Abstract:
Watch display assembly including a watch support element ( 2 ), characterized in that the support element ( 2 ) is arranged to rotate on two perpendicular axes (X-X; Y-Y).

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 11152583.8 filed Jan. 28, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention concerns a watch display assembly. The present invention concerns more specifically a display assembly for a self-winding watch. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Usually, watches are displayed statically in the retailer window display and are oriented so that the dial is visible to potential customers. This is disadvantageous if the watch has a transparent back cover which allows all or part of the watch movement to be seen, in particular when the watch has a self-winding mechanism using an oscillating weight. Indeed, as the back cover is located at the back of the watch, it remains invisible to the passer-by. 
         [0004]    One solution to this problem consists in displaying two identical watches side by side, one with the dial side showing and the other with the back cover side showing. However, this solution requires sufficient space to be available in the window display and is difficult to apply to each watch model displayed. 
         [0005]    Another solution consists in using a set of mirrors to reveal the back side of the watch to passers by. However, this requires arranging the watch in a very precise manner relative to the mirrors, which is time consuming and tedious. Moreover, depending upon the position of the potential customer relative to the watch and the direction in which he is looking, optical deformation effects may occur. In some assemblies, the potential purchaser may not even be able to see the image reflected by the mirrors at all. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a watch display assembly which enables the potential purchaser to see the front face of the dial side of the displayed watch as well as the rear face of the back cover side, in a dynamic manner and without any visualisation problems. 
         [0007]    The present invention therefore concerns a watch display assembly including a support element for the watch, said support element being arranged to rotate on two perpendicular axes. 
         [0008]    Owing to these features, the present invention provides a watch display assembly which displays the watch in a dynamic, attractive manner. Further, the display assembly according to the invention allows the watch to be displayed alternately from the dial side and from the back cover side, which enables the potential purchaser to properly appreciate the various technical and aesthetical features of the displayed watch. Moreover, since the watch is permanently in motion, in the assembly of a self-winding watch, this winds the barrel spring via the oscillating weight. A self-winding watch displayed to the public by means of the display assembly of the invention is therefore always set to the correct time. 
         [0009]    According to a complementary feature of the invention, the two axes of rotation of the watch support element extend respectively horizontally and vertically. 
         [0010]    According to another feature of the invention, the watch support element is centred on the point of intersection between the two axes of rotation. 
         [0011]    According to yet another feature of the invention, the watch support element is a ring, pivotably mounted between two uprights which are integral with a rotating plate arranged in a base. 
         [0012]    According to a first variant of the invention, the ring and the plate are driven in rotation by a single motor housed in the base of the display assembly. 
         [0013]    According to a second variant of the invention, the rotating plate is driven in rotation by a first motor housed in the base of the display assembly, and the support ring for the watch is driven by a second motor mounted on the rotating plate. 
         [0014]    According to yet another feature of the invention, the motor or motors are powered by the electric power grid or by means of a battery charged by solar cells. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the watch display assembly according to the invention, this example being given solely by way of non-limiting illustration with reference to the annexed drawing, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the watch display assembly according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section illustrating the belt and pulley drive system which rotates the watch support ring about the horizontal axis; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the base of the display assembly showing the means for driving the plate in rotation; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the single motor housed in the display assembly base and simultaneously driving in rotation the watch support ring and the plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the display assembly according to the invention. Designated as a whole by the general reference number  1 , the display assembly includes a watch support element  2 . In the example shown in the drawing, this support element  2  takes the form of a ring  4 , pivotably mounted between two uprights  6 , which are secured to a rotating plate  8  arranged in a base  10  of display assembly  1 . 
         [0021]    Ring  4  is mounted between the two uprights  6  by means of two pin ends  12  which project into two diametrically opposite apertures arranged in ring  4 . These two pin ends  12  define a horizontal axis of rotation X-X of ring  4 . Ring  4  also includes two strips  14  for securing the watch. 
         [0022]    Uprights  6  stand vertical to the surface of rotating plate  8  and are arranged diametrically opposite each other on plate  8  which has the shape of a horizontally extending disc. This rotating plate  8  defines a vertical axis of rotation Y-Y of ring  4 . 
         [0023]    It will be clear that, by design, the point of intersection between the two horizontal X-X and vertical Y-Y axes of rotation merges with the geometrical centre of ring  4 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section illustrating the drive system which ensures the rotation of watch support ring  4  about the horizontal axis X-X. This drive system includes a first motor  16  which is mounted on rotating plate  8  and rotates with said plate  8 . This first motor  16  is housed within the thickness of rotating plate  8  so as to be hidden from view. It drives, either directly or via a gear train, a belt  18  which is housed inside one of uprights  6 . This belt  18  is passed over the pin end  12  corresponding to the top end of upright  6  and over a pulley  20  integral with the arbour of motor  16  arranged at the base of upright  6 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a top view of base  10  of display assembly  1 , showing the means for driving rotating plate  8  in rotation. This drive means includes a second motor  22  housed within the volume of base  10 . This second motor  22  drives a toothed wheel  24 , which meshes with a peripheral toothing  26  arranged over the entire circumference of rotating plate  8 . 
         [0026]    First and second motors  16  and  22  are powered either by current from the electric power grid or by means of solar cells which are arranged on the surface of rotating plate  8  and respectively power batteries connected to motors  16  and  22 . If motors  16 ,  22  are powered by the electric power grid, display assembly  1  is provided with an electric switch  28  and an outlet  30 . 
         [0027]    According to a variant, watch support ring  4  could be driven along the two axes of rotation X-X and Y-Y by a single motor  32 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of this embodiment wherein the single motor  32  is housed in the base  10  of display assembly  1  and simultaneously drives in rotation watch support ring  4  and rotating plate  8 . Therefore, the single motor  32  drives a toothed wheel  34  which meshes with a peripheral toothing  36 , which extends over the entire perimeter of rotating plate  8 . Rotating plate  8  carries a rotating arbour  38  on which a toothed wheel  40  is fixedly mounted. When plate  8  is rotating, toothed wheel  40  rolls over a fixed peripheral toothing  42  arranged along the inner periphery of base  10 . As it rotates, toothed wheel  40  drives a first conical pinion  44  integral with rotating arbour  38 . This first conical pinion  44  in turn drives a second conical pinion  46  mounted on a common arbour  48  with a pulley  50  over which a belt  52  is passed. Belt  52  is passed over a second pulley  54  mounted on pin end  12  which carries support ring  4 .