GB2176032A - Clock - Google Patents

Abstract

A clock comprises a casing 2 open on one face, a transparent screen 3 which closes the face of the casing, a dial disposed beneath the transparent screen, a clock mechanism 4 located within the casing beneath the dial and having two coaxial rotary shafts 5, 6, a first indicator device connected to one of the shafts, for indicating the hours, and a second indicator device connected to the other shaft for indicating the minutes. At least one of the two indicator devices is arranged to display a reference element such as an aperture 8 on the dial of the clock spaced from the centre of the dial and rotated about the centre by the respective shaft of the clock mechanism for example by a disc 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clock The present invention relates to clocks of the type comprising a casing open on one face, transparent screen closing the said face of the casing, a dial lo- cated beneath the transparent screen, a clock mechanism located with the casing beneath the dial and having two coaxial rotary shafts, a first indicator device connected to one of the shafts, for indicating the hours, and a second indicator device connector to the other shaft for indicating the minutes.

The object of the invention is to provide a clock of the type specified above which, on the one hand, has a particularly simple and reliable structure and in which, on the other hand, the time is displayed in an aesthetically original manner.

The main characteristic of the invention lies in the fact that at least one of the hour and minute indicator devices is arranged to display a reference element on the clock dial which is spaced from the centre of the dial and which is rotated about this centre by the respective shaft of the clock mechanism.

In a first embodiment, only one of the two said indicator devices is arranged to display, on the dial, a reference element which is spaced from the centre of the dial while the other indicator device is arrange to display a hand originating at the centre of the on the dial.

Preferably, in the case of this embodiment, one of two said indicator devices comprises a disc rotated by the respective shaft of the clock mechanism and carrying the said reference element spaced from the centre of the dial.

In a second embodiment, each of the two said indicator devices is arranged to display a respective reference element spaced from the centre of the dial.

In a first solution of the second embodiment, the dial of the clock is constituted by a fixed disc supported centrally by a rod within the casing of the clock and the indicator devices are constituted by two radial arms disposed beneath the fixed disc, and having their inner ends connected to the two rotary shafts of the clock mechanism respectively and their outer ends disposed above the fixed disc to constitute the two said reference elements.

In a second solution, the indicator device for the hours comprises a first disc fixed centrally to one of the two shafts of the clock mechanism and having a first reference zone which is light permeable located close to its edge, and the minute indicator device comprises a second disc having a greater diameter than the first and disposed beneath the first disc, the second disc being fixed centrally to the other shaft of the clock mechanism and being provided, along its outer edge, with a circular ring disposed in a plane substantially coplanar with the plane of the first disc, the circular ring having a second light permeable reference zone.

According to a further embodiment, the indicator device for the hours comprises a first disc fixed centrally to one of the two shafts of the clock mechanism and having a light permeable zone, and the minute indicator device comprises a raidal arm disposed beneath the first disc and having its inner end connected to the respective rotary shaft and its outer end disposed above the first disc, to constitute a reference element spaced from the centre of the dial; furthermore, preferably, a second fixed disc supported centrally by a third shaft coaxial with the two shafts of the clock mechanism and connected to the casing of the clock is disposed in the space between the first disc and the radial arm.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which; Figure 1 and 2 are a front view and a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 and 4 are a front view and a sectional view of a second embodiment; Figure 5 and 6 are a front view and a sectional view of a variant of a second embodiment; and Figure 7 and 8 are a front view and a sectional view of a further variant.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 a clock 1 comprises a casing 2 closed on one face by a transparent screen 3. Within the casing 2 is a clock mechanism of any known type, balance wheel of electronic. Two coaxial rotary shafts 5,6 project from the clock mechanism 4 for indicating the hours and the minutes respectively or vice versa. A disc 7 is connected to the shaft 6 and is disposed immediately benneath the screen 3 and has an aperture 8 in a position spaced from the centre. A hand 9 is connected to the shaft 5 and is interposed between the disc 7 and the screen 3. The surface underlying the disc 7 which is preferably of a colour contrasting with that of the disc, may be seen by the user through the aperture 8 and thus constitutes a reference element spaced from the centre of the dial, and which is movable along a circular path about this centre.

Naturally the reference element could alternatively be constituted by a zone of the disc of a colour contrasting with the remaining part of the disc or by an element supported in any way by the disc.

Normally the hand 9 is used to indicate the minutes while the aperture 8 of the disc 7 is used to indicate the hours. In order to render the reading of the hours clearer, reference signs in the form of symbols or numbers (not illustrated in the drawings) may be provided on the ring 2a forming part of the casing 2 surrounding the transparent screen 3.

In Figures 3 and 4, the elements corresponding to those of Figure 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals. The solution illustrated in Figure 3 and 4 relates to the case in which botch the hours and the minutes are displayed on the clock by means of two reference elements spaced from the centre of the dial. In this case, the two coaxial shafts 5,6 rotated by the clock mechanism 4 are both in the form of tubular shafts traversed centrally by a fixed shaft 10a carrying a fixed disc 10 constituting the clock dial. The two rotary shafts 5,6 are connected to the inner ends of two radial arms 11, 12 the outer ends of which are bent upwardly and have two elements 13, 14 projecting above the fixed disc 10 and acting as reference elements for indicating the hours and the minutes.

The two elements maybe differentiated from each other by shaping and/or colour and/or by their dimensions and/or the material (for example different precious stones) so as to allow the element indicating the hours to be distinguished easily from that indicating the minutes.

Again in Figures 5 and 6, the parts corresponding to those illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals. In the solution illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the central shaft 5 of theclock mechanism 4 is fixed to the centre of a disc 15 which has a rectangular aperture 16 in a zone adjacent its peirphery. The hollow shaft 6 is fixed to the centre of a disc 17 provided with a peripheral circular ring 18 substantially coplanar with the disc 15 and having its inner edge immediately adjacent the outer edge of the disc 15.

Between these edges is a minimum clearance for ensuring rotation of the ring 18 around the disc 15 without interference. The ring 18 has an aperture 19 of substantially rectangular form.

About the transparent screen 3 is a disc 20 rigid with the screen and of a smaller diameter than the disc 15.

The apertures 16, 19 constitute two reference elements for indicating the hours and the minutes.

For example, in the case illustrated in Figure 5, the clock indicates three hours fifteen minutes. To facilitate reading of the time, references 21 for indicating the hour are provided on the fixed disc 20 and references 22 for indicating the minutes are provided on the ring 2a. Obviously, this device is not essential and considerations of an aesthetic character may suggest that these references may be omitted.

Within the casing 2 are preferably located light sources 23 which can be switched on and off manually to allow the clock time to be read in the dark.

With reference to the solution illustrated in Figure 7 and 8, in which parts corresponding to those illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 are indicated by the same reference numerals, the central shaft 5 of the clock mechanism 4 is connected to the centre of the disc 30 having an aperture 31 in a zone adjacent its periphery. To the other shaft 6 of the clock mechanism is connected a radial arm 32 having an inner end connected to the shaft 6 and an outer end bent upwardly and above the rotary disc 30 to provide a reference element 33 for indicating the hour or the minutes.

Beneath the rotary disc 30 is a fixed disc 34 supported by a tubular fixed shaft 35 interposed between the shafts 5 and 6. The disc 34 has diameter such that its upper surface is visible through the aperture 31. On this surface are references 36 for indicating the hour. In Figure 7 these references are numerical but these could alternatively be symbols or be constituted by sectors of a circular ring of a different colour. References 37a for indicating the minutes are provided on the upper surface of the ring 2a of the casing 2.

During operation of the clock, the disc 30 rotates so as to render the hour indicating references 36 on the surface of the disc 34 visible through the aperture 31 successively. The reference element 33 however provides the indication of the minutes.

For example in Figure 7, the clock is indicating three hours fifteen minutes.

In the zone between the disc 30 and the disc 34 are light sources 37 supported by the disc 34 and which can be switched on and off manually so that the light from them filters through the aperture 31 to allow the dial to be read even in poor visibility or complete darkness.

In another embodiment of the invention, the reference elements for the hours and the minutes may be displayed by means of a liquid crystal device.

Claims (21)

1. A clock comprising a casing open on one face, transparent screen closing the said face of the casing, a dial located beneath the transparent screen a clock mechansim located within the casing beneath the dial and having two coaxial rotary shafts, a first indicator device connected to one of the shafts, for indicating the hours, and a second indicator device connected to the other shaft for indicating the minutes, in which at least one of the indicator devices is arranged to display on the clock dial a reference element spaced from the centre of the dial and rotated about the centre by the respective shaft of the clock mechanism.

2. Clock according to Claim 1, in which only one of the two said indicator devices is arranged to display a reference element on the dial spaced from the centre of the dial, while the other indicator device is arranged to display a hand on the dial originating at the centre of the dial.

3. Clock according to claim 2, in which one of the indicator devices comprises a disc rotated by the respective shaft of the clock mechanism and carrying the said reference element spaced from the centre of the dial.

4. Clock according to Claim 3, in which the reference element is constituted by a light-permeable zone of the said disc.

5. Clock according to Claim 1, in which each of the two said indicator devices is arranged to display a reference element on the dial spaced from the centre of the dial.

6. Clock according to Claim 5, characterised in the clock further includes a fixed disc constituting the dial supported centrally by a rod within the casing and in that the indicator devices comprise two radial arms located beneath the fixed disc and having their inner ends connected to the two rotary shafts respectively of the clock mechanism and their outer ends disposed above the fixed disc to constitute the two said reference elements.

7. Clock according to Claim 5, in which the hour indicator device comprises a first disc fixed centrally to one of the two shafts of the clock mechanism and having a first reference zone permeable to light and located close to its edge, and in that the minute indicator device comprises a second disc having a diameter greater than the first disc and disposed beneath it, the second disc being fixed centrally to the other shaft of the clock mechanism and being provided, along its outer edge, with a circular ring substantially coplanar with the first disc and having a second reference zone permeable to light.

8. Clock according to Claim 7, in which the inner diameter of thesaid circular ring is slightly greater than the diameter of the first disc.

9. Clock according to Claim 7, in which a circular shaped element permeable to light and having a diameter less that the first disc is disposed on the transparent screen.

10. Clock according to Claim 9, in which the circular shaped element located on a transparent screen has references for indicating the hour.

11. Clock according to Claim 7, in which the casing has a ring which surrounds the transparent screen and is provided with references for indicating the minutes.

12. Clock according to Claim 7, characterised in at least one de-energisable light source is provided in the casing.

13. Clock according to Claim 1, in which the hour indicating device comprises a first disc fixed centrally to one of the two shafts of the clock mechanism and in that the minute indicator device comprises a radial arm located beneath the first disc and having its inner end connected to the other shaft of the clock mechanism and its outer end disposed above the said first disc to constitute one of the two said reference elements of the clock.

14. clock according to Claim 13, in which a second fixed disc is disposed in the space between the first disc and the radial arm, the second fixed disc being supported centrally by a third shaft disposed coaxially with the two shafts of the clock mechanism and connected to the casing.

15. Clock according to Claim 14, in which the third shaft is a tubular shaft interposed between the two shafts of the clock mechanism.

16. Clock according to Claim 14, in which at least onelight source is located within the casing.

17. Clock according to Claim 16, in which the light source is located within the space between the second disc and the first disc.

18. Clock according to Claim 14, wherein the casing has a ring surrounding the transparent screen on which references being provided on said ring for indicating the minutes.

19. Clock according to Claim 14, in which the fixed disc has references for indicating the hours.

20. Clock according to CLaim 14, in which the light permeable zone of the first disc is located at a distance from the centre of the dial which is slightly less that the distance between the centre of the dial and the said end of the radial arm constituting the reference element.

21. A clock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.