Timepiece with an activating mechanism

• US 4,427,301 A
• Filed: 02/26/1982
• Issued: 01/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques D'Ebauches Schild-Rust-Strasse 17 2540 Granges Switzerland
• Original Assignee: Ebauches Electroniques SA
• Inventors: Cleusix, Willy
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US06/352,623
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 368/252-254, 368/72-74, 200/36, 200/37 R
• US Class Current: 368/72
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/16 producing the signals at adjustable fixed times
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/34 Devices on watches or similar portable timepieces

Abstract

The alarm wheel (5) is mounted with axial clearance between an insulating plate (6) and a wheel (8).

This wheel (5) is in mesh with the hour cannon wheel (3). It has an embossment (5a) which, once during each turn, passes in front of a magnet (9) carried by the plate (6). The wheel (5) is then attracted axially and its embossment (5a) enters into contact with the magnet (9), grounding the latter. Now, the magnet (9) being in permanent contact with one of the conductive tracks (13) of the printed circuit of the watch, this track (13) is thus grounded. The user of the watch can alter the time at which the releases are produced by altering the angular position of the plate (6). No spring acts axially on the alarm wheel (5) which moves freely between the wheel (8) and an annular rib (6e) provided on the plate 6.

Claims

1. A timepiece comprising a movement and an activating mechanism operatively connected to said movement for producing, at a presettable time, the closing of an electrical contact, the time-piece comprising:

a framework;

a first contact member of a first material;

a first support rotatably mounted on said framework and rotationally coupled to said movement, for carrying said first contact member;

a second contact member of a second material;

a second support mounted on said framework, in a position which is rotationally adjustable about the axis of rotation of said first support, for carrying said second contact member, said second contact member being located at substantially the same distance from said axis of rotation as said first contact member; and

said first and second materials being chosen to comprise magnetic coupling means for bringing said first and second contact members into contact when they have been rotated with said supports into positions opposite each other.

2. The timepiece of claim 1, further comprising analog time-indicating means including a first wheel mounted on said framework and forming part of said movement, a pipe fixed coaxially to said first wheel and an hour hand mounted on said pipe and wherein said first support comprises a second wheel meshing with said first wheel.

3. The timepiece of claim 2, further comprising:

a member for displaying said pre-settable time, a third wheel mounted on said framework coaxially with said first wheel, and a second pipe fixed coaxially to said third wheel for carrying said displaying member,

and wherein said second support comprises a first part carrying said second contact member and a second part in the form of a toothed wheel coaxial with the axis of rotation of said first support and meshing with said third wheel.

4. The timepiece of claim 1, wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises a permanent magnet integral with said second contact member and a magnetic metal part integral with said first contact member.

5. The timepiece of claim 4, wherein said first support comprises a magnetic metal and said first contact member is a projecting part of said first support.

6. The timepiece claim 4, further comprising a member for displaying said pre-settable time, said member being rotationally coupled with said second support.

7. The timepiece of claim 5, further comprising a toothed rotatable member mounted on said framework integral with said displaying member and wherein said second support comprises a first part carrying said second contact member and a second part in the form of a toothed wheel coaxial with the axis of said first support and meshing with said rotatable member.

8. The timepiece of claim 4, wherein said second support comprises a first part carrying said second contact member and a second part spaced apart from said first part in the direction of said axis of rotation, and wherein said first support is rotatably mounted on said second support between said first and second parts of the latter.

9. The timepiece of claim 4, wherein said first support is mounted on said second support rotatable about the axis of rotation thereof and with clearance in the direction of said axis.

10. The timepiece of claim 7, further comprising a fourth wheel mounted on said framework, means for manually adjusting the position in rotation of said fourth wheel, and wherein said first part has the form of a toothed wheel meshing with said fourth wheel.