Clockpiece with annular display elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece (1) comprising a clockwork mechanism (4) arranged to drive first and second display elements (6, 8) in rotation with respect to a frame (16) of the clockwork mechanism (4), to display first and second respective values. Each of the first and second display elements (6, 8) bears at least one indication intended to allow the display of the corresponding value and has a generally annular shape. The first display element (6) defines a first internal surface in which a first dial (14) is arranged, fixed to the frame (16) and having a substantially circular opening defining a housing for the second display element (8). The latter defines a second internal surface in which a second dial (22) is arranged, fixed to the frame (16).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a watch movement arranged to drive first and second display members in rotation with reference to a frame of the watch movement, each of the first and second display members being driven by means of a mesh with a corresponding drive wheel set, to display respective first and second quantities, each of the first and second display members carrying at least one indication intended to allow the display of the corresponding quantity and having a generally annular shape. State of the art

[0002] Timepieces comprising display members similar to those mentioned above are already known, in particular for producing large date type displays, in which a first disc or ring is implemented to display the date units and a second disc or ring is implemented to display the date tens.

[0003] Electronic or electromechanical mechanisms are already known for implementing annular displays. For example, patent application FR 2138996 A1 describes an electronic watch comprising coaxial rings for displaying seconds, minutes, hours and the date, in which the positioning and driving of the rings are achieved by magnetic interaction between magnets and electromagnets.

[0004] Mechanical displays have also already been proposed. For example, US patent 8,406,087 B2 describes a timepiece comprising a digital display of the current time. To this end, the timepiece comprises a first disc for displaying the current hours as well as second and third discs for displaying the units and tens of the current minutes, the corresponding numerals being distributed over ring-shaped display surfaces each having a portion visible in an aperture adapted to display the current time. The invention presented in this patent relates to a complex construction of the corresponding watch movement, making it possible to minimize the energy consumption of the jumping display during minute changes and especially during hour changes.

[0005] Displays of this type had been made previously, with different constructions to manage the mechanical energy needed to make the display discs jump.

[0006] Furthermore, patent DE 817867 C describes a mechanical or electronic watch which comprises, in a first embodiment ( Figures 1 and 2 ), a display mechanism comprising a transparent dial support 4, in the form of a spherical cap, carrying coaxial fixed rings. Each of the fixed rings carries at least one indication, these fixed indications being intended to cooperate with rotating display members carried by coaxial shafts, one for the hours and the other for the minutes. Disclosure of the invention

[0007] A main aim of the present invention is to propose a timepiece comprising ring-shaped display members arranged in an alternative manner to that of the timepieces which have just been mentioned, thus presenting a different and original display mode.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a timepiece meeting the characteristics stated above and characterized by the fact that the first display member delimits a first internal surface in which is arranged a first dial secured to the frame and comprising a substantially circular opening defining a housing for the second display member, the latter defining a second internal surface in which is arranged a second dial secured to the frame and distinct from the first dial, the first and second display members having axes of rotation arranged at a distance from each other.

[0009] Such an arrangement opens up new possibilities in terms of the arrangement of the display members and therefore in terms of the readability of the information on a timepiece, thus enabling the watchmaker producing a timepiece in accordance with the present invention to stand out from current competing production.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the first and second display members is intended to display the current hours and the other display member is intended to display the current minutes.

[0011] Advantageously, it can be provided that the first display member is integral with a first crown having teeth arranged in engagement with a first drive wheel of the watch movement, this toothing preferably being internal.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the second display member is secured to a second crown having teeth arranged in engagement with a second drive wheel of the watch movement.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second display members can advantageously be located substantially in the same average plane.

[0014] Generally, it can be provided that the second dial comprises a substantially circular opening defining a housing for a third display member.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the third display member may have the general shape of a disc and, optionally, may be intended to display the current seconds.

[0016] Preferably, the third display member may be integral with a third toothing arranged in engagement with a third drive wheel of the watch movement.

[0017] Generally, it can be provided that the first, second and third display members have axes of rotation arranged at a distance from each other.

[0018] Advantageously, it is also possible to provide for a significant portion of each of the display members to be visible, possibly the entirety of each of them, which makes it possible to produce a clear display while having a dragging rather than jumping type drive mode, which makes it possible to avoid the complex solutions known for managing the problems of supplying mechanical energy during jumps. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings given as non-limiting examples and in which: there figure 1 represents a simplified front view of a timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case not being shown; the figure 2 represents a partial and simplified front view of the timepiece of the figure 1 ; there figure 3 represents another partial and simplified front view of the timepiece of the figure 1 , and the figure 4 represents a simplified sectional view of the timepiece of the figure 1 , according to line BB of the figure 3 . Method(s) of carrying out the invention

[0020] There figure 1represents a general and simplified front view of a timepiece 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The case of the timepiece 1 is not shown for reasons of simplification but a winding stem 2 has been shown diagrammatically to identify the three o'clock position, for non-limiting illustration purposes.

