Abstract: A chronometer to monitor the passage of time prior to a projected date of birth of a baby and to recognize and celebrate the birth of the baby. The chronometer includes a generally hollow egg-shaped housing including a bottom, a top, a hinge mechanism, and a latching mechanism. The hinge mechanism rotatably connects the top to the bottom so the top can open and close. The latching mechanism releasably connects the top to the bottom. The chronometer also includes a replica of a young chicken housed in the chronometer, and includes a display to indicate the length of time until the projected birth date of the baby.

Abstract: Device (1) that can be integrated into a wristwatch case comprising a whistle (7) and a piston (11) for injecting air into the whistle (7) in order to imitate the singing of a bird.

Abstract: A timepiece includes: an ornamental body; a drive mechanism moving the ornamental body; a restriction portion restricting a movable range of the ornamental body; an output portion capable of outputting a sound; a monitor operation portion; a monitor operation portion; and a control portion performing movement control for outputting a piece of theme music and moving the ornamental body from an initial position.

Abstract: A timepiece including a movement, a mechanism controlling the power reserve of a drive means with an arbor whose angular position indicates said available torque, a striking mechanism controlled by a striking mechanism control mechanism, and a locking lever arranged to lock said movement. The timepiece includes a selective stop mechanism according to the drive torque available in the drive means, which manages said available drive torque by limiting or not limiting the operation of all of part of the striking works of said striking mechanism, by a transmission mechanism controlling an isolating wheel set controlling the position of said locking lever and arranged to release or prevent the movement of a striking mechanism control rod linkage and/or to allow or prevent the strike of a hammer on a gong.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane is made with at least one area of asymmetrical shape, formed in the material of the membrane or with at least one area of asymmetrical shape having a different thickness from the general thickness of the membrane. It preferably includes two asymmetrical areas of elliptical shape (2, 3) which are partly superposed and have a different thickness from each other. The two ellipses (2, 3), preferably hollowed out of the membrane, are off-centre in relation to each other.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane includes a first sheet (2) having a certain number of cells (5), which is secured to a first face of a second sheet (3) which has no cells. The membrane may also include a third sheet (4) having a certain number of cells (6) which is fixed to a second face of the second sheet (3). The shape and dimension of the cells are adapted according to the type of material and the note or notes to be radiated by the membrane with uniform amplification within the audible frequency band. The cells (5, 6) of the first and third sheets are configured in a honeycomb arrangement to occupy most of the surface of the membrane, for the uniform amplification and efficient radiation of the note or notes produced.

Abstract: The striking mechanism (1) of a watch includes at least one gong (3, 4, 5) fixed at one end to a gong-carrier (2) integral with a bottom plate, at least one hammer mounted on the plate for striking the gong, and a gong noise insulator arrangement (6, 7). At least one insulator part (6) of the insulator arrangement is configured to be moved in rotation by drive means (9, 11, 12) so that one U-shaped portion (16) of the insulator part comes into contact with the gong in an idle mode or is at a distance from the gong in striking mode. A rotatably mounted, opposite insulator counterpart (7) with a rod (17) is provided so that the insulator part (6) and the opposite counterpart form a clamp for imprisoning the gong in an idle mode.

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: The striking watch (1) includes a watch case, which is formed of a middle part (4) and a back cover (5) removably secured to the middle part, and a crystal (2) that closes the case in a sealed manner. A watch movement (20) is held inside the watch case on a plate (14). The watch movement is provided with a striking mechanism able to be actuated at determined times to produce a sound. At least one acoustic membrane (10) is arranged between the back cover (5) which includes at least one lateral aperture (6) and the plate (14) of the watch movement. This acoustic membrane is made of amorphous metal or metallic glass to radiate the sound produced by the striking mechanism towards the exterior of the case.

Abstract: A clockwork mechanism includes: a supporting member; a movable member including an engagement hole and movably supported by the supporting member; a drive pin engaging the engagement hole, including a flange portion for preventing the drive pin from disengaging from the engagement hole, and revolving to move the movable member; a biasing member provided in the movable member to partially overlap the engagement hole; and an abutment member abutting the movable member to restrict the movement of the movable member. The flange portion overlaps or does not overlap the biasing member depending on a revolving position of the drive pin. When the movable member abuts the abutment member, the drive pin pushes the biasing member and the movable member is biased toward the abutment member by the biasing member. When the flange portion does not overlap the biasing member, the drive pin moves the movable member to push the biasing member, allowing the drive pin to disengage from the engagement hole.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane is made with at least one area of asymmetrical shape, formed in the material of the membrane or with at least one area of asymmetrical shape having a different thickness from the general thickness of the membrane. It preferably includes two asymmetrical areas of elliptical shape (2, 3) which are partly superposed and have a different thickness from each other. The two ellipses (2, 3), preferably hollowed out of the membrane, are off-centre in relation to each other.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane includes a first sheet (2) having a certain number of cells (5), which is secured to a first face of a second sheet (3) which has no cells. The membrane may also include a third sheet (4) having a certain number of cells (6) which is fixed to a second face of the second sheet (3). The shape and dimension of the cells are adapted according to the type of material and the note or notes to be radiated by the membrane with uniform amplification within the audible frequency band. The cells (5, 6) of the first and third sheets are configured in a honeycomb arrangement to occupy most of the surface of the membrane, for the uniform amplification and efficient radiation of the note or notes produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for assembly of a crystal and a bezel for use of said crystal as vibrating and radiating element, according to which unconnected junction zones are determined and formed that together form the only mechanical link for the transmission of vibrations of said bezel to said crystal, on which zones said crystal is secured on said bezel in order to transmit to said crystal any vibration communicated to said bezel, and outside these zones said crystal is held without direct contact with said bezel. The invention also relates to a crystal-bezel assembly unit (1) for a timepiece comprising junction zones (4) that together form the only mechanical link for the transmission of vibrations from said bezel (3) to said crystal (2) to cause said crystal (2) to resonate under the action of the vibrations, and outside said junction zones (4) said crystal (2) has no direct contact with said bezel (3). The invention also relates to a timepiece (100) comprising such a unit (1).

Abstract: A musical module for a watch movement, said module comprising a barrel (11), at least one part (5) having pins (12), a comb (13) with a number of tines, a regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10), and a control device (16, 17, 21). The part (5) or each part (5) is a toothed disc driven by the barrel (11) via at least one pinion (6). The or each toothed disc (5) with said pins (12) on at least one face is able to be positioned over or underneath the comb (13) so that the pins (12) act on the tines of the comb (13) to play a tune. The control device (16, 17, 21) is designed to trigger a rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5) in order to start the tune. The regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10) maintains a constant rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5).

Abstract: A musical module for a watch movement, said module comprising a barrel (11), at least one part (5) having pins (12), a comb (13) with a number of tines, a regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10), and a control device (16, 17, 21). The part (5) or each part (5) is a toothed disc driven by the barrel (11) via at least one pinion (6). The or each toothed disc (5) with said pins (12) on at least one face is able to be positioned over or underneath the comb (13) so that the pins (12) act on the tines of the comb (13) to play a tune. The control device (16, 17, 21) is designed to trigger a rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5) in order to start the tune. The regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10) maintains a constant rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5).

Abstract: A musical module for a watch movement, said module comprising a barrel (11), at least one part (5) having pins (12), a comb (13) with a number of tines, a regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10), and a control device (16, 17, 21). The part (5) or each part (5) is a toothed disc driven by the barrel (11) via at least one pinion (6). The or each toothed disc (5) with said pins (12) on at least one face is able to be positioned over or underneath the comb (13) so that the pins (12) act on the tines of the comb (13) to play a tune. The control device (16, 17, 21) is designed to trigger a rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5) in order to start the tune. The regulating system (7, 8, 9, 10) maintains a constant rotation of the toothed disc or discs (5).

Abstract: It is intended to provide a governor that is small, does not produce wear particles or noise, is low cost, is not affected by differences in attitude, is not affected by magnetism, and has outstanding durability. The governor has a rotor that rotates using energy supplied from an energy storage means through a power transfer means, a wing having wing surfaces perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor, and disposed movably to an outside circumference side radially to the rotor by means of centrifugal force produced by rotor rotation, a zigzag spring disposed between the rotor and wing for pulling the wing to the inside circumference side radially to the rotor, and an opposing member disposed to the outside circumference of the rotor and having an opposing surface located opposite and separated a predetermined gap from the wing surface when the wing moves to the outside circumference side radially to the rotor.

Abstract: A decorative body driving mechanism having a decorative body therein and at least one openable and closable door arranged in front of the decorative body, the mechanism includes a door open and close mechanism and a decorative body operating mechanism. The door open and close mechanism includes a first gear rotatable in both directions with a motor, and a second gear being engaged with the first gear only within a given range to rotate intermittently and open and close the door. The decorative body operating mechanism transmits a driving force of the motor to the decorative body to make the decorative body move. It is possible to open and close the door and operate the decorative body with the single motor, and the door can be opened and closed intermittently by the door open and close mechanism. The decorative body can be worked without transmitting the driving force to the door.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for audibly playing through a speaker (12) of a timekeeping apparatus (1) comprising a visual replica of a shofar (11), at least one shofar call sound (14) in response to a timing device (17) of said timekeeping apparatus (1) reaching a predetermined time.

Abstract: A cuckoo clock having a scissored extension arm is disclosed. The clock, using the arm, provides an attractive visual display with minimum displacement and shift of center of gravity.

Abstract: A sound-scale generation device and time-announcing clock eliminating the unpleasantness when a sound of a dissonant interval or imperfect consonant interval is generated, provided with a clock circuit generating a sound generation instruction signal at a fixed time, a frequency divider serving as a sound generator able to generate at least a 12-sounds scale, an amplifier, a speaker, a sequential switching circuit linking the 12-sounds of the 12-sounds scale and times corresponding to the fixed time and controlling the sound generator so as to generate a basic sound of one sound of the 12-sounds scale, then generate scale-forming-sounds corresponding to a time every time receiving a sound generation instruction signal, and a harmonic-sound adder controlling the sound generator so as to generate a sound by superposing at least one of the harmonic-sound forming sounds able to form a harmonic-sound including the scale-forming-sound when the sequential switching circuit makes the sound generator generate at least

Abstract: A musical circle of fifths clock that allows a user to tell practical time as well as hear musical scales at the turn of each hour. The clock has a housing having a face portion and a rear surface. A music generator, positioned within the clock housing, stores the musical scales, and plays the appropriate scale at the turn of each hour. The face portion has an outer perimeter around which hour indicators are positioned. The hour indicators are represented by the tonic of different musical scales. When all of the hour indicators on the face portion are taken as a whole, a perfect circle of fifths is represented.

Abstract: A portable alarm clock is provided. The alarm clock comprises a base receptacle sized and shaped for portability. A striking plate is secured and receivable within the base receptacle with a striking mechanism secured to the striking plate. A chime plate is secured to the striking plate with an chime bar secured to the chime plate. A clock mechanism programs chime functions and displays time and is hingedly secured to the chime plate. A cover is secured to the clock mechanism for closing the base receptacle wherein the striking plate, the striking mechanism, the chime plate, the acoustic chime bar, and the clock means are receivable within the base receptacle and the cover closing the base receptacle.

Abstract: A chime activated by a clock to sound a pleasing sound every hour, by attaching a clock to an electrical controller that operates a striker mechanism. The striker mechanism, comprising a striker ball that strikes the chime elements when rotated provides an uniquely pleasing sound. The invention also includes means of disconnecting the sound independent of clock operations as well as chime activation for a varying period or a varying number of striker rotations to provide auditory indication of the time.

Abstract: A disc music box (40) is fixed to a slide plate (31), the disc music box (40) is moved together with the slide plate (31) parallel in the plane direction of a disc (61) to enable the pulling of the disc music box (40) out of the timepiece.

Abstract: An electronic watch with a minute-repeater function wherein the strike is accompanied by characteristic movements of the hands. In a simple alternative embodiment, the watch comprises two independent hour and minute hands, driven by their own motor. When the minute-repeater function is activated, the two hands come first of all to 0, then return to their initial position making movements corresponding to each type of strike, hour strike=+1 hour, 15 minutes strike=+15 minutes, etc.

Abstract: A ting actuating device for clock mechanism comprises generally a housing, a clock mechanism driven by a battery chamber and a circuit plate. A protrudent member is formed on the top surface of a minute wheel thereof in cooperation with a pair of a first and second conductor rods parallel disposed on a positioning plate inside the housing and toward the center of the minute wheel. The improvement has been characterized in that the conductor rods connect at one end to a power source and a load of musical sounding device where the first conductor rod is longer than that of the second conductor rod and extending exceeded the circularly travelling track of the protrudent member which pushes the first conductor rod upon each turn of the minute wheel, contacting the second conductor rod to switch on the load of musical sounding device to run hourly.

Abstract: An alarm clock is provided which coordinates mechanical motion or action with a distinctive sound, when the alarm clock reaches a set alarm time. The action alarm clock includes an elongated base defining a linear track for movement of an object such as a train engine between end stops when the alarm clock reaches the set alarm time. Such movement is accompanied by an audible sound comprising a novelty sound chosen to correspond with the nature of the moving object. When the moving object reaches a front end stop, the sound is terminated and a regular alarm clock signal is enabled.

Abstract: A vocal reporting device for pointer type timers comprising a printed circuit board which converts the positions of the pointers into electric signals and sends the same to a microprocessor to broadcast the time associated therewith with a voice synthesizing circuit and a speaker. A photoelectric calibration device detects the positions of the pointers and then calibrate the microprocessor with the detected pointer positions.

Abstract: An automatic rocking device including a container with a curved base and having accommodated therein a timepiece, a power supply device, a delay circuit and an automatic rocking mechanism. When the motor gets power supply, it drives the mechanism to reciprocate along the axis of gravity of the container to cause the container to lose equilibrium and rock.

Abstract: A vocal reporting device for pointer type timers includes an encoding board on which three separate encoding circuits are printed, respectively representing an hour signal, a higher order digit minute signal and a lower order digit minute signal. Three signal pick up devices are synchronously rotatable with the pointer shafts of the timer to sweep through the respective encoding circuit and pick up hour and minute signals. These signals are then processed by a central processing unit and a vocal processing unit and broadcast in a synthetic voice via a speaker.

Abstract: A clock has a set of clock hands driven in accordance with a time base signal to indicate time. The time base signal is counted by a resettable counter which produces a time count value on the quarter, half and three-quarter hours to activate a melody generating circuit. Each time the clock hands reach an hour position, an hour signal is generated and fed to an hour striking circuit. During time correction of the clock hands or when electric power is initially applied to the clock, the melody generating circuit is inhibited until the next hour signal is generated, thereby ensuring that a melody will only be generated when the time count of the counter coincides with the time indication of the clock hands.

Abstract: A timekeeping system for providing selected ones of a plurality of audio signal portions, obtained from stored audio information, to be synchronized with selected time events even though the audio signal portions are of durations differing from one another. A rotator, operating with independent rotation timing, can be synchronized to the timing generator output signal by at least temporarily removing power from the rotator before the rotation period thereof drifts by more than a selected fraction of the period of the timing generator output signal. Further, the rotator rotation period for the angular rotation of the output structure can be effectively increased by selectively removing power from the rotator.

Abstract: An hour chime clock has an hour-indicating hand and a plurality of display units disposed circumferentially around the hour-indicating hand at different hour positions. The display units are displaceable between two positions to display either an ornament or an hour numeral. At each hour, a melody chimes and the display units undergo a predetermined pattern of movements. After chiming the hour, the display unit at the present hour position is placed in a different display state from the display state of all the other display units.

Abstract: A timepiece with mobile decorations comprises: a roof disposed over a case body having a timepiece unit built therein; driving means to make said roof up and down while turning the same in response to a signal from the said timepiece unit; and mobile decorations disposed inside of the roof to operate and become visible from the outside while the roof is in a raised position.

Abstract: A timepiece having a housing and at least one decorative element mounted for rotation relative to the housing. The mounting comprises a rotary member supporting the decorative element and rotatably mounted on a shaft connected to the housing, a stationary gear mounted on the shaft, a drive motor mounted on the rotary member for rotation therewith, and a pinion for engaging the drive motor with the stationary gear to effect rotation of the decorative element.

Abstract: In a clock-studying picture book, a picture book body illustrating respective picture patterns relating to various times of day is provided with a sound generator which, when a long hand or short hand, or both the long and short hands are controlled to point to a specific time, generates a sound making the specific time recognizable, so that the infant can study the clock and time while enjoying himself during play.

Abstract: An alarm clock in the shape of an animal standing atop a base includes a clock mechanism and a sound generating circuit connected to the clock mechanism to produce an alarm sound characteristic of the animal represented by the shape of the alarm clock. That body part of the represented animal from which the novel alarm sound is popularly believed to emanate is manually manipulated to cancel and reset the alarm sound.

Abstract: A time signalling device for a timepiece in which the time signalling sound can be obtained in the same signalling sound with the mechanical time signalling means in which the previously produced sound remains to mix with the next sound, and the time signalling sounds in accordance with the more mechanical time signalling means can be electronically produced with good quality by having musical scale signal outputting means which simultaneously provides two musical scale analog signals of the melody sounds with the basis of two kinds of musical data read out of the ROM, by composing in such a way that each of these two musical scale analog signals can be alternatively output from these musical scale signal outputting means, by attenuating each of the output musical note signals for longer while than the time when the next musical note is produced, and, for the time striking sounds, by simultaneously outputting these two musical scale signals to be mixed.

Abstract: An electronic sound generating circuit for an electronic device having standard signal generator including a first audio frequency signal generating circuit generating a first audio frequency signal, a second audio frequency signal generating circuit generating a second audio frequency signal having a frequency which differs from said first audio frequency signal, a mixing circuit mixing said first audio frequency signal and said second audio frequency signal to provide a mixed signal, and a tone generating circuit generating an audible tone in response to said mixed signal.

Abstract: An electronic alarm timepiece comprises an alarm generation circuit for generating a plurality of alarm tones, and an alarm selection circuit for selecting a particular alarm tone from the plurality of alarm tones and for enabling generation of the particular alarm tone in response to the agreement between current time information and alarm time information, the selection of the particular alarm tone and the enabling of the generation of the particular alarm tone being carried out by a single operation of the alarm selection means. Preferably, an electronic calculator is incorporated within the electronic alarm timepiece.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having key input means selectively actuable to cause the production of sounds corresponding to respective notes of the musical scale, comprises a memory circuit for storing the respective notes, and a clear circuit actuated to partially amend at least one of the notes from the contents of the memory means.

Abstract: An illumination level/musical tone converter is described which is suitable for incorporation into a miniature electronic device such as an electronic wristwatch, whereby the pitch of musical notes emitted by an acoustic output device can be varied as desired by the user varying the amount of illumination reaching a light sensor, e.g. by partially shading the sensor using a finger. Melodies can be composed in this way, and means can be provided for memorizing such melodies, which can be subsequently reproduced, e.g. to provide an audible alarm indication.

Abstract: A sound generating circuit for a timepiece including a sound base signal generator, a program divider, a dividing ratio selecting counter a sound interval base signal generator and a sound producer, whereby the sounding action of frequencies which repeatedly changes at the sound intervals and cycles is performed and can produce the onomatopoetic sounds of bird chirp, insect churr and the like which feels soft and soothing for the users.

Abstract: A timepiece, with a clockwork driven by a stepping motor, has a clockwork-supporting structure with front and rear uprights, generally of hourglass shape, each constituted by a pair of mirror-symmetrical coplanar strips defining its contour, the front upright being framed by an annular dial swept by the minute and hour hands; the gears of the clockwork are visible from all sides. The supporting structure with the dial is mounted on a platform carried by two columns above a base which contains the motor, its power supply and a tone generator controlled by the clockwork to emit acoustic time signals on the hour and possibly also on the half and quarter hours; a torsion pendulum without time-keeping function is suspended between the columns. Most of the shafts of the clockwork lie in a vertical plane of symmetry also containing the axis of the nested hour, minute and seconds shafts disposed at the center of the dial ring.

Abstract: A hand type musical timepiece, namely, an analog musical timepiece comprising a hand adapted to be driven by a step motor for the visual indication of tones of a melody, a staff or a pattern of a keyboard formed on a plane extending adjacently to an imaginary plane to be swept by the hand, a melody playing device, and a normal-reverse rotation controller to move the hand in synchronism with the melody so that the hand indicates the position corresponding to the individual tone of the melody on the staff or on the keyboard. The time indicating operation and the tone indicating operation of the hand and the mode changeover operation are controlled by an exclusive circuit designed therefor and a programmed microcomputer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument with musical information input keys for producing musical information. A plurality of keys are provided for generating musical information of musical notes to introduce musical tones and pitches of the musical notes into the electronic musical instrument. A memory is included within the electronic musical instrument for sequentially memorizing the musical information. A musical generator is provided for sequentially reading out the stored musical information and providing an audio music in response to the stored musical information. The electronic musical instrument may function as an attendant feature of a conventional electronic calculator and/or an electronic timepiece. In a combined electronic musical instrument and calculator, the audio music can be utilized for announcing alarm conditions such as error, premature actuations of keys, overflow, voltage drop in power supply, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument with musical information input keys for producing musical information. A plurality of keys are provided for generating musical information of musical notes to introduce musical tones and pitches of the musical notes into the electronic musical instrument. A memory is included within the electronic musical instrument for sequentially memorizing the musical information. A musical generator is provided for sequentially reading out the stored musical information and providing an audio music in response to the stored musical information. The electronic musical instrument may function as an attendant feature of a conventional electronic calculator and/or an electronic timepiece. In a combined electronic musical instrument and calculator, the audio music can be utilized for announcing alarm conditions such as error, premature actuations of keys, overflow, voltage drop in power supply, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a musical envelope-producing device which may be employed for an electronic watch with a melody performance function. The musical envelope-producing device has a memory which stores musical performance data representing pitches and durations of notes; an address counter; a pitch divider which generates a frequency signal corresponding to the pitch data; a note control circuit which divides a duration corresponding to the duration data into eight time components and generates a predetermined division signal when the duration has elapsed; and an envelope circuit which produces a sound pressure signal which is sequentially attenuated in a stepped manner in response to the division signal and which synthesizes the sound pressure signal and the frequency signal.

Abstract: A time keeping clock that includes a kinetic clock sculpture arrangement in which the clock comprises the usual minute and hour hands journalled for rotation in clockwise directions about a common axis, and a time keeping mechanism for driving said minute and hour hands to keep time, with the clock including a kinetic sculpture arrangement comprising a relatively large, medially located, kinetic sculpture drive gear wheel that is vertically disposed and has its axis of rotation disposed horizontally and paralleling that of the common axis of the clock minute and hour hands, one or more driven gear wheels that are of a diameter which is relatively small as compared to that of the drive wheel gear, and which are disposed in coupled rotation to the drive gear wheel at spaced locations thereabout, with several of said driven gear wheels each driving a separate crank about a horizontal axis, and a drive gear wheel actuated mechanical linkage of miniature stick figure form articulated to each of the said cranks, wi