The present invention refers to a watch, such as a wrist-watch or pocket watch, comprising an electronic, electro-mechanical or mechanical clockwork, at least one time display element and at least one time setting element. The time display elements may comprise a mechanical display having an hour hand, a minutes hand and optional further hands, such as a second hand, and/or a display, such as an LCD display. More expensive watches may comprise gold or silver parts and even gems.

Unfortunately, watches, in particular expensive watches, are attractive objects for burglars and other thieves. As a result, watches are often stolen, not only from homes but also from shops. Even if theft itself cannot be prevented, it would be desirable if watches could be made less attractive for thieves.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a watch which has a reduced value for thieves while keeping its original value for its owner (whether consumer or shop-keeper).

The present invention achieves this object by providing a watch comprising a mechanism arranged for locking the watch and for unlocking the watch in response to setting, by using the at least one time setting element, the watch at a specific time. Such a watch is neither disclosed nor suggested by the state of the art. British Patent Application GB 2 217 484 discloses an electronic watch provided with an electronic circuit arranged to control advanced features of the watch. Access codes are recognised by the electronic circuit for accessing the advanced features. The position, rotation, direction of rotation and the rotation velocity of the time-setting rod may be used to determine entered access codes. The advanced features include the indication of a second local time, stop-watch functions, parking meter expiration alerts, feature correction and programming. However, these known advanced features fail to include locking the watch and therefore provide no theft prevention. On the contrary, these known advanced features all extend rather than limit the functioning of the watch.

European Patent Application EP 1 752 841 discloses an electronic watch which has a "sleep mode" for saving energy and thus prolonging the battery life. Switching between the "sleep mode" and the "active mode" is done automatically in response to an accelerometer. This known watch is therefore active when worn and inactive when not worn. This known energy saving mechanism provides no protection against theft whatsoever, as a watch in "sleep mode" will automatically be activated when a burglar picks it up. European Patent Application EP 1 424 658 discloses a method of entering a security code in a watch provided with a touch- screen. The security code received by the watch is forwarded to another device, such as a computer, so as to provide access to the other device. This known method is not used to providing access to the watch itself and therefore provides no protection against the theft of the watch.

The present invention is based upon the insight that watches are less attractive to thieves when they can only be activated by secret information, such as a secret code or secret sequence of control movements.

The specific time setting at which the watch can be unlocked can be predetermined, that is, be a factory setting. However, in some embodiments the specific time setting can be set by the user. Although the watch as a whole may be "locked", for example by disconnecting the battery in battery-powered watches, it is also possible to block the movement of part of the clockwork and/or part of the display elements.

The mechanism arranged for locking the watch may be arranged for locking the watch by pushing a certain button or pulling a certain knob, that is, without involving a code, such as the specific time used for unlocking. In a preferred embodiment, however, the mechanism is further arranged for locking the watch in response to setting, by using the at least one time setting element, the watch at a specific time. In such an embodiment, a specific time setting is not only used for unlocking but also for locking the watch. It is noted that the specific locking time setting and the specific unlocking time settings will typically be identical. However, this is not essential and embodiments can be envisaged in which the locking time setting (or code) is different from the unlocking time setting (or code).

In a further preferred embodiment, the display elements comprise a minute hand and an hour hand, and wherein the mechanism for locking and unlocking the watch comprises: • a first disc coupled to the minute hand,

• a second disc coupled to the hour hand,

• a penetrator element capable of penetrating openings in the first disc and the second disc when the hands indicate the specific time.

By providing discs which have suitable openings and which are coupled with the hands, a penetrator element can be inserted into the openings when the openings and the penetrator element are suitably aligned. The mechanism is arranged such that this alignment is only reached at the specific time. In an advantageous embodiment, the penetrator element is arranged for being actuated by a time-setting knob, and wherein the penetrator element and the time-setting knob are preferably coupled by a spring member.

Preferably, the penetrator element may be arranged for engaging an actuator, which actuator is arranged for alternatingly blocking and releasing a gearwheel each time it is engaged, the penetrator element preferably engaging the actuator via a resilient tongue.

Preferably, the actuator further comprises a cam wheel coupled to a ratchet wheel, thus providing an efficient toggle mechanism.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the mechanism for locking and unlocking the watch further comprises an additional penetrator element capable of penetrating openings in the third disc and the fourth disc when the hands indicate the specific time. The third disc may be identical to the first disc and the fourth disc is identical to the second disc.

In an alternative embodiment, the clockwork is electronic or electro-mechanic and the mechanism for locking and unlocking the watch is constituted by an electronic clockwork controller. In such an embodiment, the specific time is not necessarily limited to 24 hours or 60 minutes and may, for example, be equal to 27:62.

The present invention will further be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of an electronic or electromechanical watch according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 schematically shows, in partially cross-sectional front view, an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical or electro-mechanical watch according to the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically shows, in cross-sectional side view, the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 schematically shows part of the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 2 in more detail; and

Fig. 5 schematically shows part of an alternative exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

The watch schematically shown in Fig. 1 comprises an electronic clockwork 1 and a fully electronic, digital (numeric) display 2 and/or an analogue display 3 (having hour and minute hands). An electronic clockwork controller 4 is provided for controlling the clockwork 1, which controller includes a user interface (including buttons 5) for setting and adjusting the time and other functions, e.g. stopwatch, date etc. The controller 4, moreover, includes a (mechanical or electronic) locking mechanism arranged for receiving an unlock/lock code, for example a certain time setting, comparing the received value with a predetermined value, e.g. 13:14, and unlocking or locking the clockwork 1 or the display 2 and/or 3 when the entered unlock/lock code is equal to that predetermined value. The unlock/lock code preferably comprises one or more time settings, each time setting comprising an hour and a minutes component, which code is entered using the time setting elements 5. The unlock/lock code may a fixed code, e.g. set by the manufacturer. It may, however, be preferred to give the user the opportunity to set or change the unlock/lock code by means of the user interface for setting the time (represented by the buttons 5). In some embodiments, the watch may be locked without using a code (such as a specific time setting), while unlocking still requires a code. In embodiments requiring a code for locking, this code may be public while the code for unlocking is secret. In typical embodiments, however, the locking and unlocking codes are identical.

So, the watch can be locked by entering the (secret) locking code, e.g. the time setting 13:14, via the time setting elements (buttons) 5. The watch can be started again by entering the same code via the buttons 5. This may offer an opportunity to sellers of (expensive) watches to discourage the theft of such watches by only stocking locked watches. To unlock such a watch - typically after it has been sold - the seller or the manufacturer may supply the unlock/lock code to the buyer, e.g. via the Internet, or via postal mail. The buyer (user) may re-lock the watch by re-entering the unlock/lock code. It may be preferred to display the unlock/lock status at the watch's display 2 or 3, in order to indicate to potential thieves that the watch has been locked by a security code. As mentioned above, the locking/unlocking mechanism may be able to lock and unlock the clockwork, the display element(s), or both.

A merely exemplary embodiment of a watch which comprises an electromechanical or (pure) mechanical clockwork, as well as a mechanism for unlocking/locking the clockwork and/or the display of the watch according to the present invention, is shown in Figs. 2-4. The embodiment of Fig. 2 comprises a casing 10, an electromechanical or mechanical clockwork 11, a dial 12, an hour hand 13 and a minute hand 14. The watch further comprises a first disc 15, coupled with the hour hand 13 and a second disc 16, coupled with the minute hand 14. The discs 15 and 16 are each provided with similar eccentric openings 17, which here have the shape of slots in the disc borders. The discs 15 and 16 may be fixedly coupled with the hands 13 and 14 respectively, thus allowing no relative movement between each disc and its respective hand, or movable coupled, thus allowing relative movement.

The dimensions of the openings or slots 17 is chosen such that the penetrator can only penetrate the openings at the specific time. For this reason, the width (in the rotational direction) of the slots 17 will be approximately equal to the width of the penetrator 18.

When the discs are fixedly coupled with the hands, the positions of the discs 15 and 16, and thus of the disc openings 17, are typically set in the factory. The time setting allowing the watch to be locked and/or unlocked is then predetermined. When the discs are movable coupled with the hands, their positions may be (re)set by the user, thus adjusting the code. This allows the users to (re)set the discs at such positions relative to the positions of the hour hand 13 and the minute hand 14 respectively that both disc openings 17 coincide with a certain fixed location A (e.g. relative to the casing 10) when the hour hand and the minute hand show a certain time at the dial, e.g. 13:14.

The watch further comprises a penetrator 18, i.e. a member which is arranged to be able to penetrate both coinciding disc openings (slots) 17 at said fixed location A when the hour hand and the minute hand are set to said certain time, e.g. 13:14. The penetrator 18 is coupled with a toggling clockwork ON/OFF actuator 19, such that the clockwork (or only the display) can be turned ON and OFF alternately when the penetrator 18 is driven into the coinciding disc openings after the hour hand and the minute hand have been set at said specific time (e.g. 13:14).

The watch casing 10, the clockwork 11, the display elements (hands 13 & 14, dial 12), and the discs 15 & 16 are shown in a cross-sectional side view in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows in more detail how the penetrator 18 is coupled with the watch's time adjustment knob 20 via a spring member 21, which allows the adjustment knob to be moved axially even when the penetrator 18 is not able to penetrate the slots 17 (because the correct time is not set). The toggling clockwork ON/OFF actuator 19 comprises a ratchet wheel 22 which is driven by the penetrator 18 via a first resilient tongue 23, while a second resilient tongue 23a prevents the ratchet wheel 22 rotating backwards. The ratchet wheel 22 is fixedly connected with a cam wheel 24. The cam wheel 24 engages a springy lever 25 which is arranged for blocking (down in Fig. 4) or releasing (up in Fig. 4) a gearwheel 26. This gearwheel 26 is part of the clockwork and, when blocked, prevents movement of the clockwork and/or of the hands. It will be clear from Fig. 4 that locking or unlocking is only possible when the penetrator 18 is capable of penetrating the slots 17, that is, when the discs 15 & 16 are in the correct position, corresponding with the correct time setting.

In other words, in the embodiment shown locking or unlocking can only be performed when the hour and minute hands are in the position in which they show the unlock/lock time setting (code), that is 13:14. In this embodiment, unlocking is carried out by setting the specific (code) time, and then pushing the knob 20 to engage, via the penetrator 18, the actuator 19. It will be understood that other embodiments can be envisaged in which the knob 20 must be pulled in order to unlock the watch, or in which separate knobs are provided for time setting and (un)locking.

A suitable clutch mechanism may allow an adjustment of the code. If such a clutch mechanism is provided and the hands are movably coupled to the discs 15 & 16, then the time setting may be changed when the knob 21 is pushed in - by turning the knob 21- e.g. to 15:16, and the new unlock/lock code time will be 15:16. So from then on the watch only can be unlocked or locked after first turning the watch hands to 15:16 and pushing knob 21 once, such that the lever 25 is either pushed up by the cam wheel 24 and releases the gearwheel 26 of the clockwork, or is released downwards by the cam wheel 24 and blocks the gearwheel 26.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 comprises discs 15 and 16 which are provided with similar second openings 27, however, at another disc locations. The discs, and thus the second disc openings 27, are or can be set at such positions relative to the positions of the hour hand and the minute hand respectively that both disc openings 17 and 27 coincide with a certain second fixed location B when the hour hand 13 and the minute hand 14 show a certain second time at the dial, e.g. 20:21. This embodiment additionally comprises a second penetrator 28, i.e. a second member which is arranged to be able to penetrate the openings 27, which may be arranged in a separate pair of discs, or in the discs 15 and 16.

The second penetrator 28 can be pushed into both coinciding second disc openings at said second fixed location B when the hour hand and the minute hand show, e.g. are set to, said certain second time, e.g. 20:21. The second penetrator 28 is coupled with a second toggling clockwork ON/OFF actuator 29, such that the clockwork can be turned ON and OFF alternately when the penetrator 28 is driven into the coinciding disc openings 27. Means are provided for coupling both penetrators 18, 28 with the same time adjustment knob 20, which means are constituted by a double spring 21, 31 between the knob 20 and both penetrators 18, 28 respectively. The actuator 29 is of a similar construction as actuator 19 as can be seen in Fig. 5. The toggling clockwork ON/OFF actuator 29 comprises a ratchet wheel 32 which is driven by the penetrator 28 via a resilient tongue 33. The ratchet wheel 32 is connected with a cam wheel 34. The cam wheel 34 actuates a cam follower, constituted by a springy lever 35 which can lock (down) or unlock (up) a twin gearwheel 36. The operation is as follows: after the hands have been turned - by means of knob 20 - into the first unlock/lock code time e.g. 15:16, the first penetrator 18 is pushed into the first slot pair 17, such that the actuator 19 (un)locks the gearwheel 26 via lever 25. The knob 20 remains pushed in and by turning knob 20 around, the hands may be set into the second unlock/lock code time, e.g. 20:21, such that the actuator 29 (un)locks the gearwheel 36 via lever 35. In this way two (secret) time codes have to be input in order to unlock or lock the clock work be means of gearwheels 26 and 36.

It will be clear that the penetrators 18 and 28 are operated by the user via the knob 20 and the double spring 21, 31. The knob 20 is further used for setting the time. It will be further be clear that other mechanisms may be used to achieve the same or similar effects. In a battery-powered watch, for example, the actuator 19 (and 29) may (dis)connect the battery instead of blocking and releasing a gearwheel. The slots 17 and the penetrator 18 may be replaced with another mechanism allowing the match with a certain setting to be made. This match may, for example, also be made electronically.

In the above, embodiments have been described in which a time setting is used as an access code for (un)locking the watch, or at least part of the watch. It is, of course, possible to used other information for (un)locking the watch. Code information can be contained in the position of the time-setting rod (to which knob 20 is attached), the rotation of the time-setting rod, the direction of the rotation of the time-setting rod, and/or the rotation velocity of the time-setting rod. It is noted that any terms used in this document should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention. In particular, the words "comprise(s)" and "comprising" are not meant to exclude any elements not specifically stated. Single elements may be substituted with multiple elements or with their equivalents.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above and that many modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims.