US 11,886,147 B2
Variable-geometry timepiece display mechanism with resilient hand
Marc Stranczl, Nyon (CH); and Jan Pittet, Le Sentier (CH)
Assigned to Montres Breguet S.A., L'Abbaye (CH)
Appl. No. 17/051,617
Filed by Montres Breguet S.A., L'Abbaye (CH)
PCT Filed Jul. 24, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/069946
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 29, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/025423, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18186552 (EP), filed on Jul. 31, 2018; and application No. 19185917 (EP), filed on Jul. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0223740 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. G04B 19/02 (2006.01); G04B 19/04 (2006.01); G04B 13/00 (2006.01); G04B 45/00 (2006.01); G04B 9/00 (2006.01); G04B 13/02 (2006.01); G04B 19/08 (2006.01)
CPC G04B 19/02 (2013.01) [G04B 9/005 (2013.01); G04B 13/001 (2013.01); G04B 13/007 (2013.01); G04B 13/008 (2013.01); G04B 13/021 (2013.01); G04B 19/042 (2013.01); G04B 19/048 (2013.01); G04B 19/082 (2013.01); G04B 45/0061 (2013.01); G04B 13/02 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A variable-geometry timepiece display mechanism comprising:
at least one resilient hand which comprises a first drive pipe integral with a first end of a flexible strip, and a second drive pipe integral with another end of said flexible strip, and which comprises a display index or tip which, in an unstressed free state of said resilient hand wherein both said first pipe and said second pipe are not subjected to any stress and are remote from one another, is remote from said first pipe and from said second pipe, the operating position of said resilient hand being a stressed position where said first pipe and said second pipe are coaxial to one another about an output axis;
first means for driving said first pipe about said output axis; and
second means for driving said second pipe about said output axis, said first drive means and second drive means being arranged so as to deform said flexible strip, by varying the angular position of said second pipe relative to the angular position of said first pipe about said output axis, and so as to vary the radial position of said display index or tip relative to said output axis,
wherein said first drive means and/or said second drive means comprise an accelerator or decelerator device, which is arranged such that it accelerates, or stabilizes the speed of, or slows down at least said first pipe and/or said second pipe over at least part of the angular travel thereof, which accelerator or decelerator device comprises a first shaped gear train and/or respectively a second shaped gear train, said first shaped gear train and said second shaped gear train being arranged such that they symmetrically control said first pipe and said second pipe, such that said flexible strip is symmetrical relative to a radial originating from said output axis and passing by way of said tip or index, over at least part of the angular travel of said resilient hand, and
wherein said accelerator or decelerator device comprises:
a first differential gear on the drive gear train of said first pipe, said first differential gear including a first protrusion, and a first cam having an internal opening in contact with the first protrusion to form an input of the first differential gear; and/or
a second differential gear on the drive gear train of said second pipe, and said second differential gear including a second protrusion, and a second cam having an internal opening in contact with the second protrusion to form an input of said second differential gear.