CA2375927A1 - A watch with rotating conical bands and with removable objects - Google Patents

A watch with rotating conical bands and with removable objects Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2375927A1
CA2375927A1 CA002375927A CA2375927A CA2375927A1 CA 2375927 A1 CA2375927 A1 CA 2375927A1 CA 002375927 A CA002375927 A CA 002375927A CA 2375927 A CA2375927 A CA 2375927A CA 2375927 A1 CA2375927 A1 CA 2375927A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
timepiece
decorative object
wearable
mounting
spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002375927A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Andrew Von Zodora-Gerlof
Ron De Corte
William H. Hohenstein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zadora Timepieces LLC
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2375927A1 publication Critical patent/CA2375927A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G04HOROLOGY
    • G04BMECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/20Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets
    • G04B19/21Drums
    • GPHYSICS
    • G04HOROLOGY
    • G04BMECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B47/00Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece
    • G04B47/04Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece with attached ornaments or amusement apparatus
    • G04B47/046Changeable decorations and parts thereof, decorations for the case which change the external appearance of the clockwork

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)

Abstract

A timepiece, such as a watch, has a plurality of concentric rotating bands (200, 210), viewable from both above and from the side so that a viewer may read the time without changing the orientation of the timepiece. The timepiece has an attachment mechanism that permits the removable attachment of objects, such as sculptures or other ornamental pieces (130) to the surface of the timepiece.

Description

A WATCH WITH ROTATING CONICAL BANDS AND
WITH REMOVABLE OBJECTS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.
60/144_870 filed July 20_ 1999_ the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The invention is directed to timepieces. and. more particularly. to timepiecees having rotating conical bands which indicate the time and having removable objects. such as a sculpture or other artwork, on the timepiece.
Description of Related Art Timepieces are well known in the art as are timepieces which can be worn by an individual.
Wrist watches. pocket watches, broaches or pendant watches are also known.
However. the display of time is typically done using at least hour and minute hands which point.
respectively. to the hour of the day and the minute within the hour. Alternatively. digital timepieces are known which display at least hour and minute as numerals. using. for example liquid crystal displays.
rather than as pointers to an angular reference to hour and minute.
Existing timepieces have the limitation that they require that the plane of the timepiece face be aligned to be substantially perpendicular with the line of sight of the wearer. In the case of wearable timepieces. this requires that the wearer take some affirmative action to determine the time.
such as rotating the wrist so that the orientation of the timepiece face is suitable for reading. This has a disadvantage that a person, with whom one might be meeting. could perceive such an action as impatience or as boredom with the subject of the meeting.
Another problem with the prior art is that the appearance of the watch remains substantially unchanged. This creates some difficulty in fashion coordination. where a user might desire to change the appearance of a timepiece so as to coordinate with a different outfit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems associated with the prior art are overcome, in accordance with one aspect of the invention. by providing a watch. the time indication of which is represented by rotating bands which can be viewed from both the top and the side to obtain an indication of time.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) In accordance with another aspect of the invention. a fixed or rotating platform exists on the top of the timepiece. normally called the bezel. which will support an object.
such as any type of sculpture or other aesthetically appealing rendering. Such objects would be removable to permit the sculpture or other rendering to be swapped out with different sculptures or renderings.
The foregoing and other features. aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a top view of an exemplary timepiece in accordance with the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of an exemplary timepiece in accordance with the invention.
Figure 3 is a section view of a timepiece along section lines 3--3 of Figure 1.
Figures 4A. 4B and 4C show ~ top. side and bottom view ~s of drive cylinders used in accordance with one aspect of the invention.
Figure ~ is an illustration of a shaft to which the cylinders of Figure 4 might be mounted for operation.
Figure 6 is an exemplary implementation of a wishbone spring. typically secured to an object that is to be mounted to the timepiece.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary stud which can be mounted to a timepiece and which mates with the spring of Figure 6 to hold an object in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 shows a view- of an exemplary timepiece. namely a watch. in accordance with the invention. Watch 100 has a watchband 110 and a fixed time indicator 120. A
section 3-3 along the centerline of the watch is show w more in detail in Figure 3. Watch 100 has an object I30 removably attached thereto as described more hereinafter.
Figure 2 is a side view ~ of exemplan~ watch 100. An object. in this example an ornamental sculpture 130. is removably mounted on the top of the watch. In the illustrated embodiment. the watch has two concentric conical time display bands or rings which rotate about the center of the watch. The bottom one 200. in this example. shows the hour as a location under time indicator 120.
The top one 210 Show 'S the minutes. Other bands or rings could be implemented as well. A w batch base 230 serv-es as a mechanical base for the timepiece and permits the connection 240 of a watchband 110.
Figure 3 is a section view ~ of watch 100 along section lines 3-3 in Figure 1.
A watch base 230 and platform 320 are mounted together by connection to shaft 220. In this example. the shaft can be SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) J
press fit or snap fit into the base and into the platform although other techniques for attachment could be used as well. The platform 320 serves as a mounting base for an object such as an ornament or sculpture. The conical time display band or rings 200 and 210 mount to cylinders 310 and 300 respectively. shown in more detail in Figure 4. One eaemplarv technique for mounting includes soldering or welding the time display rings to the cylinders. Other techniques may be used as well.
Cylinders 300 and 310 are mounted to the shaft 220 concentrically, so as to permit independent rotation. and cylinder 300 fits within cylinder 310. Motor mechanism 330 is coupled to a gear arrangement at the bottom of each cylinder 300 and 310 by one or more gear trains. indicated as dashed lines. A batten' 340 may be conveniently mounted to the watch base. The gear train could. of course. be driven by a mechanical drive mechanism of the tye used in timepieces for hundreds of years. rather than by an electrical motor.
Figures 4A_ 4B and 4C show elemplar<~ cylinders 300 and 310. A gear or gear teeth are mounted to or formed in the bottom of the cylinder. These engage the gear arrangement driven by the motor. In the implementation of cylinder 300. a notch 410 is provided into which a split C ring may be fitted to keep cylinder 310 from sliding down and interfering with the engagement of the cylinder 300 with the gear arrangement of cylinder 300 driven by the motor.
Figure ~ is an illustration of shaft 220. It too has a notch (~00) provided into which a split C
ring may be fitted to keep cylinder 300 from sliding down and engaging the watch base which might interfere with the rotation of the cylinder.
The preferred technique for mounting an object to platform 320 is shown in Figures 6 and 7.
There are two basic parts to this system, a wishbone shaped spring (Figure 6) and a stud (Figure 7).
In general the spring is secured to the piece that it is to be attached to the watch and the stud is secured to platform 320. preferably at the top and center of the watch.
The wishbone spring 600 is preferably made of spring steel. In an elemplar<~
embodiment.
the dimensions of this spring would be approlimately 20 mm long. ~ mm wide, and 0.~ mm thick.
There is a drilled hole 610 at one end to facilitate a screw for securing to the object to be removably attached. A drilled hole 620 in the middle of the spring, slightly smaller than the pilot diameter of the stud. 710. facilitates easy attachment of the spring mounted object to the stud.
The stud is preferable made of hardened and polished steel. This piece has three distinct features. namely _ the base 720 (preferably about ~ mm in diameter). the square 730. and the pilot diameter (each about 2 mm in diameter). The total height from bottom of base to top of the pilot diameter of this pan is about ~ mm. The pilot diameter has a tapered end 740 which tapers down from the diameter of pilot diameter to a minor diameter smaller than the size of hole 620 in the wishbone spring.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) In this embodiment. it is important that the diameter of the hole 620. in the center of the wishbone spring. be smaller than the diameter of the pilot diameter of the stud. About 2~% smaller would be preferable. In this embodiment. it is also important that the apex of the square be the same size as the pilot diameter to facilitate easy removal.
For assembly, a object. such as sculpture 130 is attached to the wishbone spring 600. using.
for example_ a scre«~ that passes through hole 610 in the spring and into the body of the object.
The wishbone spring is pressed over the tapered (conical) end of the stud and forced open until it opens enough to pass over the pilot diameter until it snaps into place on the square section of the stud. The square section of the stud allows several important advantages.
First. the object can be positioned in any 90 degree increment. Second. the object will be easily removed by a simple turn of 4~ degrees and lifting away from the watch.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail.
it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their equivalents.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims (19)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A wearable timepiece having one or more concentric rotating bands indicating time increments.
2. The wearable timepiece of claim 1 in which the one or more rotating bands are viewable from both the side and from the top for determining time.
3. The wearable timepiece of claim 1 in which the rotating bands are conical in shape.
4. The wearable timepiece of claim 1 in which the rotating bands are cylinderical in shape,
5. The wearable timepiece of claim 1 in which the rotating bands rotate about a bezel.
6. The wearable timepiece of claim 5 in which the bezel is fixed and the bezel serves as a mounting platform for a decorative object.
7. The wearable timepiece of claim 5 in which the bezel rotates and the bezel serves as a mounting platform for a decorative object.
8. A wearable timepiece having a visible surface and a mounting mechanism on said surface for removably attaching a decorative object.
9. The wearable timepiece of claim 8 in which said mounting mechanism comprises a stud.
10. The wearable timepiece of claim 8 in which said stud is configured to engage a wishbone shaped spring.
11. The wearable timepiece of claim 8 in which said stud comprises a conical portion, a cylindrical portion and a square portion.
12. For use with a decorative object to be mounted on a timepiece, a spring mechanism attached to said decorative object and configured to removably connect to a mounting mechanism attached to said timepiece.
13. The spring mechanism of claim 12 attached to said decorative object with a screw.
14. The spring mechanism of claim 12 in which the spring mechanism comprises an elongated piece of spring steel having a slot running for a portion of it's length, the slot forming substantially parallel legs connected at one end and open at the other end.
15. The spring mechanism of claim 14 in which the slot has a hole at a location along its length.
16. The spring mechanism of claim 15 in which said hole has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a mounting mechanism attached to said timepiece to facilitate easy attachment of the decorative object to said mounting mechanism.
17. An decorative object to be mounted on a wearable timepiece, comprising an attachment mechanism configured to removably connected to a mounting mechanism attached to said wearable timepiece.
18. A method of manufacturing a timepiece, comprising the steps of:
a. providing a wearable timepiece having a mounting mechanism for a removable decorative object; and b. providing at least one decorative object having an attachment mechanism for attaching said decorative object to said timepiece.
19. A method of assembling a timepiece, comprising the steps of:
a. . providing a wearable timepiece having a mounting mechanism for a removable decorative object; and b. mounting at least one decorative object having an attachment mechanism for attaching said decorative object to said mounting mechanism.
CA002375927A 1999-07-20 2000-07-20 A watch with rotating conical bands and with removable objects Abandoned CA2375927A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14487099P 1999-07-20 1999-07-20
US60/144,870 1999-07-20
PCT/US2000/019728 WO2001005209A2 (en) 1999-07-20 2000-07-20 A watch with rotating conical bands and with removable objects

