Abstract: A zero-resetting device for a timepiece, and more particularly for a chronograph, comprises a manual control organ (2), a second control organ (4) that can be actuated by the manual control organ (2), one or several zero-resetting cams (6) and one or several hammers (5) that can be actuated by the second control organ (4) so as to cooperate with the zero-resetting cam or cams (6) respectively. The device is characterised in that the second control organ (4) is mobile in translation, and in that the hammer or hammers (5) are pivoting about a respective pivot or pivots (17) that are independent of the second control organ (4), and are hinged to the second control organ (4) in order to be able to be pivoted about said pivot or pivots (17) by a translational movement of the second control organ (4).

Abstract: This device for the simultaneous zero-resetting of two counters, the pivot axes of which are fixedly connected to respective heart-shaped zero-resetting cams (7, 8), comprises a zero-resetting lever (2) containing two hammers (6c, 6d), means (5) for exerting upon this lever (2) a torque for pressing the two hammers (6c, 6d) against the zero-resetting cams (7, 8), and articulation means (2d, 2e, 6a, 6b) for articulating these hammers relative to the lever (2). These articulation means comprise two pins (2d, 2e), one of which (2d) is engaged in a guide slot with limited amplitude (6a), orientated in order that the direction of the perpendicular, dropped from the axis of the pin (2d) onto this guide slot (6a), intersects the straight line joining the axes (7a, 8a) of the zero-resetting cams (7, 8) at a point capable of improving the distribution of the torque transmitted to these cams (7, 8).

Abstract: A setting device for a timepiece comprising a second-indicating element (1) and at least one other time-indicating element comprises a first manual control element (2) that can occupy a neutral position and a position for setting the other time-indicating element or elements, and a mechanism (3) for resetting the second-indicating element (1) to zero, connected to the first manual control element (2). The reset mechanism (3) comprises a second manual control element (6) and is configured so that actuating the second manual control element (6) resets the second-indicating element (1) to zero when the first manual control element (2) is in the position for setting the other time-indicating element or elements and has no effect on the second-indicating element (1) when the first manual control element (2) is in the neutral position.

Abstract: This timekeeper comprises a first timer (4), means (12) for connecting it selectively to the train of the timekeeper (T), a second timer (5), a synchronous coupling between the first (4) and second (5) timers, and fly-back means (13, 13?, 9, 11) for said timers (4, 5). An auxiliary motive source (10?) is in a driving relationship with the second timer (5) and a one-way coupling (6a, 7a) is situated between the first (4) and second (5) timers to regulate the speed of movement of the latter at a predetermined ratio with the speed of movement of the first timer (4) while allowing one-way relative movement of the first timer (4) relative to the second (5) when the latter is in the stop position and one-way relative movement in the opposite sense of the second timer (5) when the first timer (4) is in the stop position.

Abstract: To realize a chronograph timepiece capable of firmly and simultaneously zeroing an hour heart cam, a second heart cam and a minute heart cam. A chronograph timepiece of the invention includes a hammer operated by operating a reset button for controlling to operate to zero an hour chronograph wheel & pinion, a minute chronograph wheel & pinion and a second chronograph wheel & pinion. When the hammer is brought into contact with an hour heart cam, a second heart cam and a minute heart cam, a position of the hammer is determined only by the hour heart cam, the second heart cam and the minute heart cam. When the hammer is brought into contact with the hour heart cam, the second heart cam and the minute heart cam, a direction of a press force exerted to the hammer is constituted to pass a rotational center of the second chronograph wheel.

Abstract: The coupling wheel (17) is brought into friction with an intermediate second wheel (19), or, conversely, to moved away therefrom by a fork (16) formed in the large arm (22) of an L-shaped coupling spring (20), articulated at the joining portion of the two arms (22, 24) on an adjustment plate (30), the small arm (24) of said coupling spring (20) having its end stressed by the end of a control lever (10). Means for guiding (32a, 32b) and positioning by a cam screw (38) allow the distance between the small arm (24) of the coupling spring (20) and the end of the control lever (10) to be modified, which thus allows manufacturing tolerances to be compensated for.

Abstract: A chronograph has a clock movement for driving a second chronograph hand and a minute chronograph hand and a control apparatus for stopping the second chronograph hand and the minute chronograph hand and for setting in motion a rattrapante mechanism of a second rattrapante indicator and a minute rattrapante indicator. The rattrapante mechanism has a common trip element for starting and stopping the second rattrapante indicator and the minute rattrapante indicator. A catch is triggered by the common trip element for engaging or disengaging from a ratchet recess of a plurality of ratchet recesses that are distributed evenly on the periphery of a minute rattrapante wheel. The minute rattrapante wheel is connected to a minute rattrapante shaft of a minute rattrapante indicator. The number of ratchet recesses on the minute rattrapante wheel corresponds to the number of increments of the minute chronograph hand per revolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chronograph having a chronograph drive by means of which, when a first actuating element is actuated manually, a chronograph-hand stem of a chronograph hand can be driven in rotation, and having a rattrapante-hand stem, coaxial with the chronograph-hand stem, of a rattrapante hand which can be driven in an overlapping manner with the chronograph hand. A seconds heart cam for resetting the chronograph hand is arranged on the chronograph-hand stem, and the chronograph-hand stem and rattrapante-hand stem are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner by a rattrapante heart cam of a force-fitting coupling. A rattrapante wheel 6 is arranged on the rattrapante-hand stem, can be encompassed under spring prestressing by the gripper arms of a rattrapante gripper and can be blocked against rotation by a friection or form fit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chronograph mechanism capable of operating either in the conventional direct direction, or in the opposite direction to perform a countdown. The seconds counter (80) has a control finger (85) for incrementing and decrementing the minutes counter (11). In order to prevent the control finger acting at the start of a revolution of the seconds counter during a countdown, it is mounted so as to pivot on a disc (91) of the counter. Two pins (95, 96), which can be indexed and are fixed onto the disc, abut against the respective flanks of the control finger to drive it only at the end of a revolution, respectively in one direction or the other. A spring (97) keeps the finger from meshing with the transmission wheel (84) when the countdown time interval is being pre-selected.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized and thin analog electronic timepiece having a mechanism capable of firmly setting a train wheel for rotating a small second hand. An analog electronic timepiece includes a main plate, bridge members time information indicating wheels rotated with a main plate center as rotation center, a small second wheel rotated with a position other than a center of a movement as rotation center, a hand setting stem, a switching apparatus and a dial. The analog electronic timepiece includes a reset lever constituted to be able to rotate by operating the switching apparatus when the hand setting stem is pulled out to a first stage and a train wheel setting lever constituted to linearly move based on rotation of the reset lever. In a state of pulling out the hand setting stem to the first stage, a train wheel setting lever can set rotation of the small second wheel or other wheel provided to rotate the small second wheel.

Abstract: In a state in which a chronograph mechanism is not operated, a coupling lever 442 positions a second counting transmission pinion 212b such that the second counting transmission pinion 212b is separated from a second chronograph wheel 214. In a state in which the chronograph mechanism is operated, the coupling lever 442 is moved to rotate such that the chronograph mechanism is operated. As a result, the second counting transmission pinion 212b is in mesh with the second counting wheel 214. By bringing an outer peripheral portion 442f of a guide frame 442d into contact with a contact portion 202d of a chronograph bridge 202, movement of the coupling lever 442 is set.

Abstract: A chronograph timepiece has a barrel mounted for undergoing rotation and a front train wheel for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the barrel. A second counter intermediate wheel undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the front train wheel. A second counting wheel undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the second counter intermediate wheel in a chronograph measurement mode. A chronograph second display member displays a measurement result corresponding to an elapsed period of time in accordance with rotation of the second counting wheel. A minute counting train wheel undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the second counting wheel. A chronograph minute display member displays a measurement result corresponding to an elapsed period of time in accordance with rotation of the minute counting train wheel. At least one hour counting train wheel undergoes rotation in accordance with rotation of the barrel complete in the chronograph measurement mode.

Abstract: A chronograph mechanism comprises a coupling member (17) engaging, on the one hand, with a pinion (15") solid with the seconds wheel and, on the other hand, with the chronograph's seconds wheel (18). This coupling member (17) also carries a retractable finger (27) adapted to drive, each turn, the first rotatable member (35) of a cinematic transmission connecting together a rotatable member (38) of the minutes wheel to that of the hours counter (41). This transmission is indexed, between two drives by the retractable finger (27), by a jumper (51) engaged in an intermediate wheel (37) of this transmission. The coupling member (17) is controlled by two levers (44, 45), one lever (44) carrying a pin (44c) which, in the uncoupled position, locks the jumper (51) in the intermediate wheel (37)'s toothing. The minutes and hours counter rotatable members (38, 41), solid with zero setting cams (42, 43), are friction fitted on their respective axles.

Abstract: A method and device for ensuring the consumption of perishable food items before a useful storage lifetime for the items has elapsed. A base unit is mounted near, removably attached to, or on a food storage location such as a refrigerator, and allows identification and timing of the stored food items. When an item is placed into the storage location, its name and storage lifetime are recorded and displayed on the base unit. This recording may be accomplished manually by writing directly onto the base unit or by use of handwritten or preprinted magnetic labels, or recording may be accomplished electronically. A list, prestored in memory, of the most commonly stored food items and their approximate lifetimes is provided with the list configured for at least three food storage locations: a refrigerator, a freezer and a pantry. A numeric display is provided so that the length of time an item has been stored can be readily determined and compared with the useful storage lifetime.

Abstract: A method and device for ensuring the consumption of perishable food items before a safe storage lifetime for the items has elapsed. A base unit is mounted near or removably attached to a food storage location such as a refrigerator and allows identification and timing of the stored food items. When an item is placed into the storage location, its name and storage lifetime are recorded on the base unit. This recording may be accomplished manually by writing directly onto the base unit or by use of handwritten or preprinted labels, or recording may be accomplished electronically through a microprocessor-controlled base unit. For ease of later location the item may be optionally stored inside of food storage containers that are color coded to the base unit. A numeric display is provided so that the length of time an item has been stored can be readily determined and compared with the safe storage lifetime. The base unit also provides an electronic warning display for each stored item.

Abstract: A gear mechanism for use in horology is described. The gear mechanism not only returns one of the wheels therein to its original position but also carries along with it a second wheel thereby enabling the mechanism to be made thinner and reducing the number of parts needed to carry out these two functions. The mechanism has a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel constituting a toothed wheel fitted on an axis on which is fixed a heart-shaped cam, the point of this cam functioning as the gear engaging means for the second wheel, the cam enabling return of the said first wheel to its starting position by means of a hammer. The invention is of particular value in chronographs.

Abstract: A chronograph watch provided with a control arrangement for the three functions of start, stop and reset to zero. The purpose of the invention is to provide a more judicious distribution of the elements of the chronograph mechanism over the entire surface of the watch. This purpose is attained by means of a watch characterized in that it comprises a start and stop cam (48) and a reset-to-zero cam, both of these cams being constituted by superposed concentric rings arranged at the periphery of the watch movement, in that both of these cams (48, 49) exhibit respectively ratchet teeth (97) or notches (98a, 98b) on their outer periphery on which act two levers (100, 101) to drive the cams (48, 49) in rotation and teeth (96) or notches (99) on their inner periphery acting on the control levers for the gearing forming the chronograph mechanism.

Abstract: A motor actuates a wheel train which drives center hour and minute hands as in an ordinary analog-display watch. Another motor actuates a chronograph train which drives a chronograph sweep seconds-hand, a minute-register hand, and an hour-register hand offset toward 6 o'clock. A lever actuates a column wheel which starts and stops the second motor by means of a control lever integral with a stem. A hammer resets the chronograph gears. An electronic circuit comprises a liquid-crystal display element which displays the hundredths of a second when the chronograph is running or the date when the chronograph is not running.

Abstract: An escapement or directional latching mechanism for a timer which actuates a timing switch component through the intermediary of a driving member, which is manually settable relative to the driving member against a larger moment of resistance in one direction of rotation as in the other direction of rotation.

Abstract: A system for the control of a wheel for driving a chronograph hand in rotation comprising a device for locking the hand-wheel, which includes a locking shoe mounted on a support connected to the return-to-zero lever and to the coupling rocker, so that the movement of the hand-wheel away from the rocker and the lever results in a movement of the locking shoe towards the hand-wheel and in their mutual engagement.

Abstract: An electronic alarm timepiece has a time counter, an alarm time memory circuit and a coincidence detector for detecting a coincidence between the time count and the stored alarm time for actuating an alarm. The alarm time memory circuit is a presettable counter and it is presettable to load the present time count in the time counter therein. In this way, a coarse adjustment of the alarm time can be set and a manually operable mechanism is provided to increment the count in the alarm time memory circuit to obtain the precise desired alarm time.

Abstract: A stop watch comprising a second hand and a subsecond hand includes manually actuatable switches for producing start, stop and reset instruction signals. A first stepping motor and a first drive controller for the stepping motor drives the second hand, while a second stepping motor and a second drive controller drives the subsecond hand. The second drive controller includes a counter for counting subsecond clock pulses in response to the start signal for effecting the display of the contents of the counter by the subsecond hand in response to the stop signal.