US3855785A

US3855785A - Calendar correcting device for timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3855785A
Application number: US00428142A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Ushikoshi
Original assignee: Suwa Seikosha KK
Current assignee: Suwa Seikosha KK
Priority date: 1972-12-27
Filing date: 1973-12-26
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: CH604231B5; GB1449257A; JPS4990173A; JPS56752B2; HK53378A; CH1765473A4

Abstract

A calendar watch having a longitudinally displaceable winding stem adapted to assume a plurality of positions and means for operatively connecting, at one of said positions, said winding stem and date wheel when said winding stem is axially rotated in one direction and for operatively connecting said winding stem and a daily star when said winding stem is axially rotated in the other direction to correct the date and day indications, respectively.

Description

United States Patent I 1191 Ushikoshi 1 Dec. 24, 1974 [54] CALENDAR CORRECTING DEVICE FOR 3,597,916 8/1971 Nakagawa 58/58 TIMEPIECE 3,662,534 5/1972 Colomb 58/58 3,691,756 9/1972 0110 58/58 Inventor: Kenlchi Ushlkoshl, Suwa, Japan 3,732,687 5/1973 Miyasaka et al 58/58 3,762,153 10/1973 Komiyama et a1 58/58 X [73] Assgnee' Kabusmk Ka'sha Suwa selkosha 3,775,966 12 1973 Matsuura 58/58 Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlum Moscovitz Friedman [21] Appl. No.. 428,142 & Kaplan [301 Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Dec. 27, 1972 Japan 47481626 A calendar watch having a longitudinally displaceable winding stem adapted to assume a plurality of posi- [52] us. C1. 58/58 tions and means for nperatively connecting, at one of [51] Int. Cl. G04b 19/24 ai p i ion ai win ing s em and date wheel when [58] Field of Search 58/4, 5,58 said W n ing m i axially ro ated in one direction 1 and for operatively connecting said winding stem and [56] References Cited a daily star when said winding stem is axially rotated UNITED STATES PATENTS in the other direction to correct the date and day indi- 3,470,687 10/1969 Tsuneyoshi 0110 et al. 58/58 canons respectvely' 3,470,688 10/1969 Miyasaka. 58/58 3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures I l J 2 I 'J 5 6 Z d 1 8 2 5 t fZ 1 6c 4 1 l 1 l1 6 f2 1 l11 A; a. 1 1

/ l1 I l l 5 7' I 1 l ll 7 CALENDAR CORRECTING DEVICE FOR TINIEPIECE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved calendar watch and a novel day and date correcting mechanism therefor. More particularly, the instant invention relates to a novel day and date correcting mechanism which is operatively connected to the calendar watch winding stem.

Calendar watches of the type with which this invention is concerned typically have a date wheel, a daily star secured to a day disk and a day and date advancing member. The day and date advancing member usually includes day and date advancing wheels and secured thereto, day and date indexing fingers for indexing the date wheel and daily star to next successive calendar display positions. A pair of jumpers are usually provided for contacting the gear portions of the date wheel and daily star. Typically, the day and date advancing member is rotated by a wheel train operated by a suitable source of energy such as a cell or mainspring. Rotation of the day and date advancing member causes rotation of the date wheel and daily star by means of respective day and date indexing fingers. The jumpers exert only enough force against the date wheel and daily star, respectively, to cause them to make the desired indexing movement quickly.

Occasionally, the day and date displayed on the watch dial have to be corrected and the watches are provided with means for making the correction. Prior day-date correcting mechanisms are complex, delicate and expensive. Accordingly, the instant invention provides a simplified, inexpensive and sturdy mechanism for making day-date corrections to calendar watches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a calendar watch of the type having a rotatable winding stem selectively axially displaceable into plural predetermined positions, a rotatable date wheel and a rotatable daily star is provided having discrete first and second means for independently operatively connecting, respectively, the winding stem with the date wheel and daily star in one predetermined position thereof for selective consecutive rotation of the date wheel in response to the rotation of the winding stem in one direction, and selective intermittent rotation of the daily star in response to a rotation of the winding stem in the other direction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for making day-date corrections to a calendar timepiece which operates coordinately with the winding stem therefor and insures that each of day and date may be independently corrected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a calendar watch for a day-date correcting mechanism having a reduced number of parts.

structions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an embodiment of the calendar watch according to the invention disposed in the first or winding position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 disposed in the second or daydate correcting position thereof;

FlGS. 3a and 3b are fragmentary detail views of the day correcting means of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 disposed, respectively, in operative and inoperative positions thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of another embodiment of a day correcting means for a calendar watch constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 isa fragmentary top plan view of yetanother embodiment of a day correcting means for a calendar watch constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 disposed in the third or time-correcting position thereof;

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c, 7d are respective. sideelevational and cross-sectional views of alternate clutch means that may be employed in the datecorrecting means of the calendar correction mechanism of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The calendar correcting mechanism corrects the day and/or date indication on the calendar indication display from outside of the watch, as by a stem. Thus, both the day and date adjusting functions are performed by the pulling or turning of the stem. In the embodiments depicted in the drawings, the stem has three positions. The first of these positions is a free or usual carrying state, usually set aside for performing the winding function. The second position of the winding stem, displaced from the first position, is set aside for day and/or date correction. At the third position of the stem, displaced from the second position, the time indication display is stopped and that display may be manually corrected. Thus, at this position, for example, the hands may be set. When the stem is pushed in, the time indication display immediately starts, and the precise time is indicated.

The first position of the calendar correcting mechanism is depicted in FIG. 1. The calendar correcting mechanism includes a stem 1 having a clutch wheel 6 mounted thereon for axial displacement therealong. A setting lever 2 is pivotably mounted on the watch plate (not shown) and has a projection which rides in a groove in stem 1 for pivotal displacement of the setting lever in response to the axial displacement of the stem. A clutch lever 4 is also pivotably mounted on the watch plate and engages in a circumferential groove in clutch wheel 6 for the axial positioning of the clutch wheel along the winding stern.

Anotched clutch lever spring 3 is provided for engaging a further projection mounted in setting lever 2 for the precise positioning of the setting lever. Clutch lever 4 is biased in the counterclockwise direction, as

viewed in FIG. 1, by the force of clutch lever spring 5, so that the gear teeth on the underside surface of clutch wheel 6 meshingly engage the gear teeth of minute wheel 7 when stem 1 is suitably disposed in the third position.

A day correcting lever 12 is pivotably mounted on the watch plate by a pivot pin 13 and is provided with lever arms 12a and 120. Day correcting lever 12 is biased in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the force of a day correcting lever spring, so that the day correcting lever engages a stopper and is positioned thereby.

At the first position of stem 1 as shown in FIG. 1, clutch wheel 6 is disconnected from date wheel 8 and it is also disconnected from minute wheel 7. Also, while the stem is in the first position, projection 60 mounted on clutch wheel 6 and laterally extending therefrom is not aligned with the head portion of lever arm 12a. At this position, the rotation of stem 1 is related to neither hand setting or calendar correction. Thesecond position of the winding stem is shown in FIG. 2. When stem 1 is pulled to the second position, clutch wheel 6 is engaged with date wheel 8 by clutch lever 4. In this position, the gearing provided on the top surface of clutch wheel 6 meshingly engages the gear teeth provided on date wheel 8. At this position, projection 6c is aligned with the head portion of lever arm When the watch is disposed in the position of FIG. 2, and stem 1 is axially rotated in the direction of arrow 10, the gear teeth 6a of clutch wheel 6 operatively meshingly engage consecutive gear teeth located on the underside of date wheel 8 for rotatively displacing the date wheel in response to the rotation of stem 1. On the other hand, when stem 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow 11 for thereby rotating clutch wheel 6, the gear teeth 6a of clutch wheel 6 do not meshingly engage the gear teeth provided on date wheel 8 and therefore the date wheel is not thereby rotated.

However, when clutch wheel 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow 11, projection 60 of the clutch wheel is rotated into the head of lever arm 12a for pivoting lever 12 on pin 13 from the normal or first position to a second position whereat a foot 12d of lever arm 12c abuts and rotates daily star 14 for thereby correcting the day display.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the day and date displays may be consecutively corrected by respectively axially displacing the winding stem 1 into the second position and alternately axially rotating stem 1 in the direction of arrow 11 and then in the direction of arrow 10. As clutch wheel 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow 10, as by axially rotating stem 1 in the same direction, date wheel 8 is thereby rotated for correcting the date display. As clutch wheel 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow 10, projection 60 mounted thereon engages the rear plane surface of arm 12a of day correcting lever 12. However, as shown in FIG. 3b, as clutch wheel 6 rotates, projection 60 thereof engages the rearward plane of lever arm 12a and it lifts lever arm 12a outwardly out of the normal plane of lever 12 and thereby occasions no pivot of lever 12 around pin 13 whereby no day correction occurs. After projection 6c rotates past lever arm 12a, lever arm 12a returns to the lever plane. It is for this reason that only a date correction occurs as clutch wheel 6 is rotated by stem 1 in the direction of arrow 10. As particularly shown in FIG. 3a, when clutch wheel 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow 11, projection 6c abuts and pivots lever 12 for pivoting lever 12 into engagement with daily star 14 for thereby correcting the day display.

When winding stem 1 is pulled to the third position thereof as shown in FIG. 6, gear teeth 6a are disengaged from date wheel 8 due to the operation of the spring force of clutch lever 4 and clutch lever spring 3 and the gear teeth on the underside of clutch 6 meshingly engage minute wheel 7. By turning stem 1, the time indication display can be readily adjusted. At this position, clutch wheel 6 rotates free of date wheel 8 and lever 12. Therefore, neither a date nor day correction occur when stem 1 is in the third position.

Referring again to FIG. 2 wherein stem 1 is in the second or calendar correcting position, it may be seen that lever 12 is provided with a prevent member 12b for preventing the rotative displacement of the date wheel during an operational sequence for the rotative displacement of the daily star. While in the usual case, the gear teeth 6a of clutch wheel 6 will frictionally slide over the gear teeth of date wheel 8 without advancing the date wheel as stem 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow 11 because date wheel 8 is usually provided with a date jumper (not shown) for preventing the incremental rotation of the date wheel in the reverse direction if the distance traveled in the reverse direction is less than a first predetermined distance, it is possible for the date jumper to fail. Therefore, lever 12 is provided with a prevent member 12b and as lever 12 is pivoted to engage daily star 14 for day correction, prevent member 12b is displaced to the position shown in phantom line in FIG. 2 for preventing any rotation of date wheel 8 beyond an incremental distance.

Referring now to FIG. 4, projections 60 mounted on clutch wheel 6 may be replaced with projections 600 which are selectively mounted on clutch wheel 6 so that they do not bend lever arm 12a out of the plane of lever 12 during a date correction while they are sufficiently aligned with lever 12 for pivoting lever 12 during a day correction sequence.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein lever 12 is provided with a different configuration and acts through a second pivotably mounted lever 15 responsive to the pivot of lever 12 for rotatingdaily star 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 70, 7b and 7c, 7d, different clutch wheel embodiments maybe employed for effecting day and date corrections in accordance with the invention. FIGS. 7a and 7b are illustrative of one clutch wheel embodiment and FIGS. and 7d are illustrative of a second clutch wheel embodiment.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, day and date corrections may be effected by pulling the winding stem of the timepiece to the second of three positions and each correction may be performed without disturbing the display in general. Additionally, the time display on the face of the timepiece may be corrected by pulling the winding stem to its third position. Correction of the time display does not in any way interfere with the day and date displays.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calendar watch having a rotatable winding stem selectively axially displaceable into plural predetermined positions, a rotatable date wheel and a rotatable daily star, the improvement comprising discrete first and second means for independently operatively connecting, respectively, said winding stem with said date wheel and said daily star in one of said plural predetermined positions of said winding stem for selective consecutive rotation of said date wheel in response to a rotation of said winding stem in one direction, and selective intermittent rotation of said daily star in response to a rotation of said winding stem in said other direction, said second means for operatively connecting said winding stem with said daily star including a lever means mounted for pivoting into operative intermittent engagement with said daily star for rotatively displacing said daily star in response to said rotation of said winding stem in said other direction, pivoting means arranged on said winding stem for fixed rotation therewith, said pivoting means being intermittently engageable to said lever means when said winding stem is displaced at one of said plural predetermined positions, said pivoting means being operatively intermittently engageable to said lever means for pivoting said lever means between a first position and a second position in response to a rotation of said displaced winding stem in said other direction for the rotative displacement of said daily star, said pivoting means being inoperative for pivoting said lever means between said first and second positions for thereby rotatively displacing said daily star when said displaced winding stem is rotated in said one direction, biasing means operatively connected to said lever means for normally biasing said lever means into said first position, and a stopper for supportively stopping said lever means in said first position, said biasing means having a torque which is overcome by an operative engagement of said pivoting means to said lever means for thereby pivoting said lever means from said first position to said second position, said biasing means being operable for returning said lever means from said second position to said first position at the end of an operative engagement of said pivoting means to said lever means.

2. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said first means for operatively connecting said winding stem with said date wheel includes a clutch means coaxially arranged on said winding stem for fixed rotation therewith, said clutch means being connected to said date wheel in said one of said plural predetermined positions of said winding stem, said connection being operative for rotative displacement of said date wheel in response to said rotation of said winding stem in said one direction and said connection being inoperative for rotative displacement of said date wheel in response to said rotation of said winding stem in said other direction.

3. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said lever means includes a prevent member connected thereto and pivoted thereby for preventing the rotative displacement of said date wheel during an operational sequence for the rotative displacement of said daily star.