EP1384120A1 - Appareil horaire a cadran changeable - Google Patents

Appareil horaire a cadran changeable

Info

Publication number
EP1384120A1
EP1384120A1 EP01932537A EP01932537A EP1384120A1 EP 1384120 A1 EP1384120 A1 EP 1384120A1 EP 01932537 A EP01932537 A EP 01932537A EP 01932537 A EP01932537 A EP 01932537A EP 1384120 A1 EP1384120 A1 EP 1384120A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
sector elements
timepiece according
timepiece
display face
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01932537A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1384120A4 (fr
Inventor
Mark Pulver
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.)
Individual
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
Priority claimed from PCT/US2001/011749 external-priority patent/WO2002091085A1/fr
Publication of EP1384120A1 publication Critical patent/EP1384120A1/fr
Publication of EP1384120A4 publication Critical patent/EP1384120A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/065—Dials with several parts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the field of timepieces and more particularly, to a timepiece with a changeable dial face which can easily and conveniently alter the overall appearance of the timepiece.
  • the prior art related to timepieces includes the following United States Patents.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,161,130 to Sato et al. shows a clock with a pair of dial pieces which are laterally operably pivoted on a stationary shaft. In the closed position, the two dial pieces define a single time display face. " When a driving motor is operated, the dial pieces are moved apart to an open position revealing a small group of statues which are normally hidden when the dial pieces are in the closed position.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,740,130 to Grupp et al. shows a timepiece in which a field- effect or charge-effect optical shutter allows a decorative design, which is placed against the backface of the timepiece, is uncovered or masked depending on the change of state of the optical shutter.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece with a changeable dial face in which the dial face can be altered by rotating a bezel.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece with a changeable dial face in which the dial face can be altered by sliding a button.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece with a changeable dial face in which the dial face can be altered by pushing a button.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece having a
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece with a changeable dial face which can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes and styles.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece with a changeable dial face which comprises a relatively small number of component parts, each of which can be manufactured in volume at a relatively low cost resulting in a relatively low unit cost.
  • a timepiece with a changeable dial face which includes a rotatable bezel mounted on the housing.
  • a storage area inside the housing contains a plurality of folded or crumpled sector elements.
  • the sector elements each have an apex which is attached to a curved spring-like wire and a base which is attached to the housing.
  • Rotating the bezel causes elements in the bezel to push the wires out of the storage area and causes the wires and the sector elements to cover a conventional solid dial face which is mounted in the housing thereby changing the appearance of the dial face.
  • the sector members may have various indicia formed thereon.
  • the rotating bezel is replaced by a sliding button and/or by a push button.
  • multiple assemblies of wire members and sector elements are mounted one above the other and above a conventional dial face.
  • the solid dial face and/or the housing are made of a transparent material.
  • Fig. 1 is an overall plan view of a timepiece with a changeable dial face made in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 1 drawn to an enlarged scale and partially in section;
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 with the bezel rotated to change the appearance of the dial face;
  • Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale and partially in section;
  • Fig. 6 is an overall plan view of an alternative embodiment of the timepiece of Fig. 1 which incorporates a sliding activation button.
  • Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 6 drawn to an enlarged scale and partially in section;
  • Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 7 showing the slide button moved to change the appearance of the dial face;
  • Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view partially in section of another alternative embodiment of the timepiece of Fig. 1 which incorporates a push button;
  • Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;
  • Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 10, showing the push button moved to change the appearance of the dial face;
  • Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, of yet another alternative embodiment of the timepiece of Fig. 1 which incorporates those alternative dial faces in addition to a primary dial face;
  • Fig. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 13 showing an activation button moved to change the appearance of the dial face.
  • a timepiece with a changeable dial face which includes a housing which supports a rotatively mounted bezel.
  • the inner surface of the bezel includes a series of detents which engage the outer ends of a series of preformed wire members which are stored in a storage area formed along the periphery of the housing.
  • the inner ends of each of the wire members are connected to the tip of a flexible sector element which is generally triangular in configuration with curved edges meeting at an apex and a curved base edge which conforms to the curvature of the housing.
  • the base edge is secured to the housing by glue or ther fastening means.
  • the flexible sector elements are folded alongside the inner wall of the housing.
  • the bezel When it is desired to change the appearance of the timepiece, the bezel is rotated thereby driving the wire members out of the storage chamber and driving the wire
  • the inner ends of the wire members drag the flexible sector elements to an unfolded or deployed state in which the flexible sector elements completely cover a conventional dial face which is mounted in the housing.
  • the flexible sector elements include various indicia as desired and thereby reversibly alter the appearance of the timepiece.
  • the rotating bezel is replaced by a sliding button and/or by a push button.
  • multiple assemblies of wire members and flexible sector elements are mounted one above the other and above a conventional dial face. Each of the three assemblies is controlled by a push button and may be individually deployed thereby providing a range of alternative appearances for the timepiece.
  • a timepiece with a changeable dial face 10 made in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figs. 1-5 show the primary embodiment of the invention 10 in which the case or housing 12 of the timepiece has a bezel 14 rotatably mounted thereon.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 show, a conventional dial face 20 which is mounted in the housing 12 in a conventional manner.
  • the dial face 20 includes the Arabic
  • the bezel 14 is rotatably mounted between the surfaces 24, 26, 28 of the housing 12.
  • the housing 12 includes an area 30 which contains a folded or crumpled plurality of flexible sector elements 32 which form a key feature of the present invention.
  • Each of the sector elements 32 is defined by a pair of curved edges 34, 36 which form an apex 58 which is directed toward the central shaft 38 of the timepiece 10 which supports the hands 40, 42, 44.
  • Each of the sector elements 32 has a preformed curved spring-like wire 46.
  • the sector elements 32 are shown in the area 30 which is located just above the conventional solid dial face 20.
  • the inner surface 45 of the bezel 14 has a plurality of detents 48, 50 which engage ends 52 of the wires 46 which support the sector elements 32.
  • the wires 46 are disposed in a storage area 54 which is defined by the inner surface 45 of the bezel 14 and the wall 56 of the housing.
  • the apexes 58 of the flexible sector elements 32 are attached to the inner ends 60 of the wires 46.
  • the base edge 62 of each of the flexible sector elements 32 are attached to the wall 56 of the housing 12 by an adhesive layer or other conventional attachment means.
  • the sector elements 32 may include various indicia such as the Roman numerals 68 shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
  • Figs. 6-9 show a second embodiment 100 of the invention in which internal gear teeth 102 are formed on a ring gear 104 which is rotatably mounted in the housing 106.
  • a plurality of pinions 108 are rotatably mounted in the housing 106.
  • the pinion 108 are each in mesh with the ring gear 104.
  • Each of the pinions 108 supports a curved wire 110 which is mounted in a generally radial orientation relative to the pinion 108.
  • the wires 110 support flexible sector elements 112 which are similar to the flexible sector elements 32 which have been previously described in connection with the primary embodiment of the invention 10 shown in Figs. 1-5.
  • the outer surface 114 of the ring gear 104 supports a shaft 116 which includes a slide button 118 which slides within a recess 120 formed in the housing 106.
  • the slide button 118 in the direction shown by the arrow 122 in Fig. 9 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 9 rotates the pinions 108 thereby rotating the wires 110 to the position shown in Fig. 9 thereby covering the conventional dial with the flexible sector elements 32 in the manner which has been previously described and changing the appearance of the timepiece 100.