[0022] The timepiece 1 has a watch movement 4 (more particularly visible on the figures 2 to 4 ) intended to rotate three current time display members, here a first hour display member 6, a second minute display member 8 and a third second display member 10.

[0023] The first hour display member 6 is arranged at the periphery of the display area which can advantageously be delimited by the case, for example by a bezel of the case, in a non-limiting manner. The first display member 6 has a generally annular shape and carries numbers ranging from 1 to 12 to display the current hours in cooperation with a first index 12 stationary with reference to the case of the timepiece 1.

[0024] The first display member 6 delimits a first internal surface, in the form of a disc, in which is arranged a first dial 14 secured to a frame element of the watch movement 4, here a plate of a display module (identified respectively by the numerical references 16 and 17 on the figures 2 to 4 ), itself made integral with a plate of a basic caliber (identified respectively by the numerical references 18 and 19 on the figure 4 ).

[0025] The first dial 14 has a substantially circular opening defining a housing for the second minute display member 8, the latter also having a generally annular shape and bearing numbers ranging from 0 to 55 to display the current minutes in cooperation with a second index 20 stationary with reference to the case of the timepiece 1.

[0026] The first and second indexes 12 and 20 are here both carried by the first dial 14 in a non-limiting illustrative manner. Different alternatives are conceivable by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, at least one of the indexes could be carried directly by a component of the case such as the caseband, or possibly even the crystal. Alternatively, the timepiece 1 could also include an additional dial arranged outside the hour display member 6, this additional dial thus being able to carry the first index 12 for reading the hours.

[0027] The second display member 8 delimits a second internal surface, in the form of a disc, in which a second dial 22 is arranged, secured to the plate 16 of the display module.

[0028] The second dial 22 has a substantially circular opening defining a housing for the third seconds display member 10, the latter having the general shape of a partially openwork disc and also bearing numbers ranging from 0 to 55 to display the current seconds in cooperation with a third index 24 stationary with reference to the case of the timepiece 1. The third index 24 is carried here by the second dial 22, in a non-limiting illustrative manner.

[0029] It is understood that the timepiece 1 according to the present invention has a particular display, here to display the current time by way of non-limiting illustration, thanks to the arrangement of the display members 6 and 8, even more so with the display member 10.

[0030] It will be noted in particular that the three display members are fully visible here but they could be at least partially masked without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Thanks to these features, in particular the absence of a reading window, it is simpler to produce a readable display of the trailing type than with the constructions of the prior art. This avoids the problems of variation in the mechanical energy consumption of the display, as mentioned above.

[0032] The dials 14 and 22 can be made integral with the plate 16 of the display module by any suitable known means. They can, for example, comprise feet engaged in suitable holes in the plate 16.

[0033] The first and second display members 6 and 8 have first and second axes of rotation (identified respectively by the numerical references 26 and 28 on the figure 3) arranged at a distance from each other. The third display member 10 further has a third axis of rotation 30 preferably arranged at a distance from the axes of rotation 26, 28.

[0034] A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in arranging the indexes 12, 20 and 24 in various places on the timepiece 1 according to his own needs and without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] Il also emerges from the view of the figure 1 that the display members 6, 8 and 10 can be rotated by the clockwork movement 4 in one direction of rotation or the other without any particular difficulty, by simply adapting the direction of inscription of the numbers they carry, the reading of the displayed quantities remaining intuitive in both cases.

[0036] Furthermore, it will be noted that one or more display members could, as an alternative, each carry only one or more indexes intended to cooperate with fixed graduations which could be carried by one or other of the dials, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0037] THE figures 2 And 3 represent the timepiece 1 in partial, front views, while the figure 4 represents the timepiece 1 following the cutting line BB of the figure 3 These figures make it possible to better highlight a non-limiting example of construction of the watch movement 4 according to the present invention.

[0038] The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in choosing a base caliber 19 meeting his own needs, this being able to be mechanical, manually wound or automatic without departing from the scope of the invention, or even possibly electronic.

[0039] The construction details of the basic caliber 19 which do not have a direct impact on the implementation of the invention will not be described in detail here, for the sake of brevity of the present description.

[0040] The plate 18 of the base caliber 19 has a central opening defining a passage in particular for two coaxial shafts 32, 34, intended to ensure the drive of the display members 6, 8 and 10.

[0041] The first, central shaft 32 is driven to complete one revolution on itself in one minute and carries a toothed wheel 36 arranged in permanent mesh with teeth provided on a wheel 38 secured to the third current seconds display member 10, as illustrated in the figures 1 And 3 .

[0042] A fixed cylindrical tube 40, driven into the plate 18 of the base caliber 19, is arranged around the first shaft 32 to serve as a rotation guide for the second shaft 34 which here replaces the cannon pinion of a conventional watch caliber.

[0043] The second shaft 34 carries a toothed wheel 42 visible on the figures 2 And 4 .

[0044] The toothed wheel 42 is arranged in mesh with the pinion 44 of an intermediate mobile also having a wheel 46 with thick teeth.

[0045] There appear Figures 3 and 4that the wheel 46 cooperates, on the one hand, with the teeth, internal here, of a crown 48 secured to the current minutes display member 8 and, on the other hand, with the wheel 50 of an additional intermediate mobile. This additional mobile further comprises a pinion 52 arranged in permanent mesh with the wheel 54 of a drive mobile whose pinion 56 is meshed with the internal teeth of a crown 58 secured to the current hours display member 6.

[0046] The rotational speed of the second shaft 34 and the gear ratios involved are such that the first current hour display member 6 makes a complete revolution in twelve hours and the second current minute display member 8 makes a complete revolution in one hour.

[0047] Washers 60 are screwed into the plate 16 of the display module 17 to ensure the axial retention of the current hour and minute display members 6 and 8 on the display module 17, by action on the crowns 48 and 58. In principle, it is preferable to ensure the retention of each crown 48, 58 at three spaced points but the particular arrangement of the display members according to the present invention advantageously makes it possible to optimize the arrangement of two washers 60 by positioning them between the two crowns 48 and 58, in regions where they are particularly close to each other, which is clearly visible on the section of the figure 4 . Thus, these two washers 60 act simultaneously on the two crowns 48 and 58, which makes it possible to use only four washers 60 in total instead of six.

[0048] Thanks to the characteristics which have just been presented, it is possible to produce a timepiece 1 having an original display, allowing a manufacturer of these timepieces to distinguish its products from those of competitors, in particular by implementing a display by discs without suffering the disadvantages in terms of energy consumption.

[0049] The construction presented as a preferred non-limiting example is advantageously simple to produce and compact. It will thus be noted that a single gear train judiciously allows the two display members for the current hours and minutes to be driven, thanks to the significant thickness of the wheel 46.

[0050] Furthermore, it will also be noted that the particular arrangement of the display members in accordance with the characteristics of the invention makes it possible to arrange the visible surfaces of the three members in the same average reading plane as is apparent from the sectional view of the figure 4 , giving a good level of perceived quality to the timepiece 1.

[0051] The preceding description is intended to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, such as for example the nature of the quantities displayed by the display members, the reading order (in other words, the allocations of each ring to particular quantities to be displayed), or even the implementation of the third display member. Furthermore, if the three display members are driven here to produce a trailing display, it is possible to provide that the current time display member is driven to produce a jumping display of the current times without departing from the scope of the invention.The production of a jumping display of the current minutes is also possible even if it risks making the implementation of the invention more complex for the reasons mentioned above in relation to the consumption of mechanical energy.

[0052] A bidirectional drive of one or other display member is also conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention, such as to display an equation of time for example, by rotation of one of the rings to display the variations between civil time and solar time between -15 and +15 minutes depending on the time of year.

[0053] Furthermore, the third display member could be arranged so as to be coaxial with one of the first two display members without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0054] A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a timepiece only partially meeting the characteristics which have just been described, without however departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Timepiece (1) comprising a watch movement (4) arranged to drive first and second display members (6, 8) in rotation with reference to a frame (16) of said watch movement (4), each of said first and second display members (6, 8) being driven through engagement with a corresponding drive wheel (56, 46), for displaying respective first and second pieces of information, each of said first and second display members (6, 8) carrying at least one indication for displaying the corresponding piece of information and having a generally annular shape, characterized in that said first display member (6) delimits a first internal surface in which is arranged a first dial (14) integral with said frame (16) and comprising a substantially circular opening defining a housing for said second display member (8), the latter defining a second internal surface in which is arranged a second dial (22) integral with said frame (16) and distinct from said first dial (14), said first and second display members (6, 8) having axes of rotation (26, 28) arranged at a distance from one another.

2. Timepiece (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said first and second display members (6) is designed to display the current hours and the other display member (8) is designed to display the current minutes.

3. Timepiece (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first display member (6) is integral with a first crown (58) having a toothing arranged in engagement with a first drive wheel (54, 56) of said timepiece movement (4).

4. Timepiece (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said toothing is an internal toothing.

5. Timepiece (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second display member (8) is integral with a second crown (48) having a toothing arranged in engagement with a second drive wheel (44, 46) of said timepiece movement (4).

6. Timepiece (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second display members (6, 8) are located substantially in the same mean plane.

7. Timepiece (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second dial (22) comprises a substantially circular opening defining a housing for a third display member (10).

8. Timepiece (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said third display member (10) has the general shape of a disk.

9. Timepiece (1) according to claims 2 and 8, characterized in that said third display member (10) is intended to display the current seconds.

10. Timepiece (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said third display member (10) is integral with a third toothing (38) arranged in engagement with a third drive wheel (32, 36) of said timepiece movement (4).

11. Timepiece (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that said first, second and third display members (6, 8, 10) have axes of rotation (26, 28, 30) arranged at a distance from one another.

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