DE8803984U1 - Clock with dial lighting - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a watch with dial illumination according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are numerous examples of this type. In some clocks, the hour markers and/or hands are illuminated using luminescent materials, particularly phosphorescent materials. However, these luminescent materials are not very bright. The radiation emitted by these materials is also harmful to humans in the long term and the luminescent materials are not very environmentally friendly. In other clocks, the lighting is provided by light bulbs or similar. The lamp is usually arranged on the side of the dial.* With weaker lamps, this leads to poor overall illumination, while with stronger lamps, the power consumption is high and the viewer is easily blinded.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a clock whose lighting has low power consumption, is largely glare-free and yet clearly illuminates the hour markers and/or hands, so that a quick

Postgiroamt: Karteruhe 76979-754 ^&bgr;&zgr;&phgr;&ogr;&eegr;&rgr;&kgr; Djsifeche BinJuAG Vfflingen (BLZ 69470039) 146332

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and safer reading is possible in the dark. The lighting should not be provided by harmful fluorescent materials.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a watch of the type mentioned at the outset by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

An embodiment according to claim 2 is intended to ensure illumination of the pointers 16.

Claims 3 to 7 relate to the design of light deflection devices in the form of inclined surfaces which are cut into the light guide in such a way that their shape causes reflections or their matting causes scattering in the direction of the observer.

According to claim 8, it is advantageous to use an opaque dial with light passage openings through which the light at the hour markers becomes visible to the observer.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 - a front view of the ear according to the invention,

Figure 2 - a section along the line H-II in Figure 1,

Figure 3 - an enlarged partial section along the line III-III in Figure 1 and

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Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section of the Plexiglas plate with the cut-out slanted surface from Fig. 3.

A clock 10 has a dial 12 with circular openings 14 at the twelve hour marks. Hands 16 are arranged in front of the dial 12. Immediately behind the dial 12 there is an essentially plate-shaped light guide 18, preferably made of plexiglass. A lamp 20 is inserted into an opening 21 in the light guide 18. The majority of the light emitted by the lamp 20 spreads out in the light guide 18 essentially parallel to the dial 12. If this light strikes an inclined surface 22, which is formed by a recess 24 cut into the back of the light guide 18, it is reflected by the associated light passage openings 14 arranged immediately in front of it in the direction of the viewer of the clock. A light-conducting edge 19, which is one piece with the light guide 18, protrudes vertically forwards from the latter and extends to the front of the dial 12. The light which spreads to the light-conducting edge 19 of the light guide 18 is deflected by light deflection bevels 19a by a total of approximately -180° into the area of the hands 16, so that these are also illuminated. The path of the light is illustrated by lines 16 in Fig. 3.

Claims (11)

Dlpl.-lng. KLAUS WESifälrjAL : &iacgr; *...'*. .WWdstrasse33 Telephone (07721) 56007 ·»>■.· ! *··**··* *··**··* Telex 177721217 wernu d Dr. rer.nav. BERND MUSSGNUG 6-7730 VS-VILLINGEN Teletex 7721217 wemu d Telecop. (07721} 55164 Dr.rar.nafcOTTO BUCH NER Flossmannstrasse 30a Telephone (089)832446 Telex 5213177 web PATENT ATTORNEYS D-8000 MUNICH 60 Telecop. (089) 8340966 E Patent Attom-y* _{Te|egr WestDUCh} Among others: 1697.67 PROTECTION CLAIMS 1. Clock with a dial, hands arranged in front of the dial and a light source for illuminating the dial, characterized by a plate-shaped light guide (18) which is arranged parallel to the dial (12) behind it, the light source (20) being optically coupled to the light guide (18), preferably inserted into an opening in the light guide (18) , and by a ring of light deflection devices (22) in the light guide (18). 2. Clock according to claim 1 , characterized in that the circumference of the light guide (18) has a molded-on light-conducting edge (19) which surrounds the dial (12) and projects forwards beyond it, and that oblique light deflection bevels (19a) for deflecting the light from the light guide (18) into the region of the hands (16) are attached to the edge (19). 3. Clock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light deflection devices (22) consist of inclined surfaces cut into the light guide (18). 4. Clock according to claim 3/ characterized in that the oblique surfaces (22) are inclined at 45° towards the light guide (18). Postal code: Karlsruhe 76070*784 pttWenjo; Dfuteel?» pfliljÄ$ jSJMngtn (bank code 00470030) 140332 5. Ear according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that that the inclined surfaces (22) are smooth and flat, preferably polished, and point towards the light source (20). 6. Watch according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the inclined surfaces (22) are matte. 7. Clock according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the inclined surfaces (22) are conical in shape. 8. Ear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dial (12) is opaque and has light passage openings in the region of the light deflection devices (22) which overlap with these. 9. Ear according to claim 8, characterized in that the light passage openings (14) in the dial are circular openings at the locations of the usual hour markers. to. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide (18) consists of a flat Plexiglas plate. 11. Clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a button is provided for switching on the light source (20) . &bull; ·· ·< ItIl ·· 4« 4