Timepiece comprising a mechanism for displaying two images

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a mechanism for displaying two images which comprises at least two superposed motif supports, at least one being able to rotate by an angle less than 360° between a first position and a second position. Each motif support comprises a motif, the motif of at least the motif support (6, 8) that is on top being configured to comprise transparent zones, the motifs being configured to together form a first image and a second image, respectively, when at least the one movable one of the motif supports (6, 8) is in its first position and in its second position, respectively. The timepiece comprises at least one control member (10, 12) that is movable between a first stable position in which the displayed image is the first image and a second position, and a drive mechanism (14) for driving the at least one movable one of the motif supports (6, 8) and that is arranged to cooperate with the at least one control member (10, 12) in order to - when the at least one control member (10, 12) is in its first position, hold the at least one movable one of the motif supports (10, 12) in its first position, - once the at least one control member (10, 12) has been moved from its first to its second position, drive the at least one movable one of the motif supports (6, 8) to rotate it from its first position to its second position, the first image decomposing according to a first sequence so as to construct the second image and make it appear and hold the at least one movable one of the motif supports (6, 8) in its second position for a specified duration t, - after the specified duration t, drive the at least one movable one of the motif supports (6, 8) to rotate it from its second position to its first position, the second image decomposing according to a second sequence which is inverse to the first sequence so as to reconstruct the first image and make it reappear.

Description

[0001] A CLOCKWORK COMPRISING A MECHANISM FOR DISPLAYING TWO IMAGES

[0002] technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a two-image display mechanism which has a dial defining a central axis X perpendicular to said dial, at least two superimposed pattern supports, at least one of said pattern supports being movable in rotation about said axis X between a first position and a second position, each of said pattern supports comprising an identical or different pattern, the pattern of at least that of said pattern supports which is superior being configured to include transparent areas through which at least the other of said pattern supports appears, said patterns being configured to together form a first image, respectively a second image, when said at least one of the movable pattern supports is in its first position, respectively in its second position.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] Such a timepiece is described, for example, in US patent application 2016 / 267822 or in US patent 5,586,089.

[0006] US patent application 2016 / 267822 describes a mechanism comprising two transparent discs, optionally a third lower disc, mounted to rotate on the same axis, each bearing partial images chosen to form a complete image at specific points in time. Specifically, the superposition of the discs allows for the display of a constantly evolving, fragmented image, periodically forming the complete image that is momentarily created when the partial images on the discs align. The discs must therefore rotate continuously to form the fragmented image and, at specific points in time, the complete image, as long as the rotation is in progress.

[0007] US patent 5,586,089 describes a timepiece comprising several superimposed discs corresponding to standard hour, minute, and second hands. Each disc is printed with patterns of open and opaque areas. The rotation of these discs produces stimulating visual effects in the form of multiple moiré images that constantly change over time.

[0008] These mechanisms, in which the discs are constantly rotating, do not allow for the display of at least one image that can remain static for a certain period, such as creating a fixed background covering the entire dial of a watch, and which can be animated intermittently to create a visual display on the dial, either at the user's request or, for example, when an alarm is triggered. These mechanisms also do not allow a user to change the image at will. Furthermore, these mechanisms consume a significant amount of energy to maintain the rotation of the discs while the movement is running.

[0009] Furthermore, it is known to incorporate visual animations in chiming watches, such as minute repeaters or grande sonnerie watches, using automata or jack-o'-nines that come to life when the chime is triggered. Automata typically depict figures in motion. These automata are generally positioned on the dial with the pivot points of their various components not aligned with the watch's central axis, which is perpendicular to the dial. This limits the display possibilities, as the automata cannot fill the entire dial. Moreover, even when the automaton is animated, it remains visible on the dial, maintaining its overall appearance. Finally, the automata only come to life when the chime is activated or the hour strikes.It is generally not possible for a user to trigger the visual animation independently of the ringtone.

[0010] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a timepiece, in particular a chiming watch, capable of displaying at least one image on a dial. This image can remain static and be changed to display another image to alter the dial's design, at the user's request and / or when a chime is activated, creating an original visual animation during the transition from one image to the other. Disclosure of the invention

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a two-image display mechanism which has a dial defining a central axis X perpendicular to said dial, at least two superimposed pattern supports, at least one of said pattern supports being movable in rotation around said axis X between a first position and a second position, each of said pattern supports comprising an identical or different pattern, the pattern of at least that of said pattern supports which is superior being configured to include transparent areas through which at least the other of said pattern supports appears, said patterns being configured to together form a first image, respectively a second image, when said at least one of the movable pattern supports is in its first position, respectively in its second position.

[0012] According to the invention, said at least one of the moving motif supports is rotationally movable through an angle of less than 360° between its first and second positions, in that the timepiece comprises at least one movable control member between a first stable position in which the displayed image is the first image and a second position, and a drive mechanism for said at least one of the moving motif supports arranged to cooperate with said at least one control member to:

[0013] - when said at least one control element is in its first position, maintain said at least one of the movable pattern supports in its first position to display the first image on the dial as long as said at least one control element is not activated,

[0014] - once said at least one control element has been moved from its first to its second position, drive said at least one of the moving pattern supports to rotate it in one direction from its first position to its second position so that the first image is decomposed according to a first sequence to constitute and display the second image on the dial, and maintain said at least one of the moving pattern supports in its second position for a determined duration t,

[0015] - at the end of the determined time t, drive said at least one of the supports of mobile pattern to rotate it in the other direction from its second position to its first position so that the second image decomposes according to a second sequence inverse to the first sequence to reconstitute and make the first image reappear on the dial.

[0016] Thus, the present invention proposes a timepiece, in particular a chiming watch, which allows for a dial capable of displaying two different designs by showing one or the other of two images obtained by superimposing pattern supports centered on the dial's central axis. The display of at least one of the images can remain fixed and be modified, via at least one control element, by rotating at least one of said pattern supports around said central axis in order to switch from one of the two images to the other, thereby creating a visual animation, at the request of a user and / or when the watch chimes. More specifically, the present invention allows for a dial that displays an animated image and reveals another image displayed on the dial.Furthermore, the transition from one to the other of the two images is done according to opposing sequences, in order to offer original visual animations.

[0017] Preferably, said at least two pattern supports may be movable in rotation around the X axis by an angle of less than 360° each between a first position and a second position, the first image being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports are in their respective first position and the second image being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports are in their respective second position.

[0018] Preferably, the display mechanism may include a third motif holder that is fixedly mounted beneath said at least two movable motif holders, and that includes a third motif configured to complement the two motifs of said at least two movable motif holders. Advantageously, according to one embodiment, the timepiece according to the invention may include a striking mechanism arranged to cooperate with the drive mechanism of said at least one of the movable motif holders and said at least one control member, and said at least one control member is a striking-on-demand or on-pass control member arranged to occupy the first stable position when the striking mechanism is not activated, and to occupy the second position when the striking mechanism is activated, said second position being unstable.

[0019] In another embodiment, which can be combined with the previous embodiment, said at least one control element is a latch arranged to occupy the first and second positions at the request of a user, said second position being stable.

[0020] Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] - Figure 1 is a view of a watch according to the invention for which a first image is displayed;

[0023] - Figure 2 is a view of a watch according to the invention for which a second image is displayed;

[0024] - Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a watch according to the invention;

[0025] - Figure 4 is a top view of the watch in Figure 3,

[0026] - Figures 5a to 5c respectively represent the third, second and first pattern supports used in the invention, and Figures 5d to 5g represent the evolution of the displayed image between the first image displayed when the three pattern supports are aligned in their first position and the second image displayed when the three pattern supports are aligned in their second position;

[0027] - Figure 6 is a top view of the entire drive mechanism used in Figure 4, with the control elements in their first position and the locking rocker in a locked position;

[0028] - Figure 7 is a top view of part of the drive unit, with the locking rocker in its locking position;

[0029] - Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism used in the present invention, with the locking rocker in its locking position;

[0030] - Figure 9 is a perspective view of part of the drive mechanism and the ringing mechanism;

[0031] - Figure 10 is a perspective view of the striking barrel shaft used in the present invention;

[0032] - Figure 11 is a perspective view of the control element in the form of a bolt and part of the drive mechanism;

[0033] - Figure 12 is a top view of the ringing mechanism and part of the drive mechanism, with the first control element in its second position and the locking lever in its disengaged position; and

[0034] - Figure 13 is a top view of part of the drive mechanism and the second control member in the form of a bolt in its second position and the locking rocker being in its release position.

[0035] Embodiments of the invention With reference to figures 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a timepiece 1 which may be a watch, in particular a striking watch, such as a minute repeater as shown in figures 1 and 2 for which the striking mechanism is activated when a pusher or a lock is operated, or such as a grande sonnerie for which the striking mechanism is on the fly and rings automatically.

[0036] The timepiece 1 comprises a display mechanism for displaying two different images A and B on a dial. The dial defines a central axis X perpendicular to the dial, that is, perpendicular to the principal plane defined by the timepiece 1 and passing through a center of symmetry of the dial. The dial may be off-center, so that the central axis X of the dial may differ from the central axis of the watch. The dial may also be centered, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that the central axis X of the dial coincides with the central axis of the watch, which generally corresponds to the axis of rotation of the hands for displaying the time.

[0037] In this description, the term "image" means any decoration, any graphic representation or drawing, which may correspond to any real, abstract, distorted or deconstructed representation.

[0038] This means that the pattern holders and patterns used in the present invention are configured so that one or the other of the first and second images is always displayed on the dial. Specifically, at least one pattern from one of the pattern holders is always displayed on the dial, said pattern contributing to the formation of an image. The dial therefore always presents an appearance decorated by either the first or the second image.

[0039] In the description that follows, more specific reference is made to a minute repeater watch which includes, with reference to figures 3 and 4, a basic movement 2, the display mechanism for images A and B being advantageously provided in an additional module 4.

[0040] Images A and B are obtained by superimposing at least two superimposed pattern supports 6, 8. To this end, the display mechanism for two images A and B comprises said at least two superimposed pattern supports 6, 8, centered on the X-axis, at least one of said pattern supports 6, 8 being rotatable around said central axis X of the dial, between a first position and a second position, as will be detailed below. Advantageously, the central axis X of the dial corresponds to the central axis of the watch. Preferably, the hands 7a, 7b, for displaying, for example, the hours and minutes respectively, are each attached to a cannon, said cannons being coaxial with the central axis X.

[0041] With more specific reference to Figures 5b to 5g, each of the pattern supports 6, 8 comprises a pattern a, b, respectively, said patterns a, b, identical or different, being configured to form together, by superposition, the first image A when said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 is in its first position, and to form together, by superposition, the second image B when said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 is in its second position. For this purpose, the pattern of at least the uppermost of said pattern supports 6, 8 is configured to include non-transparent areas and transparent areas through which at least the other of said pattern supports 6, 8 appears.

[0042] In this description, a "transparent" area means an area made of a transparent material, the pattern support then preferably being made entirely of a transparent material, or means an actual through-opening, physically made in the pattern support which may then not be transparent.

[0043] Preferably, at least one of the motif supports 6, 8 that is superior, i.e., the one furthest from the base movement 2, and therefore on the side from which a user views their watch—here, motif support 6—is made of a transparent material, and its motif is configured to include non-transparent and transparent areas through which at least one of the other motif supports, here, motif support 8, is visible. As described above, motif support 6 may also be non-transparent and perforated, with the through-openings forming the transparent areas. According to the invention, at least one of the motif supports 6, 8 that is movable is rotatable through an angle of less than 360°, preferably less than or equal to 180°, more preferably less than or equal to 90°, between its first and second positions.Furthermore, the timepiece 1 includes at least one movable control element between a first stable position in which the displayed image is the first image A and a second stable or unstable position, positioning in the second position triggering the transformation of the first image A into the second image B. This control element may be a striking bolt 10 or a slide 12 as will be detailed below. The timepiece 1 also includes a drive mechanism 14 for at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 arranged to cooperate with said at least one control element 10, 12 for:

[0044] - when said at least one control member 10, 12 is in its first position, maintain said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 in its first position to display the first image A on the dial as long as said at least one control member 10, 12 is not actuated,

[0045] - once said at least one control member 10, 12 has been moved from its first to its second position, to drive said at least one of the movable motif supports 6, 8 to rotate it in one direction from its first position to its second position so that the first image A is decomposed according to a first sequence to constitute and display the second image B on the dial, first sequence during which the first image A no longer appears on the dial as the first image A and evolves into image B as said movable motif support 6, 8 rotates, and to maintain said at least one of the movable motif supports 6, 8 in its second position to display image B for a determined duration t, which may be chosen by the user or predetermined by the construction of the timepiece, as will be detailed below, - at the end of the determined duration t, said at least one control member 10, 12 may be,In a preferred embodiment, again in its first position, drive said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 to rotate it in the opposite direction from its second position to its first position so that the second image B decomposes according to a second sequence inverse to the first sequence to reconstitute and make the first image A reappear, a second sequence during which the second image B no longer appears on the dial as the second image and evolves into image A as said movable pattern support 6, 8 rotates, in a manner inverse to the evolution of image A into image B of the first sequence.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, said at least two pattern supports 6, 8 are both movable in rotation about the X-axis by an angle less than 360°, preferably less than or equal to 180°, more preferably less than or equal to 90°, each between a first position and a second position, the first image A being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 are in their respective first position, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d, and the second image B being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 are in their respective second position, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 5g. Furthermore, the drive mechanism 14 is then a drive mechanism for said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 arranged to cooperate with said at least one control member 10, 12 for:

[0047] - when said at least one control member 10, 12 is in its first position, maintain said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 in their respective first positions to display the first image A on the dial as long as said at least one control member 10, 12 is not activated, thus allowing a first scene to be displayed on the dial, - once said at least one control member 10, 12 has been moved from its first to its second position, drive said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 to rotate them in their respective directions from their respective first positions to their respective second positions so that the first image A is decomposed according to a first sequence to constitute and display the second image B on the dial, a sequence during which the first image A no longer appears on the dial as the first image and evolves into image B as said pattern supports 6 rotate.8 mobiles, and maintain said at least two motif supports 6, 8 mobiles in their respective second position to display image B for a determined duration t, thus allowing a second decoration to be displayed on the dial, said determined duration t being able to be chosen by the user or predetermined by the construction of the timepiece, as will be detailed below,

[0048] - at the end of the determined duration t, said at least one control element 10, 12, which in a preferred embodiment can be returned to its first position, drive said at least two movable motif supports 6, 8 to rotate them in their other respective direction from their respective second position to their respective first position so that the second image B is decomposed according to a second sequence inverse to the first sequence to reconstitute and make the first image A reappear on the dial, second sequence during which the second image B no longer appears on the dial as a second image and evolves into image A as said movable motif supports 6, 8 rotate, in a manner inverse to the evolution of image A into image B of the first sequence, the dial thus displaying its first decoration again.

[0049] Preferably, the drive mechanism 14 is arranged to drive said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 in opposite directions when driven from one to the other of their respective first and second positions, and preferably at different rotational speeds and with a different angle of rotation. For example, for a two-second visual animation during the transition from one of the two images A and B to the other, one of the pattern supports 6, 8, here pattern support 6, can rotate in one direction by 90° in two seconds while the other of the pattern supports 6, 8, here pattern support 8, rotates in the opposite direction by 45° in two seconds. In another embodiment, one of the pattern supports 6, 8 can rotate in one direction by 72° while the other of the pattern supports 6, 8 rotates in the opposite direction by 36°.

[0050] Advantageously, the display mechanism includes a third pattern support 16 centered on the X-axis and fixedly mounted beneath at least two movable pattern supports 6 and 8, i.e., on the side of the additional module 4. Referring to Figure 5a, the third pattern support 16 includes a third pattern c configured to complement the two patterns a and b of at least two movable pattern supports 6 and 8. The third pattern support 16 can, for example, form a colored background. It can advantageously form the background of the dial.

[0051] In particular, the patterns a, b represented respectively on the at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 are configured to include transparent areas through which the third pattern support 16 appears. Preferably, said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 are made of a transparent material, the patterns a, b represented respectively on the at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 being configured to include non-transparent areas and transparent areas through which the third pattern support 16 appears, and the intermediate pattern support 8 appears through the transparent areas of the upper pattern support 6. In another variant, the movable pattern supports 6, 8 could not be transparent and be perforated, the through openings forming the transparent areas.

[0052] According to the embodiment variants, at least the patterns a, b of said at least two pattern supports 6, 8, and the pattern c of the third pattern support 16 if it is present, can be configured to form, as first image A, a distorted or deconstructed image of the second image B, said first image A being reconstituted into said second image B according to said first sequence when said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 is drawn into its second position and the second image B being distorted according to the second sequence when said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 is brought back into its first position.

[0053] According to another embodiment, at least the patterns a, b of said at least two pattern supports 6, 8, and the pattern c of the third pattern support 16 if it is present, can be configured to form a first continuous whole image A and a second continuous whole image B, different from the first continuous whole image A.

[0054] According to another embodiment, at least patterns a, b of said at least two pattern supports 6, 8, and pattern c of the third pattern support 16 if present, can be configured so that the first and second sequences for passing from one to the other of the first and second images A, B are continuous smooth progressive transition sequences, of the morphing type.

[0055] The upper pattern support 6, and where applicable, the intermediate pattern support 8, when transparent, can be made for example of sapphire, or of Plexiglas®.

[0056] Advantageously, the patterns a, b of the two pattern supports 6, 8 can be formed by a laser-structured metallization process to create transparent areas or openings, as well as solid, non-transparent areas, on said pattern supports 6, 8. The patterns can also be formed by a miniature paint deposition process, by engraving, or by any other suitable process.

[0057] Preferably, pattern a of the upper pattern support 6 is made on the lower face of said pattern support 6 and pattern b of the pattern support 8 is made on the upper face of said pattern support 8.

[0058] The said at least two pattern supports 6, 8 and the third pattern support 16 if present, may advantageously be of free form, identical or different.

[0059] Specifically, at least one or two of the movable motif supports 6 or 8 have a shape inscribed in a circle centered on the X-axis, said circle preferably corresponding to the dial. Preferably, at least two motif supports 6 or 8 and the third motif support 16, if present, are disks centered on the X-axis.

[0060] Advantageously, said at least two pattern supports 6, 8 and the third pattern support 16 if present, are in the form of two (three) discs substantially of the same dimensions chosen to occupy the whole surface of the dial, the patterns occupying at least partially, preferably predominantly, and more preferably the whole surface of the pattern support, so that the images formed by said pattern supports 6, 8, 16 preferably occupy the whole surface of the dial and together constitute the decoration of said dial.

[0061] Preferably, said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8 is a disk carried by a disk-carrying wheel 18, 20 respectively, kinematically linked to the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8. More specifically, said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8 or said at least two movable pattern supports 6, 8 are transparent disks, each integral with a ring 6a, 8a respectively, which is driven onto the shaft 18a, 20a respectively of a cannon wheel which constitutes said disk-carrying wheel 18, 20, as shown in Figure 3.

[0062] Advantageously, and with reference to Figure 4, said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8 is a disk comprising on its periphery at least one positioning tab 22, 24 respectively, extending radially outwards from the periphery. Said positioning tabs 22, 24, here three in number, are arranged to pass over or slide on shoulders provided for this purpose at two different heights on the additional module 4, in order to guide said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8 during its rotation.

[0063] Furthermore, one of the positioning lugs 22, 24 is arranged to cooperate with at least one positioning stop 26, 28 respectively, provided on the frame of the additional module 4. Said at least one positioning stop 26, 28 makes it possible to control the angular displacement and to guarantee the correct positioning of said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8 in its second position, so as to be exactly "aligned" in said second position with respect to the other pattern supports to correctly form the second image B. When the two pattern supports 6, 8 are movable, the two positioning stops 26, 28 are provided at two different heights so as not to hinder the rotation of the upper pattern support 6.

[0064] As it may be difficult, after the assembly of the additional module 4 to the basic movement 2, to guarantee the correct positioning of said at least one pattern support 6, 8, in its second position, at least one adjustment device for said at least one positioning stop 26, 28 is provided. Said adjustment device comprises a plate 30, 32 respectively, held on the frame of the additional module 4 by a fixing screw 30a, 32a respectively, and integral with a pin forming said positioning stop 26, 28. Said plate 30, 32 is arranged to be adjustable by an eccentric 30b, 32b respectively, accessible from below, in order to move said plate 30, 32 by means of its oblong slot 30c, 32c respectively, so as to be able to finely adjust the position of said positioning stop 26, 28 respectively.

[0065] With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 includes a driving wheel 34 arranged to be able to kinematically link said at least one control member 10, 12 to said drive mechanism 14, as will be detailed below.

[0066] With more specific reference to Figure 7, the drive mechanism 14 also includes a drive wheel 36 comprising a drive wheel 38 kinematically linked to at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6,8 and a winding wheel 40 kinematically linked to the driving wheel 34 as will be detailed below. The said drive wheels 38 and winding wheels 40 are connected by an elastic coupling member 42, the first end of which, namely the inner end 42a, is rotationally fixed to the winding wheel 40 via a pin 44 fixed to said winding wheel 40, and the other end, namely the outer end 42b, is rotationally fixed to the drive wheel 38 by means of two studs 46 fixed to said drive wheel 38 and able to move in an oblong slot 48 in the winding wheel 40.

[0067] The drive wheel 38 comprises a toothed sector 38a with backlash-compensating teeth. It is kinematically linked to at least one of the pattern supports 6, 8, which is movable via the corresponding disc-carrying wheel 18, 20. When both pattern supports 6, 8 are movable, the toothed sector 38a of the drive wheel 38 meshes on one side with the disc-carrying wheel 20 of the pattern support 8, and on the other side with the pinion 50a of a backlash-compensating reduction gear 50, whose wheel 50b meshes with the disc-carrying wheel 18 of the pattern support 6.

[0068] The drive wheel 38 also includes a non-toothed sector 38b which has a notch 52 on its periphery whose role will be described below.

[0069] The drive mechanism 14 also includes a locking mobile 54 arranged to kinematically link the driving wheel 34 to the carriage wheel 40 of the drive mobile 36 so that a rotation of the driving wheel 34 causes a rotation of said carriage wheel 40, which makes it possible to arm the elastic coupling member 42, while preventing the driving of the driving wheel 34 by the carriage wheel 40.

[0070] For this purpose, said locking mechanism 54 includes, for example, a Maltese cross 56, here with two arms, and comprising at least one groove 58 in which a finger 60 carried by the drive wheel 34 can intermittently engage to drive said Maltese cross 56 during the rotation of the drive wheel 34. The arms of the Maltese cross 56 are configured to form at least two rounded edges 62 arranged to cooperate with a locking cam 64 provided fixed to the drive wheel 34 in order to lock the Maltese cross 56 so as to prevent the drive wheel 34 from being driven by the winding wheel 40.

[0071] The locking mechanism 54 also includes a connecting wheel 66 integral with the Maltese cross 56 and kinematically linked to the winding wheel 40 of the drive mechanism 36, here by direct meshing. A rotation of the connecting wheel 66, via a rotation of the drive wheel 34, causes a rotation of the winding wheel 40, which allows the elastic coupling member 42 to be wound from the inside.

[0072] Any other locking mechanism designed so that a rotation of the drive wheel 34 causes a rotation of the carriage wheel 40 while preventing the drive wheel 34 from being driven by the carriage wheel 40 may also be used. The drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 also includes a locking mechanism 68 for the drive wheel 38 of the drive mechanism 36, arranged to lock said drive wheel 38 when said at least one control member 10, 12 is in its first position and to release said drive wheel 38 to allow its rotation under the effect of the energy released by the elastic coupling member 42 only once said at least one control member 10, 12 has been moved from its first to its second position. The elastic coupling element 42, previously armed from the inside by a rotation of the winding wheel 40, unwinds from the outside.

[0073] To this end, and with more specific reference to Figure 8, the locking mechanism 68 for the drive wheel 38 comprises a locking rocker 70 pivotally mounted between a locking position and a disengagement position. This locking rocker 70 has a locking finger 72 arranged to engage in the notch 52 provided on the drive wheel 38 to lock the drive wheel 38 when at least one control member 10, 12 is in its first position, the locking rocker 70 being in its locking position. Furthermore, the locking rocker 70 is arranged to pivot into its disengagement position so as to disengage the locking finger 72 from the drive wheel 38 only once at least one control member 10, 12 has been moved from its first to its second position.

[0074] In order to be able to be released only once the control member 10 has been moved into its second position, the locking rocker 70 is mounted on a main rocker 74 pivotally mounted at C on the additional module 4. Said main rocker 74 is integral with a pin 76 arranged to be able to be linked with the control member 10 in order to pivot the main rocker 74 at C, and therefore the locking rocker 70 into its release position, only when said control member 10 has been moved into its second position, as will be detailed below.

[0075] In order to be released only once the control member 12 is positioned in its second position, the locking lever 70 is pivotally mounted on the main lever 74, so that it can pivot independently of the main lever 74. Thus, the locking lever 70 is lifted without disturbing the striking mechanism. Said locking lever 70 includes a flat 70a arranged to cooperate with a lever 78 which is linked to the control member 12, enabling the locking lever 70 to pivot at D into its released position only when said control member 12 has been moved into its second position, as will be detailed below.

[0076] The main rocker 74 and the locking rocker 70 are each equipped with their respective return spring 80, 82.

[0077] The drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 also includes a regulating mechanism 84 with an inertial flywheel kinematically linked to the drive wheel 38, in order to regulate the rotational speed of said at least one movable pattern support 6, 8. Said regulating mechanism 84 includes a gear 86, the first pinion 88 of which meshes with the toothed sector 38a and the last wheel 90 meshes with the pinion 91 of a centrifugal force regulating flywheel schematically represented by reference numeral 92. Such a centrifugal force regulating flywheel is known to those skilled in the art and does not require a detailed description.

[0078] Advantageously, the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 and said at least one control member 10, 12 are arranged to cooperate so that said at least one control member 10, 12 is again in its first position at the end of the determined time t, whether the control member 10 is a bell lock which has automatically returned to its first position at the end of the determined time t, or a bolt 12 which is returned to its first position by a user at the end of the determined time t, as detailed below.

[0079] According to one embodiment of the invention, the timepiece 1 according to the invention comprises a striking mechanism 94 arranged to cooperate with the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the movable motif supports 6, 8, and more particularly with its driving wheel 34, as well as with said at least one control member 10. Said at least one control member 10 is a striking member for on-demand or on-the-go operation arranged to occupy the first stable position when the striking mechanism is not activated, and to occupy the second position when the striking mechanism is activated, said second position being unstable. In the example shown, the striking mechanism 94 is a minute repeater mechanism and said at least one control member 10 is a striking member for on-demand operation, external to the timepiece 1, such as a pusher or a latch, and which must be actuated by a user in its second position to activate the striking mechanism.A person skilled in the art can easily adapt the construction described in this application to a passing bell, the control element then being an internal control element within the clockwork part 1.

[0080] The ringing mechanism 94 and the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8, and more particularly its driving wheel 34, are arranged to cooperate together so that, in addition to the operation of the drive mechanism 14 described above, the return of the ringing control member 10 to its first position, after being actuated, takes place in parallel with the ringing and the drive of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 to its second position according to the first sequence to bring forth the second image B.The duration t of the maintenance of said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 in its second position is slightly less than the duration of the ringing, at the end of which said at least one of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8 is driven according to the second sequence into its first position to reappear the first image A at the end of the ringing, the ringing control element 10 having already returned to its first position. The display of the second image B is therefore ephemeral. The principle is similar when both pattern supports 6, 8 are mobile and driven by the drive mechanism 14.

[0081] The striking mechanism 94, such as a minute repeater, is known in itself. Only certain elements of the striking mechanism 94 are shown, such as, notably in Figure 9, the rack 96 and its arm 96a which extends from the case of the base movement 2 to engage in the lock which slides around the perimeter of the case and which constitutes the control member 10, the rack lifter 96b arranged to lift the release lever 98 releasing the quarter-hour piece 100, the quarter-hour piece drive pinion 102, mounted freely on the striking barrel arbor 104 and driven by a finger 106 provided on said striking barrel arbor 104, as shown in Figure 10. These elements are known to those skilled in the art and do not require detailed description, unless further clarification is provided.In particular, and as shown in figure 8, the quarter piece 100 is arranged so that its rim 100a opposite the pin 76 attached to the main rocker 74 comes into contact with said pin 76 to rotate said main rocker 74 in C, and therefore the locking rocker 70 into its release position, when the quarter piece 100 falls, that is to say only when the ringing control member 10 has been moved into its second position driving the rack 96 so that the rack lift 96b, fixed on the rack 96, lifts the release rocker 98 to free the quarter piece 100.

[0082] In another embodiment, said at least one control element 12 is a slider, represented here by its rake 12a, said slider being arranged to occupy the first and second positions at the request of a user, said second position being stable. In the example described here, said at least one control element 12 in the form of a slider is arranged to be, in its first position, to the left of the 12h-6h axis when the pattern supports 6, 8 are in their respective first positions to display the first image A, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d, and to be, in its second position, to the right of the 12h-6h axis when the pattern supports 6, 8 are in their respective second positions to display the second image B, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 5g.

[0083] The drive mechanism 14, which drives at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8, and more particularly its drive wheel 34, and the control member 12 in the form of a bolt, are arranged to cooperate so that, in addition to the operation of the drive mechanism 14 described above, at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 is driven from one of its first and second positions to the other after each change of position of the control member 12 in the form of a bolt. The duration t of holding said at least one of the movable pattern supports 6, 8 in its first, or second, position respectively, is equal to the duration chosen by the user to hold said control member 12 in the form of a bolt in its first, or second, position respectively. The principle is similar when both pattern supports 6, 8 are movable and driven by the drive mechanism 14.

[0084] Using the control element 12 in the form of a slide allows for a permanent display of either the first image A or the second image B, as selected by the user. Moving the slide from left to right and right to left allows the user to change the displayed image at the end of each slide position change, independently of the ringing mechanism 94.

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the timepiece 1 comprises a striking mechanism 94, a first control member 10 consisting of the striking member on demand or on passage, and a second control member 12 in the form of a bolt.

[0086] In this case, advantageously, the driving wheel 34 of the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the mobile motif supports 6,8 is a clutch wheel arranged to be able to be driven either by the ringing mechanism 94 controlled by the first control member 10, or by the control member 12 in the form of a bolt.

[0087] To enable its drive by the striking mechanism 94, and with reference to figure 9, the driving wheel 34 constituting a clutch wheel is mounted freely for rotation on the striking barrel shaft 104 and is arranged to be driven in rotation by a control finger 108 fixed to the striking barrel shaft 104, itself being driven in rotation for its winding by the rack 96 via the actuation of the striking control member 10 and the arm 96a of the rack 96. Said control finger 108 is arranged to be able to cooperate with a pin 110 fixed to said driving wheel 34 constituting a clutch wheel.

[0088] To enable the driving of the driving wheel 34 constituting a clutch wheel either by the ringing mechanism 94 or by the control member 12 in the form of a catch, and with reference to figures 6 and 11, the drive mechanism 14 of said at least one of the movable motif supports 6, 8 includes a disengagement device 112 comprising a driving wheel 114 kinematically linked to the control member 12 in the form of a catch, via a gear train 116 of which the first wheel meshes with the driving wheel 114 and the last wheel meshes with the rake 12a, and an intermediate gearbox 118 kinematically linked to the driving wheel 34 constituting a clutch wheel, for example by direct meshing.The said drive wheel 114 and the said intermediate link 118 are coaxial and are linked by an elastic element 120, such as a spiral spring, one end 120a of which is fixed to a connecting pin 122 carried by the intermediate link 118 and arranged to be able to move in an oblong opening 124 provided on the drive wheel 114. The other end 120b of the elastic element 120 is fixed to the frame of the timepiece. Thus, when the drive wheel 114 is driven in rotation by the control member 12 in the form of a latch via the rake 12a and the gear train 116, said drive wheel 114 pushes the connecting pin 122, and with it the end 120a of the elastic member 120, so that the intermediate return 118, fixed in rotation to the drive wheel 114, drives said driving wheel 34 constituting the clutch wheel while arming the elastic member 120.When the driving wheel 34, which forms the clutch wheel, is driven in rotation by the ringing mechanism 94 via the activation of the ringing control member 10, the intermediate linkage 118, driven by the driving wheel 34, which forms the clutch wheel, disengages or is disengaged from the driving wheel 114, the connecting pin 122 being able to move freely in the oblong opening 124 of the driving wheel 114. The control member 12, in the form of a bolt, is thus disconnected from the ringing control member 10.

[0089] The rake 12a is subjected to the action of a jumper 126 which is itself subjected to a return spring 128.

[0090] With reference to Figures 6 and 8, the drive wheel 114 has a beak 130 arranged to lift the arm 78a of the lever 78 so that the latter, resting on the flat 70a, pivots the locking rocker 70 to release the drive wheel 38. The beak 130 is positioned on the drive wheel 114 so that it meets the arm 78a of the lever 78 only when the control member 12 in the form of a bolt has been moved into its second position, driving the rake 12a, the gear train 116 and the drive wheel 114. Preferably, the striking mechanism 94 is arranged in the basic movement 2, as is the driving wheel 34, and the other components of the drive mechanism 14 are arranged in the additional module 4.

[0091] The operation of the timepiece according to the invention is as follows:

[0092] The timepiece is designed so that the image displayed on the dial is the first image A shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d, thus providing a dial with an initial decorated appearance. Here, image A is a deconstructed image of the second image B. The first control element 10, consisting of the on-demand striking mechanism, i.e., the striking mechanism lock, is in its first stable position. The second control element 12, in the form of a slide, is also in its first stable position, to the left of the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock axis. The two movable motif supports 6 and 8 are fixed in their respective first positions so that, in combination with motif c of the third fixed motif support 16, the image displayed on the dial is the first image A. The drive wheel 38 is locked, held in its locked position by the locking lever 70, as shown in Figure 8, for example.The various gears of the drive mechanism 14 are arranged to be under tension so that the two movable pattern supports 6, 8 remain immobile in their first respective position, and the first image A remains fixed.

[0093] When the user operates the first control element 10 to activate the minute repeater function and trigger the alarm, and with reference to Figure 12, the movement of said first control element 10 into its second unstable position drives the rack 96 via its arm 96a, which is integral with said first control element 10. The rack 96 drives the alarm barrel shaft 104, which in turn drives the driving wheel 34 via the pin 110 and the operating finger 108. The finger 60 carried by the driving wheel 34 engages the Maltese cross 56 of the locking mechanism 54, causing said Maltese cross 56 to rotate and thus the connecting wheel 66. The latter drives the winding wheel 40, which winds the elastic coupling element 42 from the inside.Then, as the driving wheel 34 continues its rotation, driven by the striking barrel shaft 104, an arm of the Maltese cross 56 repositions itself against the locking cam 64 of the driving wheel 34, thus locking the Maltese cross 56. This prevents any transmission of energy from the drive wheel 36 to the driving wheel 34 via the locking wheel 54. Simultaneously, the disengagement device 112 allows the driving wheel 34 to drive only the intermediate linkage 118, its connecting pin 122 being able to move within the oblong opening 124 of the driving wheel 114, and to fully wind the elastic element 120 during the striking action. The second control element 12, in the form of a bolt, remains unaffected.

[0094] Then, when the first control element 10 reaches its second position, the rack lift 96b raises the release lever 98, which causes the quarter-ring piece 100 to be released, so that when said quarter-ring piece 100 falls, the striking begins, the striking mechanism 94 operating in a manner known per se, independently of the driving wheel 34.

[0095] Simultaneously, when the quarter-ring piece 100 fell—that is, only when the striking mechanism 10 was moved into its second position—the quarter-ring piece 100, by its rim 100a, pushed the pin 76, pivoting the main rocker 74 at point C, and thus the locking rocker 70 into its release position. With the locking rocker 70 in its release position, its locking finger 72 disengages from the notch 52 of the drive wheel 38, freeing said drive wheel 38.

[0096] Thanks to the locking mechanism 54, which locks the Maltese cross 56, the energy released by the elastic coupling member 42 can only unwind said elastic coupling member externally, thus allowing the previously released drive wheel 38 to rotate. This drive wheel 38 receives sufficient energy to, in turn, drive the regulating mechanism 84, as well as the reduction gear 50 and the disc-carrying wheels 18, 20.The movable pattern supports 6 and 8, attached to the disc-carrying wheels 18 and 20, are driven in rotation. The first image A is decomposed according to the first sequence and disappears from the dial, no longer visible to the user as the first image A. The transition from the first image A to the second image B occurs according to the first sequence, represented in particular by the images in Figures 5e and 5f, until they reach their respective second positions to form and display the second image B, which is created on the dial in combination with pattern c of the third fixed pattern support 16, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 5g, thus giving the dial a second decorated appearance. The positioning tabs 22 and 24 of the pattern supports 6 and 8 are then pressed against their respective positioning stops 26 and 28.

[0097] The drive mechanism 14 allows for an instantaneous triggering of the rotation of the pattern supports 6, 8 mobiles, at the same time as the bell starts to ring.

[0098] The mechanisms can, for example, be configured so that the mobile pattern supports 6 and 8 reach their respective second positions to form the second image B within the first two seconds after the ringing begins. Pattern support 6, for instance, rotates counterclockwise 90° while pattern support 8 rotates clockwise 45° in two seconds. The rotation speed of the mobile pattern supports 6 and 8 is regulated by the regulating mechanism 84.

[0099] The movable pattern holders 6 and 8 remain stationary in their second position to display the second image B for a duration t, which is slightly shorter, for example by a few seconds, than the duration of the ring. The backlash-compensating teeth of the drive wheel 38 and the reduction gear 50 ensure a fixed positioning of the pattern holders 6 and 8, preventing any wobbling.

[0100] At the end of the duration t, towards the end of the striking mechanism, the driving wheel 34 is no longer driven by the striking barrel arbor 104, and is instead driven by the intermediate linkage 118 under the action of the elastic element 120, which disengages. The driving wheel 34 moves away from the control finger 108 and in turn drives the Maltese cross 56 and then the drive wheel 36 in the opposite direction. The winding wheel 40 and the drive wheel 38 are then locked in rotation via the studs 46 of said drive wheel 38. Said drive wheel 38, in turn, drives the regulating mechanism 84, as well as the reduction wheel 50 and the disc-carrying wheels 18, 20 in the opposite direction.The movable pattern supports 6 and 8, attached to the disc-carrying wheels 18 and 20, leave their respective second positions and rotate in the opposite direction. The second image B decomposes according to the second inverse sequence of the first sequence and disappears from the dial, no longer visible to the user as the second image B. The transition from the second image B to the first image A occurs according to the second inverse sequence of the first sequence, until they return to their respective first positions. This reconstitutes and displays the first image A again on the dial, in combination with pattern c from the third pattern support 16, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d. The dial thus regains its original decorated appearance.

[0101] The mechanisms can, for example, be configured so that the mobile pattern holders 6 and 8 leave their respective second positions in the last two seconds before the end of the ringing, returning to their respective first positions to re-form the first image A. Pattern holder 6, for example, rotates 90° clockwise while pattern holder 8 rotates 45° counterclockwise in two seconds. The rotation speed of the mobile pattern holders 6 and 8 is regulated by the regulating mechanism 84.

[0102] At the end of the ringing, the ringing mechanism 94 returns to its initial position, and in particular the quarter piece 100, so that the main rocker 74 is brought back by its return spring 80 to its initial position, bringing the locking rocker 70 back to its locking position, its locking finger 72 being again engaged in the notch 52 of the drive wheel 38 which has returned to its initial position.

[0103] The return of the ringing control member 10 to its first position took place at its own pace, in parallel with the ringing, in a manner known in itself, and independently of the rotation of the pattern supports 6,8. Thus, when the ringing is finished and the mobile pattern supports 6,8 are again immobile in their respective first position to form the first image A, the ringing control member 10 has already returned to its first stable position.

[0104] Similarly, when the user operates the second control element 12 in the form of a slide to trigger the animation of the watch dial independently of the alarm, the movement of said second control element 12 from its first stable position to the left of the 12h-6h axis, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d, to its second stable position to the right of the 12h-6h axis, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 5g, causes the rotation, here in the counterclockwise direction, of the rake 12a, as shown in Figure 13.

[0105] The rotation of the rake 12a causes the rotation of the gear train 116 and then of the drive wheel 114 of the disengagement device 112. Said drive wheel 114 pushes, by the edge of its oblong opening 124, the connecting pin 122 which is integral with the intermediate gear 118, so that the drive wheel 114 and the intermediate gear 118 are fixedly linked in rotation, said intermediate gear 118 driving said drive wheel 34. In parallel, the movement of the intermediate gear 118 allows the end 120a of the elastic element 120 to be moved, so as to engage said elastic element 120.

[0106] The operation of the driving wheel 34 with the locking mobile 54, the locking mechanism 68 and the drive mobile 36 is similar to that described above when the driving wheel 34 is driven by the striking barrel shaft 104, with the difference that said driving wheel 34 rotates freely around the striking barrel shaft 104, independently of the striking mechanism 94 and moves away from the control finger 108. The first striking control member 10 is not impacted.

[0107] When the driving wheel 34 is driven by the intermediate gear 118, the finger 60 carried by the driving wheel 34 engages the Maltese cross 56 of the locking mechanism 54, causing the Maltese cross 56 and thus the connecting wheel 66 to rotate. The connecting wheel 66 drives the winding wheel 40, thereby winding the elastic coupling member 42 from within. Then, as the driving wheel 34 continues its rotation, still driven by the intermediate gear 118, an arm of the Maltese cross 56 repositions itself against the locking cam 64 of the driving wheel 34, thus locking the Maltese cross 56.

[0108] Then, when the second control member 12, in the form of a latch, reaches its second stable position, the beak 130 of the drive wheel 114 comes into contact with the arm 78a of the lever 78, as shown in Figure 13, so that said lever 78 pivots and lifts the locking rocker 70 by its flat 70a. Said locking rocker 70 pivots at D in its release position, independently of the main rocker 74. With the locking rocker 70 in its release position, its locking finger 72 disengages from the notch 52 of the drive wheel 38 and releases said drive wheel 38.

[0109] As described above, the energy released by the elastic coupling member 42 is transmitted to the previously released drive wheel 38. Said drive wheel 38 then drives the regulating mechanism 84 as well as the reduction gear 50 and the disc-carrying wheels 18, 20 so that the movable pattern supports 6, 8 are driven in rotation, the first image A decomposing and disappearing from the dial, no longer visible to the user as the first image A, the transition from the first image A to the second image B occurring according to the first sequence, until their respective second positions to constitute and display the second image B which forms on the dial, in combination with the pattern c of the third pattern support 16, as shown in Figure 2.

[0110] The drive mechanism 14 allows an instantaneous triggering of the rotation of the mobile pattern supports 6, 8, at the same time as the second control member 12 in the form of a bolt reaches its second position, to the right of the axis 12h-6h, as shown in Figure 2.

