DEVICE FOR SELECTION OF A COMBINATION OF MOTIFS, AND TIMEPIECE COMPRISING A DEVICE OF THIS TYPE

Abstract

A device for selection of a combination of motifs for a timepiece, including an inner disc, and a coaxial outer disc, the inner disc having a smaller diameter than the outer disc, the discs including angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disc bearing a motif on their periphery; a device for actuation permitting rotation of the inner disc, and a gear device for coupling the two discs according to a reduction ratio; a dial extending opposite the inner disc, the dial including an aperture to put a motif of the inner disc and a motif of the outer disc into correspondence, such that a complete rotation of the inner disc gives rise to a rotation of the outer disc by one angular sector, the size of the aperture being sufficiently large for each motif of the outer disc to be in correspondence successively with all the motifs of the inner disc, when the inner disc is rotated.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A device for selection of a combination of motifs, in particular for a timepiece, comprising: a first disc, known as the inner disc, and a second disc, known as the outer disc, which are coaxial, the inner disc having a smaller diameter than the outer disc, the discs comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disc bearing a motif on their periphery; means for actuation permitting rotation of the inner disc, and gear means coupling the two discs according to a reduction ratio; a dial extending opposite the inner disc, the dial comprising an aperture making it possible to put a motif of the inner disc and a motif of the outer disc into correspondence, the device being such that a complete rotation of the inner disc gives rise to a rotation of the outer disc by one angular sector, the size of the aperture being sufficiently large for each motif of the outer disc to be in correspondence successively with all the motifs of the inner disc, when the inner disc is rotated.

11. The device for selection of a combination of motifs, in particular for a timepiece, comprising: a first disc, known as the inner disc, and a second disc, known as the outer disc, which are coaxial, the inner disc having a smaller diameter than the outer disc, the discs comprising a plurality of angular sectors of the same size, at least two angular sectors of each disc bearing a motif on their periphery; means for actuation permitting rotation of the outer disc, and gear means coupling the two discs according to a multiplication ratio; a dial extending opposite the inner disc, the dial comprising an aperture so as to put a motif of the inner disc and a motif of the outer disc into correspondence, wherein a rotation of the outer disc by one angular sector gives rise to a complete rotation of the inner disc, the size of the aperture being sufficiently large for each motif of the outer disc to be in correspondence successively with all the motifs of the inner disc, when the outer disc is rotated.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein each angular sector of the outer disc bearing a motif is preceded and followed by an angular sector bearing a space without a motif.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein one angular sector out of two of the outer disc bears a motif.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the inner disc bears at the most four motifs, and advantageously two or three.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one angular sector of the inner disc bears a space without a motif.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the motifs of the inner disc are disposed on consecutive angular sectors, a first motif and a final motif of the inner disc being separated by at least one angular sector bearing a space without a motif

17. The device according to claim 10, comprising a single motor in order to actuate the inner and outer discs together via the gear means and the means for actuation.

18. A timepiece comprising a device for selection of motifs according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Other particular features and advantages will become clearly apparent from the description provided hereinafter, which is by way of indication and is in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a side view of the device for selection of a combination of motifs according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0035] FIGS. 2a to 2e are views from above of the discs and of the aperture of the device in FIG. 1, representing successive positions of the discs during a complete rotation of the inner disc;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device for selection of a combination of motifs according to the second aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a device for selection of motifs, in particular for a timepiece, according to a first aspect of the invention. The device comprises: [0038] a first disc, known as the inner disc DI; [0039] a second disc, known as the outer disc DE, which is coaxial to the inner disc DI and has a diameter larger than the inner disc DI; [0040] a dial CD comprising an aperture GC, i.e. a through opening, the dial CD being disposed such that the inner disc DI is between the dial CD and the outer disc DE.

[0041] Since the outer disc DE has a diameter larger than the inner disc DI, an annular peripheral portion HE of the outer disc DE is opposite the dial CD. On this portion, motifs are represented. Similarly, on an annular peripheral portion HI of the inner disc DI, motifs are represented.

[0042] More specifically, the peripheral portions of the discs DI, DE comprise a plurality of angular sectors with the same size, and at least two angular sectors of each disc bear a motif. The term symbol will be used for a motif or for a space without motif (also known as a space ). Each angular sector thus bears a symbol. The aperture GC is arranged such as to be opposite a symbol of the inner disc DI and a symbol of the outer disc DE in order to put them into correspondence. Through the aperture GC, it is thus possible to see a combination of two symbols.

[0043] The device also comprises: [0044] means for actuation of the inner disc DI making it possible to rotate the inner disc DI by a required angle. These means can for example be an assembly comprising for example a rod which can be actuated (not represented), a disc D1 being able to be driven by the rod, and a pinion P1 which engages with the disc D1 and is integral in rotation with the inner disc DI; [0045] gear means between the inner disc DI and the outer disc DE, in order to impose a reduction ratio between the inner (drive) disc DI and the outer (driven) disc DE. These means are for example an assembly comprising the pinion P1, the disc D1, a pinion P2 which is integral in rotation with the disc D1, and a disc D2 which engages with the pinion P2 and is integral in rotation with the outer disc DE.

[0046] In addition, the inner disc DI of the selection device is connected, via a chain comprising discs and pinions, to a rotor RT of an electric motor. The chain comprises for example a disc D3 which is integral in rotation with the inner disc DI, a pinion P3 which engages with the disc D3, a disc D4 which is integral in rotation with the pinion P3, a pinion P4 which engages with the disc D4, and a disc D5 which is integral in rotation with the pinion P4. The motor thus makes it possible to rotate the inner and outer discs together. A single motor is sufficient to actuate the two discs.

[0047] According to the invention, a complete rotation of the inner disc DI gives rise to a rotation of the outer disc DE by one angular sector. In addition, the size of the aperture GC is sufficiently large for each motif of the outer disc DE to be successively in correspondence with all the motifs of the inner disc DI when the inner disc DI is put into rotation.

[0048] By way of example, FIGS. 2a to 2e show an embodiment in which the inner disc DI comprises four angular sectors, three of which bear motifs A, B, C, and one of which bears an empty space . The outer disc comprises eight angular sectors, three of which bear motifs D, E, F, and five of which bear empty spaces 0. In an initial position, the combination A D is displayed in the aperture GC. As the inner disc DI rotates, the following combinations are displayed:

B D (FIG. 2b)C D (FIG. 2c) D//E (FIG. 2d)A E (FIG. 2e), etc.

[0049] D//E means that the aperture GC is facing half of the motif D and half of the motif E. It can thus be noted that a complete rotation of the inner disc DI has made the outer disc DE advance by one angular sector. It can also be noted that the aperture GC is sufficiently large for the symbol D to have been successively in correspondence with the motifs A, B and C during the rotation of the inner disc DI.

[0050] It is noted that the fact of having left an angular sector empty between the angular sectors of the disc bearing the motifs A, B, C has made it possible, in FIG. 2d, to prevent a motif of the inner disc from facing halves of motifs D//E of the outer disc.

[0051] Advantageously, each motif of the outer disc DE is preceded and followed by a space. In other words, the angular sectors which surround both sides of an angular sector bearing a motif bear empty spaces. A configuration of this type would have prevented a portion of the motif D and a portion of the motif E from being simultaneously in the aperture GC in FIG. 2d.

[0052] Advantageously, one angular sector out of two of the outer disc bears a motif, in order to maximise the number of possible combinations which can be selected via the device.

[0053] Advantageously, the inner disc bears at the most four motifs, advantageously two or three. In fact, it is understood that, for a given number of motifs on the outer disc, the more motifs the inner disc comprises, the larger the aperture must be in order for each motif of the outer disc to be able to be successively in correspondence with each of the motifs of the inner disc.

[0054] According to an alternative embodiment represented in FIG. 3, and corresponding to a second aspect of the invention, the means for actuation drive the outer disc DE instead of driving the inner disc DI. The means for actuation of the inner disc DE then comprise for example a rod which can be actuated (not represented), a disc D6 which can be driven by the rod, and a pinion P6 which engages with the disc D6, and is integral in rotation with the outer disc DE.

[0055] In the case when the means for actuation drive the outer disc DE, it is necessary to establish a multiplication ratio M between the outer (drive) disc DE and the inner (driven) disc DI. The gear means comprise for example the pinion P6, the disc D6, a pinion P7 which is integral in rotation with the disc D6, and a disc D7 which engages with the pinion P7, and is integral in rotation with the inner disc DI.

[0056] In addition, the outer disc DE of the selection device is connected via a chain comprising discs and pinions to the rotor RT. The chain comprises for example the pinion P6, a disc D8 which is integral in rotation with the pinion P6, a pinion P8 which engages with the disc D8, a disc D9 which is integral in rotation with the pinion P8, a pinion P9 which engages with the disc D9, and a disc D10 which is integral in rotation with the pinion P9.

[0057] However, apart from these differences, the operating principle remains unchanged in comparison with the first aspect of the invention.

[0058] The invention also relates to a timepiece, not represented in the figures, which comprises a device for selection of motifs as previously described, and can operate according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention. In particular, the timepiece can be a payment watch wherein the selection device makes it possible to select means for payment. The motifs are for example, motifs of the bank card type (Visa, MasterCard or the like), borne for example by the inner disc, and bank account motifs, of the purchase or currency type, from which the payment is made, borne for example by the outer disc. Thus, the wearer of the watch selects the card and the account or the currency with which he wants to pay, by putting the corresponding motifs of each disc into correspondence in the aperture of the dial.

[0059] The selection device is for example connected to a payment system integrated in the payment watch, the system not being represented in the drawings. Thus, the wearer of the watch selects motifs by means of the selection device, and actuates the payment via the integrated payment system, which transmits bank data, for example to a bank payment terminal.

[0060] According to a first particular embodiment, the selection device comprises encoding means arranged below the inner and outer discs in order to transmit the selection information to the payment system. The encoding means are for example optical or capacitive means configured to determine the position of the discs, and thus the motifs selected by the user.

[0061] According to a second particular embodiment, the selection device comprises a processing unit, which for example is provided with software configured to count the rotation commands transmitted to the selection device when the user actuates the selection device. Thus, the processing unit can deduce the positions of the discs, and thus the motifs selected by the user.

[0062] It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated, but can be subjected to different variants and modifications which will become apparent to persons skilled in the art. In particular, the selection device can be used in other fields, the payment watch being only one possible example of use.