A clock movement equipped with a device for displaying at least two time zones

Abstract

The invention relates to a clock movement with a device for displaying time in at least two time zones, the display device comprising a minute display member (M), a member (H1) for displaying the current time representing a first time zone and a member (H2) for displaying the local time representing a second time zone, the member (H1) for displaying the current time and the member (H2) for displaying the local time being superimposed and the movement further comprising a mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone, configured to move the member (H2) for displaying the local time, and a mechanism for synchronizing the member (H1) for displaying the current time and the member (H2) for displaying the local time and for repositioning the member (H2) for displaying the local time so that it is superimposed on the member (H1) for displaying the current time, so that only one time display member (H1, H2) is visible.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of timepieces, and more particularly to a clock movement comprising a device for displaying at least two time zones. [Background technology]

[0002] From the prior art it is known that clock movements are designed to display multiple time zones.

[0003] European Patent No. 2008159 describes a wristwatch with a switching mechanism that can selectively display the time in either of two time zones on a single display. A single hour hand selectively displays either the local time or the time in a second time zone at the touch of a button. The switching mechanism includes a heart-shaped cam and two levers. The offset between the local time and the time in the second time zone is determined by the relative position of one lever with respect to the other.

[0004] One drawback of the described switching mechanism is that it involves a very complex mechanism for display selection and adjustment, involving two differentials and a very large number of components.

[0005] On the other hand, known dual time zone mechanisms can advance from hour to hour, half hour to half hour, or to the nearest minute without a reset mechanism.

[0006] Depending on the mechanism, the standard requires a correction equivalent to 12 or 24 steps to cover a full 360° and return to the initial position.

[0007] China Patent Application Publication No. 101685292(A) describes a mechanism for displaying two time zones, where the second time zone is corrected by a ring gear. This mechanism does not allow for easy time zone correction by incremental advancement of the hand that displays the current time. Meanwhile, resetting the second time zone and setting the time is more complicated and time consuming.

[0008] Swiss Patent No. 687494(B5) describes a mechanism for displaying two time zones, where the second time zone is corrected by a pusher. Resetting the second time zone is time consuming as it requires the number of hours to be adjusted to be set incrementally.

[0009] Others, such as one of Applicant's products, provide a dual time zone mechanism that can be adjusted to the minute, allowing correction in both directions via independent time mechanism stems. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a clock movement with at least two time zones embedded in the heart of the movement, which can take over its driving force and be reset at any time.

[0011] In this case, the complication rotates constantly with the current time, thus completing 360° in 12 or 24 hours, which makes the traditional correction and reset principle unusable without the inventive arrangement.

[0012] According to the invention, a clock movement comprising a device for displaying the time of at least two time zones comprises: - A minute display member; - a member for displaying a current time representative of a first time zone; a member for displaying a local time representative of a second time zone; Overlaid are elements for displaying the current time and the local time.

[0013] The movement is a mechanism for setting the time in a second time zone, the mechanism being configured to move a member for displaying the local time; and - a mechanism for synchronising the member for displaying the current time and the member for displaying the local time, the mechanism being configured to reposition the member for displaying the local time so that it is superimposed on the member for displaying the current time, so that only one time display member is visible.

[0014] In one embodiment, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone comprises an hour wheel of a member for displaying the current time cooperating with an hour wheel carrying a member for displaying the local time, and a jumper spring is arranged on the hour wheel of the member for displaying the local time to drive a central wheel carrying the member for displaying the local time.

[0015] Preferably, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone comprises a rocker designed to drive a central wheel.

[0016] In one embodiment, the mechanism for synchronizing the current time display and the local time display comprises a further rocker cooperating with a wheel that drives a jumper spring configured to cooperate with a star wheel that presses a heart-shaped cam that drives the synchronization of the current time display and the local time display when the synchronization mechanism is activated.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the movement comprises a first control member configured to move a member for indicating the local time by 1 / 12 or 1 / 24 of a rotation each time the control member is actuated.

[0018] In one embodiment, the movement comprises a second control member configured to synchronize the member for displaying the current time and the member for displaying the local time upon each actuation of the second control member, wherein the member for displaying the local time moves the shortest distance in either direction towards the member for displaying the current time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] The characteristics of the invention will become clearer on reading the description of one embodiment, given by way of example only and not by way of limitation with reference to schematic drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a watch with a two time zone display according to the invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows an exploded view of a portion of a movement according to the invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the rear part of the movement shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] An exploded view of the hour wheels configured within the movement to display the time in each time zone is shown. [Diagram 5] An exploded view of the center wheel is shown. [Figure 6A] A diagram of the mechanism for correcting the time when stopped is shown. [Figure 6B] 1 shows a diagram of the mechanism for correcting the time during operation. [Figure 7A] A diagram of the mechanism for synchronising the hour hands when stopped is shown. [Figure 7B] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the mechanism for synchronising the hour hands in operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the watch features a device that displays the time in two time zones. a display member in the form of a minute hand M, a member for displaying the current time in the form of a current hour hand H1 representing a first time zone; a member for displaying the local time in the form of a local time hand H2 representing a first time zone.

