Month and leap year display mechanism for timepieces
12001170 ยท 2024-06-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
Display mechanism (10) for a timepiece (1000), with a leap year display integrated in a month display, comprising a control mechanism (3) that drives, once per month, about an axis (D), a month display wheel set (2) arranged underneath a dial (1), having a month window (1C) in a quadrant allowing the display of only one quarter of the month display wheel set (2), which completes one revolution in four years, and bears, on an angular sector of 90?, at least one characteristic leap year marking, and either carries indices, each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of the dial (1), or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of the dial (1).
Claims
1. A month and leap year display mechanism for a timepiece, wherein said mechanism comprises a leap year display integrated in a month display, said mechanism comprising a movement or being arranged to cooperate with a movement, the movement is arranged to drive, via a control mechanism comprised in said mechanism, a month display wheel set rotating about an axis of rotation and arranged underneath a cover plate or underneath a dial, and wherein a month window contained within an angular sector of 90? about said axis of rotation is arranged to allow a user to see a quarter of said month display wheel set, the other three-quarters of said month display wheel set being concealed from the user, and wherein said control mechanism is arranged to make said month display wheel set complete one revolution in four years, and wherein said month display wheel set bears, over an angular sector of 90?, at least one characteristic leap year marking, and either carries indices, each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of said dial, or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of said dial, wherein said control mechanism comprises an input wheel set which is arranged to be driven by an hour wheel of said movement or by a train meshing with said hour wheel or by a date mechanism, said input wheel set comprising a finger arranged to pivot a first star wheel integral with an intermediate wheel which meshes with a transformation train to drive a stop wheel which comprises hollows arranged to cooperate with a click returned by a spring to a rest position, said stop wheel is integral with a second star wheel, whose teeth are arranged to drive pins comprised in said month display wheel set when said stop wheel pivots and to hold said pins in position when said stop wheel is kept stationary by said click in the absence of pivoting of said first star wheel.
2. The month and leap year display mechanism according to claim 1, comprising at least the cover plate or the dial including the month window facing said month scale, wherein said display mechanism comprises the month display wheel set formed by a disc or a ring arranged to be driven indirectly by said movement about said of rotation and partially visible to the user inside said month window, wherein said month scale extends at a central angle of 90? with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein said control mechanism is arranged to cause said display wheel set to make one revolution in four years, and wherein said month display wheel set includes a display track, which is visible through said month window and comprises four equidistant indices, only one of which is visible at a time through said month window and permanently points to a mark corresponding to the current month on said month scale, and wherein, of said indices, one is a leap year index and the other three are ordinary year indices, said leap year index comprising a visible marking indicating to the user that it is a leap year.
3. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said month display wheel set is a display ring or disc, which bears said indices arranged to indicate a month on a static month scale of said dial, said indices being formed by four equidistant indices, only one of which is visible at a time through said window, said indices being arranged to point to the current month on a month scale of said dial, and wherein, of said four indices, a leap year index is different from the other ordinary year indices, and can be integrated in the month display.
4. The display mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said ordinary year indices are different from one another, each comprising a numbered indication, visible to the user, of the number of years remaining until the next leap year.
5. The display mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said ordinary year indices are different from one another, each comprising a numbered indication, visible to the user, of the number of years elapsed since the last leap year.
6. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said month display wheel set bears said equidistant month markings corresponding to the succession of months over four years, and wherein one of said month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of said dial which is an index and/or a coloured translucent crystal, said month markings being formed by forty-eight month markings, of which twelve successive markings are leap year month markings and are different from the other thirty-six markings which are ordinary year month markings.
7. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said input wheel set is arranged to pivot said first star wheel once per month, on the last day of the month.
8. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said stop wheel comprises an alternation of said hollows and peaks, and wherein said intermediate wheel and said transformation train are arranged to drive said stop wheel through the angular pitch between two successive hollows during each basic rotation of said first star wheel.
9. The display mechanism according to claim 8, wherein each basic rotation of said first star wheel causes a roller, comprised in said click, to move up a cam ramp between a said hollow and a said peak on a first part of said angular pitch, against said spring in order to wind the latter, and wherein said spring is arranged, during unwinding thereof after said roller has passed over said peak, to pivot said stop wheel on a second part of said angular pitch to a new rest position in which said roller is wedged in a said hollow until the end of the following month.
10. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each rotation of said stop wheel causes a rotation of 1/48th of a revolution of said month display wheel set.
11. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each basic rotation of said first star wheel causes a rotation of a quarter of a revolution of said stop wheel.
12. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said display mechanism comprises a month correction mechanism arranged to change the angular position of said month display wheel set on command by the user.
13. The display mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said correction mechanism comprises a drive element directly operable by the user and arranged to drive said month display wheel set directly, by meshing, friction or magnetic cooperation.
14. The display mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said correction mechanism comprises an actuator directly operable by the user and arranged to drive said stop wheel in rotation.
15. A calendar mechanism comprising a date mechanism arranged to cooperate with a movement of a timepiece, wherein said calendar mechanism includes at least one display mechanism according to claim 1, and said date mechanism includes a train arranged to count the number of days of the current month, and to cause said input wheel set to rotate 1/31st of a revolution from the first to the 27th of the month, and, on the last day of the current month, to rotate 4/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 28 days, or 3/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 29 days, or 2/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 30 days, or 1/31st of a revolution when the current month has 31 days, in order to make said input wheel set complete one revolution during the current month.
16. The calendar mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said date mechanism comprises a date display, and wherein said input wheel set is arranged to control the position of said date display.
17. The calendar mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said date mechanism comprises a date corrector arranged to change the position of said date display.
18. The calendar mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said date corrector is also arranged to change the angular position of said month display wheel set.
19. A timepiece including at least one timepiece movement arranged to drive at least one display mechanism according to claim 1.
20. The timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said timepiece is a watch.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(18) The invention concerns a month and leap year display mechanism 10 for a timepiece 1000.
(19) According to the invention, this mechanism 10 includes a leap year display integrated in a month display. The invention is described in the particular non-limiting case of a Gregorian calendar display, but lends itself perfectly to other types of calendar, notably of the lunar or Zodiac type, which those skilled in the art will know how to make by replacing the device for changing the display at the end of the month, which will be described hereinafter, with device for changing the display at the end of a lunar month, or at the end of any ad hoc period.
(20) Depending on the configuration of the timepiece, mechanism 10 either comprises a movement 100, or mechanism 10 is arranged to cooperate with a movement 100. In both cases, this movement 100 is arranged to drive a month display wheel set 2, formed in particular but not exclusively by a display ring or a display disc, via a control mechanism 3, comprised in mechanism 10. This month display wheel set 2 is arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation D and is arranged underneath a cover plate or underneath a dial 1. This dial 1 or cover plate, for example a bridge, or suchlike, comprises a month window 1C, which is contained within an angular sector of 90? about axis of rotation D. This month window 1C is arranged to allow a user to see a quarter of month display disc 2, while the other three quarters of month display disc 2 are concealed from the user, by dial 1 and/or at least one fixed portion of timepiece 100.
(21) According to the invention, control mechanism 3 is arranged to make month display wheel set 2 complete one revolution in four years. Thus, month display wheel set 2 rotates by one forty-eighth of a revolution at the end of each month.
(22) And this month display wheel set 2 bears, on an angular sector of 90?, at least one characteristic leap year marking.
(23) And month display wheel set 2 either carries indices, which are each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of dial 1, or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of dial 1.
(24) The Figures illustrate the design of such a leap year display, which includes, in this particular and non-limiting version, a cover plate, particularly in the form of a dial 1, of a month display wheel set 2 which is a ring, or a disc bearing an annular display track, and a control and distribution mechanism 3. Month display wheel set 2 is mounted to pivot about axis of rotation D. Control mechanism 3, driven by movement 100 or by a date mechanism 200, has the function of driving month display wheel set 2 one angular pitch, at each change of month, and of returning month wheel set 2 to a new rest position until it is actuated at the end of the next month.
(25) In a first variant, and as seen in
(26) In the Figures, these indices are triangular, and leap year index 2A bears the letter S for the leap year (from the German Schaltjahr).
(27) In a particular embodiment, the ordinary year indices 2B are different from one another, each comprising a numbered indication, visible to the user, of the number of years remaining until the next leap year.
(28) In another particular embodiment, the ordinary leap year indices 2B are different from one another, each comprising a numbered indication, visible to the user, of the number of years elapsed since the last leap year.
(29) In a second variant, and as seen in
(30) In a third variant, and as seen in
(31) As regards control mechanism 3, in a particular, non-limiting manner illustrated in
(32) Input wheel set 31 pivots 1/31st of a revolution at the end of each day; it is preferably driven by a date mechanism 200, and, depending on the type of date mechanism (notably a perpetual calendar or annular calendar), this rotation may conventionally require 2 to 3 hours at the end of the day. The date mechanism performs the end of month correction.
(33) More particularly, input wheel set 31 is integral with a wheel of a date mechanism 200.
(34) It is also possible to envisage, although this is of limited interest, the month and leap year display mechanism 10 being independent of any date mechanism; in such case it is driven by a movement 100, and it is up to the user to make the end of month correction.
(35) More particularly, input wheel set 31 is arranged to pivot first star wheel 321 once per month, on the last day of the month.
(36) In the particular case of a lunar calendar, the conventional driving of a 59-toothed wheel makes it possible to actuate the pivoting of first star wheel 321 on the last day of a lunar month, for a zodiac or Muslim or Israelite or similar calendar display.
(37) More particularly, stop wheel 34 has an alternation of hollows 34A and peaks 34B, and intermediate wheel 32 and transformation train 33 are arranged to drive stop wheel 34 through the angular pitch between two successive hollows 34A during each basic rotation of first star wheel 321.
(38) More particularly, each basic rotation of first star wheel 321 causes a roller 351, comprised in click 35, to move up a cam ramp between a hollow 34A and a peak 34B on a first part of the angular pitch, against spring 352 in order to wind the latter. This spring 352 is arranged, when it unwinds after roller 351 has passed over peak 34B, to pivot stop wheel 34 on a second part of the angular pitch to a new rest position in which roller 351 is wedged in a hollow 34A until the end of the following month.
(39) More particularly, each rotation of stop wheel 34 causes a rotation of 1/48th of a revolution of month wheel set 2.
(40) More particularly, each basic rotation of first star wheel 321 causes a rotation of a quarter turn of stop wheel 34.
(41) In the non-limiting variant illustrated by the Figures, during the change from the last day of a month to the first day of the next month, input wheel set 31 drives intermediate wheel 32 and causes it to make one eighth of a revolution. Transformation train 33 is then arranged to pivot stop wheel 34 a quarter of a revolution.
(42) Stop wheel 34 is thus driven approximately a quarter of a revolution by input wheel set 31 via the intermediate wheel and transformation train 33. Of this 90? rotation, around 45? are used to release click 35 and to wind its spring 352, to the position shown in
(43) Naturally, other gear reduction factors can be employed without departing from the invention.
(44) Advantageously, display mechanism 10 also includes a month correction mechanism 20, which is arranged to change the angular position of month display wheel set 2 on command by the user.
(45) In a variant, this correction mechanism 20 comprises a drive element 222 directly operable by the user and arranged to drive month display wheel set 2 directly, by meshing, friction or magnetic cooperation.
(46) In a variant, correction mechanism 20 comprises an actuator directly operable by the user and arranged to drive stop wheel 34 in rotation.
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(48) In an alternative, the correction can be made in a similar manner to that of the day of the week for calendar mechanisms displaying the day and date: in one of the positions of stem 221 and particular in position T2 of the stem, the date is corrected in a first direction of rotation, and the day of the week is corrected in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first. In the context of the invention, the correction would thus be as follows: in position T2 of the stem, the date is corrected in a first direction of rotation, and the position of month display wheel set 2 is corrected in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first.
(49) The invention also concerns a calendar mechanism 300, which includes a date mechanism 200 arranged to cooperate with a movement 100 of a timepiece 1000, wherein calendar mechanism 300 includes at least one display mechanism 10 according to the invention. More particularly, this date mechanism 200 includes a train, which is arranged to count the number of days of the current month, and to cause input wheel set 31 to rotate 1/31st of a revolution from the first to the 27th of the month, and, on the last day of the current month, to rotate 4/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 28 days, or 3/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 29 days, or 2/31sts of a revolution when the current month has 30 days, or 1/31st of a revolution when the current month has 31 days, to cause input wheel set 31 to make one complete revolution during the current month.
(50) More particularly, date mechanism 200 has a date display 1B, and input wheel set 31 is arranged to control the position of date display 1B.
(51) More particularly, date mechanism 200 includes a date corrector 220 arranged to change the position of date display 1B.
(52) More particularly, date corrector 220 is also arranged to change the angular position of month display wheel set 2.
(53) The correction is described above for the case of a Gregorian calendar. A similar correction mechanism, controlled by the movement or by the user, can be realized for other types of calendar, particularly a lunar calendar, which require corrections at certain times.
(54) The invention also concerns a timepiece 1000 including at least one timepiece movement 10 arranged to drive at least one such display mechanism 10, and/or to drive at least one such calendar mechanism 300.
(55) More particularly, this timepiece 1000 is a watch.
(56) Naturally, the principle of the invention can be extended to other types of calendar timepieces, particularly astronomical watches or astronomical clocks, in which, in particular, according to the principle of the invention, it is possible to manage the year display in addition to the month display, by differentiating, on a year display wheel set, between ordinary years, leap years, century years not divisible by 400 which are not leap years and have a February of 28 days, and century years divisible by 400 which are leap years and have a February of 29 days, or millennial years, which, although theoretically leap years, have a February of 28 days.
(57) In short, as a result of the present invention, it is possible easily to integrate in any timepiece a display that gives the user information as to whether it is a leap year, and/or, depending on the organisation of the display indices, how many years there are until the next leap year, or since the last one. The theoretical duration of February and the number of days in the current year are thus known. The invention allows correct adjustment of perpetual calendar mechanisms.
(58) The invention allows a significant space saving inside the case of the timepiece concerned. Further, no additional indicator area is required on the timepiece dial. The essential classic displays of a wristwatch, like the time and date, remain perfectly clear and legible, and in the foreground.
(59) The display is devised according to the principle of the Gregorian calendar or Julian calendar and is adaptable to any other type of calendar, particularly a lunar calendar.
(60) Further, this display is not temporally limited, and does not lose its function on any expiry date.
(61) The display mechanism according to the invention is economical, as is its correction mechanism.