Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a watch including a mechanism for displaying the moon position and the moon phase. The watch includes a constellation plate on which the ecliptic and the numbers representing, on the ecliptic, the positions of the sun in each day of each month are provided, and a moon plate on which marks of the moon positions and the moon phases are provided. The constellation plate rotates in synchronization with the stellar diurnal motion, and the moon plate rotates at a predetermined rotational ratio with respect to the constellation plate. The user can determine the moon phase by estimating the position of the today's sun on the basis of the numbers on the ecliptic, by connecting the position of the sun and the center of the moon plate with a virtual straight line, and then by checking a moon phase indicator through which the straight line passes, on the moon plate. <CIT> discloses another example of watch including a moon phase display.

With the above-described watch, the user has to read the moon phase indicator by estimating the position of the sun by his or her self, and as such the user may recognize a wrong moon phase.

A moon phase display watch of the present disclosure include a first member configured to make one rotation per day, a second member configured to rotate coaxially with the first member and to make M-<NUM> rotations every M days, the M days being a period of a synodic month, a moon phase indicating part provided at one of the first member and the second member, the moon phase indicating part being configured to indicate a moon phase, and a moon phase pointing part provided at the other of the first member and the second member, the moon phase pointing part being configured to point to the moon phase indicating part. The value of M is <NUM>.

In the moon phase display watch of the present disclosure, the moon phase indicating part may indicate the moon phase in a form of a number of the moon phase or a shape of a moon, and the moon phase pointing part may display the moon phase by pointing to the number of the moon phase or the shape of the moon.

In the moon phase display watch of the present disclosure, the first member may be a sun plate having a disc shape, the second member may be a moon hand having a hand shape, the moon phase indicating part may be provided at the sun plate, and the moon phase pointing part may be provided at the moon hand.

In the moon phase display watch of the present disclosure, the first member may be a sun hand having a hand shape, the second member may be a moon plate having a disc shape, the moon phase indicating part may be provided at the moon plate, and the moon phase pointing part may be provided at the sun hand.

The moon phase display watch of the present disclosure may further include a synodic plate disposed on a side opposite to the sun hand with the moon plate disposed between the synodic plate and the sun hand, and a planetary gear mechanism configured to drive the synodic plate in conjunction with a rotation of the sun hand and in conjunction with a rotation of the moon plate. The moon plate may include an aperture having a circular shape, and the synodic plate may include a light region and a dark region that are visually recognized through the aperture in accordance with the rotations of the sun hand and the moon plate in plan view in a direction perpendicular to the moon plate.

The moon phase display watch of the present disclosure may further include a first wheel to which the first member is fixed, the first wheel being configured to make one rotation per day, the first wheel including a first gear, a second wheel to which the second member is fixed, the second wheel being configured to make M-<NUM> rotations every M days, the second wheel including a second gear, and an intermediate wheel including a first intermediate gear configured to engage with the first gear and a second intermediate gear configured to engage with the second gear, in which a = <NUM>, b = <NUM>, c = <NUM>, and d = <NUM> hold, where a is a number of teeth of the first gear, d is a number of teeth of the second gear, c is a number of teeth of the first intermediate gear, and b is a number of teeth of the second intermediate gear.

The moon phase display watch of the present disclosure may further include an hour hand, an hour wheel configured to fix the hour hand, a second wheel to which the second member is fixed, the second wheel being configured to make M-<NUM> rotations every M days, the second wheel including a second gear, and an intermediate wheel including an hour intermediate gear configured to engage with the hour wheel and a second intermediate gear configured to engage with the second gear, in which e = <NUM>, f = <NUM>, g = <NUM>, and h = <NUM> hold, where e is a number of teeth of the hour wheel, f is a number of teeth of the hour intermediate gear, g is a number of teeth of the second intermediate gear, and h is a number of teeth of the second gear.

In the moon phase display watch of the present disclosure, the M is <NUM>.

A moon phase display watch of the present disclosure includes a sun wheel configured to make one rotation per day, a moon wheel configured to make M-<NUM> rotations every M days, the M days being a period of a synodic month, a moon plate having a disc shape and fixed to the moon wheel, the moon plate including an aperture having a circular shape, a synodic wheel configured to be rotated coaxially with the moon wheel, a synodic plate fixed to the synodic wheel, the synodic plate including a light region and a dark region that are visually recognized through the aperture of the moon plate, and a planetary gear mechanism including a synodic feed gear configured to be driven in conjunction with a rotation of the sun wheel and in conjunction with a rotation of the moon wheel to rotate the synodic wheel.

A moon phase display watch <NUM> of a first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the moon phase display watch <NUM> is a watch with hands, and includes a case <NUM> that houses a display unit <NUM> and a movement <NUM>, and a crown <NUM>. The case <NUM> is a common watch case including a case body, a cover glass, and a case back.

The display unit <NUM> includes a dial <NUM>, an hour hand <NUM>, a minute hand <NUM>, a second hand <NUM>, and a moon hand <NUM> having a hand shape.

The dial <NUM> includes a fixed dial <NUM> and a sun plate <NUM>. The fixed dial <NUM> is composed of a circular plate having a circular aperture <NUM> at a planar center. In other words, the fixed dial <NUM> is formed in an annular shape and is disposed on the outer perimeter side of the sun plate <NUM>. Indexes <NUM> are provided on the fixed dial <NUM> at an interval of <NUM> degrees. The index <NUM> is also referred to as an hour mark, and is an indicator disposed to indicate a time. As such, an index 215A is an indicator that indicates <NUM> o'clock.

The sun plate <NUM> is composed of a circular plate that can be visually recognized through the aperture <NUM> of the fixed dial <NUM>. The sun plate <NUM> is configured to be rotatable together with a sun wheel <NUM> described later and makes one rotation every <NUM> hours.

Note that the rotation axis of the sun plate <NUM>, i.e., the rotation axis of the sun wheel <NUM>, is aligned with the rotation axes of the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, the second hand <NUM>, and the moon hand <NUM>, and is provided at a planar center position of the dial <NUM>.

A sun mark <NUM> mimicking a sun shape, a plurality of moon marks <NUM> mimicking moon shapes, and moon phase marks <NUM> representing moon phases are printed on the sun plate <NUM>. The sun mark <NUM> and the moon marks <NUM> are displayed along the outer perimeter of the sun plate <NUM>.

The moon phase marks <NUM> are printed on the inner circumference side of the sun mark <NUM> and the moon marks <NUM>. In addition, the moon phase marks <NUM> are provided as moon phase numbers 223A and dots 223B. The moon phase numbers 223A represent odd numbered moon phases, and the dots 223B represent even numbered moon phases. Note that in the moon phase marks <NUM>, even numbered moon phases may be represented by numbers and odd numbered moon phases may be represented by dots, or all moon phases may be provided as numbers.

The moon shape and the moon phase depend on the positional relationship between the sun and the moon. The moon phase <NUM> corresponding to a new moon is indicated when the positions match each other, and the moon phase <NUM> corresponding to a full moon is indicated when the positions are shifted from each other by <NUM> degrees. In the sun plate <NUM>, the sun mark <NUM> is printed at the position of the new moon, and the moon marks <NUM> are printed such that moon marks 222A to <NUM> having shapes corresponding to the waxing and waning of the moon are printed at positions substantially corresponding to the moon marks <NUM>. The moon mark 222F is a mark that represents a full moon of a moon phase <NUM>, and is printed at a position opposite to the sun mark <NUM> with respect to the rotation axis of the sun plate <NUM>, i.e., at a position rotated <NUM> degrees from the sun mark <NUM>.

The moon hand <NUM> includes a pointing part <NUM> that points to the sun mark <NUM>, the moon mark <NUM>, and the moon phase mark <NUM> of the sun plate <NUM>.

The hour hand <NUM> is attached at the <NUM> o'clock position where it points to the index 215A in the state where the sun mark <NUM> of the sun plate <NUM> is aligned with the index 215A representing the <NUM> o'clock position, i.e., the state where the planar center point of the sun mark 215A is located on a virtual line connecting between the rotation axis of the sun plate <NUM> and the index 215A. The sun plate <NUM> makes one rotation every <NUM> hours, and therefore the sun mark <NUM> serves the same function as a <NUM>-hour hand of a watch. Thus, when the <NUM> o'clock position of the moon phase display watch <NUM> is directed toward the north, the sun mark <NUM> points to the actual sun direction.

With respect to the earth, the sun makes one rotation per day and the moon makes one rotation approximately every <NUM> hours <NUM> minutes. Accordingly, the moon falls behind the sun by one rotation every M days, which is the period of the synodic month, i.e., approximately <NUM> days. In other words, it makes <NUM> rotations every <NUM> days.

The moon hand <NUM> is fixed to a moon wheel <NUM> described later, and makes approximately <NUM> rotations every synodic month, i.e., M days = approximately <NUM> days as with the actual moon. Thus, once the moon hand <NUM> is set at the position of moon phase <NUM>, i.e., the position where it points to the sun mark <NUM> at the time of a new moon, the pointing part <NUM> of the moon hand <NUM> points to the actual moon direction when the <NUM> o'clock position of the moon phase display watch <NUM> is directed toward the north.

The movement <NUM> of the moon phase display watch <NUM> will now be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The movement <NUM> is the movement <NUM> of a mechanical watch that is driven by a mainspring, and as illustrated in <FIG>, includes a main plate <NUM>, a center wheel bridge <NUM>, a train wheel bridge <NUM>, a barrel (not illustrated) that contains a mainspring, a train wheel that is rotated by the barrel, and a speed governing mechanism that governs the rotational speed of the train wheel. The speed governing mechanism may be a common speed governing mechanism of a mechanical watch including an escape wheel, a pallet fork and the like, or may be a speed governing mechanism of an electronic mechanical watch including a generator including a rotor that is rotated by a train wheel, and a brake control circuit that is driven by the power generated by the generator to control the rotation of the rotor.

Further, the moon phase display watch <NUM> may be achieved as a quartz watch that drives hands with a motor. In other words, it suffices that the moon phase display watch <NUM> is a watch including hands, and the driving method for the hands is not limited.

The train wheel that is rotated by the barrel includes a center wheel <NUM>, a third wheel (not illustrated), and a fourth wheel <NUM>. In this embodiment, the center wheel <NUM> is rotatably supported by the main plate <NUM> and the center wheel bridge <NUM>, and the fourth wheel <NUM> is rotatably supported by the center wheel <NUM> and the train wheel bridge <NUM>.

The second hand <NUM> is attached to a pivot <NUM> of the fourth wheel <NUM>, and the minute hand <NUM> is attached to a cannon pinion <NUM> fitted with the pivot of the center wheel <NUM>. The hour hand <NUM> is attached to an hour wheel <NUM> that is rotated through a minute wheel <NUM> that engages with the cannon pinion <NUM>. Note that the minute wheel <NUM> is not illustrated in <FIG> and is illustrated in <FIG>.

The moon wheel <NUM> is rotatably attached at a pivotal outer perimeter portion of the hour wheel <NUM>, and the sun wheel <NUM> is rotatably mounted to a pivotal outer perimeter portion of the moon wheel <NUM>.

The moon wheel <NUM> includes a pivot portion <NUM>, a gear <NUM>, and a pinion <NUM>. The pivot portion <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported by the hour wheel <NUM> disposed therein. The gear <NUM> is continuously formed on the end portion of the pivot portion <NUM> on the main plate <NUM> side, and engages with a moon intermediate gear <NUM> of a sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> (described later). The pinion <NUM> is press-fitted to the pivot portion <NUM> so as to rotate together with the pivot portion <NUM> and the gear <NUM>, and to engage with a fifth moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM> (described later).

The moon hand <NUM> is attached to the pivot portion <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM>. As also illustrated in <FIG>, the moon hand <NUM> includes at its tip a disc-shaped pointing part <NUM> mimicking a full moon, and indicates the moon phase by the positional relationship of the sun mark <NUM> and the moon mark <NUM> located in the vicinity of the pointing part <NUM> and the moon phase mark <NUM> overlapping the pointing part <NUM>. Note that the shape of the pointing part <NUM> of the moon hand <NUM> is not limited to a disc shape, and may be a half-moon shape, a crescent shape, or the like. The moon hand <NUM> may also be formed in the same manner as a typical hand, but may be colored or shortened so as to be distinguishable from the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM>.

The sun wheel <NUM> includes a pivot portion <NUM> and a gear <NUM>. The pivot portion <NUM> is formed in a rectangular prism shape having a square shape in plan view, and a throughhole to which the pivot portion <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM> is inserted is formed in a center portion thereof. The pivot portion <NUM> is rotatably supported by the pivot portion <NUM>.

The sun plate <NUM> is attached to the pivot portion <NUM> of the sun wheel <NUM> such that the sun plate <NUM> is rotatable together with the sun wheel <NUM>. Specifically, a rectangular hole having a square shape in plan view is formed at the planar center of the sun plate <NUM>, and the sun plate <NUM> rotates together with the sun wheel <NUM> by inserting the pivot portion <NUM> of the sun wheel <NUM> to the rectangular hole.

The outer circumference edge of the sun plate <NUM> overlaps the inner circumference edge of the fixed dial <NUM> along the aperture <NUM> in plan view, and the fixed dial <NUM> restrains the movement, to the cover glass side, of the sun plate <NUM> located on the main plate <NUM> side relative to the fixed dial <NUM>. Note that, in this embodiment, viewing in the direction perpendicular to the dial <NUM> is referred to as a plan view.

The moon wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> are rotated by the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> that transmits the rotation of the hour wheel <NUM>. The sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> is composed of four members, namely, a pivot <NUM>, an hour intermediate gear <NUM>, the moon intermediate gear <NUM>, and a sun intermediate gear <NUM>.

The pivot <NUM> is press-fitted to the main plate <NUM>. The hour intermediate gear <NUM> is axially rotatably supported by the pivot <NUM> and engages with a pinion <NUM> that rotates together with the hour wheel <NUM>. Here, the number of teeth of the pinion <NUM> of the hour wheel <NUM> is <NUM> and the number of teeth of the hour intermediate gear <NUM> is <NUM>, and accordingly, the hour intermediate gear <NUM> reduces the rotational speed of the hour wheel <NUM> by a gear ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>.

The sun intermediate gear <NUM> is press-fitted to the pivot portion of the hour intermediate gear <NUM> and engages with the gear <NUM> of the sun wheel <NUM>. Here, the number of teeth of the sun intermediate gear <NUM> is <NUM>, and the number of teeth of the gear <NUM> of the sun wheel <NUM> is <NUM>, and accordingly, the sun intermediate gear <NUM> increases the rotational speed of the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> by a gear ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>. Thus, the rotational speed of the hour wheel <NUM> is reduced in half and transmitted to the sun wheel <NUM> and the sun plate <NUM>, and they make one rotation every <NUM> hours.

The moon intermediate gear <NUM> is press-fitted to the pivot portion of the hour intermediate gear <NUM> such that the moon intermediate gear <NUM> can slip, and the moon intermediate gear <NUM> engages with the gear <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM>. Here, the number of teeth of the moon intermediate gear <NUM> is <NUM> and the number of teeth of the gear <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM> is <NUM>. Accordingly, the moon intermediate gear <NUM> increases the rotational speed of the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> by a gear ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>, and reduces the rotational speed of the hour wheel <NUM> to approximately <NUM>/<NUM>, and, transmits it to the moon wheel <NUM> is <NUM>. More specifically, this deceleration ratio is <NUM>/<NUM>, and when the hour wheel <NUM> makes <NUM> × <NUM> rotations, the moon wheel <NUM> makes approximately <NUM> rotations. In other words, in the case where the sun wheel <NUM> and the sun plate <NUM>, which make two rotations per day, make <NUM> rotations through the hour wheel <NUM>, which makes two rotations per day, the moon wheel <NUM> and the moon hand <NUM> make approximately <NUM> rotations. Here, the moon wheel <NUM> causes an error of <NUM> days every <NUM> days, i.e., an error of one day in approximately <NUM> years.

In this embodiment, a first wheel that makes one rotation per day is the sun wheel <NUM>, and a first gear of the first wheel is the gear <NUM> of the sun wheel <NUM>. A first member fixed to the first wheel is the sun plate <NUM>.

In the case where the period of the synodic month is M days, i.e., <NUM> days, a second wheel that makes M-<NUM> rotations every M days is the moon wheel <NUM>, and a second gear of the second wheel is the gear <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM>. A second member that rotates coaxially with the sun plate <NUM> serving as the first member and is fixed to the second wheel is the moon hand <NUM>.

