Movable Ring Or Disk Patents (Class 368/35)
  • Patent number: 12001170
    Abstract: Display mechanism (10) for a timepiece (1000), with a leap year display integrated in a month display, comprising a control mechanism (3) that drives, once per month, about an axis (D), a month display wheel set (2) arranged underneath a dial (1), having a month window (1C) in a quadrant allowing the display of only one quarter of the month display wheel set (2), which completes one revolution in four years, and bears, on an angular sector of 90°, at least one characteristic leap year marking, and either carries indices, each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of the dial (1), or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of the dial (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: GLASHÜTTER Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Tony Braun
  • Patent number: 11921462
    Abstract: Timepiece calendar device (100) including a first display disk (1) for displaying dates having a first face (11) bearing date indications (10) and mobile about an axis (A), and a second display disk (2) for displaying days having a second face (21) bearing day indications (20) and mobile about the axis (A), the first and second disks being such that the first and second faces are coplanar, the second face being disposed around the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Elvis Caron
  • Patent number: 11493885
    Abstract: A display mechanism (10) for a timepiece (1000), with a leap year display integrated in a month display, comprising a control mechanism (3) that drives, once per month, about an axis (D), a month display wheel set (2) arranged underneath a dial (1), having a month window (1C) in a quadrant allowing the display of only one quarter of the month display wheel set (2), which completes one revolution in four years, and bears, on an angular sector of 90°, at least one characteristic leap year marking, and either carries indices, each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of the dial (1), or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of the dial (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GLASHÜTTER Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Tony Braun
  • Patent number: 11131966
    Abstract: A timepiece includes at least one time-of-day hand rotatable relative to a first dial and a first pair of temporal calendar mechanical elements independently rotatable relative to each other, and relative to the at least one time-of-day hand. Controlled rotation of the respective temporal calendar mechanical elements is synchronizable relative to temporal calendar information on an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig Peter Sayers, Ralph A. Morales, III, Terrance J. O'Shea, Thomas E. Pearson
  • Patent number: 10481559
    Abstract: An analog watch has a casing, a watch dial and a concentric shaft device having concentrically arranged shafts, wherein each shaft is driven by a corresponding stepper motor. An hour hand is connected to one shaft. A minute hand is connected to another shaft. A multi-function hand is connected to another shaft. A microcontroller outputs signals to control the stepper motors so as to control movement of the hour hand, minute hand and multi-function hand. A Bluetooth® circuit receives signals from a Bluetooth® communication device and feeds these signals to the microcontroller. The received signals define the date and time in a present time zone and a desired mode of operation of the analog watch that defines the function of the multi-function hand. The microcontroller uses the received signals to adjust the Real Time Clock and control the hour, minute and multi-function hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: David Cheung
  • Patent number: 10317844
    Abstract: A date display device with an annual calendar function comprises the following elements: a drive wheel (8) which is coupled to a mechanical movement, a driving device which is driven by the drive wheel (8), a date wheel (4) which periodically interacts with the driving device and is driven by this and a month wheel (5) which is periodically interacts with the date wheel, as well as a month cam disc (6) which is connected to the month wheel. The driving device comprises a driver (8.1) and a rotation axis (8.3), wherein the driver moves on a path about the rotation axis (8.3) of the driving device and the rotation axis adopts at least two different positions relative to the date wheel (4), wherein in a first position, the driving device advances the date wheel by a single unit and in a second position by a plurality of units and wherein the adopted position depends on the number of days of the month concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Bucherer AG
    Inventor: Joachim Mutrux
  • Patent number: 9122247
    Abstract: Device for displaying a date indication in an aperture of a watch dial including: a units indicator which carries on a periphery the ten individual numbers from “0” to “9” in a regularly spaced manner, each of the ten individual numbers being separated from the following individual number by an empty space or a display aperture arranged at the periphery of the units indicator; a tens indicator which carries on a periphery a series of thirty-one regularly spaced numbers, namely nine times in a row the number “0”, then ten times in a row the number “1”, then ten times in a row the number “2”, and finally two times in a row the number “3”; wherein the units indicator is arranged above the tens indicator, wherein the tens indicator advances one step per day and drives the units indicator forward by one step every day, except the day that the date indication display changes from “31” to “01”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Patent number: 8982674
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for correcting a time indication given by a display mechanism for a timepiece of the type comprising a first display member, comprising: a winding stem arranged to occupy at least one time indication correction position A, a pinion coupled in rotation to the winding stem, a correction motion transfer connected kinematically to the pinion when the stem is occupying the correction position A, and a correction wheel assembly engaging with the display member and operated by the correction motion transfer. According to the invention, the correction motion transfer is formed by a ring having an internal circumference and an external circumference, at least one of which is provided with teeth meshing at least indirectly with said correction wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Olivier Mahler, Salvatore Dettori
  • Patent number: 8971157
    Abstract: A display apparatus which includes: a first display wheel that has a first display section; a second display wheel that has a second display section; a driving section that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and rotates the first display wheel in the forward direction and the reverse direction; and a rotating section that rotates only the first display wheel in the forward direction when the first display wheel is rotated in the forward direction, and rotates the second display wheel in the reverse direction together with the first display wheel when the first display wheel is rotated in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuta Saito
  • Patent number: 8971153
    Abstract: An information display device includes a dial plate having a display window; a rotatable date display plate provided under the dial plate and having dates to be selectively displayed through the window; an information display plate provided between the dial plate and the date display plate and including a display portion having an information item on a top surface thereof; an information display plate driver capable of moving the information display plate to any one of first and second positions. When the information display plate is in the first position, the display portion does not lie just under the window and a date in a position corresponding to the window is displayed through the window. When the information display plate is in the second position, the display portion is in a position corresponding to the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takenawa
  • Patent number: 8942067
    Abstract: A mechanism for displaying and correcting a state of two different time measurable quantities for a timepiece includes a movement driving a first display mechanism to display a first measurable time quantity and a second display mechanism to display a second measurable time quantity, and including an adjusting member. The first and second display mechanisms respectively include first and second drive mechanisms sharing a common drive mechanism driven by the movement, and controlling a driving of one of the display mechanisms by instantaneous jumps and of the other by dragging. The display mechanisms respectively include a first and a second correction mechanism, sharing a common correction mechanism driven by the adjusting member independent of the common drive mechanism, including a friction safety device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Omega S.A.
    Inventor: Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 8848489
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism of a timepiece includes a month cam having a cam surface distinguishing between a long month (31 days) and a short month (30 days or less) and makes one rotation a year. A date indicator driving wheel has a date finger that makes one rotation every 24 hours and engages with a date wheel of a date indicator to rotate the date indicator. An operating lever structure has a proximal portion friction-engaged with an offset shaft to rotate around the offset shaft offset with respect to the rotation center of the date indicator driving wheel. The operating lever structure has a first distal end portion engaged with the month cam and a second distal end portion engaged with a month end tooth of the date indicator to effect additional date feeding by one day with respect to the date indicator at the end of a short month.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8760975
    Abstract: This device for displaying time periods comprises a display element (A), an indicator component (1), a drive component (3) for driving the indicator component (1), an instantaneous-jump cam (6) engaged with the drive component (3), a drive mobile (5) for driving the cam (6) and correction means (4) for coming into direct engagement with the indicator component (1). A one-way connection device (3b, 11, 12) connects the drive mobile (5) to the cam (6). The drive component (3) is engaged with the cam (6) by elastic return means (3d) and guidance means (3b) defining a degree of freedom of the drive component (3) in order to allow the indicator component (1) to move the drive component (3) against the elastic return means (3d) when the latter occupies a position interfering with the movement of the indicator component (1) by the correction means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Rudaz
  • Patent number: 8750080
    Abstract: An instantaneous driving mechanism for a timepiece movement is disclosed. The driving mechanism may include a mobile comprising a first wheel driven by a driving member of the timepiece movement and configured to drive rotation of a first cam of the mobile. The driving mechanism may also include a lever mounted pivotally on at least one frame element of the timepiece movement, the lever being configured to cooperate with the mobile in order to be moved and to cooperate with a counter of the timepiece movement to increment the counter by instantaneous pulses. The first cam may be coaxial with the first wheel and have a periphery of varying radius. In addition, the first cam may be configured to cooperate with a nose carried by a first arm of the lever and to move the first arm progressively away from the center of the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Pequignet S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Patent number: 8644116
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Patent number: 8509035
    Abstract: A calendar display device for a mechanical watch piece including a first disk, the disk of days, carrying multiple series of inscriptions symbolizing the seven days of the week, a second disk, the disk of dates, carrying inscriptions symbolizing the date of the month, a third disk, the disk of months, carrying 12 inscriptions symbolizing the months of the year. One of the disk of days and the disk of dates acts as a dial by being fixed, whereas the other acts as a rotary disk by being arranged concentrically and rotatably in relation to the dial. The dial includes an aperture making it possible to see the inscription of the current month on the disk of months. A hand indicates simultaneously the date and the day of the week. The device includes a correction mechanism cooperating at least with a gear train bidirectionally driving the disk of months.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme de la Manufacture d'horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventor: Thibaut Philippine
  • Patent number: 8503267
    Abstract: A calendar display device for a mechanical watch piece, including a first disk, the disk of days, carrying multiple series of inscriptions symbolizing the seven days of the week, a second disk, the disk of dates, carrying inscriptions symbolizing the date of the month, a third disk, the disk of months, carrying 12 inscriptions symbolizing the months of the year. One of the disk of days and the disk of dates acts as a dial by being fixed, whereas the other acts as a rotary disk by being arranged concentrically and rotatably in relation to the dial. The dial includes an aperture making it possible to see the inscription of the current month. A hand indicates simultaneously the date and the day of the week; and a direct kinematic link between the disk of months and the rotary disk provides automatic indexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Societe anonyme de la Manufacture d'horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventor: Thibaut Philippine
  • Publication number: 20130051183
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques GABATHULER, Trung Thanh NGUYEN, Serge NICOLLIN, Florent ZUFFEREY
  • Publication number: 20120106301
    Abstract: A calendar display device for a mechanical watch piece, including a first disk, the disk of days, carrying multiple series of inscriptions symbolizing the seven days of the week, a second disk, the disk of dates, carrying inscriptions symbolizing the date of the month, a third disk, the disk of months, carrying 12 inscriptions symbolizing the months of the year. One of the disk of days and the disk of dates acts as a dial by being fixed, whereas the other acts as a rotary disk by being arranged concentrically and rotatably in relation to the dial. The dial includes an aperture making it possible to see the inscription of the current month. A hand indicates simultaneously the date and the day of the week; and a direct kinematic link between the disk of months and the rotary disk provides automatic indexing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Thibaut Philippine
  • Publication number: 20120106302
    Abstract: A calendar display device for a mechanical watch piece including a first disk, the disk of days, carrying multiple series of inscriptions symbolizing the seven days of the week, a second disk, the disk of dates, carrying inscriptions symbolizing the date of the month, a third disk, the disk of months, carrying 12 inscriptions symbolizing the months of the year. One of the disk of days and the disk of dates acts as a dial by being fixed, whereas the other acts as a rotary disk by being arranged concentrically and rotatably in relation to the dial. The dial includes an aperture making it possible to see the inscription of the current month on the disk of months. A hand indicates simultaneously the date and the day of the week. The device includes a correction mechanism cooperating at least with a gear train bidirectionally driving the disk of months.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Thibaut Philippine
  • Patent number: 7957226
    Abstract: A correction device for a timepiece display mechanism, which includes a display member fitted with a toothing of pitch P, includes a pinion provided with a toothing of pitch p, mounted on a winding stem so as to occupy at least one display correcting position A, and a correction wheel mounted between the pinion and the display member. The correction wheel includes a first toothing defined by pitch P, a head diameter D, and a foot diameter d1, formed of teeth including a tip extending substantially angularly, and the tip is cut so as to form a second discontinuous toothing that is coplanar and concentric to the first toothing, defined by pitch p less than the pitch P of the first toothing, a head diameter D equal to the head diameter of the first toothing, and a foot diameter d2 greater than the foot diameter d1 of the first toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Chaignat, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 7864634
    Abstract: A timepiece with calendar function including a dial having a tens digit display aperture for displaying the tens digit of the date and a ones digit display aperture for displaying the ones digit of the date, and a calendar mechanism that displays the date by presenting specific numerals through the dial. The calendar mechanism includes a ones display wheel having ones markers whereby the ones digit is displayed through the ones digit display aperture, a tens display wheel having tens markers whereby the tens digit is displayed through the tens digit display aperture, a ones drive mechanism that drives the ones display wheel, and a tens drive mechanism that drives the tens display wheel. The tens markers include normal tens markers that display only the tens digit in the tens digit display aperture, and a two-digit display marker that displays a tens digit in the tens digit display aperture and a ones digit in the ones digit display aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 7859949
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a dial having a tens date display window for displaying the tens digit of the date, and a ones date display window for displaying the ones digit of the date; and a calendar mechanism having a tens indicator wheel to which a plurality of tens digit markers are disposed and a ones indicator wheel to which a plurality of ones digit markers are disposed, and which displays one of the plural tens digit markers disposed to the tens indicator wheel from the tens date display window, and displays one of the plural ones digit markers disposed to the ones indicator wheel from the ones date display window. The ones indicator wheel has a ones indicator plate on which the ones digit markers are disposed, and a ones indicator pinion affixed to the ones indicator plate. The tens indicator wheel has a tens indicator plate on which the tens digit markers are disposed, and a tens indicator pinion affixed to the tens indicator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Kitahara, Shoichi Nagao
  • Patent number: 7835229
    Abstract: Date mechanism (1) for a timepiece, including: at least first (2) and second (3) date rings, rotatably mounted relative to each other, said rings having one surface provided with successive date markings (24, 34), the first date ring (2) having a display window (21), arranged between two successive markings, the first date ring (2) being superposed on the second date ring (3), each of said two date rings (2, 3) having teeth (22, 32) distributed on the periphery thereof, each tooth being associated with a respective marking (24, 34) or with the display window (21); a control wheel (4) for the first and second date rings (2, 3); characterized in that the control wheel (4) is provided with first (41) and second (42) superposed tiers of toothings, each toothing tier including one portion provided with adjacent teeth and one tooth-free portion, the tooth-free portion of one tier being arranged vertical to the toothed portion of the other tier, one tooth of the first tier (41) being superposed on one tooth of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien Chaignat
  • Publication number: 20090201770
    Abstract: Timepiece with a perpetual calendar number mechanism, including: a time switch, a display device including a mobile (18b) whose position is determined by the calendar month number, a correction device (18a, 18d) cooperating with said display device and guaranteeing its drive at the end of months having less than thirty-one days. This mechanism includes, in addition: a month mechanism (24) with a period of one year and including a cam advancing by steps, one step per month, a programming mechanism (28) driven by the time switch and cooperating with the month mechanism (24) and having a mobile (28a) cooperating with the correction mechanism (18a) to make it advance, during the month, by as many steps as the month counts days in less than thirty-one days. This mechanism enables the energy required to perform the correction to be withdrawn during the month, and restored at the time of the automatic correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: VAUCHER MANUFACTURE FLEURIER S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Crettex
  • Patent number: 7492669
    Abstract: A timepiece is provided with a calendar mechanism having a first date indicator for indicating a units position of a date and a second date indicator for indicating a tens position of the date. The first date indicator has a drive cam for rotating the second date indicator and determining a position of the second date indicator. The second date indicator includes a first date character indicating face having numerals “1”, “2”, “3”, and “0”, and a second date character indicating face having a fan-like shape and including four pieces of trapezoidal-shaped portions formed by a pitch interval of (2*360/31) degrees through (3*360/31) degrees, three pieces of notched portions formed by a pitch interval of (2*360/31) degrees through (3*360/31) degrees, and a set of numerals comprising a numeral of “1”, a numeral of “2”, a numeral of “3”, and a numeral of “0”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Mamoru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090003139
    Abstract: The invention is a timepiece calendar mechanism for displaying the date and the day of the week, including a date indicator in the form of an internally toothed crown. The date indicator is driven by a first drive wheel having an external toothing so as to be able to be driven about an axis of rotation by a wheel set secured to an hour wheel of the timepiece. The toothing includes a prominent tooth, longer than the others, which abuts against a tooth of the inner toothing of the date indicator to move it forward one day in a time interval located around a determined time of the day. The mechanism also includes a day of the week indicator that moves forward one day during the time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Marc Kuepfer, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 7433272
    Abstract: A timepiece with a calendar mechanism has a drive mechanism and a time display wheel that undergoes rotation by an operation of the drive mechanism to display time information. A first date indicator is mounted to undergo intermittent rotation to display the ones place of a date. A second date indicator is mounted to undergo intermittent rotation to display the tens place of the date. A program gear wheel intermittently rotates the first and second date indicators in accordance with operation of the drive mechanism. The program gear wheel has a first program tooth disposed on an outer peripheral part of the program gear wheel for intermittently rotating the first date indicator and a second program tooth disposed in an inner peripheral part of the program gear wheel for intermittently rotating the second date indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Mamoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7420880
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans Schnell, Martin Dietrich, Ulrich Kalmbach, Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 7408844
    Abstract: A calendar watch is arranged to allow time-setting to be carried out without this operation altering the state of the calendar mechanism at the passage to midnight. This mechanism, which is of the instantaneous date type, includes a large lever (2) loaded by a spring and wound by a spiral shaped cam (11) and a click (20) released at midnight by a flexible finger (12) of a 24-hour wheel (10). The mechanism prevents any transmission of movement from the 24 hour wheel to the date wheel set, when they are set in the active position by the winding stem (33) pulled out into the time-setting position of the watch. A pivoting isolator (30), which, in its active position, abuts against the click (20) prevents the click from releasing the lever (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Eric Goeller
  • Patent number: 7218576
    Abstract: The invention concerns an annual calendar mechanism for a timepiece including a date disc (16) to which are thirty one figures are affixed each corresponding to an indication of a day of the month provided with a first inner toothing (20) including thirty one teeth (20a), a date drive wheel set (32), said wheel set (32) including a finger (34) driving the date disc (16) through one step per day via one of the teeth (20a) of the first inner toothing (20) in order to control the date display, said date disc (16) including a second toothing (24), a correction drive wheel set (42) able to cooperate with the second toothing (24) to drive the date disc (16) through an additional step at the end of the months of less than thirty one days, and a month star wheel (54) arranged to be actuated at the end of each month and to complete one revolution per year, characterized in that in includes a month drive wheel set (52) provided for driving the month star wheel (54) at the end of each month, said drive wheel set (52) be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventor: Alphonse Bron
  • Patent number: 7170824
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Nell Wilmouth, legal representative, Hubert Wilmouth, legal representative, Liliane Wilmouth, legal representative, Jean Wilmouth, deceased
  • Patent number: 7031227
    Abstract: The device for displaying the day of the month comprises a units display member (1) and a tens display member (2) provided one with at least one series of numerals from 0 to 9 and the other with a series of numeral from 0 to 3, these units and tens display members being positioned relative to each other so as to display in the space of a large window two numerals side by side. The units display member (1) is divided into ten sectors or a multiple of ten sectors each carrying a numeral from 0 to 9, the nine sectors (a) separating the numerals 0–1, 1–2; . . . 8–9 having an angular extent equal to ?th of the angular extent of the sectors (b) separating the numerals 9 from the numerals 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Richemont International S.A.
