Timex Corporation

Jean P Migeon

Michel G Plancon

Paul Grand-Chavin

Jean P Chambon

Georges J Perrin

Claude Louis Poix

An electronic analog timepiece is disclosed that utilizes digital storage devices for setting alarm time and when selectively displaying, in response to the activation of a setting member, either alarm time or actual, updated time by the timepiece hands. When setting the alarm time, the minute hand and second hand are positioned on the timepiece display to indicate alarm time in hours and minutes, respectively. Specifically, the minute and second representations of the minute hand and second hand positions on the display are transformed, in a selected storage device, to alarm time hour and minute representations, respectively. When displaying either alarm time or actual, updated time from the other time presently being displayed, the setting member is activated to produce fast rotation of the hands from one time setting to the other.

Electronic setting for analog timepiece

An illumination device (7, 23) for a wristwatch (1), having a completely self-contained power source (15) and illuminating lamp (17, 29) which is carried on the watchband (6). A flexible wall (21, 31) permits contact between lamp terminals (20, 35) and battery terminals to close the circuit when the device is manually actuated. An overhanging portion (8, 26) extends beyond the attachment (28) of the band to the wristwatch, so that the lamp (17, 29) may illuminate the face (4) of the wristwatch.

Watchband light attachment for a wristwatch

Method for making a rotor assembly for a stepping motor is provided by locating one flat side of a brittle magnetic rotor annulus against a preformed annular alignment surface molded into a thermoplastic hub and then thermoplastically working localized portions of the hub adjacent the other flat side of the rotor to form in situ a second annular shoulder thereagainst to lock the rotor in the aligned position. Other localized portions of the hub are thermoplastically worked to form in situ an inner circumferential lip extending radially from the hub into a corresponding groove in the shaft supporting the hub, thereby preventing axial movement of the hub and rotor mounted thereon. Required alignment of the brittle rotor disc is thereby achieved while minimizing the danger of breakage and also minimizing the number of components and assembly steps.

Method for making a rotor assembly

A rotor assembly for a stepping motor is provided by locating one flat side of a brittle annular rotor disc against an annular alignment surface on a hub and mounting the hub with aligned rotor disc thereon on a central shaft carrying an annular clamping washer. The clamping washer includes an inner peripheral portion which is clamped between first and second abutment surfaces on the shaft and hub and a resilient outer peripheral portion which bears axially against the other flat side of the rotor disc with a spring-like bias to clamp the disc in prealigned position on the hub. Required alignment of the brittle rotor disc is thereby achieved while minimizing the danger of breakage and also reducing the number of rotor components and assembly steps.

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Audeux, France

Jean P Migeon