US3628323A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniaturized electronic watch
Assignee: Bulova Watch Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-14
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A miniaturized electronic watch in which a tuning fork resonator is sustained in vibration by a transistorized drive circuit energized by a single power cell, the vibratory action being converted into rotary motion to operate a dial train which turns the hands of the watch. The watch movement includes a pillar plate below which the power cell is so positioned that its periphery coincides at one point with the border of the plate, the body of the cell extending to or beyond the geometrical axis of the hands, which axis is normal to the plate. The tuning fork is disposed to one side of the cell below the plate, whereas the dial train is mounted above the cell to provide a highly compact layout.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner R Baumgartner
- 👤 Hans P Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:15
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/008; G04B; G04B33/00; G04C10/00; G04C3/08; G04C3/10; G04C3/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A miniaturized electronic timepiece comprising: A. a pillar plate having a dial thereover; B. timing hands turnable on said dial with respect to a geometrical axis passing through the center of said plate, C. a button-shaped, single power cell disposed below said plate at a position in which one point on the periphery of said cell substantially coincides with the border of said plate, the body of the cell extending at least to said axis, the flat top surface of said cell being parallel to said plate, D. a mechanical resonator serving as a frequency standard, said resonator being constituted by a tuning fork sustained in vibration by an electronic drive circuit energized by said cell, the fork being disposed below said plate to one side of said cell and having a pair of tines which lie in a plane parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of said cell, and E. means to convert the vibrations of said resonator to rotary motion for turning said hands, said means including a dial train operatively coupled to said hands and disposed above the plane defined by the top surface of said cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A miniaturized electronic timepiece comprising: A. a pillar plate having a dial thereover; B. timing hands turnable on said dial with respect to a geometrical axis passing through the center of said plate, C. a button-shaped, single power cell disposed below said plate at a position in which one point on the periphery of said cell substantially coincides with the border of said plate, the body of the cell extending at least to said axis, the flat top surface of said cell being parallel to said plate, D. a mechanical resonator serving as a frequency standard, said resonator being constituted by a tuning fork sustained in vibration by an electronic drive circuit energized by said cell, the fork being disposed below said plate to one side of said cell and having a pair of tines which lie in a plane parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of said cell, and E. means to convert the vibrations of said resonator to rotary motion for turning said hands, said means including a dial train operatively coupled to said hands and disposed above the plane defined by the top surface of said cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A timepiece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said timing hands are constituted by seconds, minute and hour hands, the seconds hand being supported on an arbor lying along said geometrical axis, the minute hand being supported on a cannon coaxially disposed with respect to said arbor, said hour hand being supported on a tube concentric with said cannon, said arbor being operated by a pinion attached to the end thereof, which pinion is hidden by the cell when looking at the movement from the side opposing the dial.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A timepiece as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cannon and tube are also hidden by the cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A timepiece as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cannon is engaged by a minute wheel which is disposed above the plane defined by the top surface of said cell and is hidDen by said cell when the movement is viewed from the side opposing the dial.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A timepiece as set forth in claim 3, wherein the components forming said electronic drive circuit are contained in a plastic module disposed between the border of said plate, the periphery of the cell, and one tine of the fork, the outer side of the module being curved to conform to the curvature of said border, the inner side of the module being curved to conform to the curvature of said cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |