WATCH MODULE COMPRISING A ROTARY DIAL CAPABLE OF BEING FITTED TO A WATCH MOVEMENT

Abstract

Watch module comprising a rotary dial (1) possessing an opening (2) for displaying a complication or an image. This rotary dial (1) is mounted rotatably on a base dial (3) via an annular low-friction member (4). This rotary dial (1) can be pivoted through a certain angle by the action of a pusher (9, 9′) to display another complication or image through the opening (2). This watch module, which comprises means (8, 13, 19, 21) for arresting and coupling the rotary dial (1) to the base dial (3), is arranged on the one hand in such a way as to decouple the rotary dial (1) from the base dial (3) when the pusher (9, 9′) is pushed, and on the other hand to drive the rotary dial (1) when the pusher (9, 9′) is released.

Description

The features of the invention will become clearer in the course of reading a description of one embodiment offered purely as a nonlimiting example, with reference to the diagrammatic figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the watch module comprising the rotary dial, a base dial, two control systems and a plate;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rotary dial comprising four so-called driving pins, four so-called stop pins and four humps;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a control rod comprising a hook and a cross section taken on A-A through said rod;

FIG. 4 is a top view of two control systems laid out on the plate in the initial position, the rotary dial being depicted in phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4 when one of the pushers is operated and its control rod is at full stroke;

FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5 when the rotary dial is rotating; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 4 when the two pushers are operated simultaneously.

Claims

1. A watch module capable of being fitted to a watch movement, said module comprising a rotary dial (1) possessing an opening (2) for displaying a complication of the watch movement or an image, in which module said rotary dial (1) is mounted rotatably on a base dial (3) via an annular low-friction member (4), the rotary dial (1) being able to be pivoted through a certain angle by the action of a pusher (9) to display another complication or image through the opening (2).

2. The watch module as claimed in claim 1, comprising means (8, 13, 19, 21) for arresting and coupling the rotary dial (1) to the base dial (3), said module being arranged on the one hand in such a way as to decouple the rotary dial (1) from the base dial (3) when the pusher (9, 9′) is pushed, and on the other hand to drive the rotary dial (1) when the pusher (9, 9′) is released.

3. The watch module as claimed in claim 2, in which the underside of the rotary dial (1) comprises on the one hand several so-called driving pins (7) arranged at regular or irregular intervals on a circle (6) situated close to its center, and on the other hand several so-called stop pins (8) positioned on its perimeter at regular or irregular intervals, the action of the pusher (9) causing a transmission rocker (10) to pivot and communicate a rectilinear movement to a rod (11) until one of its ends operates a so-called stop rocker (12) comprising means for stopping the stop pins (8), which stop rocker (12) pivots in order momentarily to disengage one of said stop pins (8) from said stop means, said rod (11) comprising a return spring (16) allowing it to regain its rest position when the pusher (9) is no longer being operated, the rod (11) taking with it as it passes one of the driving pins (7) by means of a hook (17), thereby triggering the rotation in a first direction of rotation of the rotary dial (1), and the latter pivoting until the next stop pin (8) is stopped by the stop means of the stop rocker (12).

4. The watch module as claimed in claim 3, comprising a second pusher (9′) that causes a second transmission rocker (10′) to pivot when the second pusher (9′) is operated, which second rocker (10′) transmits a rectilinear movement to a second rod (11′) until one of its ends operates the stop rocker (12), said second rod (11′) comprising a second return spring (16′) allowing it to regain its rest position when the second pusher (9′) is no longer being operated, taking with it as it passes one of the driving pins (7) by means of a second hook (17′), thereby triggering a rotation in the opposite direction to said first direction of the rotary dial (1).

5. The watch module as claimed in claim 4, in which the shaping and positioning of the two transmission rockers (10, 10′) allow only one pusher (9, 9′) to be operated at a time.

6. The watch module as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for stopping the stop rocker (12) comprise a stop finger (13) that can pivot freely about a pivot pin (14) and two pins (15) that limit the movement of said finger (13).

7. The watch module as claimed in claim 6, in which the perimeter of the rotary dial (1) has several humps (19) designed to click one at a time into a housing (20) formed in a leaf spring (21) when one of the stop pins (18) is stopped by the stop finger (13), thereby holding the rotary dial in a fixed position.

8. The watch module as claimed in claim 4, in which each hook (17, 17′) is loosely fitted to its rod (11, 11′) about a pin (23, 23′) perpendicular to said rod (11, 11′), a spring (24, 24′) being mounted on the rod (11, 11′) in such a way that it rests on the nub of the hook (17, 17′), pushing it out from the rod (11, 11′), and the hook (17, 17′) retracting on contact with the driving pin (7) when the rod (11, 11′) is being operated by the transmission rocker (10, 10′).

9. The watch module as claimed in claim 1, in which there are equal numbers of driving pins (7), stop pins (8) and, where applicable, humps (19) and they are in matching positions.

10. The watch module as claimed in claim 9, comprising four driving pins (7), four stop pins (8), and four humps (19).

11. A watch comprising the watch module as claimed in claim 1.

12. The watch module as claimed in claim 2, in which the means for stopping the stop rocker (12) comprise a stop finger (13) that can pivot freely about a pivot pin (14) and two pins (15) that limit the movement of said finger (13).

13. The watch module as claimed in claim 3, in which the means for stopping the stop rocker (12) comprise a stop finger (13) that can pivot freely about a pivot pin (14) and two pins (15) that limit the movement of said finger (13).

14. The watch module as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for stopping the stop rocker (12) comprise a stop finger (13) that can pivot freely about a pivot pin (14) and two pins (15) that limit the movement of said finger (13).

15. The watch module as claimed in claim 5, in which the means for stopping the stop rocker (12) comprise a stop finger (13) that can pivot freely about a pivot pin (14) and two pins (15) that limit the movement of said finger (13).

16. The watch module as claimed in claim 2, in which there are equal numbers of driving pins (7), stop pins (8) and, where applicable, humps (19) and they are in matching positions.

17. The watch module as claimed in claim 3, in which there are equal numbers of driving pins (7), stop pins (8) and, where applicable, humps (19) and they are in matching positions.

18. The watch module as claimed in claim 4, in which there are equal numbers of driving pins (7), stop pins (8) and, where applicable, humps (19) and they are in matching positions.

19. A watch comprising the watch module as claimed in claim 4.

20. A watch comprising the watch module as claimed in claim 9.