[0021] The current time H1 and local time H2 hands are arranged coaxially and overlapping in the center of the movement, and display the two-hour time difference between the current time H1 and the local time H2.

[0022] In the illustrated example, the current time H1 and local time H2 hands are positioned one above the other so as to coincide when only the current time H1 is displayed. The movement further comprises a mechanism for setting the time in a second time zone, configured to move the local time hand H2, and a mechanism for synchronizing the current time hand H1 and the local time hand H2, designed to reposition the local time hand H2 superimposed with the current time hand H1 so that only one hand H1, H2 is visible.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone includes an hour wheel 52 for the local time hour hand that cooperates with an hour wheel 9 carrying the hour hand of the current time, and a jumper spring 3 arranged on the hour wheel 52 for the local time hour hand to drive a central wheel 4 carrying the local time hour hand H2.

[0024] An hour wheel 52 for the local time hand is pressed into an hour wheel of the movement 51. This hour wheel 52 sends information back via a return 10 to the hour wheel 9 which carries the hour hand for the current time.

[0025] The jumper spring 3 is attached to the hour wheel of the local time hand and drives a central wheel 4 which carries the local time hand.

[0026] In this example, to correct the time by 2 hours, the push button 15 (see FIG. 1) is pressed twice in succession to activate the rocker 1 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B), which drives the central wheel 4 by one step, equal to 1 / 12 revolution, each time the push button is pressed.

[0027] As shown in Figures 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B, the mechanism for synchronizing the current time hour hand and the local time hour hand comprises another rocker 2 cooperating with a wheel 53 (see Figure 4) that drives a jumper spring 3 (see Figure 2) configured to cooperate with a star wheel 43 that presses a heart-shaped cam 42 that drives the synchronization of the current time hour hand and the local time hour hand when the synchronizing mechanism is activated by pressing a push button 16 arranged on the crown of the watch.

[0028] Push button 16 is configured to synchronize the current time hand with the local time hand each time it is actuated, with the local time hand moving the shortest distance in either direction towards the current time hand.

[0029] In this example, pressing the push button 16 on the crown moves the local time hand counterclockwise until it is aligned with the current time hand.

[0030] The complication now rotates continuously with the time, thus completing 360° in 12 hours.

[0031] According to the invention, like a rattrapante mechanism, the hour hand is synchronized but can be desynchronised in the clockwise direction and then, if necessary, can catch up with the position of the hour hand at the current time in one direction or the other via a heart-shaped cam that defines the shortest path.

[0032] The invention therefore allows for the display of a second time zone, embedded in the heart of the movement to take over the driving force, and allows for it to be reset at any time.

Claims

1. A clock movement comprising a device for displaying the time in at least two time zones, said display device comprising: -minute display member (M); - a member (H1) for displaying the current time representing a first time zone and a member (H2) for displaying the local time representing a second time zone, the member (H1) for displaying the current time and the member (H2) for displaying the local time being superimposed, a mechanism for setting the time in said second time zone, configured to move said member to display said local time (H2); a mechanism for synchronising the member for displaying the current time (H1) and the member for displaying the local time (H2), configured to reposition the member for displaying the local time (H2) so as to overlap the member for displaying the current time (H1) in order to make only one time display member (H1, H2) visible; A timepiece movement characterized by a second control member (16) configured to synchronize the member (H1) for indicating the current time and the member (H2) for indicating the local time upon each actuation of the second control member (16), the member (H2) for indicating the local time moving the shortest distance in either direction towards the member (H1) for indicating the current time.

2. 2. The movement according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone (H2) comprises an hour wheel (52) of a member for indicating the local time (H2) cooperating with an hour wheel (9) carrying a member for indicating the current time (H1), and a jumper spring (3) is arranged on the hour wheel (52) of a member for indicating the local time (H2) for driving a central wheel (4) carrying a member for indicating the local time (H2).

3. 3. Movement according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism for setting the time in the second time zone (H2) comprises a rocker (1) configured to drive the central wheel (4).

4. 4. The movement according to claim 3, wherein the mechanism for synchronizing the current time (H1) and local time (H2) displays comprises a further rocker (2) cooperating with a wheel (53) driving a jumper spring (3) arranged to cooperate with a star wheel (43) pressing a heart-shaped cam (42) which drives the synchronization of the current time (H1) and local time (H2) displays when the synchronization mechanism is activated.

5. 5. A movement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control member (15) configured to move said member (15) by 1 / 12 or 1 / 24 of a rotation each time said control member is actuated in order to display said local time (H2).

6. A movement according to any one of claims 2 to 5, when claim 5 or 6 is dependent on claim 2, wherein the hour wheel of the movement (51) is press-fitted into the hour wheel (52) of the local time display (H2).

7. A timepiece comprising a movement according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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