Abstract:
The invention relates to a timepiece with an analogue display, including a timepiece movement ( 1 ) provided with a mechanical output, located on an arbour ( 2 ) of said movement, and a display assembly ( 30 ) provided with at least one time display device ( 31, 32, 111, 112 ) driven by said mechanical output, wherein the display assembly is separate from the timepiece movement ( 1 ) and linked to a fixed part ( 10 ) of said movement ( 1 ) by support means which enables said display device to take several different positions around the output arbour ( 2 ) of the movement. According to the invention, the support means of the display assembly includes an intermediate support ( 34, 70, 72, 70′ ) secured to the fixed part ( 10 ) of the timepiece movement ( 1 ) and provided with support members ( 36, 87, 89, 87′, 89′ ) allowing said at least one display device ( 31, 32, 111, 112 ) to be assembled in several positions on the intermediate support ( 34, 70, 72, 70′ ). 
     The invention concerns the field of timepiece display members.

Description:
This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 10187896.5 filed Oct. 18, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a timepiece with an analogue display, including a timepiece movement, provided with a mechanical output located on an arbour of said movement, and a display assembly, provided with at least one time display device driven by said mechanical output, wherein the display assembly is separate from the timepiece movement and linked to a fixed part of said movement by support means, which enables said display device to take several different positions around the output arbour of the movement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to achieve rational production of different watch models, manufacturers use the same timepiece movement model (also called a “calibre”) in a known manner, in combination with various display assemblies. Each of these assemblies includes the desired display members (hour, minute and seconds hands, date indicators, chronograph hands, etc.) and the gear trains necessary for driving these members from one or several mechanical outputs of the movement. This assembly is commonly called a “module”, because it is often meant to be able to be replaced by a different module in the same timepiece movement, called the “basic movement”. 
     For the purpose of varied production, the use of a distinct display module for the basic movement means, in particular, that an off-centre display device, for example a small seconds display, can be used, or the module can be changed to change the display type, for example a retrograde hand, or to add a display device, for example a 24 hour display, without the requirement to develop a new movement each time. 
     However, this type of module is devised for one or several predefined display functions and, if one wishes to produce a modified watch model, the display module evidently has to be modified, which involves re-engineering the module and complicating production and storage by increasing the number of component references. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to overcome all or part of the aforecited drawbacks by proposing a modular display system for timepieces and, particularly for watches, offering increased modularity so as to allow one or several display devices of different types to be mounted on a single basic movement model, the output of which drives the display assembly. The display system according to the invention, which may be called “configurable”, maintains a modular design while providing additional flexibility as regards the positioning of the display devices, and the diversity and combination thereof. 
     The invention therefore relates to a timepiece with an analogue display including a timepiece movement, provided with a mechanical output located on an arbour of said movement, and a display assembly, provided with at least one display device driven by said mechanical output, wherein the display assembly is separate from the timepiece movement and linked to a fixed part of said movement by support means, which enables said display device to take several positions around the output arbour of the movement. The invention is characterized in that the support means for the display assembly includes an intermediate support, which is secured to the fixed part of the timepiece movement and provided with support members allowing said at least one display device to be mounted in several positions on the intermediate support. 
     The addition of an intermediate support, capable of being fixed by conventional means onto the fixed part of the basic movement, offers a large number of assembly positions for one or several display devices. Further, the display devices may be of different types and be formed by individual elements devised to be secured to multi-purpose support members incorporated in the intermediate support. The system thus allows a multitude of display variants without changing any mechanical parts on the same basic movement. Advantageously according to the invention, it is clear that the presence of control and/or correction means such as, for example, a crown, is no longer an obstacle to the positioning of display members on the timepiece. 
     In accordance with other advantageous features of the invention:
         in three embodiments, the mechanical output includes a seconds arbour surrounded by a cannon-pinion;   the timepiece includes at least two display devices;   in a first embodiment, the intermediate support includes an at least partially circular rail, which is centred on the output arbour of the timepiece movement;   said support members include orifices fitted to the rail for securing and/or positioning each display device;   the orifices are arranged around the output arbour at a predetermined angular pitch so as to offer many possible positions for each display device;   each display device is fixed to said rail and is meshed with a wheel of said mechanical output to display at least one time value;   in second and third embodiments, the intermediate support includes a frame having a central aperture opposite said mechanical output;   in a second embodiment, at least one bridge is mounted at a distance from the frame, with at least one display device being mounted in the space between said at least one bridge and said frame;   said support members include at least one series of holes in said frame and at least one series of holes in said at least one bridge for securing and/or positioning each display device;   the series of holes are distributed around the output arbour at a predetermined angular pitch so as to offer many possibilities for positioning each display device;   said support members include a second series of holes in said frame and in said at least one bridge at a predetermined angular pitch so as to offer even more possibilities for positioning each display device;   the frame and said at least one bridge are secured together to the fixed part by means of screws that each pass through said at least one bridge and the frame;   in a third embodiment, said support members include at least one series of holes in the bottom part of the frame and at least one series of holes in the top part of the frame for securing and/or positioning each display device;   the series of holes are distributed around the output arbour at a predetermined angular pitch so as to offer many possibilities for positioning each display device;   said support members include a second series of holes in the top part of the frame so as to each communicate with one of said holes formed in the bottom part of the frame;   the frame is fixed to the fixed part by means of screws in at least one hole of the frame;   in the second and third embodiments, the support members are able to receive an arbour and/or a tube and/or a bearing;   in the three embodiments, each display device is meshed with a wheel of said mechanical output to display at least one time value;   at least one part of the display assembly is integral with the fixed part of the timepiece movement;   the angular pitch is less than or equal to 30°;   the timepiece movement includes a drive mechanism for a calendar display member and the calendar display member is shifted relative to the plane of said drive mechanism by a space that substantially corresponds to the thickness of the display assembly, so that the display of said calendar is presented as close as possible to said analogue display.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages will appear clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a display assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, including two time display devices; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-section along the line II-II of  FIG. 1  via point M; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic cross-section along the line III-III of  FIG. 1  via point R; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a display assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic front view of a display assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, including two time display devices; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-section along the line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8 to 18  are diagrams showing various display configurations made possible by the invention with the same timepiece movement in the three embodiments; 
         FIGS. 19 and 20  are diagrams of a third embodiment of an intermediate part according to the invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a calendar display member according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The example embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  includes a “regulator” type time display, shown schematically in  FIG. 11 , with a minute hand M at the centre, an off-centre hour hand H, which is shorter than the minute hand, and a seconds hand S, which is a small seconds hand here and is off-centre opposite the hour hand. Advantageously according to the invention, it will be seen hereinafter that the arbours of hands H, M and S, which are aligned in  FIG. 11 , may be positioned totally independently of each other. 
     A calendar display is also provided, including a date disc here, which appears in an aperture D in the dial. As is usual, the designer may place this aperture in any position on the periphery of the dial. Of course, it is also possible to display the date using another type of display member, such as, for example, a hand. 
     As mentioned hereinbefore, the timepiece, in the case described here a watch, includes a a common type of basic movement  1 , and various display devices which are driven by said movement  1  but can be arranged in various configurations in order to make watches having different display members with the same mechanical components. Basic movement  1  may be any mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement, such as, for example, a quartz movement. 
     Basic movement  1  thus includes a mechanical output with a geometrical arbour  2 , in general a cannon-pinion and, in the Figures presented hereinbefore, a seconds arbour inside the cannon-pinion. Among the elements of basic movement  1  which appear in a first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the following may be mentioned: a fixed part  10 , in this case a bottom plate, a seconds arbour  11  fitted with a seconds wheel  12  and guided by means of a fixed tube  9 , a cannon-pinion  13 , a cannon-pinion drive wheel  14  and an hour wheel  15  driven by the toothing  13   a  of cannon-pinion  13  via the usual motion work (not shown in the drawings). Also seen are a control stem  16 , provided with a crown  16   a , and a corrector wheel  17  and intermediate corrector wheel  18 , which are controlled by stem  16 . 
