With Condition Indicator Patents (Class 368/210)
  • Patent number: 11868091
    Abstract: A watch includes a power reserve hand configured to be visually recognizable from a watch rear side, an oscillating weight including a weight, a transmission wheel configured to rotate a ratchet wheel, a pawl lever configured to engage with the transmission wheel, an eccentric wheel including an eccentric shaft member to which the pawl lever is attached and an eccentric toothed gear, a train wheel bridge provided between the pawl lever and the oscillating weight, and a seconds wheel and pinion including a seconds hand shaft. The eccentric shaft member and the seconds hand shaft are supported by the train wheel bridge. The power reserve hand is disposed in a position that does not overlap the weight in plan view, and is disposed in a position that overlaps the train wheel bridge in side view orthogonal to the seconds hand shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 8335133
    Abstract: A power reserve display mechanism includes a differential (22) having: a first input (22a) connected to a ratchet (16) of a barrel (24) and to an oscillating mass automatic winding system, a second input (22b) connected to the drum of a barrel (24), an output (22c) connected to a display system. The display system includes at least one disc (40) provided with digits for displaying numbers between a minimum number and a maximum number. Moreover, the disc is connected to the output (22c) of the differential (22) via a reduction train (26), arranged such that the display system displays the minimum number when the barrel is empty and the maximum number when the barrel is maximally loaded. The reduction train and the automatic winding system are arranged such that the disc advances by one pitch each time the oscillating mass performs on revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Frédéric Jouvenot
  • Patent number: 7832924
    Abstract: A timepiece having a mainspring, an output wheel that is rotated by torque output from the mainspring, a lever that pivots synchronously to the output wheel, and a pressure member that pushes the lever. The pressure member pushed the lever so that the output torque of the output wheel increases as the mainspring unwinds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 7780342
    Abstract: A spring device having an inside-end wheel that moves in conjunction with the inside end of a mainspring; an outside-end wheel that moves in conjunction with the outside end of the mainspring; a torque return unit that transfers part of the output torque of the mainspring from one to the other of the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel; a duration time indicating unit that operates in conjunction with both the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel and indicates the number of winds in the mainspring; and a torque transfer clutch unit that disengages torque transfer between the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel by means of the torque return unit when the mainspring unwinds and the duration time indicating unit indicates a predetermined reference number of winds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Takahashi, Nobuyuki Hirose, Masaaki Maejima, Masatoshi Moteki
  • Publication number: 20100165799
    Abstract: A watch winder with a sensing switch comprises a housing, a driving member, a rotary watch mount, a light sensor, an adjustable counting device and a main board. The housing is divided by a mid clapboard into a display space and an assembly space. The drive member has a rotary shaft and is disposed in the assembly space, and the rotary shaft is inserted through the mid clapboard into the display space. The rotary watch mount has a fixing portion fixed to the rotary shaft of the drive member and a lightproof portion. The light sensor is disposed on the mid clapboard to sense the lightproof portion. The adjustable counting device is disposed on the mid clapboard and its value is manually adjustable. The main board is disposed in the assembly space of the housing and electrically connected with the drive member, the light sensor and the adjustable counting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Hsin HUANG
  • Patent number: 7684285
    Abstract: The invention concerns a power reserve indicator mechanism for a timepiece of the type comprising: a mainspring (14), a power reserve indicator moving between two end positions, a differential gear (18), and an intermediate wheel set (32) including first and second parts respectively kinematically coupled to the differential gear (18) and to the indicator and a coupling member coupling said parts, which rotate conjointly while the winding of the mainspring (14) is comprised between its end positions, Said coupling member includes a friction mechanism arranged such that the first part can move with friction in relation to the second when the indicator has reached its first end position, and an elastic element arranged so as to be able to be cocked when the indicator has reached its second end position, by the movement of the first part with reference to the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier S.A.
    Inventor: Sébastien Jeanneret
  • Patent number: 7614784
    Abstract: To provide a residual wound quantity display mechanism of a timepiece, in which it is possible to change a way of a display without changing a basic structure, and a timepiece with the mechanism concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Mamoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7490977
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a timepiece including a movement fitted with a power reserve indicator device, said timepiece including a barrel closed by a cover, a mainspring housed in said barrel and respectively connected to a barrel arbour and means for winding said mainspring, said indicator device including a differential gear kinematically connected by a first input to the barrel arbour, by a second input to the barrel and by an output to a power reserve indicator member and wherein the differential gear frame is arranged coaxially to the barrel arbour, characterized in that the second differential gear input is secured to the barrel cover, in that the differential gear output is formed by an inner toothed crown, in that the inner toothed crown is kinematically connected to the first input by at least first and second planetary wheel sets meshed with each other and in that the at least two planetary wheel sets are carried by the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 7357568
    Abstract: A running reserve indicator is provided for a mechanical clockwork provided with a main barrel for driving a gear-train and at least a second barrel for driving a gear-train allocated to an auxiliary function which is performed during a determined period. With the indicator, the running reserve displayed with the aid of a hand and a dial is always equal to the running reserve of the barrel having the smallest reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eterna SA
    Inventors: Paul Gerber, Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 7170825
    Abstract: To provide a power reserve display mechanism having a mainspring remaining amount display showing a novel behavior and a mechanical timepiece having the same. A power reserve display mechanism of a mechanical timepiece includes a displacement conversion mechanism having a first rotation input portion coupled to a ratchet wheel and rotated in accordance with rotation of the ratchet wheel and a second rotation input portion coupled to a barrel wheel and rotated in accordance with rotation of the barrel wheel as well as an output portion moved linearly in one direction in accordance with rotation of the first rotation input portion and moved linearly in other direction in accordance with rotation of the second rotation input portion, and mainspring accumulating remaining amount display means provided at the output portion of the displacement conversion mechanism for displaying a mainspring accumulating remaining amount by a position along a linear line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6826124
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a timepiece including a barrel, a spring housed in the barrel, time display members mechanically coupled to said barrel, an electric energy generator also coupled to said barrel, and a regulator circuit for enslaving the frequency of said generator to a reference frequency. The regulator circuit includes for this purpose switching means arranged for electrically braking said generator during braking periods, when said regulator circuit detects that the frequency of said generator is higher than the reference frequency. The generator controls actuating means of an analogue power reserve member, via an electric quantity transmitted by electric coupling between the actuating means and the generator, during said braking periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 6805482
    Abstract: This invention has for object to propose an operation level indicator device for watches with double spring barrels, both those with manual winding and those with automatic winding. This scope is reached by an operation level device, having two spring barrels 1, 2, one for winding 1 and the other for unwinding 2, a star wheel 3 integral with a display means 17. According to the invention, the winding spring barrel includes a winding pin 9 actuating a winding lever 4 dragging the star wheel 3 into positive rotation, the unwinding spring barrel 2 includes an unwinding pin 10 actuating an unwinding lever 5 that drags the star wheel 3 into negative rotation, the latter being maintained in its position by a catch 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier SA
    Inventor: Vincent Bérard
  • Publication number: 20040145974
    Abstract: This invention has for object to propose an operation level indicator device for watches with double spring barrels, both those with manual winding and those with automatic winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Vincent Berard
  • Patent number: 6685352
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a power reserve indicator device (1) for a manually or automatically wound timepiece, said timepiece including a barrel, a mainspring housed in the barrel and time display elements mechanically coupled to said barrel, said indictor device (1) including a differential gear (10) a first input (8) of which is driven by a winding gear train (6) which meshes with a first driving gear formed by the barrel core, the output (16) of said differential gear (10) driving a display gear train (18) for indicating the reserve of power assured by the number of winding turns of the mainspring, characterised in that the second input (14) of the differential gear (10) is driven by a letting down gear train (12) which meshes with a second driving gear formed by the outer toothing of said barrel or by a wheel and pinion driven by said barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Frederic Piguet S.A.
    Inventors: Edmond Capt, Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 6340241
    Abstract: Power reserve indicator mechanism for a timepiece movement of the type provided with a power source formed of a motor spring (26), including a frame (10, 12, 14, 16), a power reserve indicator and a differential gear (30) with a first input (44) connected to a wheel (29) driven in rotation when the motor spring is wound, a second input (42) connected to a wheel (20) driven in rotation when the motor spring is let down, and an output (36a) connected to said indicator, wherein the indicator is capable of covering a given angle comprised between two end positions, defined by a stop (78). According to the invention, an intermediate wheel (32) is inserted between the output of the differential gear and said indicator and includes a resilient member (64) arranged so that the differential gear rotates freely while the indicator remains in abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Parmigiani, Mesure et art du Temps S.A.
    Inventor: Sébastien Jeanneret