GB2162663A

GB2162663A - Timepiece

Info

Publication number: GB2162663A
Application number: GB08419687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Ketner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-08-02
Filing date: 1984-08-02
Publication date: 1986-02-05
Also published as: GB8419687D0; GB2162663B

Abstract

A time piece 10, such as a wrist watch, comprises a body 12 having opposed faces and an aperture 16 extending between the face and through the time piece, time keeping means housed within the body and time indicator means 22, 24 on one of the faces and operated by the time keeping means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Timepiece This invention relates to a timepiece, such as a pocket or wrist watch, of the type worn or carried by individuals.

Historically, personal time pieces such as pocket or wrist watches have been fabricated as a solid, non-apertured body having a variety of peripheral configurations. Insofar as decorations were concerned, prior art designs were generally limited to utilisation of jewels or engraving on or around the visible face of the watch.

A time piece according to the invention comprises a body having opposed faces, an aperture formed through the time piece and extending between the opposed faces, time keeping means housed within the body and time indicator means viewable on one of the faces and operated by the time keeping means. Thus the indicator means are visible when viewing the face and provide data related to the time, generally the time of day.

In contrast to prior art configurations, the watch design of this invention allows an unlimited number of configurations to be utilised for both the periphery and a central opening in the body of the watch. Personal identity can now be an integral part of the time piece. Initials, logos, decorations, trademarks, etc. can be incorporated into the central aperture of the time piece to provide various different configurations to appeal to a wide range of purchasers.

In one embodiment of the invention, one face of the time piece is made into independently movable concentric discs which are moved relative to one another and to the main body. One of the discs is related to the hours of the day and the other disc is related to the minutes of the hour. The relative movement between the body and the two discs is such that the time of day is always indicated by the relative position of the discs.

The main body of this embodiment is circular in form and may include a relatively large circular aperture formed more or less centrally therethrough.

The body is thus generally similar to a toroid. In another construction the main body is rectangular in configuration and includes a rectangular aperture formed therethrough.

In other embodiments of the invention, the aperture is made into a configuration to resemble plu rality of windows, a horseshoe, a drilling rig, or a series of circles.

The indicator means may include an optically displayed digital time indication. In another construction the indicator means may be made up of electro-optical devices, such as liquid crystal devices, arranged to present radial bars divided into an inner segment and an outer segment with the segments being illuminated by an electric drive circuit and respectively indicating the hour and minute of the day.

In a preferred construction, sixty electronically illuminated dots or bars are spaced around the central opening to indicate the minutes while a second peripheral array of twelve electronically illuminated dots or bars indicate the hour.

The time piece of the invention can be artistic in appearance and irresistably pleasing to the eye as a result of having a window through the interior of the watch or other timepiece. It is therefore possible to view through the time piece.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a time piece made in accordance with the present invention attached to a person's wrist; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the watch of Figure 1, with the watch being suspended in space; Figure 3 is a top plan view of a time piece which represents an alternant embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 sets forth another alternant embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4A is an exploded schematic view of the embodiment of Figure 4; Figure 4B is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 4 but with a personalising initial inserted in the central opening; Figure 5 is an enlarged, top plan view of still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a top plan view of a different embodiment of the present invention;; Figure 7 is a fragmentary, top plan view which is an illustration of still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 diagrammatically illustrates the details of the operation of one of the foregoing time pieces; Figure 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a time piece made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 10 is a top plan view of other embodiments of the present invention; Figures 11-17 are top plan views of other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 18 is a broken, perspective view illustrating the drive train of one of the foregoing watches; Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the drive train seen in Figure 18; and Figure 20 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1, there is disclosed a time piece 10 made in accordance with the present invention.

The time piece includes a main body 12 to which there is attached a watch band 14 so that the watch can be conveniently supported upon one's wrist 15.

An aperture 16 extends through the main body of the watch. The outer surface 18 of the watch is circular and is interrupted by the lugs or ears which accommodate the band 14. The inner surface 20 is circular and defines the aperture 16. The outer face 26 of the watch has indicator means 22 and 24 related to time keeping formed thereon.

Specifically, indicator means 22 are on an outer disc and are related to hours. The disc rotates respective to the main body. Indicator means 24 are on an inner disc and are related to minutes. The discs rotate independently of one another and respective to the main body. The inner and outer rotating discs are concentric with respect to one another and are connected to a gear train which imparts proper time keeping, as will be more fully discussed later on in this disclosure.

In Figure 2, the toroidal time piece is shown suspended in space to illustrate the size of the central opening in that distant objects can be viewed through the aperture. The time piece of Figure 2 can be made in the form of a pocket watch, if desired, while remaining within the comprehension of this invention.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the time piece 210, for purposes of illustration, is shown in the form of a wrist watch. The outer face 26 of the watch has indicia formed thereupon related to time keeping. Indicator means 22, 24 is formed between the outer wall 218 and inner wall 220 of the main body. The indicia at 22 and 24 preferably is in the form set forth in Patent No. 3,844,105 to T. Kashio of Tokyo, Japan.

