EP1310839A1 - Winding and time-setting device for a timepiece, such as a calendar-watch provided with disc date - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for winding up and adjusting the time of a timepiece such as a calendar watch comprising a date disk (14) and a winding crown (12) arranged in the upper plane of the watch parallel to its movement (18).

Description

The present invention relates to a winding and time setting device for a timepiece, in particular a calendar watch comprising a date disc.

We know from international application WO 97/44715 a setting device on time for a watch. This device includes a rotating bezel placed at the outside of the box. This bezel has edge teeth with which cooperates a pinion carried by a control rod provided with a crown. According to the crown is arranged in a first or in a second pulled position, the rotation control of the telescope causes the rod to rotate simultaneously controls and allows, for example, to adjust the display of the current time or a alarm.

The device briefly described above makes it easier to adjust the different watch functions. In particular, just pull the control rod in the desired position and then turn the bezel to make the adjustment. As the rotating bezel is placed on top of the watch case, it is very easily accessible, which allows the wearer of said watch to perform the adjustments without removing your watch from your wrist.

This device also has the advantage of providing a watch to clean forms. Indeed, when the control rod is not in a position pulled out, its crown is embedded in the middle of the watch, so that this middle presents a smooth and practically continuous surface, free from any protuberance. This is of course not the case for classic watches whose crown is generally protruding from the middle.

One drawback of the type of device in question here nevertheless resides in the fact that it occupies a fair amount of space. Indeed, the bezel extends over the entire outer circumference of the watch, which means that sufficient space must be provided for its mounting. Most often, this space is cleared by reducing the size of the ice and dial, which affects the readability of the information displayed by the watch. This problem arises with special acuity when the watch has a date disc displaying the date of the month. In a usual embodiment, this date disc is formed by an internally toothed ring, the outer diameter is substantially equal to that of the watch movement. It is generally driven by an elastic finger carried by a control wheel itself connected to the hour wheel. The finger acts once a day on a tooth of the date disc to move it thirty-first of a turn.

If, due to the presence of the rotating bezel, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the date disc, this will affect the readability of the numbers indicating the dates affixed to this disc. To remedy this problem, a known solution consists in providing two date rings arranged concentrically, one by compared to each other. In this embodiment, the outer ring has numbers indicating the units of the date of the month, while on the inner ring are affixed the figures indicating the tens of the date. Using two rings of large diameter allows to indicate on these rings figures indicating the units and the tens of the date of the month of larger dimensions and therefore more easily readable. It will nevertheless be readily understood that such a device is complex and therefore of a higher cost price.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned problems as well as others by proposing a device, in particular for setting the time a reliable and space-saving calendar watch.

To this end, the present invention relates to a winding and setting the time of a timepiece such as a calendar watch with a date disc, characterized in that this device comprises a crown arranged in the upper horizontal plane of the watch parallel to the plane of the movement.

Thanks to these characteristics, the present invention provides a device for winding and setting the time which the user can easily access without having to leave your watch. In addition, the winding device and time setting according to the invention occupies little space, which therefore leaves sufficient space, in particular for the watch face, and therefore allows ensure good readability of the information displayed by the watch. Finally, a watch fitted with the device according to the invention has pure and elegant lines since no crown protrudes from its middle.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the date disc is formed by an internally toothed ring and whose outer diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the watch case.

As the device according to the invention takes up little space, the diameter, and therefore the perimeter of the date disc can be increased, which allows to affix on this disc figures indicating the date of the month of greatest dimensions, and therefore more easily readable. In addition, the date indicator includes a single ring, which simplifies construction and guarantees reliable operation.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the crown and a aperture pierced in the watch face through which the date of a day of given month is visible are arranged diametrically opposite one by compared to the other on the outer periphery of the watch. In this way, the aesthetic aspect of the watch is greatly improved.

