Ultra-flat self-winding watch

• US 4,500,213 A
• Filed: 10/19/1981
• Issued: 02/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eta Set
• Original Assignee: Ebauches SA
• Inventors: Grimm, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/312,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 368/208, 368/207
• US Class Current: 368/208
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 5/08 acting in both directions

Abstract

The watch has a winding weight comprising an arm 10a and an oscillating mass 10b. The arm is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of a toothed ring 12 by way of which the spring barrel 20 is kept wound and which axis is offset with respect to the watch hand axis X, X'"'"'. The oscillating mass 10a is at the same level relative to the case back 6 as the spring barrel 20. The length L'"'"' of the winding weight is greater than the offset L and more than half the largest dimension of the case 6. The oscillating mass 10b thus occupies substantially half the casing of the watch and is almost as thick as the distance between the glass and the back 6 which is also the rear plate of the movement.

Claims

1. A self-winding watch comprising a case with a back and, within said case:

a first zone including analogue time indicating means rotating about a first axis perpendicular to the back; and

a second zone at least partially located between said first zone and said back and including in a first region, a spring barrel having a thickness defined by spaced apart planes substantially parallel to the case back, an escapement-balance wheel unit, a gear train drivably interconnecing said spring barrel, said time indicating means and said escapement-balance wheel unit, and an arm located in said second zone and between the planes defining the thickness of the spring barrel, said arm having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said first end being pivotally mounted about a second axis perpendicular to the back, which is offset with respect to the first axis, and in a second region, an oscillating mass which is fixed to the second end of said arm to form therewith a winding weight for driving said spring barrel;

said mass and said spring barrel being located at the same level relative to the back; and

said first axis being closer to the mass than said second axis.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second regions represents substantially the half of said second zone.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein said mass is located substantially wholly on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the arm.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein said first zone is dish-shaped and partially surrounded by said second zone.

5. The watch of claim 4, wherein said spring barrel and said escapement balance wheel unit are located in the portion of said second zone which surrounds the first zone.

6. The watch of claim 4, wherein said mass is partially located in the portion of said second zone which surrounds the first zone.

7. The watch of claim 1, further comprising two deformable elements fixed to the case to form abutments for said mass.