GB2276253A - Global clocks - Google Patents

Abstract

A global clock comprises a sphere made of two transparent halves 10 and 11 mounted for rotation on a central axis in a C-frame 13. An hour indicator ring 15 has numbers representing twenty four hours which cooperate with longitude lines of a world map (not shown). The ring 15 and a second revolving ring 16 are driven by a clock motor 17. The ring 15 is stepped once an hour through a 15 DEG C arc and the ring 16 is moved incrementally in say 5 minute intervals or continuously through a total of 15 DEG C in an opposite rotational direction during each hour. <IMAGE>

Description

Global Clocks The invention relates to global clocks.

There are utilitarian requirements for global clocks by businessmen and communicators as well as interest in such clocks for recreational and educational purposes. The time of day in various locations can be generally determined at a glance or in some cases by pressing a button to switch a clock display from one country to another to illuminated or indicate a pre-programmed appropriate time-of-day.

It is an object of the invention to provide aesthetically pleasing global clocks which have inherent utilitarian and/or educational attributes.

According to the invention there is provided a global clock comprising a body having a circular peripheral surface, a representation of a world atlas carried by the surface including lines of longitude, an hour indicator extending around the periphery and laterally past and in respective to the lines of longitude, a clock mounted in the body connected to cycle the indicator incrementally which is programmed to change the indicator once an hour and to complete each cycle every twenty four hours.

The hour indicator may comprise a ring mounted to revolve about a central axis and the clock comprises a motor connected to drive the indicator.

The global clock may include a second indicator for indicating time intervals of each hour extending around the periphery adjacent the hour indicator and controlled by the clock.

Global clocks according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of one of the clocks; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the clock of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of another global clock; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the other clock; and Figure 5 is an exploded view of the other clock.

Referring to the drawings in Figures 1 and 2, a transparent sphere consists of two halves 10 and 11 mounted for rotation about a central axis on a shaft 12 held in a C-frame 13 supported on a base 13. The inside peripheral surface of the sphere is covered with a conventional map of the world (not shown) and provided with longitude lines 14, shown only in the half 10. A revolvable hour indicator ring 15 extends round the sphere and pivots about the central axis and moves in use laterally past the longitude lines. A second revolving indicator ring 16 has marking which are used to determine time increments as will be explained below.

A clock motor 17 is mounted in the sphere and inside a housing 18. Various other mechanical components which are clearly shown in the Figures are provided for suitably mounting and supporting the components already described in otherwise generally conventional manner. However, it will be noted that the clock 17 has two output shafts one for connection to the shaft 12 and another for connection to a sleeve 19. The shaft 12 is arranged to drive the ring 15 and the sleeve 19 is arranged to drive the ring 16.

It is a requirement and it is arranged that the shaft 12 is stepped through an arc of 150 once every hour and in this case the sleeve 19 is rotated 1.250 every five minutes. Thus, in practice the numbers (1 to 24) on the ring 15 lie in a region identified as between respective and appropriate longitude lines for each hour and then change in one step to the next adjacent region. During each hour, markings 16A on the ring 16 move intermittently past lower increment marking 15A on the ring 15 to show increments of time, that is, five minute intervals. The ring 16 could be, if preferred, driven continuously by the sleeve 19 so that each marking 16A is moved in continuous manner through an arc of 150 every hour.

It will be noted that the sphere comprising the two halves 10 and 11 fixed together can be rotated about the central axis so that an observer can choose what part of the World map faces him. As the clock and the indicator rings 15 and 16 move together with the sphere, the latter retain their relative orientation. Thus, the hour and minute facing the observer remains the true time of day for that part of the World.

In the described arrangement, cooperation between the markings 15A and 16A enable increments of each hour to be indicated. In a modified clock only the ring 15 is provided (without the increment markings 15A) with the modified ring is moved once every hour as before. As most observers know the time of day in their own region, and as the increments of each hour in most regions are the same, only a difference of time zone in hours is normally required to determine the time-of-day in any particular region. Thus, for most practical purposes and for recreational and educational purposes, the ring 15 may often provide on its own a sufficient indication of times globally, that is in different regions.

The maps (or halves 10 and/or 11) have been described as having longitude lines. Clearly, these may not and will often not be particular lines of set geographical longitude but are preferably 24 time zone intervals spread around the periphery. It is well understood that such lines are not always vertically (North-South) "parallel' throughout their length to take account of local irregular territorial variations for time zone arrangements. Neverthe-less, an array of longitude lines can be projected to cooperate with the hour markings on the ring 15 in suitable equal 24 intervals as required around a periphery of the clock.

It will be appreciated that the ring 15 and/or the ring 16 may carry or be provided with liquid crystal displays for example, instead of the physical markings shown in the Figures.

A World or representation map may be provided on other shaped objects or associated with utilitarian articles such as alarm clocks and include displays of associated dates and week days and so on. In Figures 3 to 5, to be described immediately below, the global clock takes the form of a drinking cup or pens holder for example.

The pens holder comprises an inner cylindrical container 30 surrounded by a transparent drum 31 (shown partly cutaway in Figure 5). A world map 32 (only a blank format is shown) fits between the container 30 and the drum. The map has longitude lines 32A (shown only in Figure 5). The holder has a base 33 in which a clock motor 34 is mounted and around the top of which rings 35 and 36 are arranged to rotate about a central axis. The rings 35 and 36 are equivalent to the rings 15 and 16 in Figures 1 and 2, and the motor 34 is arranged to move the rings in the same manner as described above. Also, as was described earlier the holder, and hence the map, can be turned around to enable observation of different regions of the world. The observer can then see immediately, by looking at the numbers displayed, the time of day in that region. It will be noted that in this case the ring 35 carries increment markings representing quarter hours and so the ring 36 is driven through 3.75 every fifteen minutes (or continuously if preferred). It will also be noted that as before the ring 35 is moved through by 150 once every hour and to the left (in Figure 3), and the ring 36 is moved at the same time in increments or continuously to the right.

This provides at all times a clear and simple-to-read indication of the time of day in any and all regions of the world to be observed at choice by an observer.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A global clock comprising a body having a circular peripheral surface, a representation of a world atlas carried by the surface including lines of longitude, an hour indicator extending around the periphery and laterally past and in respective to the lines of longitude, a clock mounted in the body connected to cycle the indicator incrementally which is programmed to change the indicator once an hour and to complete each cycle every twenty four hours.

2. A global clock according to claim 1, in which the hour indicator comprises a ring mounted to revolve about a central axis and the clock comprises a motor connected to drive the indicator.

3. A global clock according to claim 1 or 2, in which the motor is an electric motor.

4. A global clock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including a second indicator for indicating time intervals of each hour extending around the periphery adjacent the hour indicator and controlled by the clock.

5. A global clock according to claim 4, in which the hour indicator carries marking for indicating intervals of each hour and the second indicator has marking which cooperate with those markings.

6. A global clock according to claim 5, in which the second indicator is driven continuously by the clock.

7. A global clock according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in the form of a sphere.

8. A global clock according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a drinking vessel or pens holder.

9. Global clocks substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.