Patent Publication Number: US-9846411-B2

Title: Adjustable snooze timer for mechanical watches

Description:
This application claims priority from European Patent Application No 15190808.4 of Oct. 21, 2015 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns an alarm mechanism arranged to control the motion of at least one mechanical actuator cooperating with a striking mechanism controlled by a timepiece movement, and comprising a timer for setting a snooze time, wherein said timer is entirely mechanical and includes first control means able to be actuated at a first moment by a user during the playing of an alarm chime in order to disengage said actuator and momentarily stop said alarm chime, and in that said timer includes mechanical timing means arranged to automatically cause said alarm chime to play again at a second moment, after a predefined duration from said first moment. 
     The invention also concerns a watch including such a timer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When an alarm mechanism emits an alarm signal, particularly via a striking mechanism, a snooze function makes it possible to stop the alarm and then release the alarm again after a short time. This function is only present in electronic timepieces. 
     FR Patent Application 1235290A in the name of GÜNTER HEMPEL discloses a repeater alarm wherein striking is eliminated by a toothed wheel mounted on the minute arbor and which repeater alarm can be locked in the stop position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to incorporate such a snooze function, which can be adjusted in steps of predefined durations, particularly 5 minutes, and actuated by the user, in a watch already fitted with an alarm mechanism. 
     The invention therefore concerns an alarm mechanism comprising a timer for setting a snooze time according to claim  1 . 
     The invention also concerns a watch including such a timer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic plan view of the snooze timer mechanism according to the invention, added to an alarm mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  represents a part of the mechanism of  FIG. 1  during the alarm chime, at the stage at which the snooze function can be started. 
         FIG. 3  represents a part of the mechanism of  FIG. 1  when the snooze function is actuated. 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  show a detail relating to the mobility of a control click, comprised in the mechanism according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4 : contact between the control click and a rack pin. 
         FIG. 5 : contact between this click and a contact lever jumper pin. 
         FIG. 6 : retraction of the control click. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along section A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along section B-B of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram representing a watch including a movement, a striking mechanism and an alarm mechanism to which is added a snooze timer mechanism according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention concerns a timer  100  for setting a snooze time, devised to be incorporated in or added to an alarm mechanism  200  known to those skilled in the art, arranged to control the motion of at least one mechanical actuator  11  cooperating with a striking mechanism  300  controlled by a timepiece movement  400 . 
     According to the invention, this timer  100  is entirely mechanical. 
     In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figures, this timer  100  comprises first control means, which can be actuated, at a first moment, by a user during the playing of an alarm chime in order to disengage actuator  11  and momentarily stop the alarm chime. This timer  100  includes mechanical timing means, which are arranged to automatically cause the alarm chime to play again at a second moment, after a predefined duration from the first moment. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the whole of mechanism  100 ; the alarm release mechanism is not represented. The contour of movement  400  is symbolised by a simple arc of a circle in the Figures. 
       FIG. 2  represents a part of mechanism  100  during the playing of the alarm chime, at the stage at which the snooze function can be started. 
     When the alarm chimes, an actuator  11  is released and moves, along arrow F in  FIG. 2 , to strike a gong, not represented in the Figures, preferably but not restrictively fixed to the exterior of timepiece movement  400  which cooperates with a striking mechanism  300  and such an alarm mechanism  200 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, actuator  11  is an alarm hammer, and the present description concerns this non-limiting variant. The invention is, of course, applicable to any other form of actuator for a striking-mechanism. 
     Timer  100  includes a release cam  7 , which is controlled, directly, or indirectly as in the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, by the first control means. This release cam  7  is arranged to control the pivoting of a hammer lever  9 , comprised in timer  100 . Depending on its angular position, hammer lever  9  releases or locks actuator  11 , to allow or respectively prevent an alarm chime playing. 
     The invention allows the user to choose between letting the alarm chime finish completely, or deactivating the alarm via an ordinary mechanism, or starting a snooze function specific to the invention, using the first control means. 
     These first control means include a first push-piece  161  arranged to be actuated by the user, and to cause a control lever  16  to pivot. This first control lever  16  is arranged, when pivoting under the action of a user, to control the pivoting of a rack  15  which is arranged to drive release cam  7 . 
     In the particular variant illustrated by the Figures, control lever  16  includes for this purpose a control click  160 , which allows activation of the snooze function, and which is mounted on control lever  16  and articulated thereto, and returned by at least one spring  17 . 
     When control lever  16  pivots about its axis D 1 , control click  160  pushes a rack  15  which pivots about an axis D 2 , by means of a rack pin  150  which is integral with said rack  15 . 
