US3665698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electromechanical clockwork with decoupling mechanism
Assignee: Tissot SA
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Filing: 1970-11-18
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A continuously operating rocking member coacts with a pair of meshing pinions to step a gear train of a clockwork for a watch, one of the gears of this train being in mesh with the first pinion and being also positively coupled with the seconds hand of the watch incorporating the clockwork. Manual actuation of a release mechanism, preparatorily to the resetting of the watch hands, trips a lever which retracts the other pinion from the sweep of the drive member and also immobilizes the driven gear in mesh with the first pinion, enabling continued reciprocation of the rocking member during readjustment of the timepiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Dome
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:00
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04B; G04B27/00; G04B27/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A clockwork for a timepiece having a gear train with an input element for the displacement of its minute and hour hands release means for decoupling said input element from said hands preparatorily to a resetting thereof, and a seconds hand positively coupled with said input element, comprising: oscillatory drive means for stepping said gear train including a swingable pawl member; a pair of counterrotating pinions meshing with each other At least in an operative position, said pinions having teeth confronting said drive means for alternate stepping by said pawl member; a driven gear permanently meshing with one of said pinions, for unidirectional stepping thereby, said driven gear constituting said input element; and control means coupled with said release means for moving the other of said pinions into an inoperative position out of the sweep of said pawl member upon decoupling said driven gear from said minute and hour hands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A clockwork for a timepiece having a gear train with an input element for the displacement of its minute and hour hands release means for decoupling said input element from said hands preparatorily to a resetting thereof, and a seconds hand positively coupled with said input element, comprising: oscillatory drive means for stepping said gear train including a swingable pawl member; a pair of counterrotating pinions meshing with each other At least in an operative position, said pinions having teeth confronting said drive means for alternate stepping by said pawl member; a driven gear permanently meshing with one of said pinions, for unidirectional stepping thereby, said driven gear constituting said input element; and control means coupled with said release means for moving the other of said pinions into an inoperative position out of the sweep of said pawl member upon decoupling said driven gear from said minute and hour hands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 1, further including detent means coupled with said control means for positively arresting said driven gear in said inoperative position of said other of said pinions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a lever with a first arm supporting said other of said pinions and with a second arm bearing said detent means, said lever having a fulcrum remote from the axis of said one of said pinions whereby said pinions move apart in said inoperative position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 3 wherein said lever is provided with yieldable stop means tending to maintain same in said operative position of said other of said pinions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 4 wherein said yieldable stop means comprises an elastic third arm on said lever bearing upon a fixed stop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 3, further comprising reciprocable backstop means engageable with the teeth of said pinions for preventing reverse rotation thereof, said lever having a formation for limiting the stroke of said backstop means upon said pinions moving apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 3 wherein the mobility of said lever is limited to prevent complete separation of said pinions upon their moving apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 2 wherein the axial spacing of said pinions is constant, said control means comprising a lever pivoted on the axis of said one of said pinions and carrying said other of said pinions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 8 wherein said pinions are provided with backstop means for preventing reverse rotation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clockwork as defined in claim 2 wherein said detent means is shaped and arranged to arrest said driven gear in a position into which it has been displaced by a stepping of said one of said pinions by said pawl member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1255852A
Cited
US3470687A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |