GB2226661A - Watch - Google Patents

Abstract

A timepiece is disclosed which includes an integral torch (9-11). A compartment 6 holds a battery and a reflector 9 and bulb 10 are located below a window 11. An on/off switch 13 is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

WATCH This invention relates to a watch, more particularly to a watch incorporating an electric torch to produce a beam of light.

Watches are of course known, as are . electric torches. It has not however hitherto been suggested to combine these known devices into a single unit.

This may be because of problems, perceived or real, in miniaturizing the torch to the extent necessary to make it feasible to combine it with a watch.

Moreover, when the watch is an electronic timepiece, e.g. a digital watch there may be problems in providing the very different electric power requirements to the torch as well as to the electric timepiece.

According to the present invention there is provided a watch incorporating an electric torch.

Generally the watch will include switch means for switching the electric torch on and off.

The watch of the present invention may be a pocket watch, a stop watch or a wrist watch. The watch may be a mechanical, analogue timepiece, an electronic analogue timepiece or a digital electronic timepiece.

Generally, the torch portion of the watch will include means for focusing, e.g. a lens or a parabolic relfector, with a light generating means, e.g. a light bulb, located at or near the focus of the focussing means.

In a preferred embodiment of the watch according to the present invention the torch is incorporated into a wrist watch and is arranged to produce a beam of light directed laterally of the watch. It is to be understood that in other embodiments the torch may be arranged to produce a beam of light to shine out of the general plane of the watch e.g. at right angles thereto.

The body of the watch may be made of any suitable material, such as metal or plastics. Plastics material are preferred.

An embodiment of a watch according to the present invention will now be described by way of example, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of an embodiment of a wrist watch according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of an on/off switch of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown an embodiment of a watch according to the present invention, in the form of a wrist watch (1) having a housing provided with watch strap elements (2, 3).

The wrist watch (1) incorporates a transparent window (4) beneath which is displayed a liquid crystal display (LCD) means (5) connected to a digital tamer circuit (not shown) and adapted to display the time.

(The LCD (5) may also be adapted to display other time functions sue as an elapsed time indicator, stop watch and/or calendar in dependence upon the digital circuit used).

A compartment (6) of the watch (1) is provided with a cap (7) and is adapted to contain a battery (17 in Fig. 3) preferably of 1.5V AAA size. The cap (7) may be provided internally with conductive elements (not shown) for completing an electric circuit with the battery.

Protruding laterally from the watch (1) is a housing (8) containing a silvered parabolic reflector (9), at the focus of which is located a miniature light bulb (10). A transparent window (11) is provided across the front of housing (8) to protect reflector (9) and bulb (10). The combination of reflector (9) and bulb (10) act as a torch to direct a beam of light laterally of the watch (1) as shown by dotted lines (12). A switch (13) is provided switchable between an OFF position shown by solid lines in Figure 1 and an ON position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The structure of switch (13) is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The switch comprises a handle (20) connected at one end to a shaft (22) which is journalled, relative to the watch housing (1), by means of an O ring (24). An eccentrically mounted metal spring (26) is connected to the other end of shaft (22), the free end of the spring (26) being in biased contact with an arcuate PCB circuit path (28) which has two sections (32, 34) separated by a gap (30).

In use, when the switch is in the OFF position as shown in Figure 3, the spring contacts only section (32). Movement of handle (20) to the ON position causes the spring to wipe across the circuit path (28) until it lies across the gap (30), thus connecting sections (32, 34) electrically.

As shown in Figure 3, when sections (32, 34) are electrically connected, this makes an electrical circuit between bulb (10) and battery (17). The battery (17) also provides a permanent power supply Vdd Vss to the digital timer circuit.

Buttons (14, 15) are provided for switching between different time functions of the watch and for setting the time.

Claims (8)

1. A watch incorporating an electric torch.

2. A watch according to Claim 1 and in the form of a pocket watch.

3. A watch according to Claim 1 and in the form of a wrist watch.

4. A watch according to Claim 3, wherein the watch is provided with electronic time-keeping means.

5. A watch according to Claim 4, wherein the time-keeping means is digital.

6. A watch according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the time-keeping means and torch share the same power supply.

7. A watch as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, further comprising a compartment for receiving a battery, and where the electronic time-keeping means includes a digital display on a first face of the watch and an opening of the compartment is provided on a second face of the watch non-coplaner with the first face.

8. A watch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.