Thus, a moon phase indicating part is composed of the sun mark <NUM>, the moon mark <NUM>, and the moon phase mark <NUM> provided on the sun plate <NUM> serving as the first member, and a moon phase pointing part is composed of the pointing part <NUM> provided on the moon hand <NUM> serving as the second member.

A first intermediate gear that engages with the gear <NUM> serving as the first gear is the sun intermediate gear <NUM>, and a second intermediate gear that engages with the gear <NUM> serving as the second gear is the moon intermediate gear <NUM>. The sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> is an intermediate wheel including the sun intermediate gear <NUM> serving as the first intermediate gear, and the moon intermediate gear <NUM> serving as the second intermediate gear, and is also an intermediate wheel including the hour intermediate gear <NUM> that engages with the hour wheel <NUM>, and the moon intermediate gear <NUM> serving also as the second intermediate gear.

The moon intermediate gear <NUM> has a slip structure and can rotate the moon wheel <NUM> with respect to the hour wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM>. A correction mechanism <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM> is described below.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the correction mechanism <NUM> includes a winding stem <NUM>, a winding pinion <NUM>, a clutch wheel <NUM>, a setting lever <NUM>, a yoke <NUM>, a yoke holder <NUM>, a setting wheel lever <NUM>, a setting wheel <NUM>, and a moon wheel correction train wheel <NUM>.

The winding stem <NUM> can be pulled out to three positions, namely, a zeroth position, a first position, and a second position.

The moon wheel correction train wheel <NUM> includes a moon phase correction wheel <NUM>, a first moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM>, a second moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM>, a third moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM>, a fourth moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM>, and a fifth moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM> as described below.

The moon phase correction wheel <NUM> is axially supported by the setting wheel lever <NUM> such that the moon phase correction wheel <NUM> is rotatable together with the setting wheel <NUM>, and the setting wheel lever <NUM> is moved by the setting lever <NUM> such that the moon phase correction wheel <NUM> engages with the first moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM> when the winding stem <NUM> is set at the first position whereas the moon phase correction wheel <NUM> does not engage with the first moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM> when the winding stem <NUM> is set at the zeroth position or the second position. The setting lever <NUM> rotates in conjunction with a pulling operation of the winding stem <NUM>.

The fifth moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM> is engaged with the pinion <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, at the zeroth position of the winding stem <NUM>, the mainspring can be wound up, and when the winding pinion <NUM> and the clutch wheel <NUM> engage with each other through the action of the setting lever <NUM> and the yoke <NUM> and the winding stem <NUM> is rotated, the clutch wheel <NUM> that rotates together with the winding stem <NUM> rotates, and the winding pinion <NUM> that engages with the clutch wheel <NUM> rotates, and also, the round hole wheel <NUM> that engages with the winding pinion <NUM> rotates. The rotation of the round hole wheel <NUM> is transmitted to a rectangular hole wheel (not illustrated), and thus the mainspring is wound up.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, at the first position of the winding stem <NUM>, the moon wheel <NUM> can be corrected. Specifically, when the winding stem <NUM> is moved to the first position, the clutch wheel <NUM> engages with the setting wheel <NUM> through the action of the setting lever <NUM>, the yoke <NUM>, and the setting wheel lever <NUM>, and the moon phase correction wheel <NUM> that rotates coaxially together with the setting wheel <NUM> engages with the first moon phase correction transmission wheel <NUM>. Thus, the rotation operation of the winding stem <NUM> is transmitted to the moon phase correction wheel <NUM> through the clutch wheel <NUM> and the setting wheel <NUM>, and is further transmitted to the moon wheel <NUM> through the moon phase correction transmission wheels <NUM> to <NUM> from the moon phase correction wheel <NUM>. Since the moon intermediate gear <NUM> that engages with the moon wheel <NUM> has the slip structure, the moon hand <NUM> can be moved by rotating the moon wheel <NUM> with respect to the hour wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> through the operation of the winding stem <NUM> at the first position.

At the second position of the winding stem <NUM>, the setting wheel <NUM> is moved by the setting lever <NUM> and the setting wheel lever <NUM> to a position where the setting wheel <NUM> engages with the minute wheel <NUM>, and the clutch wheel <NUM> is moved by the setting lever <NUM> and the yoke <NUM> to a position where the clutch wheel <NUM> engages with the setting wheel <NUM>. Thus, when the winding stem <NUM> is operated, the cannon pinion <NUM> and the hour wheel <NUM> are rotated through the clutch wheel <NUM>, the setting wheel <NUM>, and the minute wheel <NUM>, and the hour hand <NUM> and the minute hand <NUM> are corrected.

When assembling the moon phase display watch <NUM>, the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM> are attached at a position of <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM> (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>) with the sun mark <NUM> of the sun plate <NUM> being located at the <NUM> o'clock position of the fixed plate <NUM>.

The moon hand <NUM> can be corrected by pulling the winding stem <NUM> to the first position, and is therefore moved to the current moon phase position. In this manner, the positions of the sun mark <NUM> and the moon hand <NUM> can be set in accordance with the positions of the sun and the moon with respect to the earth.

Then, when the winding stem <NUM> is pulled out to the second position and the hour hand <NUM> and the minute hand <NUM> are corrected to the current time, the sun plate <NUM> and the moon hand <NUM> also move to the position corresponding to the current time through the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM>.

After the above initialization has been performed, the rotation of the moon hand <NUM> with respect to the rotation of the sun mark <NUM> can be aligned to the actual relationship of the sun and the moon, and its accuracy can be kept to an error of approximately one day in approximately <NUM> years.

According to the moon phase display watch <NUM> according to this embodiment, which includes the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> that transmits the rotation of the hour wheel <NUM> to the moon wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel with a predetermined deceleration ratio, the moon wheel <NUM> can be set to fall behind by approximately one rotation when the sun wheel <NUM> and the sun plate <NUM>, which make one rotation per day, make <NUM> rotations. Thus, the moon wheel <NUM> and the moon hand <NUM> make approximately <NUM> rotations in the M-day period of the synodic month = <NUM> days as with the actual moon and thus can accurately indicate the moon phase.

It suffices for the movement <NUM> to add the moon wheel <NUM>, the sun wheel <NUM>, and the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> to a movement that drives the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, the second hand <NUM>, and therefore the moon phase display watch <NUM> can perform a moon phase display with almost no error with a relatively simple structure.

With the correction mechanism <NUM> of the moon wheel <NUM>, the user can readily correct the moon phase pointing. While the moon phase display watch <NUM> is very accurate with an error of one day in approximately <NUM> years, the pointing accuracy can be further increased since the user can periodically correct the pointing position of the moon hand <NUM>.

Since the sun mark <NUM> and the moon hand <NUM> move in association with the movements of the sun and the moon with respect to the earth, i.e., the user, the user can identify the current positions of the sun and the moon. As such, when the sun mark <NUM> is directed toward the sun, the index 215A representing <NUM> o'clock of the fixed dial <NUM> indicates the north, and the directions of <NUM> o'clock, <NUM> o'clock, and <NUM> o'clock indicate the east, south, and west, respectively as with a <NUM>-hour hand, and thus the user can readily determine the direction. Further, the direction can be determined even at night by directing the moon hand <NUM> toward the moon. Thus, the means for determining the direction is increased, and the direction can be conveniently confirmed using the moon phase display watch <NUM> even at night when the position of the sun cannot be confirmed.

The moon wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> are configured to move in conjunction with each other through one sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM>, and the numbers of the teeth of the sun wheel <NUM> serving as the first gear, the moon wheel <NUM> serving as the second gear, the sun intermediate gear <NUM> serving as the first intermediate gear, and the moon intermediate gear <NUM> serving as the second intermediate gear are set to a = <NUM>, b = <NUM>, c = <NUM>, and d = <NUM>, respectively, and thus, a structure that causes only a small error can be achieved with small gears.

Specifically, in the case where the moon wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> are rotated with one sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM>, it is possible to set a plurality of combinations of the number of teeth of the gears for achieving a deceleration ratio with which the moon wheel <NUM> falls behind by approximately one rotation when the sun wheel <NUM> makes <NUM> rotations as illustrated in <FIG>. Among them, the time period until the pointing error of the moon wheel <NUM> becomes one day is longest in the example of the number <NUM> in <FIG>, i.e., the example of this embodiment. Therefore, by setting the number of teeth as in this embodiment, a highly accurate moon phase display can be achieved even in comparison with the combinations of other numbers of teeth.

The moon wheel <NUM> and the hour wheel <NUM> are configured to move in conjunction with each other through one sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM>, and the numbers of teeth of the hour wheel <NUM>, the hour intermediate gear <NUM>, the moon intermediate gear <NUM> serving as the second intermediate gear, and the moon wheel <NUM> serving as the second gear are set to e = <NUM>, f = <NUM>, g = <NUM>, and h = <NUM>, respectively, and thus, a structure that causes only a small error can be achieved with small gears.

Specifically, in the case where the moon wheel <NUM> and the hour wheel <NUM> are rotated with one sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM>, it is possible to set a plurality of combinations of the number of teeth of the gears for achieving a deceleration ratio with which the moon wheel <NUM> falls behind by approximately one rotation when the sun wheel <NUM> makes <NUM> rotations, as illustrated in <FIG>. Among them, the time period until the pointing error of the moon wheel <NUM> becomes one day is longest in the example of the number <NUM> in <FIG>, i.e., the example of this embodiment. Therefore, by setting the number of teeth as in this embodiment, a highly accurate moon phase display can be achieved even in comparison with the combinations of other numbers of teeth.

The sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> includes the hour intermediate gear <NUM>, the moon intermediate gear <NUM>, and the sun intermediate gear <NUM> that engage with the hour wheel <NUM>, the moon wheel <NUM>, and the sun wheel <NUM>, respectively, and the most accurate numbers of teeth illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are set. Thus, it is not necessary to use two intermediate wheels, and the number of parts can be reduced while achieving highly accurate moon phase display.

When the number of teeth of each gear is not greater than <NUM>, the size of the gears can be reduced and the frictional load is also small, and therefore, the excessive reduction in the duration can be prevented. In other words, it is difficult to ensure the tooth shape accuracy in manufacture of gears having <NUM> or more teeth. In addition, a tooth shape of a module of <NUM> or smaller is prone to problems with strength. Further, a gear having with <NUM> or more teeth whose module is <NUM> has a pitch diameter of <NUM> or greater, and consequently the frictional load due to the weight is large. In contrast, in the combinations of the number of teeth illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the number of teeth of each gear is not greater than <NUM>, and thus the tooth shape accuracy and the strength of the gear can be ensured while reducing the frictional load.

Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

A moon phase display watch 1B of the second embodiment includes the case <NUM> and the crown <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The case <NUM> houses a display unit 2B and a movement 3B as in the first embodiment.

The display unit 2B includes the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM> as with the first embodiment. The display unit 2B also includes a sun hand <NUM> having a hand shape instead of the moon hand <NUM> of the first embodiment, a dial 20B instead of the dial <NUM>, and further, a synodic plate <NUM> disposed between the dial 20B and the movement 3B.

The dial 20B includes a fixed dial 210B and a moon plate <NUM>. As with the fixed dial <NUM>, the fixed dial 210B is formed in an annular shape, and an index 215B that indicates a time and a direction mark 216B that indicates a direction are printed on the fixed dial 210B. The direction mark 216B is N, S, E, and W of the alphabet representing the north, south, east, and west.