  • Figs. 10-12 show a third embodiment of the invention 200 which is operated by a
  • the push-button 202 is connected to a shaft 204 on which a plurality of rack teeth 206 are formed.
  • the rack teeth 206 are in mesh with a pinion 208 which is mounted on a shaft 210.
  • a gear 212 is mounted on the shaft 210 and the gear 212 is in mesh with the ring gear 214.
  • the gear 212 is one of a plurality of identical gears 216 which are in mesh, with the ring gear 214.
  • a curved wire 216 is mounted on each of the gears 212, 216.
  • the curved wires 216 support sector element 218 which have also been previously described.
  • the push button 228 When the push button 228 is pushed inwardly, the curved wires 216 rotate to the open position shown in Fig. 12 and the sector elements 218 unfold and cover the dial face 230 changing the appearance of the timepiece 200.
  • the push button 202 is driven outwardly as shown in Fig. 12 and is thus ready for the next operating cycle.
  • Figs. 13-15 shown a fourth embodiment 300 of the invention which incorporates three .assemblies 302, 304, 306 which are each individually operated by a slide button 308, 310, 312.
  • Each of the buttons 308, 310, 312 is mounted on a ring gear 314, 316, 318.
  • the ring gears 314, 316, 318 are in mesh with a plurality of gears 320, 322, 324 which are mounted in the housing 332.
  • a curved wire 326 is mounted on each of the gears 320, 322, 324 and the curved wires 326 support sector elements 328 which have also been previously described.
  • the slide button 308 can be moved in the direction shown by the arrow 330 in Fig. 15 thereby rotating the ring gear 314 and causing the curved wires 326 to rotate into the unfolded position.
  • Each of the slide buttons 308, 310, 312 can be operated individually to reversibly move the wires 326 from a folded position shown in Fig. 13 to an unfolded position shown in Fig. 15.
  • the sector elements 328 which are part of the three assemblies 302, 304, 306 preferably have different indicia thereon thereby providing the user with three different alternative dial faces in addition to the conventional dial face 330.
  • the construction of the timepiece with changeable dial face is identical to any one of the four embodiments 10, 100, 200 and 300, as previously described with the exception that the conventional dial face 20 is replaced by a solid dial face which is made of a transparent material.
  • the housing 12 is made of a transparent material.
  • the flexible sector elements may be made of any one of a number of flexible materials including: fabric or textile materials, rubberlike materials or plastic film materials.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil horaire comprenant une lunette rotative (14) montée sur un logement (12). Une zone de stockage (30) située à l'intérieur dudit logement (12) contient une pluralité de secteurs (32) pliés ou froissés. La rotation de la lunette (14) entraîne des encliquetages (48, 50) dans ladite lunette afin de pousser des fils incurvés (46) dans les éléments de secteur (32) hors de la zone de stockage, et amène les fils incurvés et les éléments de secteur à recouvrir un cadran solide (20) classique monté dans un logement, ce qui permet de changer l'apparence de ce cadran.
EP01932537A 2001-05-04 2001-05-04 Appareil horaire a cadran changeable Withdrawn EP1384120A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2001/011749 WO2002091085A1 (fr) 2000-03-10 2001-05-04 Appareil horaire a cadran changeable

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1384120A1 true EP1384120A1 (fr) 2004-01-28
EP1384120A4 EP1384120A4 (fr) 2005-04-20

Family

ID=29998707

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01932537A Withdrawn EP1384120A4 (fr) 2001-05-04 2001-05-04 Appareil horaire a cadran changeable

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1384120A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2004522978A (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR16918E (fr) * 1910-02-02 1913-05-14 Edmond Jaeger Montre à éclipse
DE19501322A1 (de) * 1995-01-18 1995-07-06 Guenter Toenjes Uhr
EP0869409A2 (fr) * 1997-04-02 1998-10-07 Vincenzo Testa Montre bracelet analogique comportant des cadrans superposés

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR16918E (fr) * 1910-02-02 1913-05-14 Edmond Jaeger Montre à éclipse
DE19501322A1 (de) * 1995-01-18 1995-07-06 Guenter Toenjes Uhr
EP0869409A2 (fr) * 1997-04-02 1998-10-07 Vincenzo Testa Montre bracelet analogique comportant des cadrans superposés

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO02091085A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2004522978A (ja) 2004-07-29
EP1384120A4 (fr) 2005-04-20

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