US3854280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical digital watch
Assignee: Timex Group USA Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-10
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1994-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical digital watch comprises a continuously rotating minute disc having the numerals 0 through 59 positioned consecutively about the periphery thereof and an hour disc having the hour numerals thereon which is driven by a cannon pinion through a Geneva drive pinion arrangement. The hour disc is stationary during approximately 54 minutes of each hour and rapidly shifts to the next digit between 3 minutes before each hour to 3 minutes past each hour. The time indicating discs are in gear engagement with each other which prevents them from falling out of synchronism with each other under shock.
Inventors
- 👤 P Wuthrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:53
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04B; G04B19/00; G04B19/20; G04B19/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A digital watch having an outer case and watch drive means located therein comprising: a dial mounted to said case and having at least one window therein, a drive shaft coupled to the watch drive means and having a seconds hand mounted thereon, a minute disc coupled to said shaft and having indicia located on the periphery thereof for indicating minutes, said indicia being viewable through said window in the dial, an hour disc concentrically coupled to said drive shaft and having hour indicia located about the periphery thereof, said indicia being viewable through said window in the dial, said hour disc having a disc gear portion extending therefrom, a cannon pinion coupled to said drive shaft and having a protruding nose portion on the periphery thereof, and, a pinion hour drive assembly comprising a Geneva drive pinion actuated each hour by said cannon pinion and a pinion gear portion which engages the hour disc gear to drive said gear during a relatively short interval at the turn of each hour thereby rapidly changing the hour indicia in said window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A digital watch having an outer case and watch drive means located therein comprising: a dial mounted to said case and having at least one window therein, a drive shaft coupled to the watch drive means and having a seconds hand mounted thereon, a minute disc coupled to said shaft and having indicia located on the periphery thereof for indicating minutes, said indicia being viewable through said window in the dial, an hour disc concentrically coupled to said drive shaft and having hour indicia located about the periphery thereof, said indicia being viewable through said window in the dial, said hour disc having a disc gear portion extending therefrom, a cannon pinion coupled to said drive shaft and having a protruding nose portion on the periphery thereof, and, a pinion hour drive assembly comprising a Geneva drive pinion actuated each hour by said cannon pinion and a pinion gear portion which engages the hour disc gear to drive said gear during a relatively short interval at the turn of each hour thereby rapidly changing the hour indicia in said window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the minute disc is coupled to the drive shaft for continuous rotation, the cannon pinion is coupled to the drive shaft to complete one rotation each hour, and, the hour disc is coupled about said drive shaft and held fixedly in position by the pinion hour drive assembly except for a short interval at the turn of each hour when said assembly is engaged by the cannon pinion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the hour disc gear has twelve protruding teeth thereon and the pinion drive portion of the pinion hour drive assembly has a plurality of protruding teeth which engage said hour disc gear teeth to drive said gear during a short interval at the turn of each hour.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the Geneva drive pinion portion of the pinion hour drive assembly comprises a Geneva gear configuration having a plurality of teeth, equal in number to the teeth on the piNion drive portion, which are engaged by the nose portion of the cannon pinion once each hour during the turn of said hour to rapidly rotate said hour disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the window opening in the dial comprises a first hour window and a second minute window located on opposite sides of the drive shaft with the hour window being located to viewer''s left and the minute window being located to viewer''s right.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 further including: a shaft mounted within said case in a parallel relationship with the drive shaft wherein said pinion hour drive assembly is mounted for rotation thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the minute disc is mounted to said drive shaft for continuous rotation and wherein the hour disc is coupled to said drive shaft for rotation during a period of approximately 6 minutes at the turn of each hour to effect rapid rotation of said hour disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the hour disc comprises a main body portion substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft and outer sloping portion having the indicia located on the upper surface thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the pinion hour drive assembly comprises an upper pinion gear portion and a lower Geneva drive pinion portion, and, the hour disc includes a downwardly extending hour disc gear into which engages the pinion gear portion of said assembly to hold said hour disc in place under shock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A digital watch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the window opening comprises a single window through which the hour indicia and minute indicia may be viewed.
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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |