Moon phase and earth phase display device for horological movement

Abstract

To simplify as much as possible the kinematics for simultaneously displaying the phases of the Moon and Earth.SOLUTION: A moon phase and earth phase display device for a horological movement is provided, the display device comprising: a display unit including a plurality of graphical representations 120 respectively symbolizing different successive phases of a celestial body; a dial 130 provided with two apertures 131 arranged so as to concomitantly display two diametrically opposed graphical representations 120, one symbolizing a moon phase and the other symbolizing an earth phase; and a drive mechanism configured to drive the display unit in sequential movement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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 watch.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for indicating the phases of the moon and the earth for the timepiece movement of a watch. [Background technology]

[0003] Moon phase displays are well known in the watchmaking world, as are earth phase displays, i.e., displays of the portion of the earth that is visible from the moon.

[0004] Lunar or Earth phase indicators add significant complexity to the timepiece movement in which they are incorporated.

[0005] Also, for aesthetic reasons, a simultaneous display of the lunar and terrestrial phases may be desirable. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention fulfills this need while simplifying as much as possible the kinematics for simultaneously displaying lunar and terrestrial phases. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to an indicator device for a timepiece movement of the phases of the moon and the earth, comprising a display unit with a plurality of graphic representations, each representing the different successive phases of a celestial body, a dial provided with two apertures arranged to simultaneously display two graphic representations, one representing a phase of the moon and the other representing a phase of the earth, and a drive mechanism arranged to drive the display unit in sequential movements.

[0008] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which must be considered alone or according to any technically possible combination:

[0009] In a particular embodiment, the display takes the form of a ring, comprising a plurality of graphic displays and an equal number of teeth, through which the display is intended to be driven by a drive mechanism in sequential movements.

[0010] In a particular embodiment, the display takes the form of a ring, with 30 graphic indications and 30 teeth, through which the display is intended to be moved by a drive mechanism at a rate of one step per day, with two openings arranged diametrically opposite each other.

[0011] In certain embodiments, at least one of the apertures includes an aperture glass that gives the graphic display a different appearance than the graphic display visible in the other aperture.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the graphical display of the display is transparent or translucent so that decorations positioned facing the face of the display opposite the dial are visible through one or each of the apertures, allowing the phases of the moon to be distinguished from the phases of the earth within the apertures.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the one or more decorations are in the form of a colored surface.

[0014] In a particular embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises an hour wheel of the minute back device, to which a transmission wheel is kinematically connected via an intermediate wheel, the transmission wheel being intended to cooperate with the teeth of the display by means of a drive finger supported by the transmission wheel.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the display device comprises a correcting mechanism provided with a control member configured to be kinematically coupled with the collector via an intermediate train wheel.

[0016] The invention further relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement provided with a device for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth as described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows a front view of a watch with a display for lunar and earth phases according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 shows a perspective view of the watch of FIG. 1 with components masked to reveal the display device.

[0018] It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for clarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a timepiece 10 comprising a timepiece movement provided with a device 100 for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth according to the invention.

[0020] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, display device 100 comprises a display portion 110 in the form of a ring with a plurality of graphical representations 120 each representing different successive phases of a celestial body, which may represent the Earth or the Moon, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0021] In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, display 110 preferably has 30 graphic displays 120. More specifically, as shown below, display 110 is intended to rotate sequentially at a rate of one step per day to complete one rotation every 30 days.

[0022] Alternatively, it is envisioned that the display 110 may have fewer than 30 graphical representations 120, such as 28 or 29, or more than 30 graphical representations 120, such as 31.

[0023] 1, which is positioned above the display 110 so as to mask all but two diametrically opposed graphic indicia 120 visible through openings 131 in the dial 130. More specifically, the dial 130 has two openings 131 positioned to simultaneously reveal two diametrically opposed graphic indicia 120, one representing a phase of the moon and the other representing a phase of the earth.

[0024] It should be noted that the openings 131, and thus the visible graphic displays 120, are positioned so that the openings 131 are diametrically opposed, i.e., form a 180 degree angle when the display has an even number of graphic displays 120.

[0025] As an example, one aperture 131 may be provided with an aperture glass that gives the graphic display 120 an appearance that is different from the appearance of the graphic display 120 seen in the other aperture 131, thereby allowing a user to distinguish between lunar phases and terrestrial phases. To this end, the aperture glass may have, for example, a blue or gray tint, or the aperture glass may have decorations or markings representing continents or craters.

[0026] It is also possible for the dial 130 to be decorated near, for example around, at least one of the openings 131 in order to indicate which opening 131 represents a phase of the moon or the earth, respectively.

[0027] This or these decorations can also be present underneath the display 110, i.e. facing the side of the display 110 opposite the dial 130, and be visible through one or more openings 131. The decoration(s) can, for example, be in the form of a colored surface, for example formed by a disc, which may or may not be luminous. In this case, the graphic display 120 is transparent or translucent. In particular, they can be formed by cuts that penetrate the display 110.

[0028] 1, aperture 131 has a circular shape corresponding to the shape of graphical representation 120 depicting the phases of solid celestial objects. However, aperture 131 can be any shape and size suitable for viewing graphical representation 120.

[0029] The graphic representations 120 are arranged so that they are evenly distributed around the periphery of the display 110, with two diametrically opposed graphic representations 120 representing opposite phases, as shown in Figure 2. More specifically, the frequency of occurrence of the lunar phases is the same as the frequency of occurrence of the Earth's phases, and the lunar phases and Earth's phases are opposites. In other words, as the surface of the Moon visible from Earth decreases, the surface of the Earth visible from the Moon increases at the same rate, and vice versa.

[0030] To drive the display 110, the display device 100 has a drive mechanism 140, preferably consisting of a date drive mechanism. In particular, as shown in Fig. 2, the drive mechanism 140 comprises an hour wheel 141 of a minute back mechanism which rotates, for example, twice a day, in a manner known in the prior art. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the drive mechanism 140 further comprises a transmission wheel 142 kinematically connected to the hour wheel 141 by an intermediate wheel 144. The transmission wheel 142 is intended to cooperate with the display 110 by means of a drive finger 143, in particular with teeth 111 provided on the periphery of the display 110 as shown in Fig. 2.

[0031] The teeth of the display 110 have the same number of teeth 111 as the number of graphic displays 120 so that for each step taken by the display 110, a new graphic display 120 is visible through the opening 131. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2, the teeth of the display 110 are located on the inner periphery of the display 110, but they could also be located on the outer periphery of the display 110. Preferably, the teeth of the display 110 include 30 teeth 111 so that the display 110 is driven to rotate once every 30 steps, as shown in Figure 2.

[0032] In this case, the display 110 is driven sequentially. However, the display can be driven continuously by replacing the driving finger 143 with a gear that meshes with the teeth of the display 110.

[0033] Conventionally, the stability of the position of the display 110 is ensured by a jumper, not shown, which cooperates with the tooth 111 .

[0034] Advantageously, the display device 100 can comprise a correcting mechanism 150 provided with a control member formed, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, by a winding stem 151 connected to a crown 152. The winding stem 151 is configured to be kinematically connected to a collector 153 by an intermediate train wheel 154. Such correcting mechanisms 150 are well known to those skilled in the art and are therefore shown in the figures but will not be described in detail in the present specification.

[0035] The present invention advantageously allows existing designs of watches with date displays to be utilized, since the present invention requires minimal adaptation to be implemented, requiring only the replacement of the watch's dial 130 and display 110. Also, thanks to the features of the present invention, the rapid date corrector can be easily adapted to correct for the phases of the moon and the earth.

[0036] More generally, it should be noted that the implementations and embodiments discussed above are described as non-limiting examples, and as such other alternatives are possible.

[0037] It should be noted that for the sake of clarity, components of a clock movement known to those skilled in the art are not described herein or shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. A lunar and earth phases display device (100) for a timepiece movement, comprising: a display (110) comprising a plurality of graphic representations (120) each representing a different successive phase of a celestial object; a dial (130) provided with two apertures (131) arranged to simultaneously display two graphic representations (120), one representing the phases of the moon and the other representing the phases of the earth; a drive mechanism (140) configured to move the display (110); A display device (100) comprising:

2. 2. The display device (100) of claim 1, wherein the display (110) is in the form of a ring and comprises a plurality of graphic displays (120) and an equal number of teeth (111) via which the display (110) is intended to be moved by the drive mechanism (140) in sequential movements.

3. 2. The display device (100) of claim 1, wherein the display (110) is in the form of a ring and comprises 30 graphic displays (120) and 30 teeth (111) via which the display (110) is intended to be moved by the drive mechanism (140) at a speed of one step per day, and wherein the two openings (131) are arranged diametrically opposite each other.

4. 2. The display device (100) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the openings (131) comprises an aperture glass that gives the graphic display (120) a different appearance from the graphic display (120) visible in the other of the openings (131).

5. 2. The display device (100) of claim 1, wherein the graphic representation (120) of the display (110) is transparent or translucent so that decorations arranged facing the face of the display (110) opposite the dial (130) are visible through one or each of the openings (131), allowing the phases of the moon to be distinguished from the phases of the earth within the openings (131).

6. 6. The display device (100) of claim 5, wherein the one or more decorations are in the form of a colored surface.

7. 2. The display device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism (140) comprises an hour wheel (141) of the minute device, to which a transmission wheel (142) is kinematically connected via an intermediate wheel (144), the transmission wheel (142) being intended to cooperate with the teeth (111) of the display part (110) by means of a drive finger (143) that it supports.

8. 2. A display device (100) according to claim 1, comprising a correction mechanism (150) provided with a control member arranged to be kinematically coupled with a collector (153) via an intermediate train (154).

9. A timepiece (10), characterized in that it comprises a timepiece movement provided with a display device (100) for the phases of the moon and the earth according to claim 1.

Images