The moon plate <NUM> is composed of a circular plate that can be visually recognized through the aperture <NUM> of the fixed dial 210B. The moon plate <NUM> is configured to be rotatable together with a moon wheel 51B described later, and makes approximately <NUM> rotations in the M-day period of the synodic month=<NUM> days as with the moon hand <NUM> of the first embodiment. In the moon plate <NUM>, a round hole <NUM>, which is a circular aperture that represents a moon position, is formed, and moon phase numbers <NUM>, which represent the moon phase, are provided along the outer perimeter of the moon plate <NUM>.

The synodic plate <NUM> is configured to be rotatable together with a synodic wheel <NUM> described later, and is used to display mimicking the state of the waxing and waning of the moon when viewed through the round hole <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the synodic plate <NUM>, a white colored light region <NUM> and a black colored dark region <NUM> are alternately arranged.

The light region <NUM> is provided with a first light region 242A, a second light region 242B, and a third light region 242C provided at an interval of <NUM> degrees.

The dark region <NUM> includes a first dark region 243A, a second dark region 243B, and a third dark region 243C provided at an interval of <NUM> degrees.

The synodic plate <NUM> rotates in conjunction with the phase difference between a sun wheel 52B and the moon wheel 51B. The synodic plate <NUM> is displayed through the round hole <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM>, and provides a display mimicking the moon shape in combination with the round hole <NUM>.

The sun hand <NUM> makes one rotation every <NUM> hours as with a <NUM>-hour hand, and indicates the current time in the form of a <NUM>-hour display. The sun hand <NUM> includes at its tip a pointing part <NUM> having a shape mimicking the sun, and indicates the moon phase by the moon phase number <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM> overlapping the pointing part <NUM>.

Thus, in the moon phase display watch 1B, the moon phase pointing part is composed of the pointing part <NUM> of the sun hand <NUM>, and the moon phase display part is composed of the moon phase numbers <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM>.

Note that the shape of the pointing part <NUM> of the sun hand <NUM> is not limited to that illustrated in <FIG> as long as the shape can be distinguished from the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM>, and the user can understand the indication of the position of the sun.

From the main plate <NUM> of the movement 3B, the synodic plate <NUM>, the moon plate <NUM>, the sun hand <NUM>, the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM> are disposed in this order.

The waxing and waning of the moon depend on the positional relationship, i.e., the phase difference, between the moon and the sun with respect to the earth. For example, a new moon appears when the moon and the sun are located at the same position with respect to the earth, and a full moon appears when the moon and the sun are shifted from each other by <NUM> degrees. Therefore, it suffices that the sun hand <NUM> makes one rotation every <NUM> hours in accordance with the position of the sun, that the moon plate <NUM> makes approximately <NUM> rotations in the period of the synodic month, <NUM> days, in accordance with the position of the moon, and that the synodic plate <NUM> makes rotations in accordance with the phase difference between the moon and the sun.

Thus, after the sun hand <NUM> is attached at the <NUM> o'clock position with the round hole <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM> being located at the <NUM> o'clock position, and the round hole <NUM> that indicates the position of the moon and the sun hand <NUM> that indicates the position of the sun are attached to a position corresponding to the moon phase <NUM>, the moon shape is determined in accordance with the phase difference between the moon and the sun. Thus, once the user of the moon phase display watch 1B has aligned the position of the sun hand <NUM> to the current moon phase number after setting the time, the user does not need to correct the moon phase for approximately <NUM> years as long as the moon phase display watch 1B is not stopped. In addition, even if the moon phase display watch 1B is stopped, correction can be readily performed by simply aligning the sun hand <NUM> to the moon phase after setting the time.

The movement 3B of the moon phase display watch 1B will now be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As with the movement <NUM> of the first embodiment, the movement 3B is the movement <NUM> of a mechanical watch that is driven by a mainspring. Here, since the mechanisms for driving the hour hand <NUM>, the minute hand <NUM>, and the second hand <NUM> are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference signs are attached thereto and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The sun wheel 52B is rotatably attached at a pivotal outer perimeter portion of the hour wheel <NUM>, the moon wheel 51B is rotatably attached at a pivotal outer perimeter portion of the sun wheel 52B, and the synodic wheel <NUM> is rotatably attached at a pivotal outer perimeter portion of the moon wheel 51B.

The sun wheel 52B includes a pivot portion 521B and a gear 522B. The pivot portion 521B is formed in a cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported by the hour wheel <NUM> disposed therein. The gear 522B is continuously formed on the end portion of the pivot portion 521B on the main plate <NUM> side and engages with a sun intermediate gear 64B (described later).

The sun hand <NUM> is attached to the pivot portion 521B of the sun wheel 52B.

The moon wheel 51B includes a pivot portion 511B and a gear 512B. The pivot portion 511B is formed in a cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported by the pivot portion 521B of the sun wheel 52B disposed therein. In addition, the outer perimeter surface of the pivot portion 511B rotatably supports the synodic wheel <NUM>. Further, the end portion of the pivot portion 511B on the cover glass side is shaped such that a rectangular hole formed in the moon plate <NUM> can be inserted and the moon wheel 51B and the moon plate <NUM> can rotate together.

In addition, the outer circumference edge of the moon plate <NUM> overlaps the inner circumference edge of the fixed dial <NUM> along the aperture <NUM> in plan view in the direction perpendicular to the moon plate <NUM>, and the fixed dial <NUM> restrains the movement, to the cover glass side, of the moon plate <NUM> located on the main plate <NUM> side relative to the fixed dial <NUM>. The synodic plate <NUM> is fixed to the synodic wheel <NUM>.

