Controllable watch winder for self-winding watches
First Claim
1. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
- a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
an electronic circuit to control the motor, wherein the circuit is configured to commence rotation of the turntable by first introducing a period of delay after the circuit is activated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controllable watch winder for a self-winding mechanical watch, in which a turntable is provided to hold and rotate the watch, including a programmable microprocessor circuit configured to count the number of rotations executed by the turntable. In one aspect, the watch winder is configured to introduce, after the electronic circuit is activated, a delay period before the turntable commences rotating. In another aspect, the circuit may be configured to interrupt the rotation of the turntable with pauses, to break up the rotation into cyclical sets. The circuit may be configured to automatically predetermine the number of rotations in each set. In yet another aspect, the watch winder may be configured to be manually adjustable, to variably predetermine before use, the number of rotations to be executed by the turntable and the length of any pause between rotations.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
an electronic circuit to control the motor, wherein the circuit is configured to commence rotation of the turntable by first introducing a period of delay after the circuit is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising;
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable;
an electronic circuit configured to permit either a first mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable only after a delay period of first duration, or, a second mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable only after a delay period of second duration, the second duration being longer than the first duration; and
a selection switch configured to allow selection between either the first or the second mode of operation.
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7. A watch winder for winding a self-winding mechanical watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
an electronic circuit configured to automatically cause the motor to rotate the turntable for a first set of rotations of a certain number, then to pause rotation for a length of time, then to rotate the turntable for a second set of rotations, wherein the circuit is capable of being manually adjusted, prior to use, to variably predetermine the number of rotations and the length of time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
an electronic circuit configured to automatically cause the motor to rotate the turntable for a predetermined number of rotations, then to automatically pause rotation, then to automatically continue rotating the turntable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable;
an electronic circuit configured to permit either a first mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable for a fixed number of rotations in a first direction, then automatically pauses rotation for a period of time, then automatically continues rotating the turntable in the first direction for the number of rotations, or, a second mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable for a certain number of rotations in a first direction, then automatically pauses rotation for a period of time, then automatically continues rotating the turntable in a second direction opposite the first direction for the number of rotations; and
a selection switch configured to allow selection between either of the first or the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (27, 30, 33)
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25. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable;
an electronic circuit configured to permit either a first mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable for a fixed number of rotations in a first direction, then automatically pauses rotation for a period of time, then automatically continues rotating the turntable in the first direction for the number of rotations, or, a second mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable for a certain number of rotations in a first direction, then automatically pauses rotation for a period of time, then automatically continues rotating the turntable in a second direction opposite the first direction for the number of rotations, or, a third mode of operation in which the motor automatically rotates the turntable for a certain number of rotations in a second direction opposite the first direction, then automatically pauses rotation for a period of time, then automatically continues rotating the turntable in the second direction for the number of rotations; and
a selection switch configured to allow selection between either of the first, the second, or the third mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50)
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26. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch in a plane that includes the hands of the watch a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
an electronic circuit configured to automatically cause the motor to rotate the turntable for multiple rotations, then to automatically pause rotation, then to automatically continue rotating the turntable.
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31. A watch winder for winding a self-winding mechanical watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch;
a motor configured to rotate the turntable continuously over a plurality of rotations; and
an electronic circuit configured to detect a rotation made by the turntable, and to keep count of the number of rotations.
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37. A method for controlling a watch winder having a mechanism configured to wind a self-winding mechanical watch when the mechanism is moved, comprising:
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activating the watch winder;
immediately introducing a period of delay wherein the mechanism is not moved; and
automatically moving the mechanism to wind the watch, after the period of delay.
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44. A method of controlling a watch winder, the watch winder having a mechanism configured to rotate a self-winding watch in a plane that includes the hands of the watch, comprising:
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rotating the watch for a predetermined number of rotations, pausing rotation for a period of time; and
resuming rotation after said period of time has elapsed.
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49. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
a housing having at least two cantilever supports configured to provide a stabilizing force on the turntable.
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51. A cuff for holding a watch on a turntable of a watch winder, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical core, the core having a front end and a back end and being axially compressible from the front end to the back end;
a first relatively rigid end plate positioned at the front end and a second relatively rigid plate positioned at the back end of the core; and
a porous material covering the core and the first and second plates, said material being porous to the passage of air between the core and the environment.
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52. A cuff for holding a watch on a turntable of a watch winder, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical core made of open cell foam, the core having a front end and a back end and being axially compressible from the front end to the back end;
a first relatively rigid end plate positioned at the front end and a second relatively rigid plate positioned at the back end of the core; and
a material covering the core and the first and second plates.
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53. A watch winder for winding a self-winding watch, comprising:
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a turntable configured to rotate a self-winding watch, the turntable including a first gear wheel fixed to the turntable a motor configured to rotate the turntable; and
multiple second reduction gear wheels positioned between the motor and the first gear wheel, to transfer power from the motor to the turntable.
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Specification