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 100 for a horological movement is provided, the display device comprising: a dial 130 having a plurality of graphical representations 112 arranged thereon, each symbolizing different successive phases of a celestial body; a drive mechanism configured to move a display unit 110 having at least two indicator members 111 with different appearances configured to symbolize the moon and the earth so that the positions of the indicator members relative to the graphical representations represent a moon phase indication and an earth phase indication.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 considerable complexity to the timepiece movements 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, the indicator comprising a dial on which are arranged a plurality of graphic displays, each of which represents a different successive phase of a celestial body, the display further comprising a drive mechanism configured to move a display portion, the display portion comprising at least two indicator members of different appearances configured to represent the moon and the earth, respectively, the position of the indicator members relative to the graphic displays representing the phases of the moon and the earth, respectively.

[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 certain embodiments, the indicator members take the form of hands and the graphical representations are evenly distributed around the periphery of the dial.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the display comprises at least two indicator members in the form of needles arranged successively to one another so as to form a straight angle (180 degrees).

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

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises an hour wheel of the minute back mechanism to which a drive wheel is kinematically connected via an intermediate train wheel, the drive wheel being intended to cooperate with the transmission wheel by means of a drive finger which the drive wheel supports.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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]

[0015] 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.

[0016] It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for clarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a timepiece 10 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising a timepiece movement provided with a device 100 for displaying the phases of the moon and the earth.

[0018] Display device 100 includes a display portion 110 that includes at least two indicator members 111 of different appearances configured to represent the moon and the earth, respectively, as will be described in more detail below.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the display device 100 further includes a dial 130 having a plurality of graphic representations 112 arranged thereon, each representing a different successive phase of a celestial object. Specifically, the dial 130 includes at least four graphic representations 112 evenly distributed around its periphery. That is, the graphic representations 112 are closer to the periphery of the dial 130 than to the center of the dial 130. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the dial 130 includes eight graphic representations 112. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, two diametrically opposed graphic representations 112 represent opposite phases.

[0020] Thus, the position of indicator member 111 relative to graphic display 112 represents a lunar phase indication and an earth phase indication, respectively.

[0021] 1, indicator members 111 take the form of needles. To have different appearances to represent the moon and the earth, respectively, indicator members 111 may each have a unique color, for example, one may be blue to represent the earth and the other may be gray to represent the moon. More specifically, indicator members 111 may each have a body, the free end of which forms a tip, and the body and / or tip may be decorated so that indicator members 111 are different from one another.

[0022] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the indicator members 111 are arranged one after the other to form a straight angle. Thus, in this embodiment, the hands are diametrically opposite one another. More specifically, the frequency of the lunar phases is the same as the frequency 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. The dial 130 has an even number of graphic displays 112, and the indicator members 111 are simultaneously directed toward opposite graphic displays 112.

[0023] The needle may comprise a single integral element or two separate elements stacked together and rotating as one.

[0024] 1, the graphic display 112 is arranged on the dial 130 so as to be continuously displayed by the indicator member 111. To this end, the display device 100 includes a drive mechanism 140 configured to move the display unit 110.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2, the display part 110 comprises a transmission wheel 113, via which the display part 110 is intended to be moved by a drive mechanism 140 at a rate of one step per day. The transmission wheel 113 is rigidly coupled to the indicator member 111 in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example by means of a rod, on which said transmission wheel 113 and thus said indicator member 111, are driven.

[0026] To drive the display 110, the drive mechanism 140 preferably comprises a date drive mechanism. In detail, as shown in Fig. 2, the drive mechanism 140 comprises an hour wheel 141 of a minute back which rotates, for example, twice a day, in a manner known in the art. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the drive mechanism 140 further comprises a drive wheel 142 kinematically connected to the hour wheel 141 by an intermediate gear train 144. The drive wheel 142 is intended to cooperate with the teeth of the transmission wheel 113 of the display 110 via a drive finger 143.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the transmission wheel 113 preferably has an even number of teeth, for example, 28 or 30. In particular, the transmission wheel 113 can have a number of teeth equal to the number of graphic displays 112, so that the indicator member 111 is directed toward the graphic display 112 at each step of the movement of the display 110. In this case, it will be understood that in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the display 110 is driven in incremental movements. However, the display can be driven continuously by replacing the drive finger 143 with a gear that meshes with the transmission wheel 113. In such a case, the transmission wheel 113 has a suitable number of teeth, for example, between 40 and 60, which can be calculated by one skilled in the art.

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

[0029] 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.

[0030] The present invention advantageously makes it possible to take advantage of existing designs of watches with date displays, since the invention requires minimal adaptation to be implemented, requiring only the replacement of the dial 130 and display 110 of the watch 10. Also, thanks to the features of the present invention, the rapid date corrector mechanism can be easily adapted to correct for the phases of the moon and the earth.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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: It comprises a dial (130) on which are arranged a plurality of graphic representations (112) each representing a different successive phase of a celestial body; The display device (100) further comprises a drive mechanism (140) configured to move the display portion (110); The display (110) comprises at least two indicator members (111) of different appearances configured to represent the moon and the earth, respectively; A display device (100) characterized in that the position of said indicator member (111) relative to said graphic display (112) represents a lunar phase indication and an earth phase indication, respectively.

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

3. 2. The display device (100) of claim 1, wherein the display portion (110) comprises at least two indicator members (111) in the form of needles arranged one after the other to form a straight angle.

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

5. 5. A display device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism (140) comprises an hour wheel (141) of the minute back mechanism to which a drive wheel (142) is kinematically coupled via an intermediate train wheel (144), the drive wheel (142) being intended to cooperate with the transmission wheel (113) by means of a drive finger (143) which it supports.

6. 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).

7. 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