The moon wheel 51B and the sun wheel 52B are rotated by a sun moon intermediate wheel 60B that transmits the rotation of the hour wheel <NUM>. As with the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> of the first embodiment, the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B includes a pivot 61B, an hour intermediate gear 62B, a moon intermediate gear 63B, and the sun intermediate gear 64B. Note that, the positional relationship between the moon wheel 51B and the sun wheel 52B is opposite to that of the first embodiment, and accordingly the positional relationship between the moon intermediate gear 63B and the sun intermediate gear 64B is also opposite. Specifically, the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B is disposed such that the hour intermediate gear 62B, the sun intermediate gear 64B, and the moon intermediate gear 63B are disposed in this order from the main plate <NUM> side to overlap each other. Note that the gear ratio of the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B, the moon wheel 51B, the sun wheel 52B, and the hour wheel <NUM> is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The moon intermediate gear 63B is press-fitted to the sun intermediate gear 64B such that the moon intermediate gear 63B can slip, and the correction mechanism <NUM> that corrects the positions of the moon wheel 51B and the moon plate <NUM> by pulling and operating the winding stem <NUM> to the first position is provided. As illustrated in <FIG>, since the correction mechanism <NUM> is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference signs are attached thereto and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The movement 3B includes a synodic feed wheel <NUM> that rotates the synodic plate <NUM> in conjunction with the phase difference between the moon wheel 51B and the sun wheel 52B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the synodic feed wheel <NUM> includes a synodic sun pivot <NUM>, a synodic planetary intermediate gear <NUM>, a second synodic sun gear <NUM>, a second synodic sun pinion <NUM>, a synodic planetary wheel <NUM>, a synodic sun gear <NUM>, a synodic feed gear <NUM>, a synodic feed wheel spacer <NUM>, and a synodic feed wheel support <NUM>. That is, the synodic feed wheel <NUM> is a planetary gear mechanism.

The synodic sun pivot <NUM> is rotatably supported in a hole in the main plate <NUM>.

The synodic planetary intermediate gear <NUM> is axially rotatably supported by the synodic sun pivot <NUM> and engages with the sun wheel 52B. The sun wheel 52B and the synodic planetary intermediate gear <NUM> are gears having the same tooth shape, and both have <NUM> teeth.

The second synodic sun gear <NUM> is a gear that is axially rotatably supported by the synodic sun pivot <NUM> through the second synodic sun pinion <NUM>. The second synodic sun gear <NUM> engages with the moon wheel 51B and has the same tooth shape as the moon wheel 51B. The moon wheel 51B and the second synodic sun gear <NUM> both have <NUM> teeth.

The second synodic sun pinion <NUM> is press-fitted to the second synodic sun gear <NUM>. The number of teeth of the second synodic sun pinion <NUM> is <NUM>.

The synodic planetary wheel <NUM> is inserted to a pin <NUM> erected on the synodic planetary intermediate gear <NUM> such that the synodic planetary wheel <NUM> is axially rotatably supported. The synodic planetary wheel <NUM> includes a synodic planetary pinion <NUM> that engages with the second synodic sun pinion <NUM> and a synodic planetary gear <NUM> that engages with the synodic sun gear <NUM>.

The number of teeth of the synodic planetary pinion <NUM> is <NUM> and the number of teeth of the synodic planetary gear <NUM> is <NUM>.

The synodic sun gear <NUM> is fixed to the synodic sun pivot <NUM> and rotates together with the synodic sun pivot <NUM>. The number of teeth of the synodic sun gear <NUM> is <NUM>.

The synodic feed gear <NUM> is press-fitted to the synodic sun pivot <NUM> and engages with the synodic wheel <NUM> to which the synodic plate <NUM> is fixed. The synodic feed gear <NUM> and the synodic wheel <NUM> have the same tooth shape as the sun wheel 52B, and have the same number of teeth, i.e., <NUM> teeth.

The synodic feed wheel spacer <NUM> is press-fitted to the synodic sun pivot <NUM>. This restrains the axial movement of the synodic planetary intermediate gear <NUM>, the second synodic sun gear <NUM>, the second synodic sun pinion <NUM>, the synodic planetary wheel <NUM>, and the synodic sun gear <NUM> that are disposed between the flange of the synodic sun pivot <NUM> and the synodic feed wheel spacer <NUM>, and the synodic feed wheel <NUM> can serve as a unit.

The synodic feed wheel support <NUM> is interspersed between the second synodic sun gear <NUM> and the synodic feed gear <NUM> with backlash in the axial direction of the synodic sun pivot <NUM> and in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The synodic feed wheel support <NUM> is fixed to the main plate <NUM> with a screw (not illustrated), and the synodic feed wheel <NUM> is fixed with backlash in the axial direction of the synodic sun pivot <NUM>.

The synodic feed wheel support <NUM> is disposed between the moon wheel 51B and the synodic wheel <NUM>, and, in plan view as illustrated in <FIG>, covers the upper side of the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B such that the moon intermediate gear 63B and the second synodic sun gear <NUM> and the synodic wheel <NUM> do not engage with each other in cross section.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the moon wheel 51B, i.e., the moon plate <NUM>, is rotated <NUM> degrees counterclockwise with respect to the sun wheel 52B, the synodic wheel <NUM>, i.e., the synodic plate <NUM>, is <NUM>/<NUM> × <NUM>/<NUM> × <NUM> × <NUM> × <NUM>/<NUM> = <NUM>/<NUM> from the above-mentioned gear ratio, and rotates <NUM> degrees counterclockwise.

Conversely, when the sun wheel 52B is rotated <NUM> degrees clockwise with respect to the moon wheel 51B, the synodic wheel <NUM> is <NUM>/<NUM> × (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM> × <NUM>/<NUM>) × <NUM>/<NUM> = - <NUM>/<NUM>, and rotates <NUM> degrees counterclockwise. Since the synodic feed wheel <NUM> is set such that the moon plate <NUM> and the synodic wheel <NUM> relatively rotate as described above, the moon shape can be set in accordance with the phase difference between the moon and the sun by attaching the sun hand <NUM> at the <NUM> o'clock position with the round hole <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM> being aligned with the <NUM> o'clock position at moon phase <NUM>. Thus, once the user of the moon phase display watch 1B has aligned the position of the sun hand <NUM> to the current moon phase number after setting the time, the user does not need to correct the moon phase for approximately <NUM> years as long as the moon phase display watch 1B is not stopped, and even if the moon phase display watch 1B is stopped, the moon phase can be readily aligned next time since the correction can be performed with the winding stem <NUM>.

In <FIG>, display states <NUM> to <NUM> represent the waxing and waning of the moon associated with the relative rotation of the moon plate <NUM> and the synodic plate <NUM> when the pointing part <NUM> of the sun hand <NUM> is located at the <NUM> o'clock position. The display state <NUM> is a new moon, the display state <NUM> is a waxing moon, the display state <NUM> is a full moon, the display state <NUM> is a waning moon, and the display state <NUM> is a new moon. The other display states represent respective intermediate moon phases. In this manner, by moving the moon plate <NUM> and the synodic plate <NUM>, the display in accordance with the moon shape can be achieved.

The moon phase display watch 1B of the second embodiment can also provide operational effects similar to those of the first embodiment.

Specifically, with the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B having the same gear ratio as the sun moon intermediate wheel <NUM> of the first embodiment, the moon wheel <NUM> and the moon plate <NUM> can be set to fall behind by approximately one rotation when the sun wheel <NUM> and the sun hand <NUM>, which make one rotation per day, make rotations for M days, i.e., <NUM> rotations. As a result, with the moon wheel 51B, the sun wheel 52B, and the sun moon intermediate wheel 60B, it is possible to achieve the same operational effects as the first embodiment, such as accurate indication of the moon phase with the sun hand <NUM> pointing to the moon phase number <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM>.

In addition, the user can intuitively identify the moon phase, and improved convenience can be provided since the synodic feed wheel <NUM> is provided and the synodic plate <NUM> that rotates with a phase difference between the moon wheel 51B and the sun wheel 52B such that a display mimicking the waxing and waning of the actual moon can be achieved with the light region <NUM> and the dark region <NUM> of the synodic plate <NUM> and the round hole <NUM> of the moon plate <NUM>.

In particular, the round hole <NUM> of the moon wheel 51B also indicates the position of the moon, and can indicate the position and the waxing and waning of the moon at the same time, and thus, the convenience can be improved.

Since the synodic feed wheel <NUM> uses a planetary gear mechanism, compactness can be achieved with a relatively simple configuration. Thus, it can be readily incorporated in the moon phase display watch 1B utilized as a watch.

Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

For example, while the hour intermediate gears <NUM> and 62B, the moon intermediate gears <NUM> and 63B, and the sun intermediate gears <NUM> and 64B are integrally composed in the sun moon intermediate wheels <NUM> and 60B, they may be composed of two members. For example, it is possible to provide two intermediate wheels including an intermediate wheel that rotates the hour wheel <NUM> and the moon wheel <NUM> in conjunction with each other and an intermediate wheel that rotates the hour wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> in conjunction with each other. It is also possible to provide two intermediate wheels including an intermediate wheel that rotates the hour wheel <NUM> and the moon wheel <NUM> or the sun wheel <NUM> in conjunction with each other, and an intermediate wheel that rotates the moon wheel <NUM> and the sun wheel <NUM> in conjunction with each other.

While the moon mark <NUM> mimicking the moon shape and the moon phase mark <NUM> representing the moon phase are displayed as the moon phase display in the first embodiment, only one of them may be displayed.

While the combination of the pointing to the moon phase with the sun hand <NUM> and the display of the waxing and waning of the moon with the round hole <NUM> and the synodic plate <NUM> are used in the second embodiment, only one of them may be provided.

Specifically, it is possible to adopt a moon phase display watch in which the moon plate <NUM> including the moon phase number <NUM> serving as the moon phase indicating part and the sun hand <NUM> including the pointing part <NUM> serving as the moon phase pointing part are provided, and the round hole <NUM> and/or the synodic plate <NUM>, i.e., the display of the waxing and waning of the moon, is not provided.

In addition, it is also possible to adopt a moon phase display watch in which the moon plate <NUM> including only the round hole <NUM>, and the synodic plate <NUM> are provided, and the numbers representing the moon phase that are pointed to by the sun hand <NUM> or the sun hand <NUM> are not provided. In other words, it is also possible to adopt a moon phase display watch that displays the moon phase only by means of the display of the waxing and waning of the moon.

Claim 1:
A moon phase display watch (<NUM>) comprising:
a first member (<NUM>) configured to make one rotation per day;
a second member (<NUM>) configured to rotate coaxially with the first member (<NUM>) and to make M-1rotations every M days, the M days being a period of a synodic month;
a moon phase indicating part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) provided at one of the first member (<NUM>) and the second member (<NUM>), the moon phase indicating part being configured to indicate a moon phase; and
a moon phase pointing part (<NUM>) provided at the other of the first member (<NUM>) and the second member, the moon phase pointing part (<NUM>) being configured to point to the moon phase indicating part;
wherein the M is <NUM>.