Abstract: Devices comprising a multi-piece housing which move from a first configuration wherein an item is at least partially disposed within a housing to a second configuration wherein more of the item is disposed outside of the housing. Upon the selective actuation of a release, at least two housing portions initially move away from each other while the item moves from the first configuration toward the second configuration, the housing portions then move back toward each other, all in a damped motion. In the second configuration, at least a portion of the item is further away from the hinge-type connection than in the first configuration.

Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece in which the maintenance of a winding stem pipe and its surroundings is facilitated. Basically provided is a portable timepiece comprising a winding stem pipe releasably screwed into a pipe attachment opening of a case band, in which portable timepiece an accidental rotation of a crown is avoided by bringing a crown head of the crown into screw-engagement with a pipe end of the winding stem pipe disposed outside of the case band such that the crown head caps the pipe end. A ring receiver is formed on one of the pipe attachment opening and an insert portion of the winding stem pipe screwed into the opening. A soft and resilient friction ring is supported on the other of the pipe attachment opening and the insert portion. The friction ring is resiliently brought into tight contact with the ring receiver to prevent a rotation of the winding stem pipe.

Abstract: The escapement includes a large plate 4 carrying a first finger 14 and a blocking member 6 carrying a second finger 11 and a locking pallet-stone 7. The first and second fingers 14 and 11 are shaped such that when the large plate 4 rotates in a first direction a, the first finger 14 drives the second 11 which moves around a first side 20 of said first finger to release the locking pallet-stone. Re-engagement occurs when the second finger 11 climbs over a vertical flank 25 of a notch 22 made in a small plate 23. When the large plate 4 rotates in a second direction b, opposite to the first, the first finger 14 drives the second finger 11 which moves around a second side 21, opposite to the first, of said first finger 14 to keep the locking pallet-stone 7 in the escapement wheel.

Abstract: A photoelectric generating means (6) is disposed proximally to the surface of the dial (21) on the back cover (3) side, and the dial (21) is made of a magnetic, optically transparent material. The support substrate (62) of the photoelectric generating means (6) is a nonmagnetic material, and the antenna (5) is located proximally to the surface of the support substrate (62) on the back cover (3) side. Because the support substrate (62) is a nonmagnetic material, external RF signals can pass through the dial (21) and photoelectric generating means (6) to the coil (52) of the antenna (5), and signals can thus be received by the antenna (5). Because the antenna (5) can be contained inside the case member (1), the appearance can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus uses electrical conductance to determine the start and stop times for viscosity measurements using efflux cups. An efflux cup and two probes are immersed and removed from the fluid. An electric current is applied between each probe and the efflux cup. A timer measures the elapsed time between a decrease in the electric current measured between a first probe and the efflux cup and a decrease in the electric current measured between a second probe and the efflux cup.

Abstract: Enhanced control buttons are provided for a digital timepiece, each button marked with an icon which identifies its function, one icon indicative of the so marked button being operable to turn a night light on/off, another icon indicative of the so marked button being operable to access and exit from a real time setting mode, another icon indicative of the so marked button being operable to access and exit from an alarm time setting mode, said alarm button being programmable to operate in response to momentary and relatively longer pressures to perform a variety of alarm time functions, including turning on and off a similar alarm icon in the timepiece's display, turning off the alarm sound after it becomes audible following a set alarm time, and thereafter turning on the alarm icon in the watch display for repetition of the sounding of the alarm 24 hours later at the same previously set alarm time.

Abstract: A method for tracking total usage time of an electronic device comprising the steps of evaluating a predetermined usage increment timer until a predetermined time period expires, incrementing a total-usage counter, resetting the timer to measure a next occurrence of the predetermined time period, repeating the aforementioned steps and outputting the value representing the total usage time of the device. A multi-mode electronic device that carries out the aforementioned method is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a method of and device for tracking total usage time or number of activations of any feature or mode within the device.

Abstract: This device comprises a first axial retention shoulder secured to the case, adjacent to a cylindrical seat, a second, opposite axial retention shoulder formed by one face of an annular groove secured to the rim, an annular retention element made of polymer bearing against each of said shoulders, said first shoulder being adjacent to the base of a conical surface, secured to the case, for the axial introduction of said annular retention element engaged with said annular groove. Said annular retention element forms an endless ring whose section is divided in the radial direction into two portions of which one is, perpendicularly to the plane of said endless ring, substantially thinner than the other, these two portions being intended to interact respectively with said first shoulder and second shoulder.

Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece capable of interchanging a part at a surrounding of a crown when a screw lock function is deteriorated. A premise is established by a portable timepiece screwing to lock a crown urged in a direction of separating from a case body by a coil spring (urging member) included in a winding stem pipe to the winding stem pipe attached to the case body. The winding stem pipe includes a winding stem pipe main body inserted into a pipe attaching hole of the case body and fixed in liquid tight by using a brazing member, and a ring fitted to a case body outside projected portion of the main body removably by being stopped to rotate and provided with a male screw portion to which the crown is removably screwed at an outer periphery thereof. A ring holding member is pinched between the ring and a holding portion of the case body outside projected portion.

Abstract: A wristwatch including a casing having top and bottom parts and a movement therein, an upper housing, a replaceable watch face and a means for releasably securing the upper housing to the top part of the casing. The upper housing is formed as an integral unit, and includes top and bottom transparent panels, a drive shaft means extending through the bottom transparent panel, the drive shaft means having top and bottom ends, time indicating hands fixed to the top ends of the drive shaft means, and side walls fixed to and maintaining the top and bottom transparent panels spaced apart to define a chamber therein for enclosing the time indicating hands. The replaceable watch face includes a memory element, and a flat panel display disposed over the memory element. The replaceable watch face is situated below the bottom transparent panel and above the casing top part, and the bottom end of the drive shaft means is releasably coupled to the movement.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as a timepiece (18) capable of being worn on a user's wrist by means of a wristband, this portable object being supplied with electric power by at least one rechargeable accumulator able to be recharged by induction charging means, these inductive charging means including a primary winding (56) and a secondary winding (2), said portable object being characterised in that the secondary winding (2) is housed in a strand (16, 26) of the wristband.

Abstract: A multi mode alert timer having a timer display, switches for start stop and reset functions and audible, visible, and tactile alert signal selection and a housing where a user may select a timer alert signal including the individual alert signals or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A protective watch band assembly including a protective watch band and an adapter. The protective watch band includes a pair of flaps on either side of an adapter receiver for attaching the adapter to the protective watch band. Hook and loop fasteners or other attachment means can be used to attach the two components of the present invention together. The adapter includes a pair of flaps on the top which are used to attach the watch face to the adapter by the watch face's band bars.

Abstract: The calendar mechanism for a watch includes two rotating indicators provided with respective toothed wheels (11, 14), indicating for example the date and the phase of the moon or the day of the week, and drive lever (21) provided with two beaks (22, 23) for making the corresponding indicator move forward one step, depending upon whether it is pivoting in one direction or the other. The daily movement forward of the indicators is assured by a drive wheel (20) making one revolution per day and provided with a pin (38) which cooperates with a cam surface (33) of the drive lever. In order to correct the indicators independently of each other, a gear train (44) actuated by a control stem of the watch causes a correction wheel (50) to rotate, which acts on a nose of the drive lever (21) to pivot the latter selectively in one direction or the other.

Abstract: A module connecting arrangement for mounting a module on a support rail includes a horizontal rectangular housing containing a longitudinal chamber, and a bottom surface that contains a recess for transversely receiving the support rail, the recess being in communication with the chamber. A pair of horizontal, superimposed, slidably-connected locking slide members are longitudinally mounted in the chamber. The slide members are spring-biased together toward a locking position in which integral opposed locking lip portions thereon extend below outwardly directed horizontal flange portions of the support rail. A separating member having a non-circular cross-section is rotatably connected with the housing and extends into a gap defined between spaced opposing walls on the slide members, whereby rotation of the separating members produces displacement of the slide members toward released positions relative to the support rail.

Abstract: There is provided a multifunction timepiece wherein the visibility of pointers can be improved, and increases in the thickness of the timepiece can be reduced. This timepiece includes a dial, an hour hand, a minute hand, a pointer, and a movement. The dial has a dial cover and a time display section on the inner periphery thereof. The hour hand is mounted on the time display section and has an hour hand rotating shaft disposed at a different position from the center position of the time display section. The minute hand is mounted on the time display section and has a minute hand rotating shaft disposed at a different position from the center position of the time display section. The pointer is mounted on the time display section and has a pointer rotating shaft. The dimension A from the pointer rotating shaft to the tip of the pointer is greater than the dimension B from the minute hand rotating shaft to the tip of the minute hand.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved interactive television having a timer. The timer alerts a television viewer of the expiration of preset timers. For example, the preset timers may be associated with events not traditionally related to television content, such as a kitchen timer. The exemplary kitchen timer can alert a television viewer that a baking time has expired. Thus, the timer can manage alerts in a non-intrusive manner to enhance the viewer's experience.

Abstract: The tri-axial tourbillon comprises a cage (A) containing the balance (1), the escape wheel (2) and the escape pinion (3) rotating around an axis (A1) and mounted in a second cage (B) rotating around an axis (A2), the cage (B) in turn being mounted rotably in a third cage (C) rotating around an axis (A3) that is fixed relative to the timepiece, the three axes (A1, A2, A3) being perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio controlled clock movement control system, including two stepper motors, two gearings, and a photo electronic control unit. The two stepper motors are operated independently each one driving a gearing, where the first gearing contains a second wheel, and the second gearing contains an hour wheel and a minute wheel. The photo electronic control unit contains a first photo detector, a second photo detector, and a light source. Multiple through holes are formed in succession over one sector near the rim of the second and minute wheels, which are moved in the direction of rotation over the photo detectors that undertakes to check the minute and second wheels for the zero alignment. Therefore, a radio controlled clock having the present clock movement control system can be self reset in a fast manner.

Abstract: A projection clock includes a base unit that includes a power supply, a clock circuit powered by the power supply, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting time information provided by the clock circuit. Also, a projection unit, separate from the base unit, includes a projection circuit and a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the transmitted time information, based on which the projection circuit operatively projects the time.