Diving Watch Bezel and Dedicated Hand for Direct Dive Time Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing diving watches do not allow divers to directly determine their dive time accurately without mental calculations for dives longer than one hour, posing a safety risk.

Innovation Solution

A diving watch with a dedicated hand and rotating bezel that provides an instantaneous dive time indication, allowing easy visual reading of elapsed dive time through a second analog display device with a unique angular velocity and luminescent features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If existing diving watches display time data, then the diver can see time information, but the diver cannot directly determine dive time without mental calculations when it exceeds one hour

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedive time informationVSAvoiddive time determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The watch face is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first display device for current time and a second display device for dive time. The second device includes a dedicated dive time hand and a rotating bezel with time scale, creating visually separated information channels that prevent confusion and enable direct reading of dive time without calculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dedicated dive time hand acts as an intermediary element that directly indicates dive time on the rotating bezel. This specialized hand, with distinct visual characteristics (different color or shape), serves as a mediator between the timekeeping mechanism and the diver, providing immediate dive time information without requiring the diver to perform calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the diver focuses on managing oxygen consumption and decompression stops, then diver safety improves, but the diver must perform mental calculations to determine dive time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediver safetyVSAvoiddisplay system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating bezel serves multiple functions: it acts as a time scale for the dedicated dive time hand, provides visual reference markings for dive time intervals, and can be rotated to reset or adjust the display. This multi-functional element reduces the need for separate components while maintaining clear dive time indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dedicated dive time hand and corresponding time scale markings use distinct colors or luminescent materials that differ from the main time display elements. This color differentiation creates immediate visual distinction between current time and dive time information, allowing the diver to quickly identify dive time without cognitive processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If a dedicated hand with unique angular velocity is used to indicate dive time, then instantaneous dive time value is displayed, but the watch mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedive time indicationVSAvoidmovement mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movement mechanism integrates the dedicated dive time hand's rotation with the existing timekeeping gears. The dedicated hand completes rotations at a different angular velocity to match the dive time scale on the bezel, but shares the same central mounting and power source as the main time hands, reducing the need for completely separate mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3990988B1Diving watch
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 BLANCPAIN SA
  • EP3990988B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3990988B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3990988B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

The invention relates to a diving watch (1) comprising a first display device (2) for the current time and a second, analog display device (3) for a dive duration, said second device (3) comprising a hand (4) dedicated to indicating a dive duration and a rotating bezel (10) provided with a visible face (9) comprising a time scale (11) comprising time graduations, said bezel (10) being configured to cooperate with said dedicated hand (4) that is in particular permanently made to move with a uniform rotational movement, displaying an instantaneous value of the dive duration.