WO2002077726A1

WO2002077726A1 - Wrist instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2002077726A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001452
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phanupong Roy Asvakiat
Original assignee: Whalley, Kevin
Priority date: 2001-03-26
Filing date: 2002-03-26
Publication date: 2002-10-03
Also published as: CN1463392A

Abstract

A wrist watch has a body (10) with a top surface (14) provided with an array of manually operable buttons (15). An inclined screen (17) is supported by the body (10) in a relative configuration positioned so that when the wearer's lower left arm (13) is in a normal rest position the screen is clearly visible by a wearer of the wrist watch.

Description

WRIST INSTRUMENT

The invention relates to a wrist instrument.

The invention relates particularly, although not exclusively, to an electronic wristwatch. The term "wrist instrument" is used in this specification to incorporate not only a watch but also a mobile phone, or a small computer such as a notebook, for example. It is envisaged that such "instruments" are now becoming so small that they can or will shortly be conveniently worn on a wrist. Whether the instrument is a watch or some other small electronic instrument, instruments of embodiments of the invention will have a viewing screen and an array of manually operable buttons or touch pads for controlling or adjusting functions of the instrument .

With a watch, and perhaps more especially with other small instruments, there is a desire to make the viewing screen as big as possible. This allows the screen to be easier to see and/or to display more information at any one time. In watches, it is known to effectively provide a •''large' screen by removing control buttons from a face of the watch or placing the buttons, at either side of the screen or on side surfaces of a watch casing. This generally makes the watch case somewhat cumbersome and makes the buttons no easier to reach and to operate. Also, in normal use the screen is rarely directly visible and so to read the screen the weaver must turn his lower arm i.e., turn his wrist, from its natural rest positions in normal relaxed human postures, to read the screen comfortably. It is known to locate the screen so that it sits on the edge or side of the lower arm so as to be viewable with greater comfort. However, this moves the weight of the watch body and can cause the watch to slide around the arm unless the strap is kept tight, which in itself makes the watch more uncomfortable to wear.

It is an object of the invention to reduce or overcome these problems .

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a wrist instrument including a screen and externally manually operable function control parts, the instrument having a body with a lower surface that fits snugly over a lower arm adjacent a wrist of a user such that the body sits entirely on the top part of the lower arm adjacent the wrist, a first upper generally planar surface that lies parallel to the surface of the back of a lower arm of a user and which surface incorporates an array of the control parts, and a second upper surface extending from the first surface in a direction lateral to a rotational axis of the lower arm which supports the screen at an inclined angle of about 30° to the first surface, such that the screen is wholly and clearly visible by the user when his lower arm is orientated in a normal rest position without the need to rotate his lower arm.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a wrist instrument including a screen and externally manually operable function control parts, the. instrument having a body with a lower surface that fits snugly over a lower arm adjacent a wrist of a user such that the body sits entirely on the top part of the lower arm adjacent the wrist, a first upper generally planar surface that incorporates an array of the control parts, and a second upper surface extending from the first surface in a direction lateral to a rotational axis of the lower arm which supports the screen at an inclined angle such that the screen is wholly and clearly visible by the user when his lower arm is orientated in a normal rest position without the need to rotate his lower arm.

The body is preferably integrally formed with a closable aperture in its lower surface.

The instrument may be an electronic watch, a mobile telephone, or a miniature computer.

A wristwatch according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is an isometric side view of a first embodiment of a watch, with a leather strap, made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric side view of the watch with a metal strap;

^' Figure 3 is an isometric side view of the watch worn on a left arm;

Figure 4 is the isometric side view of Figure 3 showing a right hand;

Figure 5 is another isometric view of Figure 3 showing the right hand;

Figure 6 is a isometric side view of a second embodiment of a watch, with a leather strap, made in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 7 is an isometric side view of the watch with a metal strap.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 3 a first embodiment of the watch has an integrally formed body 10 and a strap 11. The body 10 has a conventional sealable cover (not shown) on a lower surface 11 to allow initial installation of working components of the watch and replacement of a battery when required. The lower surface 11 fits snugly over a lower arm 13 (see Figure 3) of a wearer so that the body sits entirely on the top part of the lower arm adjacent the wrist. A generally planar first top surface 14 is provided parallel to the lower surface and which has an array of control buttons 15 for manually controlling and altering functions of the watch in normal use. A second upper surface 16 of the body 10 extends laterally from the first surface 14 with respect to a rotational axis of the wearer's lower arm 13, and supports a display screen 17. In preferred embodiments the screen is supported in a plane that is at about 30° inclined to the plane of the surface 12.

A second embodiment of a watch made in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this embodiment the first top surface 14 is inclined with respect the lower surface 13 to give the body a prism shape .

A major advantage of this configuration is that the body of the watch sits entirely on the top part of the wearers arm yet the wearer can see the screen clearly when he/she is in conventional rest positions without having to turn his lower arm. A watch made in accordance with the present invention will not slide around the wearers arm like known arrangements.

As the screen is mounted in a separate (inclined) part of the body 10, the screen is not visibly obscured by control buttons or similar and, within reason, can be much larger relatively than shown in the Figures. This may be required or desirable when the screen is provided, for other applications to provide a suitable screen for a mobile telephone or miniature computer, for example.

Another advantage of the configuration is the ease with which the control buttons can be manipulated. The buttons are easily accessible, not being at the side of the screen 15 or on edges of the body 10, as is the case in prior art arrangements . The buttons are suitably positioned for manipulation by fingers of a right hand 18 of the wearer. It will be appreciated that, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fingers will not obscure the buttons generally from view ■ while any of the selected buttons are being pressed or pushed by the fingers of the right hand.

Claims

1. A wrist instrument including a screen and externally manually operable function control parts, the instrument having a body with a lower surface that fits snugly over a lower arm adjacent a wrist of a user such that the body sits entirely on the top part of the lower arm adjacent the wrist, a first upper generally planar surface that lies parallel to the surface of the back of a lower arm of a user and which surface incorporates an array of the control parts, and a second upper surface extending from the first surface in a direction lateral to a rotational axis of the lower arm which supports the screen at an inclined angle of about 30° to the first surface, such that the screen is wholly and clearly visible by the user when his lower arm is orientated in a normal rest position without the need to rotate his lower arm.

2. A wrist instrument including a • screen and externally manually operable function control parts, the instrument having a body with a lower surface that fits snugly over a lower arm adjacent a wrist of a user such that the body sits entirely on the top part of the lower arm adjacent the wrist, a first upper generally planar surface that incorporates an array of the control parts, and a second upper surface extending from the first surface in a direction lateral to a rotational axis of the lower arm which supports the screen at an inclined angle such that the screen is wholly and clearly visible by the user when his lower arm is orientated in a normal rest position without the need to rotate his lower arm.

3. A wrist instrument according to claim 1 or 2 , in which the body is integrally formed with a closable aperture in its lower surface .

4. A wrist instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the instrument is an electronic watch.

5. A wrist instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , in which the instrument is a mobile telephone .

6. A wrist instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the instrument is a miniature computer.

7. A watch substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany, drawings .