Wristwatch with high-frequency transmitter

• US 5,559,760 A
• Filed: 11/14/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Breitling S. A.
• Original Assignee: Breitling S. A.
• Inventors: Schneider, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US08/557,313
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47-61, 368/327, 368/278, 368/281-282
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/06 Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/10 inside cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

Wristwatch equipped with a high-frequency transmitter comprising an extensible antenna in the form of a wire wound up in a first housing and a second antenna forming a counterpoise and wound up, before use, in a second housing. These two antennae are each fastened to a plug by means of which the antennae can be unfurled by pulling, the plugs becoming detached when the antennae are completely unfurled.

The transmitter essentially constitutes a distress beacon and the presence of a counterpoise antenna has the effect of significantly amplifying the radiating power of the transmitter without consuming additional energy.

Claims

1. Wristwatch comprising, in addition to a device for measuring and displaying the time, a high-frequency transmitter, a current source for the supply to this transmitter, a switch for turning on the transmitter, an extensible antenna in the form of a wire wound up in a housing of the watch before use, one of whose ends is fastened to the watch, the other end being secured to a plug removably fastened to the watch before use of the transmitter, the antenna being unfurled by pulling on the plug, this unfurling moreover having the effect of closing the switch and turning on the transmitter and a counterpoise antenna of the same type as the main antenna and also wound up, before use, in a housing of the watch and one end of which being also secured to a plug removably fastened to the watch before use, said counterpoise antenna being arranged in such a way as to be able to be unfurled in a direction opposite to that of the main antenna.

2. Wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter, the switch and the antennae are arranged in the same casing as the device for measuring and displaying the time.

3. Wristwatch according to claim 2, wherein the antennae are made from a ductile material, for example nickel.

4. Wristwatch according to claim 3, the casing of which comprises a band, wherein the antennae are wound up helically in cylindrical housings made within the band and closed by the said plugs.

5. Wristwatch according to claim 4, wherein the plugs are fastened to the antennae in such a way that they become detached from the antenna when the pulling force on the plug has exceeded the force required for the complete unfurling of the antenna.

6. Wristwatch according to claim 5, wherein the plugs have a dome to which is forcibly fastened a spigot of synthetic material, itself fastened to the end of the antenna in such a way that the said dome becomes detached from the spigot when the pulling force on the plug has exceeded the force required for the complete unfurling of the antenna.

7. Wristwatch according to claim 5, wherein the main antenna is, before unfurling, wound up helically in a tube mounted slidably in the casing and furnished with a shoulder cooperating with the switch for the actuation of the latter.

8. Wristwatch according to claim 6, wherein the said shoulder also cooperates with a stop, limiting the travel of the tube.