    Inventor: Marc Huter
  • Patent number: 7027360
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with date display function reduces power consumption in conjunction with the user adjusting the date, and makes it easier for the user to set the date. A displayed date detection unit H has a day detector H1 for detecting the displayed day, a month detector H2 for detecting the displayed month, and a year detector H3 for detecting the displayed year. A control unit A controls a calendar mechanism drive unit F according to the date detected by detectors H1 to H3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Kitahara, Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7023762
    Abstract: A date display assembly for a timepiece, wherein the timepiece comprises a casing, an hour wheel that is rotationally engaged with a meshing wheel, and a display window for displaying a date, the date display assembly comprising an outer date ring having a plurality of digits thereon and aligned in the casing such that each of the plurality of digits is appearable in the display window; an inner date ring having a plurality of digits thereon and also aligned in the casing such that each of the plurality of digits is appearable in the display window; a date wheel, rotatably engageable with the meshing wheel, for driving the outer date ring in a first direction; and an inner date ring driving wheel, rotatably engageable with the outer date ring, for driving the inner date ring in a direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Paul Grand-Chavin
  • Patent number: 6958952
    Abstract: According to this method the units and tens numerals are placed onto respective indicator runners (1, 2). Two drivelines are formed, one being a daily driveline between the clock movement and the indicator runners, for moving the units indicator runner (1) selectively step by step by one step every 24 hours, and for moving the tens indicator runner (2) by one step for every ten steps of the units indicator runner (1), in order to move on from one multiple of ten to the next, and for moving the tens indicator alone by one step to move on from “31” to “01” on a 31-day cycle, and an annual driveline between the clock movement and the tens indicator runner, which driveline is programmed to move the tens indicator runner (2) by one step at the same time as the units indicator runner (1) is moved by the daily driveline, to move on from “30” to “01” at the end of the months which comprise less than 31 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Rolex SA
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cédric Jacot
  • Patent number: 6934221
    Abstract: Date mechanism for a timepiece such as a wristwatch including two superposed respectively lower (6) and upper (4) date rings, whose surface is divided into a plurality of sectors, the upper ring (4) including sixteen sectors, fifteen of which respectively bear fifteen successive markings of a cycle of 31 positions, and the sixteenth of which is an extra sector having an open or transparent aperture (8), whereas the lower ring (6) includes seventeen sectors, sixteen of which bear respectively the other sixteen markings of the cycle of 31 positions, and the seventeenth of which is an extra sector, each of said rings cooperating with drive means such that the markings appear successively in a display zone (20) the date mechanism further including a jumper-effect stopping device (22) able to stop each ring (4, 6) in any desired position, the date mechanism being characterised in that one location on the upper ring (4) and one location on the lower ring (6) is provided with a thinned tooth (14) and (16), located b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Roger Willemin, Roger Metzger, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 6925032
    Abstract: Date mechanism for a timepiece such as a wristwatch including two superposed respectively upper (4) and lower (6) date rings, whose surface is divided into a plurality of sectors, the upper ring (4) including sixteen sectors, fifteen of which respectively bear fifteen successive markings of a cycle of 31 positions, and the sixteenth of which is an extra sector having an open or transparent aperture (8), whereas the lower ring (6) includes seventeen sectors, sixteen of which bear respectively the other sixteen markings of the cycle of 31 positions, and the seventeenth of which is an extra sector, each of said rings (4, 6) cooperating with drive means such that the markings of the lower ring appear successively in a display zone (30), the date mechanism being wherein each ring (4, 6) includes two peripheral toothings extending along two stepped, respectively upper and lower rows, the teeth (10, 12) of the upper and lower rows of the upper ring (4) being superposed, whereas the teeth (18, 20) of the upper and lo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Roger Willemin, Roger Metzger, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 6744696
    Abstract: This annual date mechanism comprises a correction cam (1a) in kinematic connection with a date indicating runner (1), a correction rocker (8) engaged on the one hand with said correction cam (1a) and, on the other hand, with an annual cam (18). A spring (9) presses the correction rocker (8) against the cams (1a, 18). The correction cam (1a) comprises a portion (1a′) for arming said spring (9), followed by a portion (1a*) sized to cause said date runner (1) to move by one step between “31” and “1”, under the pressure of said spring (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Frank Vernay, Pierre-Alain Graemiger
  • Patent number: 6735151
    Abstract: The electronic watch includes hands (2, 4, 5) indicating the time, a device (6) displaying at least the date, this device being formed of first (9) and second (10) indicators on which are marked figures (11, 12) respectively indicating the tens and the units of said date. A control member able to be activated manually allows the hands to be set to the correct time and the date to be set. The first (9) and second (10) indicators are each driven by an independent motor (17, 18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: André Triponez
  • Patent number: 6711100
    Abstract: The timepiece carries a date with a large aperture including a units indicator (9) and a tens indicator (10). Between these indicators and a date control crown-wheel (14) are located mechanisms (17, 18) for driving said indicators, these mechanisms each being provided with a locking system (30, 52) preventing any inadvertent movement of these indicators when shocks are applied to the timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Rochat, Lucienne Serex
  • Publication number: 20030189875
    Abstract: The watch disclosed has a case of ovoidal shape, wherein a circular watch movement (5) is arranged off-centre, on the side of the end of the case with the larger radius. On the side of the other end there is a moon phase indicator disc (16) and a power-reserve indicator of the watch. The moon disc is driven step-by-step by the movement (5) via a control lever (35) having a beak (43) that drives an external toothing (44) of the disc. This lever extends at least partly along one edge of the case, where a correction push-button is mounted, that can activate (P) the lever in the same direction as the movement is driving, which prevents any interference between the two actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: NOUVELLE LEMANIA SA
    Inventor: Jean Wilmouth
  • Patent number: 6574167
    Abstract: Can be mounted in clock mechanisms, especially in the form of a perpetual calendar which is actuated via a wheel of a clock, which wheel performs a revolution in 24 hours, the display being effected separated into units and tens via a printed display disc, which is provided with a toothing, and a program carrier being provided which performs a revolution in 31 days, it is provided that the program carrier (4) actuates additional locking elements in such a manner that, on those days on which the risk of over-rotation exists, they are swung in and out again in the rotational movement of the display discs (2, 3) and correspondingly prevent over-rotation in cooperation with the toothings (9, 16) of the display discs (2, 3). In the case of a calendar mechanism, especially of a modular structure, which.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Glashutter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Weissbach, Eberhard Kaden
  • Patent number: 6477114
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a calendar advancement device resistant to external shock and capable of achieving date correction in a short time. A date dial advancement transducer (51) is activated in response to a date dial drive signal generated by a 24-hour switch. A date advancement mechanism (a date gear train) (52) employs a Geneva wheel for stabilizing the date dial (70). A bounding restraint lever is regulated using an eccentric cam or the like provided coaxially with the Geneva wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Mutoh, Yasuo Kitajima, Haruhiko Higuchi, Hiroyuki Koike
  • Publication number: 20020024887
    Abstract: The electronic watch includes hands (2, 4, 5) indicating the time, a device (6) displaying at least the date, this device being formed of first (9) and second (10) indicators on which are marked figures (11, 12) respectively indicating the tens and the units of said date. A control member able to be activated manually allows the hands to be set to the correct time and the date to be set. The first (9) and second (10) indicators are each driven by an independent motor (17, 18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Andre Triponez
  • Patent number: 6295249
    Abstract: A correction device for a timepiece comprises a setting wheel which has a rotational center and which is rotatably mountable to a movement of a timepiece for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of a winding stem. A rocking bar has a rotational center on an axis line coinciding with an axis line of the rotational center of the setting wheel and is mounted for undergoing rocking movement in a first rotational direction relative to the movement of the timepiece and undergoing rocking movement in a second rotational direction different from the first rotational direction. The rocking bar has a first portion extended in a first direction from the rotational center and a second portion extended in a second direction from the rotational center. At least one first correction transfer wheel is disposed at the first portion of the rocking bar for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the setting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masaaki Takahashi, Mamoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6278661
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece is provided with a device for automatically adjusting month-end calendar dates capable of reading dates simply, quickly, and reliably. A date detection pattern 71 composed of reflective and non-reflective sections is formed on the rear surface of a date dial 70. When the date dial 70 rotates, a change in the boundary between the reflective part and the non-reflective part is read by a photo sensor 81, the necessary number of dates is determined by a control circuit 20 by use of a perpetual calendar circuit, driving a date dial driving mechanisms 51 and 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Higuchi, Takeo Mutoh, Yasuo Kitajima, Hiroyuki Koike
  • Patent number: 6240052
    Abstract: To provide an electronic watch with calendar without the need to adjust the calendar when the watch is restarted. A control mechanism 133 is provided which uses a signal from a 24-hour switch 12 which operates in synchronism with a time mechanism converter 6 as a signal for operating a date display drive converter 51 during normal watch operation, and uses a signal from a 24-hour counter which receives a signal from a time mechanism circuit 60 as a signal for operating the date display drive converter 51 at other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kitajima, Takeo Mutoh, Haruhiko Higuchi, Hiroyuki Koike
  • Patent number: 6097672
    Abstract: A display device that prevents display jumping and corrects the display that includes a displaying transmission wheel which is meshed with a drive wheel and a displaying follower wheel is pressed by a spring toward the area between the drive wheel and the displaying follower wheel so as to elastically take up the play between the drive wheel and the displaying follower wheel. During feeding, the displaying follower wheel is positioned by the displaying transmission wheel. If a crown is pulled out and rotated, the displaying follower wheel is rapid-fed and corrects the display without the aid of the drive wheel and the displaying transmission wheel. At the same time, however, the displaying transmission wheel receives a force in the direction in which it is pressed out of a gap, whereby the engagement with the displaying follower wheel is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Kitahara, Nobuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6088302
    Abstract: To provide an electronic timepiece enabling reliable detection of a state of rotation of an indication wheel such as a date dial.An ultrasonic motor 1130 has an ultrasonic rotor pinion 1134b. A date dial 1120 is disposed on a main plate 1102 in such a way as to rotate relative thereto. The ultrasonic rotor pinion 1134b is meshed with an intermediate date driving gear wheel 1142a. A date driving wheel 1150 is rotatably disposed on the main plate 1102. A date driving gear wheel 1150b is meshed with an intermediate date driving pinion 1142b. A date driving gear portion 1150b is meshed with a dial gear portion 1120a. A contact point spring 1160 is disposed on a spring guiding portion 1150d. The contact point spring 1160 rotates integrally with the date driving wheel 1150 through the rotation of the date driving wheel 1150. The state of rotation of the date driving wheel 1150 can be detected by contact of the contact point spring 1160 with the contact point pattern 1174.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakajima, Takayuki Satodate, Akihiro Matouge, Akihiko Inada, Mitsuru Ishii, Yoshio Koyama, Shigeo Suzuki, Masayuki Kawata, Yuko Sasaki, Eriko Takakuwa