Patent US3849977A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3849977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-27
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A tuning fork of a timepiece is vibrationally driven by an electric circuit and a gear train transmits the vibratory motion of the tuning fork to a set of hands which indicate the time. A crown is mounted for pushing movement to a hands-running position and pulling movement to a hands-setting position and a power switch is opened during pulling movement of the crown to cut off the supply of power to the electric circuit and the power switch is closed during pushing movement of the crown to turn on the supply of power to the electric circuit. A pivotal lever is pivoted into engagement with the gear train during pulling movement of the crown to releasably lock the gear train against movement and the lever is pivoted out of engagement with the gear train to free same for movement during pushing movement of the crown. An impact member is mounted on the lever and strikes the tuning fork to start same into vibration during pivotal movement of the lever away from the gear train so that the tuning fork is mechanically set into vibration by the impact member and the vibrations are then sustained by the electric circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Y Hirose
- 👤 Y Kawamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:40
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04B; G04B27/00; G04B27/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
363 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manuallY movable between a hands-setting position and a handsrunning position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said handsrunning position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means against movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective, said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manuallY movable between a hands-setting position and a handsrunning position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said handsrunning position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means against movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective, said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said oscillator comprising a tuning fork.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said oscillator comprising a tuning fork.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
274 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, a crown stem connected to said crown for movement therewith, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective comprising a pivotal lever having a first arm engageable with the end of said crown stem and a second arm engageable with said transmitting means to prevent movement of same; and biasing means constantly biasing said first arm into engagement with said crown stem whereby movement of said crown into said hand-setting position effects pivotal movement of said lever in one pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm into releasable engagement with said transmitting means and movement of said crown into said hands-running position effects pivotal movement of said lever in another pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm out of engagement with said transmitting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
274 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, a crown stem connected to said crown for movement therewith, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective comprising a pivotal lever having a first arm engageable with the end of said crown stem and a second arm engageable with said transmitting means to prevent movement of same; and biasing means constantly biasing said first arm into engagement with said crown stem whereby movement of said crown into said hand-setting position effects pivotal movement of said lever in one pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm into releasable engagement with said transmitting means and movement of said crown into said hands-running position effects pivotal movement of said lever in another pivotal direction to accordingly move said second arm out of engagement with said transmitting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A timepiece according to claim 3, wherein said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprises a resilient member mounted on said lever at a location thereon to impulsively strike said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
365 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; and means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electrical circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position; said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means agains movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective; and said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
365 words
In a timepiece having a set of movable hands for indicating the time: a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; and means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electrical circuit means thereby rendering same ineffective during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position and movable to a closed position to turn on power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same effective during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position; said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective including a pivotal lever pivotal in one direction into releasable engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position to releasably lock said transmitting means agains movement thereby rendering same ineffective and pivotal in another direction out of engagement with said transmitting means during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said hands-running position to unlock said transmitting means and free same for further movement thereby rendering same effective; and said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprising a resilient member mounted on said lever and movable into striking engagement with said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.
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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |