Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Mechanical time base – Mainspring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-06-12
Roskoski, Bernard (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Mechanical time base
Mainspring
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244742
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electronic watch of self-winding electric power generation type having a self-winding electric power generation function utilizing a rotary weight. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-winding electric power generation watch which is capable of having an additional function structure besides the ordinary time indication function and the self-winding electric power generation function by efficiently disposing train wheels for watch, electric power generation, and additional function, and motors for driving these train wheels within a watch case, which is prevented from becoming large in size of the entire watch though both the self-winding electric power generation function and the additional function are provided, and which mainly has a chronograph as the additional function.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, there have been developed electronic wrist watches of self-winding electric power generation type mounted with a self-winding electric power generation device for converting the mechanical energy of the rotary weight to electrical energy.
An electric power generation watch having a self-winding electric power generation device heretofore proposed has, in the watch case, a time indication train wheel including a third wheel, a fourth wheel, a fifth wheel and so on, a time correction train wheel including minute wheel and so on, a speed increasing train wheel for electric power generation including an electric power generation intermediate wheel, and motors for driving these train wheels. And these train wheels and motors are disposed in the watch case so as not to overlap each other.
Furthermore, the motor for electric power generation disposed in the case is formed so as to become slender in order to improve the electric power generation efficiency of the electric power generation device. This slender motor for electric power generation is mounted on a ground plate in such a position as not to interfere with the above described train wheels and other motors.
Heretofore, such electric power generation watches having an electric power generation function have been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI-7-333360 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI-5-323051.
Incidentally, such electronic wrist watches of self-winding electric power generation type are rapidly spreading in recent years. With the spread of the self-winding electric power generation watches, there are demanded electric power generation watches of multi-function type having an additional function, such as a chronograph function, other than the ordinary time indication function, besides the self-winding electric power generation function.
Here, in the multi-function wrist watch having an additional function such as a chronograph function, besides components which is used for time indication of the ordinary wrist watch which has no electric power generation function, components which are used for an additional function, such as a train wheel for chronograph, are mounted on the watch case of such a multi-function wrist watch.
In the conventional electric power generation watch having a self -winding electric power generation device, however, train wheels for time indication, time correction, and electric power generation, and a plurality of motors for driving these train wheels are disposed in the watch case with no space as described above. Within this case, there is no space for disposing a multi-hand structure for the chronograph or the like and other components of the multi-function structure.
In other words, in the conventional self-winding electric power generation watch, the train wheels and motors performing the original function of the electric power generation watch, such as the time indication function and the electric power generation function, are disposed so as to occupy the entire space on the ground plate ranging from the center portion of the watch to the peripheral portion. Therefore, it is difficult to add the additional function structure thereto from the viewpoint of the two-dimensional space. Furthermore, if it is attempted to mount the additional function structure above or under the train wheels and motors, it becomes impossible to support the train wheel for electric power generation and the train wheel for the additional function within the case via shafts.
In the conventional self-winding electric power generation watch, therefore, it is difficult to mount the additional function structure such as the chronograph structure from the aspect of space so long as a large sized ground plate and a large sized case exceeding a range permitted as a wrist watch are not provided. Until now, production of a self-winding electric power generation watch having the additional function has not been realized.
An object of the present invention is to provide a self-winding electric power generation watch having an additional function structure which is free from the above described drawbacks of the conventional self-winding electric power generation watch, which is prevented from becoming large in size of the entire watch by efficiently disposing the train wheels for watch, electric power generation, and additional function, and motors for driving these wheels in a watch case, and which is capable of having a further additional function in the self-winding electric power generation watch.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a self-winding electric power generation watch with additional function includes: an electric power generation motor for self-winding electric power generation for generating electric power by using a rotation movement of a rotary weight, and an electric power generation train wheel for transmitting the rotation movement of the rotary weight to the electric power generation motor; a watch motor and a watch train wheel for time indication driven by the electric power of the electric power generation motor; and a storage battery for storing the electric power of the electric power generation motor. The self-winding electric power generation watch includes an additional function motor and an additional function train wheel driven by the electric power of the electric power generation motor to conduct indication other than time indication. The electric power generation motor, the watch motor, the additional function motor, and the storage battery are disposed in a watch case so as to surround a watch center part. In addition, the electric power generation train wheel, the watch train wheel, and the additional function train wheel are disposed in a region surrounded by the electric power generation motor, the watch motor, the additional function motor, and the storage battery.
Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the watch includes a ground plate disposed in a watch case, a platelike intermediate cradle disposed so as to be opposed to the ground plate, and a platelike additional function cradle disposed in the opposition side of said intermediate cradle from said ground plate.
Shafts of the watch train wheel are supported by the ground plate and the intermediate cradle, and the additional function train wheel is supported by the intermediate cradle and the additional function cradle via shafts.
As a result, a plurality of motors performing functions can be disposed in the watch case so as to be opposed to each other and separated from each other. A bad influence caused by proximity between motors can thus be prevented. By utilizing the arrangement configuration of the motors, an efficient arrangement of other components, such as a storage battery, hand setting components, and the train wheels, becomes possible. In addition, the sectional positions of the motors can be set to nearly the same height. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the watch structure thin.
Furthermore, in a region surrounded by the motors, the ground plate disposed on the bottom of the case, and the platelike intermediate cradle and the platelike chronograph cradle opposed
Hasumi Takayuki
Kinoshita Kazuhide
Miyasaka Kenji
Yamada Shin-ichi
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Roskoski Bernard
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