• la figure 1 est une vue en plan montrant l'aspect général de la pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention sur laquelle on voit que le guichet percé dans le cadran de la montre et à travers lequel le nombre indiquant le jour du mois est visible et la couronne de remontage et de mise à l'heure sont disposés de manière diamétralement opposée sur le pourtour extérieur de ladite montre, respectivement à neuf heures et à trois heures;
• la figure 2 est une vue en élévation de la pièce d'horlogerie de la figure 1, ladite pièce d'horlogerie étant représentée du côté où se situe la couronne, et
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon l'axe trois heures-neuf heures de la pièce d'horlogerie représentée à la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an exemplary embodiment of the winding and time-setting device according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and non-limiting only, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a plan view showing the general appearance of the timepiece according to the invention on which we see that the window pierced in the watch face and through which the number indicating the day of the month is visible and the winding and time-setting crown are arranged diametrically opposite on the outer periphery of said watch, at nine o'clock and three o'clock respectively;
• FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the timepiece of FIG. 1, said timepiece being shown on the side where the crown is located, and
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the three-to-nine o'clock axis of the timepiece shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a timepiece of the wristwatch type with a winding and time setting that is accessible from the top face of the watch, so that the wearer of such a watch is not obliged to remove it from his wrist to make the desired settings. In addition, the device according to the invention takes very little space, which makes it particularly suitable for calendar watches comprising a date disc. Indeed, due to the space left vacant by the device according to the invention, the date disc can be large, which allows to affix on this disc numbers indicating the date of the month larger and therefore better readable.

The present invention will be described in conjunction with a calendar watch comprising a date disc. It goes without saying that this example is given for illustrative purposes only, and that the device according to the invention can be applied to any type of wristwatch.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a timepiece according to the invention. Designated as a whole by the numerical reference 1, this timepiece includes hour 2, minute 4 and second 6 indicator hands. Hands 2, 4 and 6 move over a dial 8 in which is pierced a window 10 through which appears a number indicating the date.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the window 10 and a notched crown 12 that comprises the winding and time setting device according to the invention are diametrically opposite, respectively at nine o'clock and at three hours, on the outer periphery of watch 1. By diametrically opposite, we means that the center of the crown 12 and that of the aperture 10 are aligned according to a same right and are arranged at equal distances from the center of the watch 1 materialized by the axis carrying the indicator needles 2, 4 and 6. This arrangement in which the window 10 hanging from the crown 12 gives watch 1 an aesthetic appearance new and attractive. Of course, the window 10 and the crown 12 could be arranged in another location relative to the periphery of watch 1, for example at noon and six o'clock respectively. Still in Figure 1, we see that two notches 13 are provided at the periphery of watch 1 to clear the space necessary for the arrangement of the crown 12 and the window 10.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, we see that the numbers indicating the date of the month are carried by a date disc 14 which moves below dial 8 of watch 1. This date disc 14 is formed by a ring having an internal toothing 15 and whose external diameter is, in accordance with a characteristic of the invention, substantially equal to the diameter of watch 1. More specifically, the date ring 14 has a structure stepped with a crown-shaped display part 16 offset towards the periphery of watch 1 and extending to below the crown of reassembly and time setting 12. The diameter, and therefore the perimeter of the disc of the 14, are practically limited only by the external dimensions of the shows 1, which makes it possible to affix on this disc 14 larger digits dimensions and therefore more easily readable. This particularly advantageous result is due to the fact that the winding and time setting device according to the invention, of which the crown 12 is part takes up very little space. Indeed, the crown 12 does not encroach only partially on the periphery of watch 1, so that one is not obliged reduce the size of the glass 17 and the dial 8 to free up the space needed to to be able to mount, for example, a rotating bezel as it was the case in prior art.

Another advantage of the invention can be seen in the fact that, as can be affix large numbers on the date disc 14, it is no need to provide, for example, two concentric rings which would carry for one the units of the date of the month, and for the other the tens of this date, so to make these indications more visible. The present invention therefore provides a simpler and therefore more reliable and better date mechanism market.

The date disc 14 is rotated appropriately by movement 18 of watch 1. The drive mechanism of the disc of dates will not be described here since it is not the subject of the this patent application. In addition, the skilled person has all the lessons it needs to realize such a mechanism.

As is clear from Figure 2, the crown 12 is arranged in the upper horizontal plane of watch 1 parallel to the plane of movement 18. It is therefore easily accessible and can be operated by the user without he does not have to remove watch 1 from his wrist. This crown 12 has a edge teeth 20 with which a wheel 22 mounted via a square 24 on an axially movable control rod 26. The wheel 22 is in permanently engaged with square 24.

According to a first embodiment not shown in the drawing, the edge teeth 20 is made in one piece with the notched crown 12. According to a second variant visible in FIG. 3, a toothed wheel 28 is mounted, for example by means of a screw 30, on a central axis 32 presented by the crown 12 and which extends perpendicular to the plane of movement 18. Of course, the wheels 28 and 22 are arranged perpendicular to each other to be able to mesh.

As mentioned above, the control rod 26 is movable axially for example between three distinct positions. In a first position which is that shown in FIG. 3, the head 34 of said control rod 26 is embedded in the middle of the watch 1. The rotation control of the crown 12 then causes the simultaneous rotation of the control rod 26 which will, for example, using a set of mobiles not shown in the drawing, reassemble the horological movement of watch 1. In a second position taken from the stem control 26, the rotation of this rod 26, caused by the actuation of the toothed crown 12, will allow, for example, the user to set the time displayed by watch 1. Finally, when it is in a third pulled position, the rod 26 can be used, again by way of example, to modify the display of the calendar. It goes without saying that the examples given above are purely illustrative only, and that we can consider adjusting any other type of function control rod 26.

Of course, whatever the position occupied by the control rod 26, the latter is always in connection with the crown 12 via its toothed wheel 22 which cooperates with the toothed wheel 28 of said crown 12. This is made possible by the fact that the wheel 22 is axially immobilized and mounted by a square 24 on the control rod 26, which allows the latter to slide at across said square 24.

It will be noted that a recess 38 has been made in the middle 36 of the shows 1 at the level of the head 34 of the control rod 26, this in order to allow the user to slide a fingernail into this recess 38 and be able to pull without pain said control rod 26. On the other hand, a through hole 40 is drilled in the middle 36 opposite the window 10 through which the numbers appear indicating the date. This hole 40 is adapted in shape and size to receive a lens 42 acting as a magnifying glass and providing an enlarged image of the number indicating the date of the month to make this number even more readable. Moreover, as can be seen on examining FIG. 3, the top of the crown 12, ice 17 and lens 42 mentioned above are substantially in a same plane, so that watch 1 has a free upper surface roughness to which a shirt or jacket sleeve could hang.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. which has just been described, and that various simple modifications and variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

Device for winding and setting the time of a timepiece such as a calendar watch (1) comprising a date disc (14), characterized in that this device comprises a crown (12) arranged in the upper plane of the watch (1) parallel to the plane of the movement (18). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the crown (12) cooperates with a control rod (26) movable axially in the plane of movement (18). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the crown (12) has a toothing (20) with which a wheel (22) mounted on the control rod (26) cooperates. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the edge teeth (20) are made in one piece with the notched crown (12). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a toothed wheel (28) is mounted on an axis (32) which has the crown (12) and which extends perpendicular to the plane of movement (18). Device according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the wheel (22) is mounted by means of a square (24) on the control rod (26). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the date disc (14) is formed by an internally toothed ring and whose outside diameter is substantially equal to that of the watch case (1). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the watch (1) comprises a dial (8) in which is pierced a window (10) through which appears a number indicating the date, the window (10 ) and the crown (12) being arranged diametrically opposite one with respect to the other on the periphery of the watch (1).

Images