[0111] The mechanisms can, for example, be configured so that pattern support 6 rotates counterclockwise 90° while pattern support 8 rotates clockwise 45° in two seconds. The rotation speed of the movable pattern supports 6 and 8 is regulated by the regulating mechanism 84.

[0112] The movable pattern supports 6 and 8 remain stationary in their second position to display the second image B for a duration t, which corresponds to the duration chosen by the user to maintain the control element 12, in the form of a target, in its second stable position. This control element 12 remains in its second stable position because the torque exerted by the jumper 126 on the rake 12a is greater than the torque exerted by the elastic element 120 on the intermediate drive 118. Here again, the backlash-compensating teeth of the drive wheel 38 and the reduction gear 50 ensure a fixed positioning of the pattern supports 6 and 8, preventing any wobbling.At the end of the duration t, when the user decides to change the displayed image, he again moves the second control element 12 in the form of a target from its second stable position to the right of the 12h-6h axis to its first stable position to the left of the 12h-6h axis, which causes the rotation, here in the clockwise direction, of the rake 12a. The drive wheel 114 is driven in the opposite direction so that its beak 130 leaves the arm 78a of the lever 78. The locking rocker 70 is returned to its locking position by its return spring 82. At the same time, the intermediate link 118 is returned to its initial position by the elastic member 20, which drives the driving wheel 34, the Maltese cross 56, the connecting wheel 66 and then the drive wheel 36 in the opposite direction, the winding wheel 40 and the drive wheel 38 then being rotationally fixed via the elastic coupling member 42.The drive wheel 38 in turn drives the regulating mechanism 84 as well as the reduction wheel 50 and the disc-carrying wheels 18, 20 in the opposite direction. The movable pattern supports 6, 8 leave their respective second position and are driven in rotation in the opposite direction, the second image B decomposing and disappearing from the dial, no longer visible to the user as the second image B, the transition from the second image B to the first image A occurring according to the second reverse sequence of the first sequence, until they return to their respective first position to reconstitute and display the first image A again, which is formed on the dial, in combination with the pattern c of the third pattern support 16, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5d.

[0113] Pattern holder 6, for example, rotates 90° clockwise while pattern holder 8 rotates 45° counterclockwise in two seconds. The rotation speed of the movable pattern holders 6 and 8 is regulated by the regulating mechanism 84.

[0114] When the second control element 12, in the form of a bolt, has returned to its first position, the drive mechanism has also returned to its initial position, the pattern supports 6 and 8 being stationary in their respective first positions, and the locking finger 72 of the locking rocker 70 being again engaged in the notch 52 of the drive wheel 38, which has returned to its initial position. When the second control element 12, in the form of a bolt, is in its second stable position to display the second image B, the user can actuate the first ringing control element 12 to trigger the ringing function alone.Indeed, the movement of the first striking control element 12 into its second unstable position causes the driving wheel 34 to rotate, which in turn causes the intermediate linkage to rotate further, winding the elastic element 120, as described above, and also moves its finger 60 away, leaving the locking mechanism 54 inactive. The pivoting of the main rocker 74 when the quarter-ring piece 100 falls further moves the locking rocker 70 away from the driving wheel 38, so that the striking action proceeds without affecting the rotation of the pattern supports 6, 8, with the second image B remaining displayed. Once the second control element 12, in its second stable position to display the second image B, is in its second stable position, the transformation of the second image B into the first image A is achieved simply by moving the second control element 12, in its first stable position, back into its first stable position.

[0115] The drive mechanism 14 used in the present invention advantageously allows for the display of a first image which forms a background that occupies the entire dial and which can remain stationary or be animated by the center of the movement to form a second image which also occupies the entire dial, the transition from one image to the other taking place according to inverse sequences.

[0116] The dial animation can only be activated with the chime, when the first chime control organ is activated, the second image being an ephemeral image which remains frozen during the minute repeater chime, before returning to the initial image.

[0117] The dial animation can also be activated on demand, independently of the alarm; the second image then remains displayed until the user reactivates the control mechanism. The alarm can be triggered by activating the first alarm control without disrupting the display of the second image.

[0118] Thus, the first image remains frozen until one of the control mechanisms is activated. In the case of the bell, the second image remains frozen for the duration of the bell, and in the case of the bolt, the second image remains frozen until the bolt's position changes. Consequently, the pattern supports are not constantly rotated.

[0119] The description above refers more specifically to a minute repeater watch that combines a striking mechanism and a slide. It is quite clear that the drive mechanism described above can be easily adapted, for example by removing the disengagement device, to operate with a single control mechanism, such as a striking mechanism or a slide.

[0120] In the description above, the display mechanism is arranged to allow the display of two images A and B on a dial, that is, on the side traditionally called the "dial side." It is quite clear that the display mechanism for the two images A and B could be arranged on the back side, to display images A and B on the side traditionally called the "back side."

Claims

Demands 1. A timepiece (1) comprising a two-image display mechanism (A, B) having a dial defining a central axis X perpendicular to said dial, at least two superimposed pattern supports (6, 8), at least one of said pattern supports (6, 8) being rotatable about said axis X between a first position and a second position, each of said pattern supports (6, 8) comprising an identical or different pattern (a, b), the pattern of at least the upper one of said pattern supports (6, 8) being configured to include transparent areas through which at least the other of said pattern supports (6, 8) appears, said patterns (a, b) being configured to together form a first image (A), respectively a second image (B), when said at least one of the movable pattern supports (6, 8) is in its first position, respectively in its second position, characterized in that said at least one of the pattern supports (6,8) mobile is mobile in rotation through an angle of less than 360° between its first position and its second position, in that the timepiece (1) comprises at least one control member (10, 12) movable between a first stable position in which the displayed image is the first image (A) and a second position, and a drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable pattern supports (6, 8) arranged to cooperate with said at least one control member (10, 12) to:, - when said at least one control element (10, 12) is in its first position, maintain said at least one of the movable pattern supports (6, 8) in its first position to display the first image (A) on the dial as long as said at least one control element (10, 12) is not actuated, - once said at least one control member (10, 12) has been moved from its first to its second position, drive said at least one of the movable pattern supports (6, 8) to rotate it in one direction from its first position to its second position so that the first image (A) decomposes according to a first sequence to constitute and display the second image (B) on the dial and maintain said at least one of the pattern supports (6, 8) movable in its second position for a determined duration t, - at the end of the determined time t, drive said at least one of the mobile pattern supports (6, 8) to rotate it in the other direction from its second position to its first position so that the second image (B) decomposes according to a second sequence inverse to the first sequence to reconstitute and make the first image (A) reappear on the dial.

