Patent Publication Number: US-2023146626-A1

Title: Device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable for a timepiece

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from the prior European Patent Application No. 21207561.8, filed on Nov. 10, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable for a timepiece. More specifically, the present invention relates to such a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable that is equipped with a device for correcting the display. 
     TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to devices for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable, such as devices for displaying moon phases or even devices for displaying weeks, which are comprised in timepieces, in particular of the wristwatch type, and whose correction requires or is facilitated by a prior reset. By way of example, the correction of a device for displaying the moon phases requires counting the days since the last full moon, whereas the correction of a device for displaying the weeks, also referred to as a weekly calendar, which displays a number of weeks that may differ from one year to the next, is facilitated by carrying out a reset at the beginning of the year. 
     A moon phase display device allows the different phases of the moon to be displayed (new moon, waxing crescent moon, 1 st  quarter, waxing gibbous moon, full moon, waning gibbous moon, last quarter and waning crescent moon) which follow one another during a lunar month, the duration whereof between two consecutive new moons is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. In the mechanical horological field, this duration, which is also referred to as a lunation, is rounded to 29.5 days and usually progresses by 1 step per day. The correction of a moon phase display device is thus also carried out in 1-day steps, and the correction method usually recommended to the customer is to bring the display to an easily identifiable reference position, for example the full moon, by manipulating a day-by-day corrector, then to count the number of days separating the full moon from the age of the moon on the given day, and finally to bring the moon phase display, also in 1-day steps by means of the day-by-day corrector, into the appropriate position. It is thus understood that the correction of a moon phase display device can require 29 corrections to bring this device into the position in which it displays the full moon, and then up to 29 further corrections to bring the device into the position corresponding to the age of the moon on the given day. 
     A device for displaying the weeks, also referred to as a weekly calendar, shows the weeks that have passed in the year. Such a weeks display device includes, depending on the design, a 1-53 hand or single-aperture display by means of a single disc, or a 00-59 “large date” type display with a display for the units (0-9) by way of a first disc and a display for the tens (0-5) by way of a second disc. As the years do not always contain the same number of weeks, the correction method usually recommended to the customer is to bring the weeks display device to its initial position, i.e. to position 1. For a hand display or a single-aperture display, the correction is easy to carry out. On the other hand, to the best of the Applicant&#39;s knowledge, there is no method for correcting the display such that it can be instantly brought back to position 01 without having to go through positions 54 to 00 in the case of a “large date” type display. 
     These various types of devices for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable exist in many forms. The improvements made thereto usually concern the accuracy of the display or the aesthetics of the information displayed. 
     However, no entirely satisfactory solution has yet been found to some problems relating to the use of these display devices. This is in particular the case when, after the watch has been stopped for a long period of time, these display devices must be set so that they provide the correct indication again. More specifically, it is understood that the operations for setting some display devices, such as a moon phase display device or a weeks display device, after the timepiece in which these display devices are comprised has been stopped for a more or less extended period of time, can be long and tedious. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned problems as well as others by providing a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable for a timepiece with facilitated correction of the display. 
     For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable for a timepiece, this display device comprising an indicator which carries the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed or which points to this succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed, this indicator being arranged to be driven by a horological movement so as to move from an initial position to a final position through a succession of intermediate positions in which the display of the time variable passes from one indication to the next indication at a required frequency, the display device further comprising a mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position and an actuating device, the mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position comprising at least a cam on which acts, when actuated, the actuating device such that the mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position brings the indicator back to its predetermined reference position. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the cam is a heart-piece or a snail the positioning whereof, relative to the indicator, determines the predetermined reference position of the indicator. 
     According to another specific embodiment of the invention, the mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position comprises a hammer, the hammer being arranged such that, when actuated by means of the actuating device, it comes into an active position in contact with the heart-piece or snail, so as to pivot the indicator and bring it back into its predetermined reference position. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the heart-piece or the snail is mounted such that it is fixed to the indicator. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the cam is a heart-piece or a snail fixedly mounted on a frame of the timepiece and the mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position comprises a hammer mounted on the indicator. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, in order for the hammer to be actuated, the actuating device comprises a push button which acts against the elastic force of a spring arranged to keep the hammer away from an active position in contact with the heart-piece or snail. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the indicator is a 59-tooth moon phase wheel which carries two moon indications and which is driven by the horological movement at a rate of one step per day. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the predetermined reference position of the moon phase wheel corresponds to the full moon display position. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the indicator is a 53-tooth wheel displaying the weeks of the year which carries an indicator hand which moves opposite a graduation bearing the week numbers from 1 to 53. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the reference position of the weeks of the year display wheel corresponds to the week “1” display position. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable is of the “large date” type and comprises a units display assembly for displaying the units of the week numbers, and a tens display assembly for displaying the tens of the week numbers. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the units display assembly comprises a units disc on which the units of the week numbers 0 to 9 are inscribed and which is fixed to a units star-wheel with 10 teeth, and the tens display assembly comprises a tens disc on which the tens of the week numbers 0 to 5 are inscribed and which is fixed to a tens star-wheel with 6 teeth, the mechanism for positioning the indicator at a reference position comprising a heart-piece or a snail arranged to be fixedly mounted beneath each of the units and tens star-wheels, and the actuating device comprising a hammer falling on the heart-pieces or snails and causes the units disc and the tens disc to be pivoted simultaneously in order to bring them back into their predetermined reference position. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the predetermined reference position of the units disc and of the tens disc corresponds to the display of the indication “01”. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the positioning, into the reference position, of the indicator carrying the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed or pointing to the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed can be controlled by the user, for example, by acting on a first push button, whereas a second push button is arranged to ensure the stepped correction of the indicator, independently of the first push button. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the positioning, into the reference position, of the indicator carrying the succession of indications of the time variable or pointing to the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed is carried out automatically upon a first action on a push button which is arranged to control the stepped correction of the indicator upon a second action on the same push button. 
     According to yet another specific embodiment of the invention, the driving, correction and return to the reference position of the indicator carrying the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed or pointing to the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed are carried out by a wolf-toothed rack, the driving and correction of the indicator being carried out by driving the wolf-toothed rack by one tooth, the reverse motion whereof is prevented by a pawl, and the return of the indicator to the reference position being ensured by actuating the pawl, which releases the wolf-toothed rack, the latter returning to its rest position under the action of a return spring, in which the pawl engages with a tooth provided at the end of this wolf-toothed rack. 
     The present invention further relates to a timepiece comprising at least one device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable to be displayed, equipped with a mechanism for positioning, into a reference position, an indicator carrying the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed or pointing to this succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed. 
     In the case where the timepiece comprises a plurality of display devices, these are arranged such that they can be repositioned simultaneously into the reference position by one and the same action of the user on a single push button. 
     Thanks to these features, the present invention provides a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable for a timepiece comprising a mechanism for the instant repositioning thereof into a reference position when requested by the user or automatically upon each first correction. Thus, after the timepiece in which the display device is embedded has been stopped for a more or less extended period of time, the display device can be brought back into its initial position by simply actuating a hammer, which acts on a cam integral with the indicator which carries the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed or which points to this succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed in order to bring this indicator back into its initial position. In the case where the display device according to the invention is used, for example, to display the moon phases, the tedious operation of pressing a push button from 1 to 30 times, depending on the day on which the timepiece stopped, in order to bring a conventional moon phase display device back into the position corresponding to the beginning of the lunar month is thus no longer necessary. In the case where the mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position comprises a heart-piece, the correction of the display device can be carried out in both directions of rotation. However, in the case where a snail is used, the correction of the display device is always carried out in the same direction of rotation, which is of particular interest in particular in the case of a “large date” type of week display device with a units display (0-9) by way of a first disc and a tens display (0-5) by way of a second disc. More specifically, by forcing the correction of the units display and of the tens display in the opposite direction of rotation to that of the normal display of the week numbers, the “large date” display device no longer briefly shows the non-existent week numbers 54 to 59. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of one embodiment of the display device according to the invention, said example being provided for the purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a moon phase display device equipped with a mechanism for positioning an indicator in the reference position according to the invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a bottom view of the moon phase display device showing the mechanism for positioning an indicator in the reference position formed by a heart-piece and a hammer; 
         FIG.  3    is a view similar to that of  FIG.  2    showing the case where the mechanism for positioning an indicator in the reference position is formed by a snail and a hammer; 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of a weeks of the year display device equipped with a mechanism for positioning an indicator in the reference position according to the invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom view of the weeks of the year display device showing the mechanism for positioning an indicator in the reference position formed by a snail and a hammer; 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of a display device intended to show the weeks of the year of the “large date” type; 
         FIG.  7    is a view similar to that of  FIG.  6   , with the “large date” weeks of the year display device being supplemented by a correcting lever controlled by means of a push button; 
         FIG.  8    is a view similar to that of  FIGS.  6  and  7   , in which the finger for driving the tens fixed to the units star-wheel is visible, and which increments the tens display assembly by one step every 10 weeks; 
         FIG.  9    is a view similar to that of  FIGS.  6  to  8   , with the “large date” weeks of the year display device being supplemented by its mechanism for positioning the indicator in a reference position according to the invention; 
         FIG.  10    is a top view of a display device in which the driving, correction and repositioning, into the reference position, of a hand pointing to the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed are carried out by a wolf-toothed rack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was drawn from the general inventive idea consisting of equipping a device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable such as the phases of the moon or the weeks of the year with a mechanism for positioning an indicator into a reference position, allowing the indicator which carries the succession of indications or which points to this succession of indications to be instantly brought back to its initial position upon a simple action on a hammer which acts on a cam integral with the indicator. Thus, in the event the timepiece in which the display device according to the invention is embedded is stopped for a more or less extended period of time, it is very easy to bring the indicator back to its initial position and then, from this initial position, to manually set the position of this indicator as a function of the current day. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2    annexed hereto, the device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable is provided in order to display the moon phases. Denoted as a whole by the general reference numeral  1 , the device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable comprises a moon phase indicator  2 . Preferably, but in a non-limiting manner, this moon phase indicator  2  is a 59-tooth moon phase wheel  3  which carries two moon indications  4   a  and  4   b  for displaying the moon phases through an aperture provided in a dial of the timepiece (not shown) wherein the device  1  for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable according to the invention is embedded. This moon phase wheel  3  is driven at a rate of one step per day by a drive finger  6  fixedly mounted on a 24-hour wheel  8  which is itself driven by an hour wheel  10  at a rate of one complete revolution per day. This moon phase wheel  3  is held in position by a jumper  12  elastically loaded by a first spring  14 . The device  1  for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable further comprises a correcting lever  16  which, in normal circumstances, is held away from the moon phase wheel  3  by the action of a second spring  18 . This correcting lever  16  is arranged to advance the moon phase wheel  3  step by step and to allow the moon phase display to be corrected when the user of the timepiece actuates a first push button  20 . 
     In accordance with the invention, the device  1  for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable is equipped with a mechanism  22  for positioning an indicator in a reference position which comprises a cam, for example in the form of a heart-piece  24 , fixedly mounted on a lower face  26  of the moon phase wheel  3 . This heart-piece  24  has an indexing face  28  via which it cooperates with a hammer  30  which is held elastically away from its active position in contact with the indexing face  28  of the heart-piece  24  by a third spring  32 . When the user uses a second push button  34  to act on the hammer  30  against the elastic force of the third spring  32 , the hammer  30  falls onto the heart-piece  24  and causes the latter to pivot until this hammer  30  bears in a stable manner on the indexing face  28  of the heart-piece  24 . The position of the heart-piece  24  relative to the moon phase wheel  3  is adjusted such that, when the hammer  30  falls on the heart-piece  24 , the moon phase wheel  3  is brought back to its reference position, preferably to the full moon display position. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the heart-piece  24  of the mechanism  22  for positioning the indicator in a reference position is replaced by a snail  36 . The mechanism  22  for positioning the indicator in a reference position remains otherwise unchanged. In the event that a heart-piece  24  is used to bring the moon phase wheel  3  back to its reference position, depending on where on the profile of this heart-piece  24  the hammer  30  falls, the moon phase wheel  3  will rotate in one direction or the other until the hammer  30  comes to bear on the indexing face  28 . In the event that a snail  36  is used, the moon phase wheel  3  will always rotate in the same direction, regardless of where on the profile of the snail  36  the hammer  30  falls, and will stop when the hammer  30  comes to bear on the end  38  of the spiral  40  of the snail  36 . 
     The case where the display device is intended to display the weeks of the year will now be examined. Denoted as a whole by the general reference numeral  42 , such a weeks of the year display device comprises an indicator indicating the weeks of the year. Preferably but in a non-limiting manner, this indicator indicating the weeks of the year is a 53-tooth wheel  44  displaying the weeks of the year which bears an indicator hand  46  which moves opposite a graduation bearing the week numbers from 1 to 53 (see  FIGS.  4  and  5   ). The mechanism  22  for positioning the weeks of the year display wheel  44  in a position reference remains otherwise unchanged. The weeks of the year display wheel  44  is driven at a rate of one step per week. When the weeks of the year display wheel  44  is brought back to its reference position, in which the indicator hand  46  preferably points to the week of the year number 1 indication, by actuating the hammer  30 , this weeks of the year display wheel  44  always rotates in the same direction thanks to the use of the snail  36 . 
     The use of the snail  36  is particularly advantageous in the case where the indicator hand  46  does not make a complete revolution to display the weeks of the year. More specifically, it can be provided that the display of the weeks from 1 to 53 takes place, for example, only about an angular sector of 270° between 1:30 and 10:30, in order to avoid overloading the dial at noon, where the indication “12” is usually emphasized by a larger or thicker display. In such a case, by bringing the indicator hand  46  back to its reference position by means of the snail  36 , this indicator hand  46  can be rotated in the opposite direction to that in which it rotates to display the numbers of the weeks from 1 to 53, such that there is no longer a risk of the indicator hand  46  passing into the sector of the dial where the indication “12” is displayed. 
     According to another specific embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS.  6  to  9   , the display device provided for displaying the weeks of the year is of the “large date” type. Denoted as a whole by the general reference numeral  48 , the “large date” display device comprises a units display assembly  50  and a tens display assembly  51 . 
     The units display assembly  50  comprises a units disc  52  on which the units of the week numbers 0 to 9 are inscribed. This units disc  52  is fixed to a units star-wheel  54  which has 10 teeth. The position of this units star-wheel  54  is indexed by a units jumper  56 . This units star-wheel  54  is driven at a rate of one step per week by a units drive finger  58 . The units display assembly  50  further comprises a tens drive finger  60  fixed to the units star-wheel  54  which increments the tens display assembly  51  by one step at the end of every 9 weeks. 
     The tens display assembly  51  comprises a tens disc  62  on which the tens of the week numbers 0 to 5 are inscribed. This tens disc  62  is fixed to a tens star-wheel  64  which has 6 teeth. The position of this tens star-wheel  64  is indexed by a tens jumper  66 . When changing from the unit of weeks “9” to the unit of weeks “0”, the units star-wheel  54  drives the tens star-wheel  64  via the tens drive finger  60 . 
     The “large date” display device  48  is supplemented by a correcting lever  68  which, when the user acts on a push button  70 , allows the units star-wheel  54  to advance by one step each time this push button  70  is actuated. 
     In accordance with the invention, the “large date” display device  48  is equipped with a mechanism  72  for positioning an indicator in a reference position which comprises two cams, for example in the form of a snail  74 , fixedly mounted beneath each of the units star-wheel  54  and tens star-wheel  64 . Each of these snails  74  has a spiral-shaped profile  76  by means whereof they cooperate with one of the actuation faces  78  of a hammer  80  which is held elastically away from its active position in contact with these snails  74  by a spring  82 . When the user uses a push button  84  to act on the hammer  80  against the elastic force of the spring  82 , the hammer  80  falls onto the snails  74  and causes the latter to pivot until this hammer  80  bears in a stable manner on the end  86  of the spiral-shaped profiles  76  of the snails  74 . The position of the snails  74  relative to the units star-wheel  54  and the tens star-wheel  64  is adjusted such that, when the hammer  80  falls on the snails  74 , the units disc  52  and tens disc  62  are brought back to their reference position, preferably that in which they display the indication “01”. 
     It must be understood that, as a result of the use of the snails  74 , the units disc  52  and tens disc  62  will always rotate in the same direction, regardless of where on the profile of the snails  74  the hammer  80  falls, and will stop when the hammer  80  comes to bear on the end  86  of the spiral-shaped profiles  76  of the snails  74 . This is particularly advantageous insofar as, by forcing the correction of the units display and of the tens display in the opposite direction of rotation to that of the normal display of the week numbers, the “large date” display device  48  no longer briefly shows the non-existent week numbers 54 to 59. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG.  10   , the driving, correction and bringing back to the reference position, of an indicator, for example of an indicator hand  88  type, which points to the succession of indications of the time variable to be displayed, in this case a succession of 15 days, are carried out by a wolf-toothed rack  90  held in position by a first return spring  92  and whose movements are controlled by a correcting lever  94  held in position by a second return spring  96 . The driving and stepped correction of the indicator hand  88  are carried out by driving the wolf-toothed rack  90  by one tooth each time, by means of the correcting lever  94 , by exerting a force thereon as shown by the arrow F 1 . The wolf-toothed rack  90  is prevented from moving backwards by a pawl  98  held in position by a third return spring  100 . The bringing of the indicator hand  88  back to its reference position is controlled by the user who actuates the pawl  98  as shown by the arrow F 2 , which has the effect of releasing the pawl  98  from the toothing of the wolf-toothed rack  90  and thus of releasing the wolf-toothed rack  90 . Under the action of its return spring  92 , the wolf-toothed rack  90  will thus be able to return to its rest position wherein the pawl  98  engages with a tooth  102  provided at the end of this wolf-toothed rack  90 . 
     It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described hereinabove and that various simple alternatives and modifications can be considered by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. It must be noted in particular that a timepiece can be equipped with a plurality of devices for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable, each equipped with a mechanism for positioning an indicator in a reference position according to the invention, and that all of these display devices are simultaneously brought back to the reference position by one and the same action by the user on a single push button. It must also be noted in the figures accompanying the present patent application that the moving elements such as the correcting levers are shown via dotted lines in their rest position, and via solid lines in their active position. 
     Nomenclature 
     
         
           1 . Device for displaying a succession of indications of a time variable 
           2 . Moon phase indicator 
           3 . Moon phase wheel 
           4   a,    4   b.  Moon indications 
           6 . Drive finger 
           8 . 24-hour wheel 
           10 . Hours wheel 
           12 . Jumper 
           14 . First spring 
           16 . Correcting lever 
           18 . Second spring 
           20 . First push button 
           22 . Mechanism for positioning an indicator in a reference position 
           24 . Heart-piece 
           26 . Lower face 
           28 . Indexing surface 
           30 . Hammer 
           32 . Third spring 
           34 . Second push button 
           36 . Snail 
           38 . End 
           40 . Spiral 
           42 . Weeks of the year display device 
           44 . Weeks of the year display wheel 
           46 . Indicator hand 
           48 . “Large date” display device 
           50 . Units display assembly 
           51 . Tens display assembly 
           52 . Units disc 
           54 . Units star-wheel 
           56 . Units jumper 
           58 . Units drive finger 
           60 . Tens drive finger 
           62 . Tens disc 
           64 . Tens star-wheel 
           66 . Tens jumper 
           68 . Correcting lever 
           70 . Push button 
           72 . Mechanism for positioning an indicator in a reference position 
           74 . Snails 
           76 . Spiral-shaped profile 
           78 . Actuation faces 
           80 . Hammer 
           82 . Spring 
           84 . Push button 
           86 . End 
           88 . Indicator hand 
           90 . Wolf-toothed rack 
           92 . First return spring 
           94 . Correcting lever 
           96 . Second return spring 
           98 . Pawl 
           100 . Third return spring 
           102 . Tooth