US3762153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece
Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-02-18
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1992-02-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to improvements in and relating to timesetting device for an electronic timepiece wherein a mechanical vibrator, preferably a balance wheel tuning fork, a crystal oscillator or the like, used as its time base is kept in its oscillating state by means of electric energy. The invention resides in a time-setting device for an electronic timepiece, comprising a switching means adapted for switching over an electronic timepiece drive circuit from its active and oscillation-maintaining state for a mechanical oscillator acting as a time base of the timepiece, to its unactive and nonenergizing state for the mechanical oscillator, and mechanical positioning means for a time-settable stem of said timepiece adapted for axially positioning the stem at its several axial positions including a time-setting one, said device being characterized by that the most drawn-out position of said stem is other than said time-setting one and where said switching means is kept in its ineffect position.
Inventors
- 👤 K Komiyama
- 👤 Y Iinuma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:51
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04B; G04B27/00; G04B27/004; G04C9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece, comprising a switching means adapted for switching over an electronic timepiece drive circuit from its active and oscillationmaintaining state for a mechanical oscillator acting as a time base of the timepiece, to its unactive and non-energizing state for the mechanical oscillator, and mechanical positioning means for a time-settable stem of said timepiece adapted for axially positioning the stem at its several axial positions including a time-setting one, said device being characterized by that the most drawn-out position of said stem (2) is other than said timesetting one and where said switching means (3)(16)(17) is kept in its ineffect position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece, comprising a switching means adapted for switching over an electronic timepiece drive circuit from its active and oscillationmaintaining state for a mechanical oscillator acting as a time base of the timepiece, to its unactive and non-energizing state for the mechanical oscillator, and mechanical positioning means for a time-settable stem of said timepiece adapted for axially positioning the stem at its several axial positions including a time-setting one, said device being characterized by that the most drawn-out position of said stem (2) is other than said timesetting one and where said switching means (3)(16)(17) is kept in its ineffect position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
Time-setting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by that said switching means comprises two resilient contact arms (16a; 17a) and a part (3) of said switching means is so designed and arranged as to mechanically cooperate with saiD stem (2) and act upon selected one (17a) of said contact arms (16a; 17a) for on-off control thereof by resiliently flexing the selected contact, or the both.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Time-setting device as claimed in claim 2, characterized by that said part comprises a setting lever (3) which is provided with a pin (3b) adapted for engagement with a spring arm part (8d) of a setting lever spring (8).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
Time-setting device as set forth in claim 3, having a tuning fork acting as its time-base and said spring arm (8d) of said setting lever spring (8) being formed with undulations (8a; 8b; 8c) adapted for engagement with said pin (3b), said device being characterized by that said undulations (8a; 8b; 8c) are so designed and arranged that when the stem (2) is drawn from its outermost drawn-out position to its any one of axially inner positions, mechanical oscillation is given to said tuning fork (13) for substantially assisting oscillating start thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
Time-setting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by that a clutch wheel is mounted on said stem axially slidable thereof and rotatable in unison thereof, said clutch wheel being mounted between a date correction wheel mounted on said stem in an idle way and a setting wheel rotatably mounted on a pillar plate of said timepiece and the axial position of said clutch wheel on said stem being set by turning movement of a setting lever which is kept in cooperation with the stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Time-setting device as claimed in claim 5, characterized by that when said clutch wheel is set to its position kept in separation from said date correction wheel and said setting wheel, said electronic drive circuit is cut-off from a source battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece, comprising in combination: a rotatable and axially shiftable stem, a mechanical vibrator, a positioning means for positioning said stem at its several axial positions thereof, an electronic drive circuit for said timepiece, means for switching over for said electronic drive circuit for switching over between its active state for maintaining said mechanical vibrator in its oscillating state and its inactive state, the outermost drawn-out position of said stem being other than that of said stem adapted for making a time-setting operation and said switching-over to said ineffective state of said circuit being carried out at the outermost drawn-out position of said stem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece, comprising in combination: a rotatable and axially shiftable stem, a mechanical vibrator, a positioning means for positioning said stem at its several axial positions thereof, an electronic drive circuit for said timepiece, means for switching over for said electronic drive circuit for switching over between its active state for maintaining said mechanical vibrator in its oscillating state and its inactive state, the outermost drawn-out position of said stem being other than that of said stem adapted for making a time-setting operation and said switching-over to said ineffective state of said circuit being carried out at the outermost drawn-out position of said stem.
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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |