Abstract: An acoustic timepiece display mechanism includes a chronograph repeater for the acoustic display, by a striking mechanism, of a duration measured by a chronograph mechanism. The striking mechanism includes a winding lever for driving a rack to move a striking unit including a rack pinion integral with a striking ratchet, to move a striking rack to read the magnitude concerned and to release a corresponding strike function. The acoustic display mechanism includes, between a control mechanism included in the chronograph mechanism and the winding lever, a safety mechanism arranged, depending on the position of the strike wheel set, to allow or prevent travel of an operating lever of the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism, which operating lever is arranged to be pivoted under the action of a chronograph start pusher.

Abstract: A timepiece with a striking mechanism having a detent ratchet cooperating with a passing strike actuation click controlled by a movement or a repeater click operable by a user, including an uncoupling lever preventing access of the click to the ratchet under the action of a reversing lever operable by a hand-setting stem, or by a main strike function or tune selection control member, or by a stopping mechanism, and including a safety device for preventing release during a strike mode or tune selection, arranged to prevent the release of any strike function by the movement or by a user, and which includes a release-prevention lever, the pivoting of which, under action on the main control member, moves any click away from the detent ratchet.

Abstract: A striking mechanism for a watch including an hour snail driven by a movement, a strike wheel set including a detent ratchet and a repeating rack pinion, a pivoting hour-rack for reading the snail and driving the pinion, a click set in motion at each passing strike to drive the detent ratchet, with a mode selector mechanism for selection by the user of a particular strike mode, among distinct modes including a silent mode, defining the angular position of a cam having an external profiled surface, wherein, in silent mode, the largest radius pushes back a beak of a silencing lever, to orient it into a position where its main arm moves the click away from the ratchet in order to disable every passing strike function.

Abstract: A watch including a timepiece striking mechanism, including a drive mechanism for driving and controlling the striking mechanism to operate at least one rigid hammer, movable between a first winding position and a second striking position, the hammer being arranged to strike a gong in the second striking position, this hammer including at least one magnetized portion arranged to cooperate with at least one actuator arranged to be driven in motion by the drive mechanism, the actuator including an alternating series of first areas and second areas with different magnetic field characteristics from each other, to whose influence the magnetized portion is successively subjected on order to trigger, as the case may be, the winding of the hammer or the striking of the hammer on the gong.

Abstract: A sealing device for a minute-repeater mechanism, comprising a striking work control bolt which can move in an aperture of a case between a rest position and a pulled-out position. The case includes a seat for receiving in sealed abutment, in the rest position of the bolt, a first sealing gasket mounted in a sealed manner on the bolt and moveable therewith, and which is at a distance from the seat when the bolt is in a pulled-out position for operating the striking work. The case includes a chamber, one wall of which comprises the aperture, which limits the travel of a second sliding sealing gasket in which the bolt slides in a sealed manner, and which is in sealed abutment on an inner surface of the chamber.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a movement, a main striking mechanism, a secondary strike release mechanism, and a mode selecting mechanism. The main striking mechanism is controlled by a main strike control mechanism, arranged to release strikes, at times programmed by the movement, or on demand, and a sequence of each strike is determined by information gathered by feeler spindles on snails or time references driven by the movement. A coupling mechanism of the secondary strike release mechanism actuates a control rod linkage of an isolating mechanism arranged to isolate various different release mechanisms for different strikes using the main striking mechanism to play strikes. The isolating mechanism includes at least a first isolator which, in a first winding position, takes a stop position preventing the spindles from gathering information from the snails, and, in a second let down position, allows the spindles to pass to come into contact with the snails.

Abstract: An alarm turning off method and a mobile device adapted to the method are provided. The method includes reproducing a preset alarm audio sound and outputting a preset beat at a preset alarm time, determining whether the mobile device receives an input beat, when the mobile device has received the input beat, muting the reproduced alarm audio sound, determining whether the preset beat is identical to the input beat in a state where the alarm audio sound is muted, and turning off the alarm when the number of occurrences where the preset beat matches the input beat is a preset number in a state where the alarm audio sound is muted.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanical device (100) for the sequential control of at least two levers for a timepiece mechanism, controlling a first lever (1) and a second (2) lever cooperating with a contact surface (10) in accordance with a sequence wherein each changes from a first torque consumption level (11; 21) to a second, higher level (12; 22) during an increasing phase (14; 24) in which it stores torque, then from said second level (12; 22) to said first level (11; 21) during a decreasing phase (15; 25) in which it transmits energy. The device is wherein it includes delaying means (4) creating, during the decreasing phase (15) of said first lever (1), a stabilizing stage at a third, intermediate level (13) between said first (11) and second (12) levels. The invention also concerns a timepiece incorporating a device (100) of this type.

Abstract: Striking mechanism unit for a repeater striking mechanism, including a drive plate with a pipe pivoting about an axis and carrying a hook provided with a beak, a detent ratchet pivoting about the axis carrying a pin which is in abutment, through a hole in the plate, on the hook against a spring for the operation thereof when the detent ratchet is pivoting, and depending on the position thereof, the beak allows or prevents the pivoting of a pipe ratchet of a downstream stage which pivots integrally with a first hour ratchet. The downstream stage includes a second hour ratchet which pivots about the axis and whose toothing is inclined in the same direction as that of the first hour ratchet.

Abstract: A minute repeater of a striking mechanism is normally actuated by pressing on a first lever. A release cam driven by a motion work in automatic operation pivots a release lever towards a ratchet of a striking mechanism unit of this striking mechanism. When a strike is operated, this striking unit drives a plate carrying a winding cam. The first lever controls the pivoting of a second lever included in a safety mechanism, when the minute repeater is set in motion, and this second lever includes a catch cooperating with a finger of a pivoting bolt returned by a spring, to prevent the minute repeater from being released again once set in motion. This bolt is only released at the end of the striking cycle performed by the minute repeater.

Abstract: Sealing device (1) for a minute-repeater mechanism, comprising a striking work control bolt (2) which can move in an aperture (4) of a case (3) between a rest position (PR) and a pulled-out position (PT). Said case (3) includes a seat (5) for receiving in sealed abutment, in said rest position (PR) of said bolt (2), a static sealing gasket (6) mounted in a sealed manner on said bolt (2) and moveable therewith, and which is at a distance from said seat (5) when the bolt is in a pulled-out position (PT) for operating the striking work. Said case (3) includes a chamber (8), one wall (9) of which comprises said aperture (4), which limits the travel of a sliding sealing gasket (10) in which said bolt (2) slides in a sealed manner, and which is in sealed abutment on an inner surface (11) of said chamber (5).

Abstract: Striking mechanism unit including a drive plate with a pipe carrying a click with a beak drawn against a return spring by a pin of a detent ratchet cooperating with a main strike control mechanism, and including a ratchet pivoting on this pipe and cooperating via a toothing with this beak to allow or prevent the pivoting of this ratchet, integral with a ratchet driving a repeater striking mechanism to release a grand strike. It includes a release wheel for releasing an alarm, independent of this detent ratchet, each controlled independently to release the play respectively of this alarm or this main striking mechanism, and both arranged to cooperate, but never at the same time, on this hook to play, respectively, this alarm or this main strike.

Abstract: The watch striking mechanism (1) includes a gong, which is fixed via one end thereof to a gong-carrier integral with a plate, a hammer rotatably mounted on the plate to strike the gong at determined times, a damper counter-spring (5) for keeping the hammer away from the gong in an idle mode, and a drive spring (3) for the hammer. The drive spring includes an end (3b) fixed to the plate and an end (3a) that is free to move. The spring can be wound so that the free end (3a) of the spring drives the hammer (2) against the gong (21) in a strike mode to produce an acoustic sound. The striking mechanism includes means (10) for actuating the damper counter-spring (5) in a strike mode with a time lag after the hammer (2) strikes the gong, so that after the hammer strikes the gong, the counter-spring pushes said hammer towards an idle position. The actuating means includes a stop member mounted on the damper counter-spring to be actuated via the drive spring when in action just after the hammer strikes the gong.

Abstract: The watch striking mechanism (1) includes at least one gong (11) fixed to a gong-carrier (12) and at least one hammer (2) for activating the vibration of the gong. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element (20) in the form of a moving micro-magnet, which is arranged on a striking portion of the hammer, and a second magnetic element (21) in the form of a fixed micro-magnet, which is arranged in one part of the gong. The second magnetic element is at least partly opposite the first magnetic element and is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the first magnetic element. In a striking mode, said hammer may be driven in the direction of the gong to activate the vibration of said gong via a magnetic impulse due to the repulsion force of the two magnetic elements.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a chime mechanism (1) having an hours component (2), a quarters component (4) and a minutes component (6), the hours (2), quarters (4) and minutes (6) components being pivot-mounted about one and the same spindle (3), the quarters component (4) and the minutes component (6) being kinematically linked by a first driving member collaborating with a first driving toothset (34). Out of the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), one includes a second driving toothset (21) and the other includes a second driving member designed to be capable of collaborating with the second driving toothset (21) and of kinematically linking the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), thereby eliminating the dead time between the chimes for the hours and those for the quarters, or between those for the hours and those for the minutes when there isn't a quarter to chime.

Abstract: Striking mechanism unit (2) for a repeater striking mechanism (100), including a drive plate (3) with a pipe (4) pivoting about an axis (D) and carrying a hook (6) provided with a beak (6A), a detent ratchet (9) pivoting about said axis (D) carrying a pin (8) which is in abutment, through a hole (3A) in said plate (3), on said hook (6) against a spring (7) for the operation thereof when said detent ratchet (9) is pivoting, and depending on the position thereof, said beak (6A) allows or prevents the pivoting of a pipe ratchet (11) of a downstream stage (1) which pivots integrally with a first hour ratchet (13). Said downstream stage (1) includes a second hour ratchet (15) which pivots about said axis (D) and whose toothing is inclined in the same direction as that of said first hour ratchet (13).

Abstract: Striking mechanism unit (2) including a drive plate (3) with a pipe (4) carrying a click (5) with a beak (6A) drawn against a return spring (7) by a pin (8) of a detent ratchet (9) cooperating with a main strike control mechanism (10), and including a ratchet (11) pivoting on said pipe (4) and cooperating via a toothing (12) with said beak (6A) to allow or prevent the pivoting of said ratchet (11), integral with a ratchet (13) driving a repeater striking mechanism (100) to release a grand strike. It includes a release wheel (118) for releasing an alarm, independent of said detent ratchet (9), each controlled by different control means to release the play respectively of said alarm or said main striking mechanism, and both arranged to cooperate, but never at the same time, on said hook (5) to play respectively, said alarm or said main strike.

Abstract: Safety mechanism against inadvertent actuation for a timepiece (1000) with a motion work driving a release cam (530), which pivots a release lever (105) towards a ratchet (9) of a striking mechanism unit (2) of a striking mechanism (100) including a minute repeater actuated by pressing on a first lever (535), wherein, when a strike is operated, said unit (2) drives a plate (525) carrying a winding cam (440). It includes a second lever (536), the pivoting of which is controlled by said first lever (535) when the minute repeater is set in motion, said second lever (536) includes a catch (536A) cooperating with a finger (537A) of a pivoting bolt (537) returned by a spring, to prevent the minute repeater from being released again once set in motion. Said bolt (537) is only released at the end of the striking cycle performed by the minute repeater.

Abstract: Timepiece (1000) including a main strike control mechanism (10) for releasing strikes at programmed times or on demand, and a mechanism (1) for releasing, at a particular time, a secondary strike control mechanism (400) including a coupling mechanism (600) allowing the exclusive operation, at a given time, of one or the other. The timepiece includes a means (500) of selecting the secondary strike or main strike mode, by winding, in the secondary strike mode, the coupling mechanism (600) to uncouple the main striking mechanism and to couple the secondary striking mechanism. In the main striking mechanism mode, the coupling mechanism (600) uncouples the secondary striking mechanism using the main striking mechanism, either not to play the secondary strike, or to play the secondary strike by a mechanism other than the main striking mechanism.

Abstract: Timing wheel set (130) for a timepiece mechanism, for limiting the duration of operation of a function after the start thereof, arranged to cooperate with a release element, the start of motion of which initiates the release of said function, and further arranged to cooperate with a means (600) of coupling said function. It includes a timing hook (141) arranged to be operated by said coupling means (600) in order to be placed in cooperation with a ratchet (133) or to be released from said ratchet (133), said ratchet (133) being pivotally mounted on an arbour coaxially to a timing wheel (132) towards which it is pivoted back by return means (135), said timing wheel (132) being arranged to cooperate, directly or indirectly, with said release element.

Abstract: The striking mechanism (1) for a watch or a music box includes a gong (11) fixed to a gong-carrier (12) and an activation member (2) for activating the gong in a striking mode. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element (13) arranged on the gong (11) and second magnetic elements (4) arranged on the periphery of the activation member (2), which is a magnetic wheel. In a striking mode, the magnetic wheel is set in rotation at a determined velocity so that the second magnetic elements (4), in the form of moving micro-magnets, move in succession and repeatedly into proximity with and opposite the first magnetic element (13), which is a fixed micro-magnet of opposite magnetic polarity. The rotation of the magnetic wheel sets the gong vibrating via a periodic variation in the magnetic repulsion or attraction force between the moving micro-magnets and the fixed micro-magnet of the gong.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a movement and a current-time ringing mechanism that includes: an hour cam (40) for providing information on the hour of the current time to an hour sampler, quarter cam (28) for providing information on the quarters of the current time to a quarter sampler, a minute cam (22) for providing information on the minutes of the current time to a minute sampler, wherein the cams are adapted to be driven by the movement, the quarter cam (28) and the minute cam (22) being pivotally mounted and being free relative to each other, and the minute cam (22) including a snail including a single row of 60/N stages and being adapted to be driven by the movement at N revolutions per hour.

Abstract: In a timepiece with a striking mechanism, for example a minute repeater watch, in order to prevent the control stem (9) inadvertently setting the time during operation of the striking work and causing damage, an uncoupling device is inserted in the time-setting train (17), and is controlled via a mobile part of the striking mechanism. The uncoupling device includes an intermediate motion wheel (19) that can be moved, for example axially, from a rest position in which it is meshed with the castle wheel (16). Said mobile part of the striking mechanism is preferably the strike barrel arbour (46), carrying a rotating cam (56) with a spiral profile. At the start of actuation of the striking mechanism, the cam pushes a lifting lever (60), which raises a strip (25) controlling the vertical movement of the intermediate motion wheel (19).

Abstract: A timepiece equipped with an alarm mechanism having a striking device and a minute repeater mechanism provided with a striking device. The two striking devices share at least one gong and one hammer. A power source can be locked when the mechanism is at rest and unlocked when the mechanism is in operation. An adjustment system can be used to program the alarm time. A trigger system includes a control member which controls the unlocking of the power source and a cam which is kinematically connected to the movement and performs one revolution every 24 hours. A first striking mechanism is equipped with at least one hammer arranged to strike at least one gong, and a supplemental striking mechanism is equipped with at least one hammer arranged to strike at least one non-resonant object, wherein the power source drives one or the other of these striking mechanisms.

Abstract: The device for mounting and fastening at least one gong of a striking mechanism of a watch movement in which each gong (1, 14) is solidly attached to a heel (2, 15) and includes means for the positioning and temporary fastening (5, 6, 8, 9, 20) of the heel or heels and their gongs to a bottom plate (7) of the watch movement. It includes at least one crystal support (21) fastened underneath the crystal (22) of a case holding the watch movement, and means for guiding and positioning (5, 6, 11) that allow the gongs (1, 14) and their heels (2, 15) to be moved into their working position where each heel is in touch with the crystal support (21) or with another heel. It further includes means for fastening (13) gongs and their heels to the crystal support (21) in such a way that these gongs and their heels are tied to the crystal (22).

Abstract: Control device for a watch movement having a part rotatably movable around an axis A. The device is associated with a watch case (11) and has a lock (25) actuatable from outside the watch. The lock is movably mounted in translation to the periphery of the watch case (11). The device also has a movably mounted plate (30) which is rotatable around an axis D inside the watch case and is kinematically connected to the lock. An arm (34) is pivotable around and axis B, whose first end is placed on the plate in such a way that it is freely rotatable around an axis C non-merging with the axis D and whose other end is fixed to the part for driving the movement.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a striking mechanism (20) which includes a mobile part (60, 70), and a time-setting mechanism (16) which cooperates with a winding stem (26). The time-setting mechanism (16) includes a pull-out piece (50) whose pivoting is controlled by a time-setting lever (30). The pull-out piece (50) controls the sliding of a sliding pinion (36) from a winding position to a time-setting position. The pivoting of an isolating lever (94) is controlled by the mobile part (70) of the striking mechanism (20) so as to cause the sliding pinion (36) to slide from the winding position to an intermediate position, located axially between the winding position and the time-setting position thereof.

Abstract: For a timepiece movement, a striking train mechanism having: at least one resonant element (32) which can emit at least two sounds of different frequencies, at least two pallets (36), and at least two hammers (34) which are designed to be driven by the pallets (36) in order to strike the resonant element (32).

Abstract: The invention proposes a timepiece comprising a repeater striking mechanism (14), the striking mechanism being released either automatically, or manually by a manual control member (22), wherein the striking mechanism (14) includes a release lever (24) fitted with a click (26) which meshes with the teeth of a ratchet detent wheel (28) such that, during automatic release, a release cam causes the release lever (24) to pivot towards the detent wheel (28), characterized in that the release lever (24) is fitted with a toggle lever (104) which carries the click (26) and which is pivotably connected to the release lever (24) during automatic release, and in that manual release is caused by the pivoting of the toggle lever (104) relative to the release lever (24) via the action of the manual control member (22).

Abstract: The invention proposes a timepiece comprising a repeater striking mechanism (14), wherein the striking mechanism (14) comprises a release lever (24) fitted with a click (26) which is pivotably mounted on the release lever (24) and which meshes with the teeth (27) of a ratchet detent wheel (28) such that, during automatic release, a release cam (16) causes the release lever (24) to pivot towards the detent wheel (28), characterized in that the striking mechanism (14) comprises a winding cam (34), which cooperates with a shoulder (36) associated with the release lever (24) to control the winding thereof, in that the release lever (24) is restrained in its wound position, by a locking device (42), and in that the release cam (16) releases the striking mechanism by unlocking the locking device (42).

Abstract: An alarm clock is provided having a handle resembling a rainbow while the clock case resembles a cloud. The handle of the alarm clock is pivotally attached to the clock case of the alarm clock at one end thereof. The other end of the handle is physically connected to an on/off lever of the alarm mechanism in such a manner as to be vertically movable in response to pivotal movement of the handle. An interlocking mechanism is provided to convert the pivotal movement of the handle into vertical movement of the on/off lever. The interlocking mechanism comprises a guide protrusion or operating button forming part of said handle and recessed portions within the guide protrusion. The recessed portions interact with projections on the on/off lever, the on/off lever having spring pieces at the other end thereof and the spring pieces being actuated by positioning pins.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based clock which has both a current time digital display and an alarm time digital display, as well as controls for setting both the current time and the alarm time either ahead or backward at selectable rates such that a single knob provides rapid setting of the setting time and a single knob provides rapid setting of the alarm time. An improved regulating circuit provides the microprocessor with a first substantially constant DC voltage and a second DC voltage limited to a given magnitude. User-accessable controls are provided for effecting a snooze alarm function, alarm setting and for disarming the alarm function for a relatively long period of time, e.g., for 24 hours. One of the controls includes strips bridgable by a conductive member such as a finger.

Abstract: A timed chime system wherein the minute timer of a clock mechanism generates a start chime signal every half hour. The start chime signal is applied to turn on a power switch to apply power to the elements of the chime system and to set system components to begin a chime cycle. In response to the start chime signal, the hour timer of the clock mechanism operates a coder to generate a BCD count signal corresponding to the position of the hour hand of the clock. The BCD count signal is then applied to set a particular hour count in a programmable counter and a chime tone circuit is activated to generate a number of Bim-Bam audio tones. As each Bim-Bam audio tone is generated, the programmable counter is decremented by one and, when the counter is decremented to zero, the chime system is reset. After a particular time delay, the power switch is operated to turn off system power.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having time indicating hands and an alarm time indicating hand which can be set to an alarm time within a range of twelve hours. Alarm time setting can be performed such that an alarm warning is produced the first time that alarm time coincidence is detected, and at subsequent times separated by 24 hour intervals, or such that the alarm warning is produced the second time that alarm time coincidence is detected, and at subsequent times separated by 24 hour intervals. Greater resolution for alarm time setting is achieved than for a timepiece in which the alarm time is set within a 24 hour range.