     Consequently, the seconds arbour  11  and cannon-pinion  13  form the mechanical output for driving the time display. In the example of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , it is noted that the mechanical output is at the centre of movement  1 , advantageously according to the invention. This is not, however, a compulsory feature. It is thus clear that the hour wheel  15  of basic movement  1  is not used directly for the time display, i.e. no hand is secured thereto. However, hour wheel  15  is used, in a known manner, for driving the calendar display in the usual manner by the insertion of a wheel (not shown in the drawings) completing one revolution per day and, according to the invention, for driving at least one display device. 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the calendar display is formed by means of a date ring  20 . This ring is in two stages here, with two annular discs  21  and  22  connected by pillars  23 . In a usual manner, movement  1  includes a bottom disc  21  provided with an internal toothing and slidably mounted on plate  10 . According to the invention, the calendar display surrounds the display devices and includes a second annular disc  22  mounted on the first disc  21  in the space between pillars  23  which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the display assembly, so as to display said calendar on the second annular disc as close as possible to said analogue display, i.e., as seen in  FIGS. 8 to 18 , as close as possible to aperture D. Consequently, in the example of  FIGS. 1 to 7 , as the calendar display shows the date, the top face of disc  22  carries thirty one days of the month. 
     The current time is indicated by means of a time display assembly  30  (indicated in  FIG. 11 ) including at least one display device and, preferably, two independent display devices, each of which is driven individually by the output of basic movement  1  and secured to a fixed part  10  of movement  1 , in this case the plate, by support means. A first device may thus be driven from cannon-pinion  13  and display the hour and minute, by means of hand H and hand M. The second device can be driven from the seconds arbour  11  and display the seconds by means of hand S. However, it is entirely possible to envisage a single display device that can drive the three hands H, M, S or display less information. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , showing a first embodiment, hand H is off-centre at 12 o&#39;clock, hand M is in the centre and hand S forms a small seconds hand at 6 o&#39;clock. This display configuration is shown in  FIG. 11 . According to the first embodiment, the display assembly includes two display devices  31  and  32  which are connected to a fixed part  10  of movement  1 , in this case the plate, by support means. The support means includes an intermediate support and support members. 
     Preferably, the intermediate support is formed by an at least partially circular rail  34  which is centred relative to arbour  2  and fixed to fixed part  10  by screws  35 . Rail  34  has a flat shape here. In addition to top and lateral surfaces, the support members include, in this case, twelve staged orifices  36  able to receive screw feet  37  for fixing at least one display device to rail  34  in various positions, as the designer chooses. In the example of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , orifices  36  are regularly spaced at an angular pitch P which is 30° here. The designer thus has twelve possible positions for each display device  31 ,  32  of display assembly  30 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , it is seen that each display device  31 ,  32  is fixed to rail  34  by means of two screws  38  associated with screw feet  37 , and that six of orifices  36  remain free, which means either that these devices can be moved or several additional display devices can be secured. It is thus immediately clear that, once the first display device  31  is fixed to rail  34 , the invention advantageously offers many more possibilities for placing the second display device  32  in different positions along rail  34 , as the designer chooses, due to the support members formed by orifices  36  which are still free. This will appear hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 . 
     Of course, if the designer wished to have a larger number of possible positions for the devices, he could simply use a rail with a larger number of orifices  36  having a pitch P of less than 30° or give the orifices an oblong shape, offering an infinite number of positions. Further, he could provide another method of fixing some devices, for example if a device has a frame overlapping the rail and has a lateral screw grip, with or without notches on the rail. It will also be noted that rail  34  could be discontinuous, i.e. include one or several sections in the arc of a circle, so as to free some spaces, for example for the passage of a functional connection between a display device and control stem  16  or the calendar driving member of basic movement  1 . 
     Each of display devices  31 ,  32  includes a frame called a carriage or “chariot” here, because it can be positioned by movement along rail  34 . This chariot, fixed to rail  34  by screws  38  engaging in screw feet  37 , may be likened to a plate for the mechanical components which form each display device  31 ,  32 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show that chariot  41  of hour/minute display device  31  is provided with three arbours  42 ,  43  and  44 , intended to be used as pivot pins. Thus, arbour  42  carries a top cannon-pinion  45  provided with minute hand M and a wheel  46 . Arbour  43  receives a pipe  47  provided with hour hand H and a top hour wheel  48 . Finally, arbour  44  carries a top motion work  49  connecting the pinion of the top cannon-pinion  45  to the top wheel  48  with the usual transmission ratio. 
     Chariot  41  further includes a bearing carrying arbour  51  (visible in  FIG. 3 ) of a double intermediate wheel  50 , which connects wheel  46  of top cannon-pinion  45  to a drive wheel  52  fixed to cannon-pinion  13  of basic movement  1 . Since rail  34  and its row of orifices  36  are centred on output arbour  2  of movement  1 , double intermediate wheel  50  is meshed with wheel  52  in all of the possible positions of display device  31  on rail  34 . Of course, the transmission ratio of double intermediate wheel  50  is 1:1 so that hands M and H rotate at the same speed as wheels  14  and  15  of basic movement  1 . 
     Chariot  54  of display device  32  carries a bridge  55 . This bridge  55  and chariot  54  are provided with two pairs of jewels for respectively carrying a small seconds arbour  56  and an intermediate wheel  58 . As seen in the example of  FIG. 2 , arbour  56  is fitted with a wheel  57  and the small seconds hand S, whereas intermediate wheel  58  is meshed with wheel  57 . Intermediate wheel  58  is also meshed with a seconds drive wheel  59  fixed to the tip of the seconds arbour  11  in place of the usual central seconds hand. Thus, as for the first display device  31 , whatever the position of the second display device  32  on rail  34 , intermediate wheel  58  remains meshed on wheel  59 . Preferably, wheels  57  and  59  have the same diameter so that they can rotate at the same speed. 
     For cases in which, in addition to the devices  31  and  32  described here, display device  30  has other display devices which might require correction, for example a second time zone display, calendar or moon phase display, a central corrector wheel  62  is rotatably mounted on cannon-pinion  13  of basic movement  1  and axially wedged using a spring  63  (referenced in  FIG. 3 ). It may be driven by corrector wheel  17  via the train of two corrector intermediate wheels  18  and  64  mounted on plate  10  of basic movement  1 . Thus, a display device requiring a correction function can be mounted anywhere on rail  34 , while remaining meshed both with central corrector wheel  62  and with the wheel that normally drives the device, for example hour wheel  15 . 
     It is observed that the system combining the rail as intermediate support with several display devices not only allows the display members of these devices to be placed in different positions, without changing any components, but also allows one display device to be replaced by a different device so as to vary the manufacturer&#39;s range of products. It may be a device displaying another magnitude, but also a device displaying the same magnitude, but in a different way, for example with a disc, drum, retrograde hand or even with an ordinary seconds hand in order, for example, to display a time zone with a fixed time difference. 
     According to a second embodiment of the invention, an example of which is shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the intermediate support of the display assembly is made in the form of a frame  70  fixed to a fixed part  10 , in this case the plate, of basic movement  1 , so as to at least partially overlap. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , frame  70  takes the form of a circular plate, with a central aperture  71  opposite the mechanical output of basic movement  1 . 
     Preferably, movement  1  is the same as that of the first embodiment and it is also fitted with the same date display using two-staged ring  20 , the top disc  22  of which carries the dates appearing in aperture D shown in  FIGS. 8 to 18 . 
     The elements of the time display assembly of the watch are mounted on frame  70  or, preferably, between frame  70  and at least one bridge  72 . In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a single bridge  72  is used, in the form of a substantially circular plate of the same diameter as frame  70 . 
     Each bridge  72  and frame  70  are positioned and consequently fixed together to a fixed part  10 , in this case the plate, by means of several screws  73 , which each pass in succession through a hole  74  in bridge  72 , a tubular strut (not shown) defining the space between each bridge  72  and frame  70 , and a hole  76  in frame  70 . Preferably, each screw  73  is held in plate  10  by being screwed into a threaded hole  77  in plate  10 . The positions of holes  77  do not follow any particular arrangement. Thus, the positions should be preferably chosen in accordance with the available areas on fixed part  10  of movement  1 . 
     According to the second embodiment, frame  70  and bridge  72  include several series of support members for mounting the mechanical elements of the display assembly. In the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7  the support members are formed by holes. The arrangement of these support members is regular, based, in the example shown in  FIG. 18 , on six radial axes  81  to  86  separated from each other by an angular pitch P=30° as in the first embodiment. 
     According to this arrangement, there is a crown of twelve pivot holes  87  in frame  70 , on a circular of relatively large diameter, and vertical to said holes, a crown with twelve wider holes  88  in bridge  72 . The wider diameter of holes  88  enables various elements to be received as required, particularly an arbour, or a bush type bearing or watch jewel, as will be seen hereinafter. 
     On a circle of smaller diameter, a second series of six pivot holes  89  is further provided in frame  70 , arranged substantially in a crown shape and vertical thereto, there is a second crown of six wider holes  90  in bridge  72 . Preferably, the second series of holes  89  is mounted in a quincunx arrangement with the first series of holes  87  and is closer to output arbour  2 . 
     Similarly on bridge  72 , the second series of holes  90  is mounted in a quincunx arrangement with the first series of holes  88  and is closer to output arbour  2 . It is thus clear that a wheel mounted using one of the pairs of holes  89  and  90  can mesh with a wheel set carried by one and/or the other of the two adjacent pairs of holes  87  and  88 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , bridge  72  may also include a third crown-shaped series of six holes  91  each formed between two holes  88  and a fourth crown-shaped series of twelve holes  92 , each being radially aligned with a hole  88  between the latter and the external edge of bridge  72 . The third and fourth series are intended to increase the modularity and/or add functionalities to the display devices as is explained hereinafter. 
     The mechanical output of basic movement  1  is more particularly shown in  FIG. 6 . The following parts are seen again: fixed part  10 , in this case the plate, seconds arbour  11  provided with the seconds wheel  12  and guided by means of a fixed tube  9 , cannon-pinion  13 , cannon-pinion drive wheel  14  and hour wheel  15 , driven by toothing  13   a  of cannon-pinion  13  via the usual motion work (not visible in the drawings). The cannon-pinion  13  used here replaces that of the original movement, since it is shorter. The top end thereof is provided with a top drive wheel  94  of small enough diameter to occupy central aperture  71  of frame  70 . Above wheel  94  there is a seconds drive wheel  95 , fixed to the end of arbour  11 . 
     Frame  70  and bridge  72  carry two time display devices  111  and  112  driven by the output of movement  1  described hereinbefore. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the first “regulator” type display device  111 , like device  31  of the first embodiment, displays the time by off-centre hand H and the minute by central hand M. Hand M is carried by a top cannon-pinion  96  provided with a toothing  97  and pivoting on an arbour  98  fixed to the centre of bridge  72 . Hour hand H is carried by the pipe of a wheel  100  which pivots on an arbour  101  mounted in one of holes  88  in bridge  72 , in this case the hole located towards the top of the watch dial. 