     Control click  160  includes a first end bearing surface  162 , which is arranged to push rack pin  150  so as to pivot rack  15 , and a second end bearing surface  163  arranged to push a pin  13  comprised in a lever jumper  90 , which is integral with hammer lever  9 . This hammer lever  9  includes an oblong hole  92  in which is movable pin  13 , which tends to push control click  160  back outwardly from movement  400 , into a position where the user can operate the first control means. 
     More particularly, control click  160  includes, between said first end bearing surface  162  and the articulation with control lever  16 , a side bearing surface  165  receiving and supporting rack pin  150 , and, between first end bearing surface  162 , and second end bearing surface  163 , a recess  164  allowing control click  160  to retract when the first control means are operated in the end of travel position by the user. 
     More particularly, first control lever  16  is articulated to control click  160  by means of a pin  166  movable in an oblong hole  167 , and returned towards the exterior of movement  400  by said spring  17 . 
     The first degrees of rotation of rack  15  allow a hammer lever  9  to be raised, via an intermediate rack wheel  14 , then a cam release wheel  6 , which is integral with a release cam  7 , then a roller  8  which is arranged to cooperate with a notch  70  in release cam  7 . 
     Hammer lever  9  may, depending on its angular position, either lock alarm hammer  11 , by engaging in abutment, via a stop surface  91  comprised therein, on a pin  10  which is integral with alarm hammer  11 , or allow the travel of the alarm hammer. 
     Hammer lever  9  carries a disengagable wheel  5 , on the side opposite to that of stop surface  91  for the embodiment illustrated in the Figures. Disengagable wheel  5  meshes with a gear train of movement  400  via a friction spring  30 . Disengagable wheel  5  can occupy a first position of mesh with a release cam wheel  6  integral with release cam  7 , this first position of mesh corresponding to an angular position wherein hammer lever  9  locks actuator  11 , and a second out-of-mesh position with release cam wheel  6 , this second out-of-mesh position corresponding to an angular position wherein hammer lever  9  allows actuator  11  free passage. 
     When hammer lever  9  pivots about its axis D 3  to lock hammer  11 , disengagable wheel  5  connects cam wheel  6  to a cannon-pinion  1  via second  2 , third  3  and fourth  4  intermediate wheels. 
     At this stage, rack  15  has not yet finished its travel. Indeed, rack  15  continues to pivot until it bears, via a beak  151  comprised therein, on a duration cam  12 . While pivoting, rack  15  drives release cam  7 , release cam wheel  6  and disengagable wheel  5 . 
     It is understood that the angle of rack  15 , when it drops, determines the duration. 
     According to the invention, timer  100  comprises second control means actuatable by a user to adjust the predefined snooze time duration. 
     To this end, rack  15  comprises a beak  151 , which is arranged to bear on a cam track comprised in duration cam  12 , which preferably has a plurality of tracks each corresponding to a particular duration of time enabling the user to set the predefined duration. 
     Advantageously, to avoid straining the going train, the fourth intermediate wheel  4  is driven by the third intermediate wheel  3  by means of a friction spring  30  as seen in  FIG. 7 . When rack  15  is stopped against duration cam  12 , the countdown is started. 
     Cannon-pinion  1  drives release cam  7  in the opposite direction. Roller  8  is forced against release cam  7  and will roll until it drops into notch  70  of release cam  7 , thereby driving hammer lever  9 , which will release the actuator or hammer  11 , and release disengagable wheel  5 . 
     The alarm will then sound again and the snooze function will be disconnected from the movement. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the activated snooze function. 
     Duration cam  12 , according to the invention, allows the user to set the snooze time duration. Indeed, it preferably comprises several stages, which each correspond to a basic duration, specific to the profile of duration cam  12 . These predefined basic durations are not necessarily constant; they may be, in particular, increasingly reduced or vice versa. 
     Duration cam  12  is advantageously coupled to a star  120  moved by the second control means. The second control means comprise a setting system, not shown in full in the Figures, which represent only a star  120  comprised in the second control means, which those skilled in the art may envisage operating by means of any conventional mechanism: a second push-piece, knurling-roller, pull-out piece or other element. Naturally, the second control means may comprise, instead of star  120 , an equivalent component for performing this function. 
     In the particular and non-limiting example illustrated, each stage of duration cam  12  corresponds to a step of 5 minutes&#39; duration. Release cam  7  rotates by a smaller or greater angle, depending on the stage on which beak  151  of rack  15  is stopped. The snooze time duration is thus shorter or longer. Duration cam  12  is positioned by star  120 , onto which a hand or a disc can easily be pressed, so as to display the setting of the snooze time duration. 
     In another variant not illustrated in the Figures, duration cam  12  is a smooth cam, for small adjustments to the snooze time duration, for example on the order of a minute. 
     A display wheel  21  is connected to release cam  7  by series of intermediate wheels  20 ,  19 ,  18 . By pressing a hand or a disc onto display wheel  21 , it is easy to display a snooze activation indicator, or a countdown of the remaining minutes before the alarm sounds again, when the snooze function is activated. 
     In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the Figures, display wheel  21  is coaxial with duration cam  12  and star  120 , and the two displays can thus cooperate with the same dial or indicator. 
     In order to avoid reactivating the snooze function while the latter is still operating, a safety feature is provided: when the snooze function is deactivated, control click  160  moves past a lever jumper pin  13 , fixed to the end of a lever jumper  90  integral with hammer lever  9 , and movable in an oblong hole  92  in rack  15 , and control click  160  pushes rack pin  150 . 
     When hammer lever  9  is raised, this lever jumper  90  positions lever jumper pin  13 . 
     If the user presses on push-piece  161  to actuate control lever  16 , against a spring  17 , control click  160  moves against lever jumper pin  13 , pivots about an axis D 5  with respect to control lever which carries said click, and moves past rack pin  150 . The pivoting of control click  160  with respect to control lever  16  is limited by a pin  166  moving in an oblong hole  167 , and returned to one end of oblong hole  167  by end  170  of spring  17 , so that it tends to permanently push control click  160  towards jumper  15 . 
       FIGS. 4 to 6  illustrate the mobility of control click  160  which includes a fork with two arms, the first arm  168  comprising first end bearing surface  162 , arranged to be able to cooperate in abutment with rack pin  150 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , and the second arm  169  comprising second end bearing surface  163 , arranged to be able to cooperate in abutment with lever jumper spring  13 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , this second arm also including a side surface  164  for limiting the travel of lever jumper spring  13 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , which corresponds to the retraction of the control click. 
     The snooze function can only be restarted when hammer lever  9  is in a rest position, and therefore only when the snooze function is deactivated. 
     Beforehand, in this rest position, click  160  is in the position of  FIG. 4 . Roller  8  is positioned in that case in notch  70  of release cam  7 . A thrust motion imparted to push-piece  161  causes first bearing surface  162  to push on rack pin  150 , and the particular inclined shape given to this first bearing surface  162  causes rack pin  150  to slide into the hollow of click  160 , inside the U delimited by its two arms. 
     At the articulation between first control lever  16  and click  160 , pin  166  of click  160  is movable in oblong hole  167  of first control lever  16 . This pin  166  tends to pivot anti-clockwise, under the action of spring  17  which bears thereon, pin  166  then moves to the bottom of oblong  167 , into a position where the connection between first control lever  16  and click  160  is almost a rigid connection, due to the butting of pin  166  in oblong hole  167 . 
     Rack  15  is then released and can drop. Release cam  7  pivots. Hammer lever  9  is raised at the same time that first control lever  16  falls. 
     Pin  13  of lever jumper  90  then moves against the end of oblong hole  92  of release lever  9 . This means that click  160  can continue to be pushed. Lever jumper  90  is stressed, this is the member that ensures that the snooze mechanism operates safely without breakage when it positions lever pin  13 . 
       FIG. 5  corresponds to the position where the user can start timer mechanism  100 . Lever jumper  90  is dimensioned to be stiffer than spring  17 . Consequently, click  160  can pivot about axis D 5  in the clockwise direction, under the thrust of lever pin  13  driven by jumper  90 . Pin  166  then tends to go to the other side of oblong hole  167 . The first arm of click  60 , which carries first bearing surface  162 , moves past the pin. 
     The retracted position of the click of  FIG. 6  is then reached, wherein lever pin  13  is bearing on the inner side  164  of the second arm of the click. Rack pin  150  is behind the outer side surface  165  of the first arm of click  60 , and theoretically remote from this outer surface  165 . 
     The invention also concerns a watch  1000  comprising a timepiece movement  400  cooperating with a striking mechanism  300  and an alarm mechanism  200  arranged to control the motion of at least one mechanical actuator  11 , watch  1000  comprising such a timer  100  for setting a snooze time. 
     The invention has the advantage of not wasting torque. Indeed, roller  8  permanently rolls on release cam  7 , except when it cooperates with its notch  70 . The engaging force occurs under pressure from the user, and thus does not use any energy resource internal to the watch. When roller  8  enters notch  70 , the disengaging force is provided by hammer lever  9 , which disengages the assembly and returns it to the rest position.