 with which the finger 112 cooperates for its drive, and the central crenellated part having an alternation of columns 123 and clearances 122 and; this column wheel 12 is held in position by a column wheel jumper 13; a second control rocker 14, pivoting about an axis D14, for the control of a memory isolator and date / month display; this second control rocker 14 has a lug 141 arranged to cooperate with a clearance 122 of the column wheel 12, in certain relative positions, and as seen in the position shown in dashed line;it also includes an arm 142, bearing one or more teeth 143 at its distal end, two teeth in the case of the; figure 5 more particularly, this arm 142 is an elastic arm whose body consists of elastic blades 144 and 145; a memory isolator 15, rotating around the axis D0, and which has teeth 151 with which each tooth 143 of the second control rocker 14 cooperates in turn; a date wheel 16, also rotating around the axis D0, and driven by a classic date mechanism not detailed here, and which has 31 teeth; a month wheel 17, also rotating around the axis D0, and driven by a classic month mechanism not detailed here, and which has 12 teeth, which occupy only part of the circumference of this month wheel 17; a display core 18 and a display wheel 180, rotating around the axis D0; a mobile display 1, here consisting of a date and month hand 19.

[0039] The date wheel 16 carries a day lever 161, pivoting around the axis D1, and which is activated by a day spring 162 which ensures its connection with the display heart 18 by default.

[0040] The month wheel 17 similarly carries a month lever 171, pivoting around the axis D2, which is activated by a month spring 172, and which is driven by the memory isolator wheel 15. Its month spring 172 is dimensioned to be able to drive the display core 18 when the memory isolator 15 is deactivated despite the day lever 161 of the date wheel 16.

[0041] It is understood that four mobiles are mounted coaxially around the axis D0, and superimposed: on a first level a display mobile includes the hand 19 which is integral with the display heart 18, which extends further on a second level and a third level; this second level is that of the date wheel 16, and where the cam of the heart is arranged to cooperate with the day lever 161; this third level is that of the month wheel 17, and where the cam of the heart is arranged to cooperate with the month lever 171; on a fourth level extends the memory isolator 15, whose pin 150 extends in the third level so as to interact with the month lever 171; By default, pin 150 keeps the month lever 171 away from the core 18. It is only when the second control rocker 14 controls the rotation of the insulator 15 that pin 150 changes position, moving from the 11 o'clock position to the 1 o'clock position. figure 5, relative to the axis D0, the strong spring of the months 171 then seeks the stable position of the heart 18, while overcoming the resisting couple opposed by the spring of the days 162, the lever of the days 161 always being in contact with the heart 18.

[0042] The second control rocker 14 is further advantageously used to carry or control the indication of the current display mode, by carrying a magnitude indicator 5 such as a movable indicator paddle or a movable window, or by controlling, via a gear or similar mechanism, the rotation of such a movable indicator paddle or such a movable window, to display a date / month indication as on the figure 1 , or to display an appropriate scale such as JFMA or 9-11-13-15-17..., on the figure 5, respectively for the month or the date. The second control rocker 14 can also carry a hand, on its axis, which, by its angular travel, allows the date / month to be displayed on dial graduations.

[0043] The initial state is defined as a display of the date (day of the week). This state corresponds to the solid-line representations of the figure 5 The date / month display is then in the "date" position.

[0044] The display is linked by the control heart 18 and the day lever 161 of the date wheel 16 to it, the display therefore indicates the angular position of the date wheel 16.

[0045] When the user presses the actuator 20, specifically a push button, on the watch 1000, the control flip-flop 11, which actuates the column wheel 12, rotates it by one step. As is known in the operation of column wheels, one step replaces a column 123 with a recess 122. The second control flip-flop 14, which controls the memory isolator and was resting on a column 123, therefore falls into the active position within a recess 122 (dashed line position). The date / month display, which is controlled by the second control flip-flop 14, changes and then displays "month" instead of "date".

[0046] The second control rocker 14 of the memory isolator control drives the memory isolator 15, whose pin 150 releases the month lever 171 from the month wheel 17. As the torque imparted by the month spring 172 of this month lever 171 is higher than that imparted by the day spring 162 of the date lever 161, the control heart 18 aligns itself with the angular position of the current month, driving the hand 19 towards the corresponding position.

[0047] Pressing button 20 again returns the parts to their initial position.

[0048] This variant is illustrated by the Figures 1 And 5 allows a rotation of the needle 19 through 360°. Naturally this mechanism can be made in retrograde.

[0049] There figure 1It displays the month and retrograde date on a single hand; the hand alternates between displaying the month and the date when the pusher 21, located at two o'clock, is pressed. The aperture 6 at six o'clock indicates the units of the display, in this case: date indicator 52 / month indicator 51.