     The hour and minute wheel sets  100 ,  96  of the display device  111  are connected by a motion work wheel set  102  having a motion work arbour  103  rotatably mounted in a guide tube  104  driven into a hole  91  in bridge  72 . Arbour  103  carries a motion work pinion  105  meshed with wheel  100 , a top plate  106  in mesh with the toothing of the top cannon-pinion  96 , and a hub  107  integral with a bottom plate  108  which is in mesh with top drive wheel  94  of cannon-pinion  13  of basic movement  1 . The two plates  106  and  108  are identical, to simplify fabrication, and form a double intermediate wheel playing the same part as double intermediate wheel  50  of the first embodiment. 
     Of course, the motion work transmission ratio between the top cannon-pinion  96  and wheel  100  is preferably equal to 1:12. However, if hour hand H were required to make a revolution in only 24 hours, the diameters of wheel  100  and pinion  105  would simply need to be altered. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the second time display device  112  is of the small seconds type, with the seconds hand S off-centre in a similar manner to device  32  of the first embodiment. This hand S is carried by an arbour  113 . The latter is provided with a pinion  114  and is guided between a bearing  115  (bush or jewel) driven into one of holes  88  in bridge  72  and one of holes  87  in frame  70 . 
     Small seconds pinion  114  is connected to the drive wheel  95  via an intermediate wheel  116 , whose arbour  117  pivots in one of holes  89  in frame  70  and a bearing  119  (bush or jewel) driven into one of holes  90  in bridge  72 . Drive wheel  95  and pinion  114  preferably have the same diameter, in order to rotate at the same speed. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a magnetised pin  118  is driven into one of holes  92  opposite pinion  114 . Pin  118  advantageously acts on the toothing of pinion  114  so as to brake said pinion when one of the teeth thereof is plumb with pin  118  in order to decrease the oscillations of hand S. 
     It is observed that the two time display devices  111  and  112  respectively perform the same functions as the two display devices  31  and  32  of the first embodiment and may also each occupy twelve distinct positions, shifted by 30° steps from each other over the circumference of the watch dial. Simple solutions may also allow other positions. For example, in the second embodiment, more or fewer holes  74 ,  76  can be provided in bridge  72  and frame  70 , so as to increase or decrease the number of securing screws  73 . By way of example, the play could then be shifted by 15 degrees (0.5·P) or 45 degrees (1.5·P) relative to the first embodiment. 
     The example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7  shows a relatively thin construction of a display assembly according to the invention. This low height is permitted notably because no corrector is provided here in the display assembly itself. There is only the corrector of basic movement  1 . Nonetheless, the second embodiment could also be devised with a central corrector wheel such as wheel  62  described hereinbefore, for correcting, for example, the indication of a second time zone or a calendar display carried by frame  70  and bridge  72 . 
     It will also be noted that bridge  72  could be replaced by a different bridge cooperating with the same frame  70 , as required, or even by several distinct bridges, without this resulting in a large increase in the number of ebauches stored by the manufacturer. Likewise, the possible use of two frame models as required would not greatly complicate the manufacture and storage of parts, compared to the prior solution which consisted in manufacturing and storing a plurality of complete display devices. 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that, in the second embodiment of the invention, the time display device  111  can easily be altered so as to form a device displaying the hour, minute and second in the conventional manner with coaxial hands H, M, S at the centre, i.e. the configuration in  FIG. 8 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it is noted that, without altering the motion wheel set  102 , hour wheel  100  could be placed on a pipe rotating about cannon-pinion  96 , while remaining in mesh with motion work pinion  105  owing to the equal distance between the holes in bridge  72 . Centre seconds hand S may be carried in the usual manner by an arbour passing through arbour  98  and coupled to arbour  11  of basic movement  1 . If, conversely, small seconds display device  112  is retained, the configuration of  FIG. 9  is obtained. 
     Likewise, by retaining small seconds display device  112 , a conventional hour and minute display device can be provided in an off-centre position on arbour  101 , without any change to motion work wheel set  102 . Arbour  101  simply needs to be changed so that it acts as a pivot for a cannon-pinion meshing with plate  106  and carrying around it the pipe of hour wheel  100 . The configuration of  FIG. 10  is thus obtained. 
       FIGS. 11 to 15  show schematically other time display configurations via hour hand H, minute hand M and seconds hand S, which can easily be achieved on the same basic movement  1  by using the present invention. It will be noted that the date display in aperture D may or may not be present, and that aperture D may be in numerous different positions, particularly to be combined in a harmonious manner with the various graduations associated with the display members, for example such as hands H, M, S. 
     As explained for the second embodiment hereinbefore, it is important to note that all of the configurations shown in  FIGS. 8 to 18  may also be obtained using the principles of the first embodiment of the invention, namely, display devices including chariots of the type referenced  41 ,  54 , which can be placed in various positions on a support rail of the type referenced  34  which is at least partially circular, i.e. annular or in the arc of a circle. 
       FIGS. 16 to 18  give a glimpse of the very extensive modularity that the present invention can offer for a watch display.  FIG. 18  shows that, when the angular pitch P is 30° in conformity with the two embodiments described hereinbefore, an arrangement along six main axes  81  to  86  is already possible with the same common basic movement model  1 . 
     According to a second example illustrated in  FIG. 16  with a conventional time display with hands H and M at the centre and a small seconds hand S, the latter can occupy any of the twelve positions  120  corresponding to axes  81  to  86 , without changing any of the mechanical parts. Incidentally, the date aperture D may also occupy any position, such as, notably, a permanent position opposite the small seconds relative to arbour  2 , if desired. Moreover, with the small seconds S in a position  120 , it remains possible to set in place one or several additional display devices. 
     In another example illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the display assembly includes an off-centre display with hands H and M. Hence, the small seconds S may occupy up to seven different positions  121  along an arc centred on output arbour  2  of basic movement  1  without changing any of the mechanical parts. Incidentally, the date aperture D may also occupy any position. Further, if the small seconds display S is placed towards the most lateral positions  121 , it is also possible to envisage setting an additional display device in place. 
     In the  FIG. 18  view, it can immediately be seen that, with a conventional movement  1  output and without changing any of the mechanical parts, it is possible to obtain many more positions relative to axes  81  to  86 , to obtain original, or at least unusual, display configurations. It is only the dial that changes, which provides an immediate economical advantage compared to the current solution of making alterations to the module. 
     Further, advantageously according to the invention, it is also clear that, for a given orientation of the display, the designer may choose to place control stem  16  and crown  16   a  thereof in twelve different directions without any alteration to basic movement  1 , or to the display assembly, i.e. without changing any of the mechanical parts. 
     The description hereinbefore demonstrates that the present invention allows numerous different configurations of a time or other display with a very limited set of parts. Those skilled in the art will understand that the invention offers the same advantages for other types of display, driven from a basic movement, particularly chronograph, calendar, power reserve or moon phase displays. It also makes it easy to combine a common type of basic movement with special types of display, for example with retrograde hands, without transforming the main mechanical components of the watch. 
     Further, in order to limit the number of ebauches and in accordance with a third embodiment, it would also be possible to use a thicker intermediate support like a frame  70 ′ that simultaneously includes the features of frame  70  and bridge  72  of the second embodiment. A non-limiting example of this third embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . According to this third embodiment, the pivoting of the wheel sets is preferably achieved in a similar manner to motion work wheel set  102  of the second embodiment. Consequently, this third embodiment does not require any additional bridges. 
     For improved comprehension of the example of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the references used are similar to those of the corresponding elements of the second embodiment, particularly as regards those of  FIG. 7 . Thus, the frame  70 ′ is seen, which can be secured to a fixed part  10  of movement  1 , by means of several screws which each pass through a hole  76 ′ in frame  70 ′. According to the third embodiment, frame  70 ′ includes several series of support members for mounting the mechanical elements of the display assembly. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the support members are formed by holes in a regular arrangement, based, in the example shown in  FIG. 18 , on six radial axes  81  to  86 . The holes are separated from each other by an angular pitch P=30°, as in the first two embodiments. 
     According to this arrangement, a crown with twelve positioning holes  87 ′ is provided in the bottom part of frame  70 ′, which each open onto a wider hole  88 ′ in the top part of frame  70 ′. Holes  88 ′ thus also form a crown with twelve wider holes  88 ′. The diameter of holes  87 ′,  88 ′ can receive various elements as required as in the second embodiment. 
     On a circle of smaller diameter, a second series of twelve positioning holes  89 ′ is further provided in the bottom part of frame  70 ′, also arranged substantially in a crown-shape. In the example of  FIG. 20 , a recess  71 ′ is formed in the top part of frame  70 ′. Recess  71 ′ is intended to be mounted opposite the mechanical output and communicates tangentially with holes  88 ′. It is clear that a wheel set present in a hole  88 ′ can thus be meshed with a wheel set positioned in recess  71 ′ and particularly fixed in the hole  89 ′ opposite said hole  88 ′. 
     By way of example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , an arbour  113 ′ has been positioned in a hole  88 ′ by fixing one of the ends thereof in the corresponding hole  87 ′. First  98 ′ and second  101 ′ arbours have also been added, respectively secured in a central hole in the top part of frame  70 ′ and in another hole  87 ′ to show two levels of pivoting in a similar manner to the second embodiment. Thus, arbour  101 ′ includes a foot  100 ′ fixed in a hole  87 ′ to cause arbour  101 ′ to project from the top part of frame  70 ′. Finally, two guide tubes  104 ′ have been mounted in two distinct holes  89 ′. 
     Consequently, as in the first and second embodiments, owing to holes  87 ′,  88 ′ and  89 ′, the third embodiment also provides great modularity and/or adds functionalities to the display devices as is explained hereinbefore. 
     Further, according to a variant of the invention and in the three embodiments, it is possible to envisage one part of display assembly  30  forming a single-piece with fixed part  10  of movement  1 . Thus, it is possible to imagine intermediate part  34 ,  70 ,  72  and/or  70 ′ of display assembly  30  being totally or partially integral with the fixed part  10  used for mounting display assembly  30  such as, for example, the plate of movement  1 . Moreover, the fixed part  10  of movement  1  is not limited to the plate thereof but may also be a bridge or even a part of the drive mechanism for the calendar display member. 
     It should also be noted that, advantageously according to the invention, in the three embodiments the symmetry of the intermediate means  34 ,  70 ,  72 ,  70 ′, combined with that of securing holes  76 ,  76 ′ also allows the position of the display members to be altered without altering the assembly of display devices  31 ,  32 ,  111 ,  112 . Thus, in order to screw the display assembly into a new position, screws  35 ,  73  simply need to be removed and then display assembly  30  has to be rotated relative to timepiece movement  1 . Consequently, more threaded holes  77  may be provided, also in the fixed part  10  of timepiece movement  1  to allow more possible positions. 
     Finally, the calendar element is not limited to a date ring  20  with two annular discs  21  and  22  connected by pillars  23 . It is important simply to make a space relative to the plane of the drive mechanism of basic movement  1 . This space substantially corresponds to the thickness of display assembly  30  so that said calendar display is presented as close as possible to said analogue display, i.e. in the case of  FIGS. 8 to 18 , plumb with aperture D. 
     Consequently, according to an alternative of the invention, the date element may be a cylinder whose internal diameter includes a toothing able to mesh with said drive mechanism of basic movement  1  and the height of which extends into said space. It is also possible to hollow out a portion of the cylinder as illustrated in  FIG. 21  in order to make this alternative lighter. A single-piece date ring  20 ′ is thus obtainable, with a substantially S-shaped section, including a top part  22 ′ carrying the date graduations and a bottom part  21 ′ including a toothing  24 ′. The bottom  21 ′ and top  22 ′ parts may also be connected by a whole or partially recessed wall  23 ′.