Kashio teaches that rectangular indicator elements made of liquid crystal substance is arranged at a loop line on a display panel and oriented radially to form an indication section. A second similar section is concentrically mounted inboard of the outer section, and the latter receives minute outputs from digitally driven time counting means to cause the outer section to perform hour indications. Reference is made to the details of this disclosure for further explanation of the operation thereof.

Figure 4 represents one of the preferred embodiments of this invention. In this figure, the body 310 of the watch 300 is of conventional rectangular circular peripheral configuration but defines a large central aperture 16. Surrounding the central aperture 16 and mounted in the body 310 of the watch 300 is a first peripheral array of twelve electronically energised light emitting dots or bars 24 representing the hour of the day. Surrounding the dots or bars 24 is a second peripheral array of sixty electronically illuminated dots or bars 22 to indicate the minutes. The dots or bars can constitute light emitting diodes (LEDs) or, alternatively, liquid crystal indicators, both of which are well known in electronic art.

Referring now to the exploded view of Figure 4A, it will be seen that the body 310 of the watch 300 comprises a U-shaped annular section 312 defining an annular channel 314 which is suitably internally contoured to provide a mounting for a generally cylindrical electronic battery B and an electronic oscillator EO. An annular piece of circuit board 315 is also mounted in channel 314 and the electronic light display board 316 carrying light emitters 22 and 24 is mounted in channel 314. The circuitry employed is entirely conventional and well known in the prior art and results in a particular hour and minute light being energised in concentric rings 22 and 24 of light emitting elements corresponding to the exact time of day in hours and minutes. A crystal 318 is, of course, provided to overlie the light emitting elements 22 and 24.

Referring now to Figure 4B, there is illustrated how any watch embodying this invention and having an enlarged central aperture may be personal ised through the insertion of an initial in the central opening 16. Here the initial "K" is inserted in the aperture 16 of a watch 300 and secured therein by jeweler's solder or any other conventional means, such as adhesive, if the body of the watch is plastic. Obviously, religious or organization symbols, logos, trademarks and similar personalising indicia may be utilised in place of initials.

In Figure 5, there is disclosed a time piece 410 in the form of an oblated doughnut having relatively large circular aperture 16 formed centrally therethrough. A gear train at 34, 36 and 38 drives a pair of rotatable concentric discs 22' and 24'. The concentric discs include indicators 22 and 24 thereon which indicate the time in minutes and hours by reference to the fixed indicia 1-12 placed about the illustrated fixed portion of the main body.

In the embodiment 510 set forth in Figure 6, minute and hour pointers, 28 and 30, extend inwardly from the main body into the void presented by the square aperture formed by sidewall 420.

The pointers, 28 and 30, preferably are moved about the circumference 22' by means of concentric or overlying discs such as seen in Figure 5.

In Figure 7, there is disclosed a watch 610 having an aperture 16 formed therethrough by means of sidewall 620. Within the main body, there is disclosed concentric discs, 22' and 24', similar to the discs of the embodiment of Figure 5. One window 42 overlies the concentric discs and displays the illustrated numerals related to time keeping.

Figure 8 sets forth a block schematic diagram of an electronic time piece presented in Patent No.

3,712,046 to H.G. Hill. The time piece indicates time by means of a rotating ring display, as seen in Figure 7, for example. The time piece can also take on the form of Figure 10, wherein the pointers 22 and 24 are connected to independently rotatable coplanar concentric rings.

In Figure 7, the time is displayed in window 42 by means of two separately independently rotatable co-planar concentric rings 22' and 24'. Each ring carries a plurality of magnetic domains and is independently stepped by a set of electro magnets driven by a multi-phase pulse train in the manner of Patent No. 3,712,046 to which reference is made for the details thereof.

In Figure 9, there is disclosed two co-axial discs of angular construction 22' and 24' which are driven by gear train 36 and 40. Disc 22 carries the hour indicating part thereof. The drive train is powered by either an electric or mechanical spring motor, the details of which are not shown.

In Figure 11, there is disclosed a time piece 810 having an opening 816 and a coloured ring 822 which indicates minutes, and radially spaced bars 824 for indicating hours. The ring and bars are operated in accordance with Patent No. 3,968,639 to D.J. Berets, to which reference is made for the circuitry details and operation thereof.

In Figure 12, there is disclosed a time piece 10' having a main body through which there is formed a plurality of apertures 16. A window 42 provides visual observation of a portion of two co-planar independently rotatable rings having the indicated hour and minute formed thereon. The rings are rotated by means contained within the main body of the time piece, and can take on a form similar to one of the foregoing embodiments of this invention.

Figures 13-17 and 20 show various different configurations of apertures formed through the body at a time piece. The time piece 10 of Figure 13 includes an aperture 16 in the form of two crescent shaped voids 20 which essentially amount to a hole having a bridge formed across the centre thereof. The aperture 16 of Figure 14 is in the form of a horseshoe 20. In Figure 15 the aperture 16 is in the form of an oil well derrick 20. The aperture of Figure 16 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 12 and includes four radially spaced apertures formed by circular sidewalls 20.

The apertured time piece of Figure 17 is similar in many respects to the embodiment set forth in Figure 10, and includes the aperture 16 formed by a rosetted sidewall 20. In Figure 20, the side walls 20 of the aperture 16 outline the State of Texas.

Figures 18 and 19 sets forth a gear train comprised of gears 34, 36 and 38 for driving concentric rings 28, 30 and 31, wherein the ring 31 is related to seconds, the ring 30 to minutes, and the ring 28 to hours. The gear train can be driven by an electric or a mechanical motor, and can advantageously be used in conjunction with the embodiment set forth in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 10.

The present invention provides a personal time piece comprising an annular body having opposed faces, with the aperture being formed through the body which results in each of the opposed faces also being apertured, and each of the faces assume an outer boundary which extends about and defines the geometrical configuration of the faces and an inner boundary which defines the configuration of the aperture. Indicator means related to time keeping is included near the face. Means forming indicia is provided on one of the faces, with the indicia being related to hours and minutes of the day. Means are housed within the annular body by which the indicator means provides data related to the time of day. The main body preferably resembles a toroid or doughnut shape.

The aperture through the main body which forms the time piece into a generally annular configuration can take on many different forms as set forth in the drawings, and can be partially filled with personalising decorations.

The aperture of the time piece preferably is relatively large, for instance if may be a central opening having a mean diameter at least one-fourth, and preferably about one-half of the mean outside diameter of the time piece. The time piece is preferably of dimensions such that it can serve as a wrist watch, but it may be larger. When the outside and inside diameters of the time piece are large enough, the watch may take the form of a bracelet rather than a wrist watch and this type of toroidal time piece is also included in the invention.

Claims

1. A time piece comprising a body having opposed faces, an aperture through the time piece and extending between the faces, time keeping means housed within the body and time indicator means viewable on one of the faces and operated by the time keeping means.

2. A time piece according to claim 1 wherein the time indicator means includes indicia related to the minutes and hours of the day.

3. A time piece according to claim 2 wherein the time indicator means includes two spaced, coaxial members freely movable with respect to one another and operable by the time keeping means such that one of the members indicates minutes and the other of the members indicates hours.

4. A time piece according to claim 2 wherein the indicator means include a first peripheral array of 60 electronically energised light dot sources to indicate the minutes and a second peripheral array of 12 electronically energised light dot sources to indicate the hours.

5. A time piece according to claim 4 further comprising a battery, an oscillator and an integrated circuit board mounted in the body around the aperture and operatively connected to all the light dot sources, whereby the time is displayed on the said face.

6. A time piece according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the indicator means comprises concentric circles of electrochromic display means electrically connected to a source of electric current to cause the display to change colour in a continually advancing manner as a function of the current flow so as to indicate accumulated electric current flow.

7. A time piece according to claim 6 wherein the concentric circles of electrochromic display means comprises a plurality of radially spaced elements arranged to indicate elapsed time.

8. A time piece according to claim 6 wherein the concentric circles of electrochromic display means comprises spaced circumferentially extending bands of the display means which is progressively actuated to change colour along the circumference thereof to thereby indicate elapsed time.

9. A time piece according to any preceding claim in the form of a wrist watch and wherein the aperture is defined by a cylindrical surface and the body has an annular configuration and includes lugs by which the time piece can be attached to one's wrist.

10. A time piece according to any preceding claim further comprising a personalised insignia mounted in the aperture.

11. A time piece according to claim 1 wherein the body is in the form of a polygon, and the aperture is in the form of another polygon.

12. A time piece according to claim 1 wherein the body is circular in form and the aperture is comprised of a plurality of openings.

13. A time piece according to claim 1 in the form of a wrist watch and wherein the aperture is defined by a cylindrical surface which results in the body assuming an annular configuration, the body includes lugs by which the time piece can be attached to one's wrist, and the indicator means includes two spaced, annular co-axial members freely movable to one another with one of the members being related to minutes and the other of the members being related to hours and the time keeping means impar relative movement to the members and include a spring motor connected to a gear train which in turn is connected to impart rotational motion to the co-axial members.

14. A time piece according to claim 1 having a toroidal shape.

15. A time piece according to claim 1 in the form of a bracelet.

16. A time piece according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.