Patent Publication Number: US-2009225632-A1

Title: Combination watch winder and display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to watch winders, and in particular to watch winders that have one orientation for display and another orientation for winding. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Various mechanisms called watch winders have been designed to wind the main springs of self-winding watches when the watches are not being worn. Basically, these watch winders are comprised of a watch support to hold the watch at a desired orientation on the winder and a means for moving the watch support in a predetermined pattern, usually at periodic intervals. The movement pattern is preferably designed to simulate the movement of a user&#39;s wrist, thereby rotating or oscillating the watch in accordance with the watch&#39;s design to keep the main spring wound. 
     The winding mechanism of a self-winding watch is comprised of a bearing mounted pendulum or rotor that is connected through a gear reduction system to the mainspring of the watch. Generally, the rotor can rotate 360° in either direction. However, there are also so-called “hammer” shaped rotors in older self-winding watches that have a limited travel of 150° to 220° rotation. In either case when the watch is worn, the user&#39;s random and often rapid arm movements cause the rotor to swing back and forth inertially in both directions around the rotor axis, thereby winding the watch main spring. The watch main spring generally stores sufficient energy to keep the watch operating 36-48 hours, whether worn or not. Thus, when worn daily, the watch will be sufficiently wound to maintain continuous operation. However, if the watch is not worn regularly, the user must wind the watch, either manually or with a watch winder, or the watch will stop. 
     Watch winders are typically comprised of an electric drive mechanism that rotates a watch carrier adapted to hold a watch with the plane of the watch face perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the carrier. That is, the rotor axis is parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism, so that the watch rotates in the same plane as the hands of the watch. During the period of activation, the watch is partially or completely rotated several times either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction or, alternately, reversing in both directions. The powered rotation of the watch is controlled to limit the turns per day to prevent damage or malfunction due to the forces exerted on the winding mechanism. 
     The motor may be directly connected to the drive wheel by mounting the drive roller on the shaft of the motor, or the motor may be connected through intermediate gearing or belts. The motor in turn is connected in a circuit with a power source, e.g., a battery or other electric power supply, and a switch to open and close the circuit. 
     Watch winders are designed to operate with the face of the watch support, and thereby the face of the watch, oriented in a vertical plane or within less than 60° from vertical. When oriented in this manner, the rotor can freely rotate as the watch is rotated. This orientation is not desirable for the display of the watch winder or a watch mounted thereon, however, since the winder is normally at counter height when displayed, and thus below the potential purchasers line-of-sight. Thus, there is a need for a watch winder that serves the normal watch winding function, while being easily viewed by potential purchasers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     Generally, the present invention relates to a watch winder that can be positioned in one of two orientations. In the first or display orientation, the winder is oriented to display the watch winder and any watch mounted thereon to potential purchasers. In the second or winding orientation the winder is operable to wind a watch supported on the watch winder. Importantly, the watch winder is operable only when it is in the second or winding orientation. The watch winder will normally be mounted in a case that can be oriented with the watch winder, or the watch winder can be oriented independent of the case orientation. 
     Watch winders forming a part of the present invention may be of different configurations, and the specific design of the winder, other than as specifically described herein, is not a feature of the present invention. Several watch winders and components thereof are described in the prior art, including in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,254,270 and 6,543,929 to the present inventor, the entire content of these patents being incorporated herein by reference. 
     Normally, a suitable watch winder is comprised of a housing supporting a winder mechanism which includes a watch support that is rotatable mounted directly or through gearing to a rotatable shaft that is rotated by an electrical motor or other drive means. The drive means is in a circuit with a controller, which controls the frequency and interval of each activation of the winder mechanism. The watch support is often comprised of a compressible watch carrier that is inserted into a cup that is connected to the shaft. 
     The watch winder of the present invention is designed to be operable only when the winder is in the second or winding orientation, thereby avoiding unproductive rotation of the watch winder mechanism and watch when the winder is in the display orientation. For example, the mechanism&#39;s circuitry may include a position or tilt switch, e.g., a mercury switch or moveable ball switch, that is open when the winder is in the display orientation and closed when the winder is in the winding orientation, thereby enabling activation of the winding mechanism only in the winding orientation. Other mechanical or electrical means for effecting this result will become apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     Generally, the winder will be in the display, or inactive, orientation when the longitudinal axis of the winder mechanism shaft is at an angle of from about 0° to 30° relative to vertical, while the winder will be in the winding, or active, orientation when the longitudinal axis of the winder mechanism shaft is at an angle of from about 30° to 90° relative to vertical. When within this latter angular range, the tilt switch or other orientation-dependent switch will close, thereby completing the winding circuit. 
     The case in which the watch winder is mounted is generally in the shape of a lidded box with parallel front and back walls, parallel side walls extending between the ends of the front and back walls, a bottom wall extending to the edges of the front, back and side walls, and a lid hinged to the top edge of one of the side walls. The box walls define a cavity into which the watch winder is inserted. The lid, normally having a top wall and four side walls corresponding to the front, back and side walls of the box. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the case is designed so that it can rest on either the bottom wall or one of the side walls. 