2. A timepiece (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two pattern supports (6, 8) are movable in rotation about the X-axis by an angle of less than 360° each between a first position and a second position, the first image (A) being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports (6, 8) are in their respective first positions and the second image (B) being displayed on the dial when said at least two movable pattern supports (6, 8) are in their respective second positions, and in that the drive mechanism (14) is a drive mechanism for said at least two movable pattern supports (6, 8) arranged to cooperate with said at least one control member (10, 12) to: - when said at least one control element (10, 12) is in its first position, maintain said at least two movable pattern supports (6, 8) in their respective first positions to display the first image (A) on the dial as long as said at least one control element (10, 12) is not activated, - once said at least one control member (10, 12) has been moved from its first to its second position, drive said at least two movable pattern supports (6, 8) to rotate them in their respective directions from their respective first positions to their respective second positions so that the first image (A) decomposes according to a first sequence to constitute and display the second image (B) on the dial and maintain said at least two pattern supports (6, 8) movable in their second respective position for a determined duration t, - at the end of the determined time t, move said at least two mobile pattern supports (6, 8) to rotate them in their respective opposite direction from their respective second position to their respective first position so that the second image (B) decomposes according to a second sequence inverse to the first sequence to reconstitute and make the first image (A) reappear on the dial 3. A timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) is arranged to drive said at least two movable motif supports (6, 8) in opposite directions when driven from one to the other of their respective first and second positions, and preferably at different rotational speeds.

4. A timepiece according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the display mechanism comprises a third pattern holder (16) which is fixedly mounted under said at least two movable pattern holders (6, 8), and which comprises a third pattern (c) configured to complement the two patterns (a, b) of said at least two movable pattern holders (6, 8), and in that the patterns (a, b) represented respectively on the at least two movable pattern holders (6, 8) are configured to include transparent areas through which the third pattern holder (16) appears.

5. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the motifs (a, b) of said at least two motif supports (6, 8) are configured to form, as a first image (A), a distorted image of the second image (B) which is reconstituted into said second image (B) according to said first sequence when said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) is drawn into its second position.

6. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the motifs (a, b) of said at least two motif supports (6, 8) are configured to form a first continuous integer image (A) and a second continuous integer image (B), different from the first continuous integer image (A).

7. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the motifs (a, b) of said at least two motif supports (6, 8) are configured such that the first and second sequences for passing from one to the other of the first and second images (A, B) are continuous smooth progressive transition sequences.

8. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two motif supports (6, 8) and the third motif support (16) if present, are disks centered on the X axis.

9. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) comprises a driving wheel (34) arranged to be able to kinematically link said at least one control member (10, 12) to said drive mechanism (14), a drive unit (36) comprising a drive wheel (38) kinematically linked to said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) and a winding wheel (40) kinematically linked to the driving wheel (34), a first end (42a) of an elastic coupling member (42) being rotationally fixed to the winding wheel (40) and the other end (42b) of the elastic coupling member (42) being rotationally fixed to the drive wheel (38),and a locking mechanism (54) arranged to kinematically link the drive wheel (34) to said winding wheel (40) such that a rotation of the drive wheel (34) causes a rotation of the winding wheel (40) while preventing the drive wheel (34) from being driven by the winding wheel (40).

10. A timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking mechanism (54) comprises a Maltese cross (56) including at least one groove (58) into which a finger (60) carried by the driving wheel (34) can engage, and at least two rounded ends (62) arranged to cooperate with a locking cam (64) provided on the driving wheel (34) in order to lock the Maltese cross (56), and a connecting wheel (66) integral with the Maltese cross (56) and kinematically linked to the winding wheel (40) of the drive wheel (36).

11. A timepiece according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) comprises a locking mechanism (68) for the drive wheel (38) arranged to lock said drive wheel (38) when said at least one control member (10, 12) is in its first position and to release said drive wheel (38) to allow its rotation under the effect of the energy released by the elastic coupling member (42) only once said at least one control member (10, 12) has been moved from its first to its second position.

12. A timepiece according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking mechanism (68) of the drive wheel (38) comprises a locking rocker (70) pivotally mounted between a locking position and a disengagement position, said locking rocker (70) having a locking finger (72) arranged to be engaged in a notch (52) provided on the drive wheel (38) to lock said drive wheel (38) when said at least one control member (10, 12) is in its first position, the locking rocker (70) being in its locking position, and in that said locking rocker (70) is arranged to be able to pivot in its disengagement position so as to disengage the locking finger (72) from the drive wheel (38) only once said at least one control member (10, 12) has been moved from its first to its second position.

13. A timepiece according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) comprises a regulating mechanism (84) with an inertial flywheel kinematically linked to the drive wheel (38).

14. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) and said at least one control member (10, 12) are arranged to cooperate so that said at least one control organ (10, 12) is again in its first position at the end of the determined time t.

15. A timepiece according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a striking mechanism (94) arranged to cooperate with the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) and said at least one control member (10), and in that said at least one control member (10) is a striking control member for on-demand or on-pass operation arranged to occupy the first stable position when the striking mechanism is not activated, and to occupy the second position when the striking mechanism is activated, said second position being unstable, the striking mechanism (94) and the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) being arranged to cooperate together such that the return of the striking control member (10) to its first position occurs in parallel with the striking mechanism and the drive of said at least one of the motif supports (6, 8).8) mobile in its second position according to the first sequence to display the second image (B), and such that the duration t of said at least one of the pattern supports (6, 8) mobile in its second position is less than the duration of the ringing, at the end of which said at least one of the pattern supports (6, 8) mobile has been driven according to the second sequence into its first position to display the first image (A) at the end of the ringing, the ringing control member (10) having already returned to its first position.

16. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one control member (12) is in the form of a slide arranged to occupy the first and second positions at the request of a user, said second position being stable, and in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) and said control member (12) in the form of a slide are arranged to cooperate together such that said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) is driven from one of its first and second positions to the other after each change of position of said control member (12) in the form of a slide, the duration t of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) being held in its first, respectively second, position being equal to the duration chosen by the user to maintain said control organ (12) in the form of a latch in its first, respectively second position.

17. A timepiece according to claims 15 and 16, comprising the striking mechanism (94), a first control member (10) consisting of the striking member on demand or on passage, and a second control member (12) in the form of a bolt, characterized in that the driving wheel (34) of the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) is a clutch wheel arranged to be able to be driven either by the striking mechanism (94) controlled by the first control member (10), or by the control member (12) in the form of a bolt.

18. A watch part according to claim 17, characterized in that said driving wheel (34) constituting a clutch wheel is mounted freely in rotation on the striking barrel shaft (104) and is arranged to be driven in rotation by a control finger (108) integral with the striking barrel shaft (104), said control finger (108) being arranged to be able to cooperate with a pin (110) integral with said driving wheel (34) constituting a clutch wheel.

19. A timepiece according to any one of claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8) comprises a disengagement device (112) including a driving wheel (114) kinematically linked to the control member (12) in the form of a slide and an intermediate linkage (118) kinematically linked to the driving wheel (34) constituting a clutch wheel, said driving wheel (114) and said intermediate linkage (118) being linked by an elastic element (120) one end (120a) of which is integral with the intermediate linkage (18), the other end (120b) of the elastic element (120) being integral with the frame of the timepiece, so that the driving wheel (114) and the intermediate linkage (118) are rotationally linked to drive the driving wheel (34) constituting a clutch wheel when said drive wheel (114) is driven by the control member (12) in the form of a latch,and so that the intermediate referral, (118) disengages from the driving wheel (114) when the driving wheel (34) constituting the clutch wheel is driven by the ringing mechanism (94).

20. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one movable motif support (6, 8) is a disc carried by a disc-carrying wheel (18, 20) kinematically linked to the drive mechanism (14) of said at least one of the movable motif supports (6, 8).

21. A watch part according to claim 20, characterized in that said at least one movable motif support (6, 8) is a disc which includes on its periphery at least one positioning tab (22, 24) arranged to cooperate with at least one positioning stop (26, 28) provided on the frame.

Images