[0050] There figure 2 This watch features a retrograde date and month display on a single hand. The hand alternately displays the month or the date when the pusher 21, located at two o'clock, is pressed. The retrograde apertures / indexes, arranged over 240° from the eight o'clock position to the four o'clock position, alternately indicate the units of the display, in this case: 1-3-5-7-9-11-13...21 and JFMAMJJASOND.

[0051] A variant of the invention consists of directly controlling the second control 14 by means of a push button 20; in this case, there are not two stable states, but the display is permanently on the date, except when the actuator 20 is pressed, which switches to the display of the month, and returns to the date when the push button is released.

[0052] In summary, a watch according to the invention uses known memory mechanisms to display, by means of a hand and on demand, alternately the date and the month. The memory mechanism here uses a combination of a heart and springs; other mechanisms are conceivable.

[0053] The mechanism also includes a window display of units, which is controlled by the memory mechanism so as to coordinate the units with the value of the hand.

[0054] Other displays with different units can be coupled, for example, date and battery life, temperature, ringing mode, and others.

[0055] The invention simplifies the display of the watch, provides an interesting animation for the user, allows for a discreet display of less frequently used quantities, such as the display of the months, and allows for memory displays with values ​​having different units.

Claims

1. On-demand horological display mechanism (100), including a plurality of primary mechanisms (10) each capable of determining the value of a variable, and at least one actuator (20) that can be manoeuvred by a user for the selection of the display of the instantaneous value of a specific variable determined by one of said primary mechanisms (10), each said display being performed by the cooperation of a moveable display (1) including a hand or a disc, with a complementary display (2) including at least one graduated index (3), where said display (1) or / and said complementary display (2) is common to all of the displays that said display mechanism (100) may produce, where said complementary display (2) includes a plurality of said graduated indexes (3) each corresponding to the display of the value of a specific variable, in which display mechanism (100), either the complementary display (2) is moveable in relation to a window (4) so as to show, at a given moment, only one said graduated index (3) for the user to view, or the window (4) is moveable above said complementary display (2) so as to show, at a given moment, only one said graduated index (3) for the user to view, characterised in that said at least one actuator (20) is arranged to control the position of a column wheel (12) determining the position of an operating lever (14) arranged for the control of a lifting-lever (15), which is arranged to uncouple one of the primary mechanisms (10) from said display (1) when said at least one actuator (20) is in an inactive state, and to couple same to said display (1) when said actuator (20) is activated, and so as to then exert on said display (1) a torque greater than that exerted on said display (1) by another of the primary mechanisms (10) that said display mechanism (100) comprises.

2. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) includes a single disc holding all of said graduated indexes (3).

3. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) includes a variable indicator (5) associated with each of said graduated indexes (3) for displaying for the user to view the name of the variable of which the value is displayed at a given moment.

4. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that said variable indicator (5) is moveable in relation to an aperture (6), so as to show, at a given moment, only one said variable name for the user to view.

5. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) includes an aperture (6) that is moveable above said variable indicator (5), so as to show, at a given moment, only one said variable name for the user to view.

6. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) includes a single disc holding all of said variable indicators (5).

7. Display mechanism (100) according to claims 2 and 6, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) includes the same single disc holding all of said graduated indexes (3) and all of said variable indicators (5).

8. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each of said primary mechanisms (10) is a mechanical memory mechanism.

9. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 8 and one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that said mechanical memory mechanism is arranged to control the relative position between said variable indicator (5) and said aperture (6).

10. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that at least one of said mechanical memory mechanisms is a mechanism including at least one memory wheel.

11. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said actuator (20) is arranged to be actuated by a simple press by the user, in order to control the change of display from the value of one variable to the value of another variable, according to a fixed sequence of various variables.

12. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said actuator (20) is arranged to take, upon action by the user, various positions each corresponding to the display of the value of a different variable.

13. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that said moveable display (1) is a retrograde display.

14. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that said display mechanism (100) relates to variables that all have different units.

15. Display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that one of said primary mechanisms (10) is a month display, or a date display mechanism, or a power reserve display mechanism, or a striking-work mode display mechanism, or a day / night display mechanism, or an AM / PM display mechanism, or a time zone display mechanism, or an ambient pressure display mechanism, or an ambient temperature display mechanism.

16. Display mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said lifting-lever (15) is coaxial with three other wheel sets, and that the superimposition thereof includes four levels, a first level including a display wheel set including said display (1) that is integral with a display heart-piece (18), which also extends over a second level and a third level, said second level including a first wheel (16) of a first said primary mechanism (10) holding a first lever (161) returned on said display heart-piece (18) by a first spring (162), said third level including a second wheel (17) of a second said primary mechanism (10) holding a second lever (171) returned on said display heart-piece (18) by a second spring (172), and a fourth level including said lifting-lever (15) that holds a locking element or a pin (150), extending in said third level so as to interact with said second lever (171) in order to keep same away from said display heart-piece (18) in the absence of action by the user on said actuator (20).

17. Timepiece (1000) including at least one display mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 16.