Device for displaying a moon phase and an earth phase for a clock movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (100) for a phase of the Moon and a phase of the Earth for a clock movement, comprising a dial (130) on which is arranged a plurality of graphic representations (112) symbolizing respectively different successive phases of a celestial body, said display device (100) further comprising a drive mechanism (140) configured to drive a display (110) in motion, the display (110) comprising at least two indicator members (111) of different appearance configured to symbolize respectively the Moon and the Earth such that the position of the indicator members (111) with respect to the graphic representations (112) represents respectively an indication of phase of the Moon and an indication of phase of the Earth.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention falls within the field of watchmaking and in particular devices for displaying a temporal quantity on a timepiece.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a device for displaying a phase of the Moon and a phase of the Earth for the clockwork movement of a watch. Technological background

[0003] The display of moon phases is well known in the watchmaking field, as is the display of Earth phases, that is to say the display of the part of the Earth visible from the Moon.

[0004] Moon or Earth phase display devices considerably complicate the watch movement in which they are integrated.

[0005] Furthermore, for aesthetic reasons, it may be desirable to display the phases of the Moon and the Earth simultaneously.

[0006] The invention meets this need, while simplifying as much as possible the kinematics allowing the simultaneous display of the phases of the Moon and the Earth. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention relates to a device for displaying a phase of the Moon and a phase of the Earth for a clock movement. The display device comprises a dial on which are arranged a plurality of graphic representations symbolizing respectively different successive phases of a celestial body. The display device further comprises a drive mechanism configured to drive a moving display, the display comprising at least two indicator elements of different appearance configured to symbolize respectively the Moon and the Earth such that the position of the indicator elements relative to the graphic representations represents respectively an indication of the phase of the Moon and an indication of the phase of the Earth.

[0008] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0009] In particular embodiments, the indicating organs are in the form of a needle and the graphic representations are regularly distributed around the periphery of the dial.

[0010] In particular embodiments, the display comprises at least two indicating elements in the form of needles and arranged in line with each other so as to form a flat angle.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the display has a plurality of teeth by which it is intended to be driven in movement by the drive mechanism at a rate of one step per day.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the drive mechanism includes an hour wheel of a timer gear train, to which a drive wheel is kinematically connected by a gear train, the drive wheel being intended to cooperate, by means of a drive finger which it carries, with the transmission wheel.

[0013] In particular embodiments, the display device includes a correction mechanism having a control element configured to be kinematically linked with a corrector via a return train.

[0014] According to another object, the present invention relates to a watch comprising a watch movement equipped with a device for displaying a moon phase and an Earth phase as previously described. Brief description of the figures

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 represents a front view of a watch comprising a device for displaying a phase of the Moon and a phase of the Earth according to an embodiment of the invention, the figure 2 represents a perspective view of the watch figure 1 in which components have been masked to reveal the display device.

[0016] Note that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] There figure 1 represents a watch 10 in an example of an embodiment of the invention, comprising a watch movement equipped with a display device 100 of a Moon phase and an Earth phase.

[0018] The display device 100 includes a display 110 comprising at least two indicator elements 111 of different appearance configured to symbolize respectively the Moon and the Earth, as described in more detail below.

[0019] As seen on the figure 1 The display device 100 further comprises a dial 130 on which are arranged a plurality of graphic representations 112 symbolizing respectively different successive phases of a celestial body. In particular, the dial 130 comprises at least four graphic representations 112 regularly distributed around its periphery, that is to say, the graphic representations 112 are closer to the edge of the dial 130 than to its center. In the example embodiment shown in the figure 1 Dial 130 comprises eight graphic representations 112. In the example of the embodiment shown on the figure 1, two diametrically opposed graphic representations 112 symbolize opposing phases.

[0020] Thus, the position of the indicator organs 111 in relation to the graphic representations 112 represents respectively an indication of the phase of the Moon and an indication of the phase of the Earth.

[0021] In the example of an embodiment of the invention visible on the figure 1 The 111 indicator bodies are in the form of a needle. To present a distinct appearance to symbolize the Moon and the Earth respectively, the 111 indicator bodies may have their own color, for example, one blue symbolizing the Earth and the other gray symbolizing the Moon. More specifically, each 111 indicator body may have a body with a pointed end, the body and / or the point being decorated so that the 111 indicator bodies are different from one another.

[0022] In the example shown on the figure 1 The indicator elements 111 are arranged in line with each other to form a straight angle. The hands are therefore diametrically opposed to each other in this example. Indeed, the frequency of the lunar phases is identical to that of the Earth's phases, and the lunar and Earth phases are exactly opposite. In other words, when the surface area of ​​the Moon visible from Earth decreases, the surface area of ​​the Earth visible from the Moon increases in the same proportion, and vice versa. The dial 130 has an even number of graphic representations 112, so that the indicator elements 111 are directed simultaneously towards opposite graphic representations 112.

[0023] It is conceivable that the needles constitute a single monobloc element or two distinct elements superimposed and fixed together in rotation.

[0024] As shown by figure 1 , the graphic representations 112 are arranged on the dial 130 so that they can be successively indicated by the indicator organs 111. For this purpose, a drive mechanism 140, with which the display device 100 is equipped, is configured to drive the display 110 in motion.

[0025] In the example implementation shown on the figure 2 The display 110 includes a transmission wheel 113 by which it is intended to be driven in motion by the drive mechanism 140 at a rate of one step per day. The transmission wheel 113 is fixed to the indicating elements 111, for example, by means of a rod onto which said wheel and said elements are driven, in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] In order to drive the display 110 in motion, the drive mechanism 140 is preferably a date drive mechanism. In particular, as shown by the figure 2 The drive mechanism 140 includes an hour wheel 141 of a timer gear train, driven in rotation, for example, two revolutions per day, in a manner known from the prior art. The drive mechanism 140 also includes a drive wheel 142 kinematically connected to the hour wheel 141 by a gear train 144 in the embodiment of the invention shown in the figure 2 The drive wheel 142 is intended to cooperate with a tooth of the transmission wheel 113 of the display 110 via a drive finger 143.

[0027] The transmission wheel 113 preferably has an even number of teeth, for example 28 or 30, in the embodiment shown in the figures. In particular, so that the indicating elements 111 are directed towards a graphic representation 112 at each step of the display 110's movement, the transmission wheel 113 may have a number of teeth equal to the number of graphic representations 112. It is understood here that the display 110 is driven in sequential movement in the embodiment of the invention shown in the figure. figure 2 However, it is possible to drive the display continuously by replacing the drive finger 143 with a toothed wheel meshing with the transmission wheel 113. In this case, the transmission wheel 113 has a suitable number of teeth, for example between forty and sixty, the calculation of which is within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

[0028] Conventionally, the stability of the position of the display 110 is guaranteed by a jumper cooperating with the teeth of the transmission wheel 113, as shown in the figure 2 .

[0029] Advantageously, the display device 100 may include a correction mechanism 150 having a control member formed, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, by a winding stem 151 linked to a winding crown 152. The winding stem 151 is configured to be kinematically linked with a corrector 153 via a gear train 154. Such a correction mechanism 150 is shown in the figures but is not described in detail in the text as it is well known as such to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The present invention advantageously allows for the use of an existing watch design with a date display. Indeed, implementing the invention requires minimal adaptation; only the dial 130 and the display 110 of the watch 10 need to be replaced. Furthermore, thanks to the features of the invention, a quick-correction date mechanism can be easily adapted for correcting the moon and Earth phases.

[0031] More generally, it should be noted that the implementation and execution methods considered above have been described as non-limiting examples, and that other variants are therefore conceivable.

[0032] It should be noted that, for reasons of clarity, the components of the watch movement known to a person skilled in the art are not described in this text and do not appear in the figures.

Claims

1. Display device (100) for a moon phase and an Earth phase for a clock movement, characterized in that it comprises a dial (130) on which is arranged a plurality of graphic representations (112) symbolizing respectively different successive phases of a celestial body, said display device (100) further comprising a drive mechanism (140) configured to drive a display (110) in motion, the display (110) comprising at least two indicator members (111) of different appearance configured to symbolize respectively the Moon and the Earth such that the position of the indicator members (111) in relation to the graphic representations (112) represents respectively an indication of phase of the Moon and an indication of phase of the Earth.

2. Display device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the indicating members (111) are in the form of a needle and the graphic representations (112) are regularly distributed at the periphery of the dial (130).

3. Display device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display (110) comprises at least two indicator members (111) in the form of needles and arranged in line with each other so as to form a flat angle.

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

5. Display device (100) according to claim 4, in which the drive mechanism (140) comprises an hour wheel (141) of a timer gear, to which a drive wheel (142) is kinematically connected by a gear train (144), the drive wheel (142) being intended to cooperate, by means of a drive finger (143) which it carries, with the transmission wheel (113).

6. Display device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a correction mechanism (150) having a control member configured to be kinematically linked with a corrector (153) via a return train (154).

7. Watch (10) characterized in that It includes a clock movement equipped with a display device (100) for a Moon phase and an Earth phase according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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