GB2126369A - Timing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A timing device for attachment to a pair of goggles (10) comprises a housing (40) adapted to allow vision therethrough and including a solid state timing circuit (49) and a time display (31) so that, in use, the display may be viewed by the user through a lens (16) of the goggles. The housing also includes a switch which is operable externally of the housing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Timing device This invention relates to a timing device, and in particular, to a timing device which can be viewed by a person independently of head movements.

There are certain circumstances when a person who wishes to know the time or ascertain a lapse of time, is unable to do so because a watch or clock is not-in view. One such situation is in the case of a swimmer who desires to know a lap time. The usual situation when a swimmer is competing against the clock is that a coach or assistant holds a stopwatch and calls out the time to the swimmer. Alternatively, a clock is provided near the pool to provide a continuous readout of the swimmer's lap times.

However, for the swimmer to read a clock, a conscious effort must be made to lift the head from the water. This is not only inconvenient, but is not good practice in competitive swimming. There are also other circumstances in which an indication of the time is required yet the person desiring to know the time is incapable of making the necessary head or body movement to bring the clock or watch into view. For instance, runners or joggers who run at night frequently experience difficulty in reading the time on a wrist watch due to both the relative movements of the wrist and head and the lack of light.

The present invention provides an aid to the above problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a timing device comprising a housing adapted in use to be attached to an eye of the user to allow vision therethrough, said housing having therein a solid state timing mechanism and time readout strip which in use may be viewed by the user.

Preferably the housing is sealed from the exterior and includes therein a switch to start and stop the timing mechanism, the switch being actuatable externally of the housing. In a preferred embodiment the switch is a reed switch actuatable by an external magnet.

The housing may include at least one lens to ensure that the eye can focus on the readout strip.

Preferably a planar lens is provided at one end of the housing and a convex lens at the end against the user's eye, the readout strip being positioned adja centthe planar lens.

In a preferred embodiment the housing is secured to one lens of swimmers' goggles.

The housing is preferably constructed of lightpermeable material and the readout strip is in the form of a liquid crystal.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a timing device constituting an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of part of a swimmers' goggles incorporating the timing device shown in Figure 1.

Although the present invention in its broadest aspect is considered to embrace many timing- devices that may be worn on the head to provide an indication of time independently of head movement, the preferred embodiment relates to swimmers' goggles.

In Figure 1,there are illustrated swimmers' goggles 10 comprising an elastomeric strap 11, the ends 12 of which are attached respectively to housing assemblies 14 and 15 which integrally support lenses 16 and 17 of the goggles. The housing assemblies 14 and 15 are interconnected by a flexible strap 18 that, in use, extends across the bridge of the nose of the wearer.

A timing device in the form of an acrylic watertight housing 40 is secured to project outwardly from the lens 16. The housing may be formed integrally with the lens 16 or preferably is adhesively secured or welded to the lens.

As shown in Figure 2, the housing 40 comprises a tapered rectangular enclosure, one end 41 of which includes a rectangular aperture 43 which houses a double convex lens 48. The other end 47 of the housing includes a planar lens 44 mounted at the extremity of the housing 40. Behind the lens 44 is positioned a digital readout strip 31 that, as shown in Figure 2, indicates minutes and seconds. The solid state timing device and battery are housed within a small circular unit 49 that comprises a threaded boss 23 that projects outwardly from one side of the housing 40 to support a screw threaded cap 46 with an '0' ring (not shown) therebetween. The switching is carried out by use of a reed switch (not shown) housed within the housing 40 and opened and closed by use of a magnet.The magnet can be carried by a ring which would be worn on a finger of the user so that the user may switch the stopwatch on and off by simply bringing the ring into proximity with the reed switch in the front of the housing 40.

There are a number of suitable reed switches that may be used to provide this switching function and it is considered that the design of such switches is well known to persons skilled in the art.

The housing 40 is bonded or otherwise secured to the outer face of the lens 16 of the goggle 14 and projects, as shown in Figure 2, forwardly from the housing. The distance between the readout strip 31 and the eye of the user is sufficiently large to allow the eye to readily focus on the digital readout on the strip 31 through the lens 48 which has a curvature to produce the desired focal length to produce a clear image of the readout strip. It is envisaged that the housing 40 could be sold as a separate entity for attachment to existing goggles or alternatively the goggles could be marketed with the housing already attached on the lens of the goggles.

The housing is constructed of acrylic plastics to allow the entry of light to illuminate the liquid crystal display. Alternatively, if it is intended to use the assembly in the dark, battery operated L.E.D.s may be employed, housed in a dark housing.

With the goggle assembly described above, a swimmer can simply start the clock at the start of a race or time trial; the elapse of time will then be continuously shown over the one eye of the swimmer independently of the movements and activities of the swimmer. There is no requirements for the swimmer to look up and out of the water at a clock or listen to audible signals. The resilient location of the goggles on the skull ensures against undesired movement of the readout strip relative to the eye.

Furthermore, the encapsulation of the clock components within the sturdy structure of the goggles protects the assembly from accidental damage.

It is understood that the timing device may also be incorporated in othertypes of goggles such as single lens driving, skiing or even motor-cycle goggles. In these cases the housing would project from one side of the lens opposite one eye of the wearer.

Although the readout strip indicates elapse of time it is understood that the timing mechanism may incorporate other features such as real time, lap time and alarm time.

Claims (10)

1. Atiming device comprising a housing adapted, in use, to be attached to an eye of the user to allow vision therethrough, said housing having therein a solid state timing mechanism and a time readout strip which, in use, may be viewed by the user.

2. The timing device of Claim 1, wherein the housing is sealed from the exterior and includes therein a switch to start and stop the timing mechanism, the switch being actuatable externally of the housing.

3. The device of either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the switch is a reed switch actuatable by an external magnet.

4. The timing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing incorporates at least one lens to ensure that the eye can focus on the readout strip.

5. The timing device according to Claim 4, wherein a planar lens is provided at one end of the housing and a convex lens is provided within the housing between the planar lens and the user's eye, the readout strip being positioned adjacent the planar lens.

6. The timing device of any one of the preceding dims, wherein the housing is constructed of light permeable material.

7. The timing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the readout strip is in the form of a liquid crystal.

8. The timing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is attached to the lens of goggles.

9. Goggles comprising at least one lens arranged, in use, to cover the eyes of the user, a housing attached to said lens to project outwardly from said lens opposite one eye of the user, the housing being adapted to allow vision therethrough and having therein a solid state timing mechanism and a time readout strip which, in use, may be viewed by the user.

10. Atiming device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.