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2375927A1 true CA2375927A1 (en) 2001-01-25

Family

ID=22510503

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002375927A Abandoned CA2375927A1 (en) 1999-07-20 2000-07-20 A watch with rotating conical bands and with removable objects

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1196824A2 (en)
AU (1) AU6113400A (en)
CA (1) CA2375927A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001005209A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1249741A1 (en) * 2001-04-12 2002-10-16 Yacht Diamond Watches Ltd. Watch-case provided with a removable decorative bezel
DE60209876T2 (en) * 2002-03-29 2007-02-22 Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg Housing for a mobile phone with exchangeable front ring

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2444392A (en) * 1944-02-16 1948-06-29 Willens George Three-dimensional time indicator clock
DE3024471C2 (en) * 1980-06-28 1983-06-30 Nederlandse Pillo-Pak Maatschappij B.V., 6961 Eerbeek Device for the detachable mounting of flexible plastic films used for thermal insulation or as wind protection
US4525077A (en) * 1982-01-05 1985-06-25 Ketner Eugene N Timepiece having central opening
EP0210199A1 (en) * 1985-02-05 1987-02-04 MILLES, Victor Alexander Method for fabricating jewellery parts or wrist watches
DE8913993U1 (en) * 1989-11-28 1990-02-08 Hsu, Nick, Taipeh/T'ai-pei Pen container clock
SG95570A1 (en) * 1993-11-23 2003-04-23 Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag Timepiece including fixation device for an element added to a frame and method of assembling this element on said frame

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6113400A (en) 2001-02-05
WO2001005209A3 (en) 2001-08-02
WO2001005209A2 (en) 2001-01-25
EP1196824A2 (en) 2002-04-17

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued