The invention relates to a watch or horology piece comprising a housing and in the housing a watch mechanism for winding and/or time setting of the watch or horology piece.

The invention further relates to said watch mechanism for setting a function of the watch or horology piece, com prising a longitudinally movable shaft extending from within to outside the housing and provided with a contrate wheel or clutch that is slidable and rotationally fixed with reference to the shaft, and a time setting wheel, wherein the longitudi nally movable shaft has at least two distinct positions, a first position wherein the respective wheels are positioned by the longitudinally movable shaft in a first configuration, and a second position wherein the respective wheels are positioned by the longitudinally movable shaft in a second configuration, which is a time setting configuration wherein the contrate wheel or clutch drivingly connects direct or indirect to the time setting wheel.

Such a watch or horology piece is disclosed by US 2,412,493, CH 154233 A, JP S41 16617 Yl, and US 647544 A and is the standard configuration of a conventional mechanical watch. This known mechanism according to the preamble is how ever also applied in a conventional quartz watch. The first configuration as mentioned in the preamble is an idle configu ration in case of such a quartz watch. When it concerns a con ventional mechanical watch the first configuration is a wind ing configuration.

Further components that are required in such a con ventional mechanical or quartz watch are a series of levers to enable that a motion of the longitudinally movable shaft - which is executed by engaging a crown mounted on the shaft outside the housing of the watch or horology piece- translates into a desired motion. This motion causes the engagement of the respective wheels, i.e. the time setting wheel and the clutch or contrate wheel inside the housing of the watch or horology piece.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the number of components that are required in the watch mechanism of the watch or horology piece according to the preamble.

It is a further object of the invention to increase the robustness of such a watch mechanism of the mechanical watch or horology piece.

These and other objects and advantages that will be come apparent from the following disclosure, are provided with a watch or horology piece, and a watch mechanism having the features of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the watch mecha nism of the quartz watch or mechanical watch comprises a com pliant mechanism with an input and an output, said compliant mechanism comprising a frame and at least a first rigid mova ble portion and a second rigid movable portion, each movable portion supported by the frame, wherein the first and second rigid movable portions define the input and output of the com pliant mechanism, wherein the output connects to the contrate wheel or clutch so as to arrange that when a force is exerted on the input by movement of the longitudinally movable shaft, the first rigid movable portion and the second rigid movable portion execute motions that are attuned to each other. These motions are for instance motions in opposite directions. Mov ing the longitudinally movable shaft is done by manually en gaging the crown on the shaft adjacent and externally of the housing of the watch or horology piece.

As used herein the term "compliant mechanism" refers to a mechanism having rigid parts that are connected to each other or to the ground with elastically deformable elements. The compliant mechanism as used according to the invention is capable to transfer through elastic body deformation the manu al input force and the displacement provided to the shaft ex ternally of the housing, to an output force and displacement of the output within the housing that connects to the contrate wheel or clutch.

When the invention is applied to a conventional me chanical watch, the watch mechanism further comprises a wind ing wheel that is rotatably mounted on the longitudinally mov able shaft, wherein in the first position the respective wheels are positioned by the longitudinally movable shaft in the winding configuration wherein the contrate wheel or clutch engages the winding wheel.

Suitably in some configurations a selection wheel is provided that in the time setting configuration contacts the contrate wheel or clutch and the time setting wheel. The se lection wheel can be used for further functionality of the watch, such as the setting of a calendar function.

Preferably the compliant mechanism is monolithic or single piece, so as to reduce the number of components consid erably.

Preferably the above-mentioned selection wheel is movably supported by the frame.

Suitably the longitudinally movable shaft extends through apertures in the first and the second rigid movable portions. The force that is exerted at the input outside of the housing, can then be transferred to the mechanism inside the housing through the longitudinally movable shaft.

Preferably the contrate wheel or clutch engages one of the first and second rigid movable portions that acts as the output of the compliant mechanism, wherein such contrate wheel or clutch is positionally fixed with reference to such rigid movable portion.

In a suitable embodiment the first and the second rigid movable portions are mounted directly or indirectly with one or more flexures, for instance first and second flexures, on the frame.

In a first embodiment the first and the second rigid movable portions are each connected through one or more flex ures, for instance a third and a fourth flexure, respectively to an intermediate body that through fifth flexures is sup ported by the frame so as to provide that in use the first and the second rigid movable portions can move in opposite direc tions.

It is preferred in the first embodiment that, wherein there are plural fifth flexures, said fifth flexures are par allel to each other so as to provide that when a force is ap plied at the input of the compliant mechanism, the intermedi ate body is enabled to execute a translational motion. This translational motion is then at right angles with reference to the motions in opposite directions of the first and second rigid movable portions.

In a second embodiment it is preferred that the first and the second rigid movable portions are connected with each other through a sixth flexure so as to provide that when a force is applied to the input, the first and the second rigid movable portions execute mirror image rotational movements.

In yet another embodiment it is preferred that the frame comprises two frame portions, the two frame portions be ing located at opposite sides of the longitudinally movable shaft.

Preferably at least one of the flexures in the watch has buckling capability. This provides bi-stable behaviour, which may be desirable to exactly define and maintain a par ticular configuration of the watch or horology piece of the invention, for instance for winding or time setting or setting a calendar function.

Another preferable feature is that at least one of the first and the second rigid movable portions and the inter mediate body is provided with grooves arrange to receive an arresting piece that is flexibly supported by the frame. This further supports the possibility to secure the winding config uration and/or time setting configuration or other configura tion of the watch or horology piece of the invention, by plac ing the arresting piece in one of the grooves.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of several exemplary embodiments of a watch mechanism of a watch or horology piece according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

-figures 1 - 3 show a first embodiment of a watch mechanism of the watch or horology piece according to the in vention;

-figure 4 shows a detail 3D view at the watch mecha nism of figure 2;

-figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of a watch mechanism of the watch or horology piece according to the invention;

-figures 8 and 9 show an embodiment of a watch mecha- nism of the watch or horology piece according to the invention with buckling flexures;

-figure 10 shows yet another embodiment of a watch mechanism of the watch or horology piece according to the in vention; and

-figure 11 shows a dial face of the watch or horology piece according to the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Turning first to figure 11, this figure shows a watch or horology piece 1 comprising a housing 2. In the housing 2 a watch mechanism is provided for time setting. This applies both to quartz watches and to mechanical watches. Optionally the watch mechanism also arranges for winding if it concerns a mechanical watch. Further there may be a mechanism for setting another function, such as a calendar function of the watch or horology piece 1. Setting the functions of the watch is done by turning a crown 3 mounted on a longitudinally movable shaft 4 that extends from within to outside the housing 2. Winding can be done when the crown 3 is in the position shown in solid lines. Time setting can be done when the crown 3 is in the po sition shown in interrupted lines. When the watch or horology piece 1 is provided with a calendar (or other) function, the crown 3 may exhibit a further intermediate position which de fines the setting of this calendar or other function.

The skilled person understands that the above men tioning of a calendar function is only for the purpose of giv ing an example, and that there may be numerous other functions attributed to the watch or horology piece 1. In that sense the limitations of what constitutes a watch or horology piece are indeterminate, since after the introduction of the iPhone it is unclear when a watch is merely a watch; the iPhone can also be named an iPod, a camera or an Internet browser; see https:://www,youtube,com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4.

Moving the crown 3 between the position in solid lines and the position in interrupted lines moves the longitu dinally movable shaft 4 on which the crown 3 is mounted be tween the different configurations of the watch mechanism within the housing 2. The instant invention applies in partic- ular to the watch mechanism inside the housing 2 as will be further elucidated with reference to the following figures 1 - 10. It is to be noted that the following explanation relates to a mechanical watch, notwithstanding that the invention can also apply to a quartz watch. The functionality of the winding as explained hereinafter is then absent.

The different embodiments as elucidated hereinafter have in common that the watch mechanism comprises a longitudi nally movable shaft 4 that extends from within to outside the housing 1, and which longitudinally movable shaft 4 is provid ed with a contrate wheel or clutch 6 that is slidable and ro- tationally fixed with reference to the shaft 4. Further there is a time setting wheel 25, and a winding wheel 7 which is ro tatably mounted on the longitudinally movable shaft 4. The longitudinally movable shaft 4 has at least two distinct posi tions, a first position wherein the respective wheels are po sitioned by the longitudinally movable shaft 4 in a winding configuration wherein the contrate wheel or clutch 6 engages the winding wheel 7 (figure 1), and a second position wherein the respective wheels are positioned by the longitudinally movable shaft 4 in a time setting configuration wherein the contrate wheel or clutch 6 drivingly connects direct or indi rect to the time setting wheel 25.

Optionally the watch or horology piece 1 comprises a calendar setting configuration. This is shown in figure 2. In this configuration a selection wheel 5 is applied that can drive a wheel 26 for setting the calendar function. Only when in the time setting configuration of figure 3, the selection wheel 5 contacts the contrate wheel 6 or clutch and the time setting wheel 25. To enable that the selection wheel 5 con tacts the time setting wheel 25, the selection wheel 5 is mov- ably supported by the frame 11, preferably by arranging that the selection wheel 5 is supported by frame 11 through selec tion lever 24 mounted on flexures 27.

The winding configuration is depicted in figure 1 concerning a first embodiment, in figures 5, 6 and 7 concern ing a second embodiment, in figures 8 and 9 concerning a third em bodiment, and in figure 10 concerning a fourth embodiment. The time setting configuration is depicted in figure 3 for the first embodiment, in figure 5 for the second embodiment and in figure 9 for the third embodiment. Figures 2 and 4 depict the optional functionality of a calendar function, wherein a se lection wheel 5 is applied that engages a calendar function wheel 26, which can be rotated when the crown 3 is placed in a date setting position, for instance between the winding posi tion shown in figure 1 and the time setting position shown in figure 3. As already mentioned the functionality of a calendar function is not only optional, but it is also a nonlimiting example as is clear to the skilled person. One could for in stance include the function of a remote control for an exter nal device, such as a home sound system, to the setting of the crown 3.

Features that the different embodiments share and have in common are the following.

A first common feature is that the watch mechanism com-prises a compliant mechanism 8 with an input 9 and an out put 10, wherein the output 10 connects to the contrate wheel or clutch 6 and the input 9 can be actuated by moving the lon gitudinally movable shaft 4 that is connected to the input 9. This is usually done by manually engaging the crown 3 that is provided on the longitudinally movable shaft 4 externally of the housing 2 of the watch mechanism or horology piece 1.

Preferably the compliant mechanism 8 is monolithic or made from a single piece.

A second common feature is that the compliant mecha nism 8 comprises a frame 11 and at least a first rigid movable portion 12 and a second rigid movable portion 13, each movable portion 12, 13 being supported by the frame 11, wherein the first and second rigid movable portions 12, 13 define the in put 9 and output 10 of the compliant mechanism, and are inter connected so as to arrange that when a force is exerted on the input 9, the first rigid movable portion 12 and the second rigid movable portion 13 execute motions that are attuned to each other, preferably motions in opposite directions.

The attuned motions of the input 9 and the output 10 are visible in the first embodiment by comparing figure 1 with figure 3, wherein figure 1 represents the winding configura- tion and figure 3 represents the time setting configuration.

In figure 3 the input 9 and the output 10 are farther apart then in figure 1. A similar comparison can be made for the second embodiment between figure 5 representing the time set ting configuration, and figure 6 representing the winding con figuration, and for the third embodiment between figure 9 rep resenting the time setting configuration and figure 8 repre senting the winding configuration.

Still another common feature for the different embod iments is that the longitudinally movable shaft 4 extends through (not shown) apertures in the first and the second rig id movable portions 12, 13.

Yet another common feature is that the contrate wheel or clutch 6 engages one of the first and second rigid movable portions 12, 13, notably the rigid movable portion 13 that acts as the output 10 of the compliant mechanism. The contrate wheel or clutch 6 is positionally fixed with reference to this rigid movable portion 13.

Yet still another common feature of the different shown embodiments is that the first and the second rigid mova ble portions 12, 13 are mounted directly or indirectly with one or more flexures, for instance first and second flexures 14, 15, on the frame.

Specific to the first embodiment of figure 1 is that the first and the second rigid movable portions 12, 13 are each connected through one or more flexures, for instance a third and a fourth flexure 16, 17, respectively to an interme diate body 18 that through fifth flexures 19 is supported by the frame 11 so as to provide that in use the first and the second rigid movable portions 12, 13 can move in opposite di rections.

Also specific to the first embodiment of figure 1 is that the fifth flexures 19 are parallel to each other so as to provide that when a force is applied at the input 9 of the compliant mechanism 8, the intermediate body 18 is enabled to execute a translational motion.

Specific to the second embodiment of figures 5, 6 and 7 and the third embodiment of figures 8 and 9 is that the first and the second rigid movable portions 12, 13 are con- nected with each other through a (for instance single) sixth flexure 20 so as to provide that when a force is applied to the input 9, the first and the second rigid movable portions 12, 13 execute mirror image rotational movements. Figures 8 and 9 shows that the rigid movable portion 13 connects through a buckling flexure 23 to the frame 11.

According to a fourth embodiment depicted in figure 10 the frame 11 comprises two frame portions 11.1 and 11.2, the two frame portions being located at opposite sides of the longitudinally movable shaft 4.

With reference to the first, second and third embodi ment it is further shown that one of the first and the second rigid movable portions 12, 13 and the intermediate body 18 is provided with grooves 21 arrange to receive an arresting piece 22 that is flexibly supported by the frame 11.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to exemplary embodiments of the watch or horology piece of the invention, the invention is not re stricted to these particular embodiments which can be further varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiments shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiments are merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to these exemplary embodiments. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using these exem plary embodiments.

Legenda

1 watch or horology piece

2 housing

3 crown

4 longitudinally movable shaft

5 selection wheel

6 castle wheel, clutch

7 winding wheel

8 compliant mechanism

9 input

10 output 11 frame 12 first rigid movable portion

13 second rigid movable portion

14 first flexures

15 second flexures

16 third flexure

17 fourth flexure

18 intermediate body

19 fifth flexures

20 sixth flexure 21 grooves 22 arresting piece

23 buckling flexure

24 selection lever

25 time setting wheel

26 optional function wheel 27 seventh flexures