IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,649,811
Granted Patent B2
US 7,649,811 · App. 12/164,809 · Granted Jan 19, 2010

Timepiece with moon phase indicator

Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,649,811
App. No.
12/164,809
Granted
Jan 19, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention concerns a timepiece including a dial ( 12 ) fitted with an aperture ( 16 ) behind which is mounted a moon phase disc ( 18 ) driven in rotation by a moon phase train ( 24 ). According to the invention said disc ( 18 ) is mounted so as to move in rotation about a fixed sun pinion ( 36 ). Moreover, two planetary wheels ( 44 a, 44 b ), secured in rotation to representations of the moon ( 19 a, 19 b ), are mounted so as to move in rotation on the disc ( 18 ), at least indirectly meshed with the sun pinion ( 36 ), so as to form a planetary train with the sun pinion ( 36 ).

Claims (22)

1. A timepiece including:

a dial with an aperture;

a moon phase disc mounted behind the aperture;

a moon phase train rotationally driving the moon phase disc;

a fixed sun pinion; and

two planetary wheels, each of which is rigidly locked with a representation of the moon;

wherein the moon phase disc is mounted so as to move in rotation about the fixed sun pinion, and wherein the two planetary wheels are rotatably mounted on the moon phase disc and engaging at least indirectly with the sun pinion, so as to form a planetary gearing with the sun pinion.

2. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein two intermediate wheels are mounted on said moon phase disc, in between said planetary wheels and said sun pinion.

3. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said planetary wheels and said sun pinion are toothed, the planetary wheels and the sun pinion having equal number of teeth.

4. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said representations of the moon are formed by orbiting discs to which images of the moon are affixed.

5. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said moon phase disc is mounted on a plate via a lunation bridge.

6. The timepiece according to claim 5 , wherein said lunation bridge is formed of a bar having a first end and a second end, wherein the bar is secured to said plate both at the first end and at the second end.

7. The timepiece according to claim 6 , wherein said bar includes two convex portions.

8. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said planetary wheels are mounted on said moon phase disc via two planetary bridges.

9. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said aperture is circular and sealed by a polarized window including a bottom half and a top half side by side and complementary, and polarized perpendicular to each other, and wherein said representations of the moon are formed by orbiting discs polarized parallel to the polarization of said bottom half of the polarized window.

10. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said planetary wheels and said intermediate wheels are mounted on the dial side of said moon phase disc.

11. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said planetary wheels and said sun pinion are toothed, the planetary wheels and the sun pinion having equal number of teeth.

12. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said representations of the moon are formed by orbiting discs to which images of the moon are affixed.

13. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said moon phase disc is mounted on a plate via a lunation bridge.

14. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said planetary wheels are mounted on said moon phase disc via two planetary bridges.

15. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said planetary wheels and said intermediate wheels are mounted on the dial side of said moon phase disc.

16. The timepiece according to claim 9 , wherein said planetary wheels and said intermediate wheels are mounted on the dial side of said moon phase disc.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: COURVOISIER, RAPHAEL; GRESSLY, CHRYSTEL; BRACHER, CHRISTIAN
To: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
Reel/Frame 021173/0232 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 07111341 · Jun 28, 2007 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090003137A1 · Jan 1, 2009