     The watch winder is sized to be inserted into the box cavity so that the upper surface of the winder is generally parallel to the upper edges of the front, back and side walls when the winder is fully inserted. When the winder is fully inserted into the case and the case rests on the bottom wall of the case, the winder will be in the display orientation. 
     The watch winder may be oriented to the winding orientation in one of two ways. First, the watch winder and case can be tilted as a unit to at least 30° for vertical. For example, the case can be oriented to rest on a side wall instead of the bottom wall, thereby orienting the longitudinal axis of the winder horizontally, i.e., 90° from vertical. In this orientation, the tilt switch is closed and the winder is activated in accordance with the controller schedule, so long as the on-off switch is in the “on” position. 
     Alternatively, the winder can be oriented to the winding position independent of the case. For example, the winder can be lifted from the case, rotated to an angle between 30° and 90° from vertical and placed back onto the case so that the case supports the winder. For this purpose, it is not necessary for the winder to be fully reinserted into the case. 
     In operation, the watch winder with a watch mounted thereon is placed in the case with the watch winder longitudinal axis, i.e., the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drive shaft, being less than 30° from vertical. In this orientation, the watch faces generally upward so that it can be easily viewed by prospective purchasers. 
     When the watch winder is to be used to wind a watch that is mounted on the winder, either in the showroom or by the purchaser, the watch winder is oriented to the winding position either by rotating the case with the winder inserted in the case so that the vertical axis of the case, i.e., the axis transverse to the bottom wall is at an angle of greater than 30° from vertical, or by removing the watch winder from the case and rotating the watch winder so that the watch winder vertical axis is greater than 30° beyond vertical. The winding circuit is then closed automatically by the tilt switch, thereby winding the watch in accordance with the sequence programmed into the controller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the winder and case in the display orientation. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the winder and case oriented together to the winding orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the winder tilted to the winding orientation and the case remaining in the upright position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a typical winding mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic of a typical drive mechanism electrical circuit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention, and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended to be to scale. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention is comprised of a watch winder, generally  10 , that is mounted within a case, generally  12 . Case  12  is generally in the shape of a lidded box with parallel front and back walls,  14  and  16  respectively, parallel side walls,  18  and  20  respectively, extending between the ends of walls  14  and  16 , a bottom wall  22  extending to the lower edges of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , and a lid  24  hinged to the top edge of one of the side walls. The box walls define a cavity into which watch winder  10  is inserted. In one embodiment of the invention, the case is designed so that it can rest on either wall  22  or one of side walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  or  20 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates winder  10  and case  12  in the first or display orientation with the longitudinal axis of winder  10  being oriented vertically, and case  12  being supported on bottom wall  22 . In this orientation, watch  26  can be easily viewed while case  12  is setting on a counter, for example. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates watch winder  10  in the second or winding orientation with winder  10  and case  12  being tilted 90° so that case  12  is supported on side wall  22 . In this orientation, the watch winder mechanism, generally  48  in  FIG. 4 , is operable to wind the watch. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates orientation of watch winder  10  in the second or winding orientation independent of case  12 . In the embodiment illustrated, winder  10  is rotated approximately 45° from vertical independent of case  12  and then partially reinserted into case  12  with lid  24  further securing winder  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a typical watch winder mechanism, generally  48 , comprised of a drive mechanism, generally  50 , and a watch carrier, generally  52 . Drive mechanism  50  is comprised of a rotatable shaft  54  driven by electric motor  56  connected to shaft  54  through a set of reduction gears  58 . Battery  62  powers motor  56 . Watch carrier  52  is comprised of a molded cup  66  having an open cavity  68  to hold cushioned watch support  70 , which is adapted to support a watch  72  with band  74  extending around watch support  70  when watch  72  is mounted on watch carrier  52 . Battery  62  and motor  56  are in a circuit with controller  76  and tilt switch  78 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the circuitry of drive mechanism  50 , the circuitry being comprised of battery  62 , motor  56 , controller  76  and tilt switch  78 . The circuitry also includes a manually operated on-off switch  80  to open and close the circuit to prevent operation of drive mechanism  48  when the winder is not to be used for extended periods. 
     In operation, watch  72  is mounted in carrier  52  on drive mechanism  48 , which is within case  12 . Case  12  is supported on bottom  22  for display of watch  72 . When the vendor or the purchaser wishes to wind a watch, winder  10  and case  12  may be tilted as a unit onto side wall  18 , positioning shaft  54  in a horizontal orientation and closing tilt switch  78 . If on-off switch  80  is also closed, drive mechanism  50  is ready for activation as determined by controller  76 . Upon activation, shaft  54  rotates carrier  52  thereby winding watch  72 . Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , winder  10  can be tilted independently of case  12 , and will operate in the same manner. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.