GB2327285A

GB2327285A - Clock assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2327285A
Application number: GB9714775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Po-Yu Chang
Original assignee: GUARDIA ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Current assignee: GUARDIA ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-14
Filing date: 1997-07-14
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-14
Also published as: GB2327285B; GB9714775D0

Abstract

A table clock includes an outer frame 10 having a central opening 12 an inner frame 20 having a clock dial at one side and a receiving recess 24 at the other side, a clock mechanism 30 to be received in the receiving recess and a back cover 40 for covering the receiving recess of the inner frame to enclose the mechanism therein. The inner frame 20 can be securely combined with the outer frame 10 of the clock and maintained in an appropriate position by means of fastenings 23/14.

Description

CLOCK ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a clock, more particularly, to an assembly structure of a table-placed clock.

A conventional table-placed clock is shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4. The conventional table-placed clock comprises a frame 50, a panel 60, a main device 70 and a back cover 80.

The frame 50 has a supporting foot 51, so the assembled clock can be stably placed on a table. The frame 50 has a central aperture 52 defined in a central portion thereof. A flange 53 surrounding the central aperture 52 extends backward, and a projection 54 is formed on an inner side of the flange 53.

A front side of the panel 60 is formed as a clock dial (not shown). A rear side of the panel 60 has a pair of curved pieces 61 extending backward and near left and right edge, respectively. The rear side further has two posts 62, each of which has a hook end 63, extending from upper and lower edge, respectively. A resilient clip 64 with a bent end 65 extends aside each post 62.

When the main device 70, which contains a clock operating mechanism, is combined with the panel 60, the main device 70 is clamped between the pair of curved pieces 61 of the panel 60 and between the pair of posts 62. The hook end 63 of each post 62 hooks at an edge of the main device 70, so that the main device 70 can be securely mounted to the panel 60.

The panel 60 assembled with the main device 70 is installed to the frame 50 by the resilient clips 64 being compressed and extending into the central aperture 52, and then the bent end 65 of the lower resilient clip 64 props against an edge 55 of the projection 54, whereby the panel 60 is securely combined with the frame 50.

Finally, the back cover 80 is covered to the flange 53 surrounding the aperture 52, and the clock is completely assembled.

However, in such assembly, the panel 60 assembled with the main device 70 tends to rotate with respect to the central aperture 52. Accordingly, the panel 60 with the clock dial is difficult to maintain in an appreciate position and is easy to escape from the frame 50.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a table-placed clock, wherein an inner frame with a clock dial can be securely combined with an outer frame of the clock and maintained in an appreciate position with respect to the outer frame.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the table-placed clock comprises an outer frame having an central opening, an inner frame having a clock dial at one side and a receiving recess at the other side, a main device to be received in the receiving recess and a back cover for covering the receiving recess of the inner frame to wrap up the main device therein.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table-placed clock in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded diagram showing the structure of the table-placed clock of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional tableplaced clock; and Fig. 4 is an exploded diagram showing the structure of the conventional table-placed clock of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the table-placed clock in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer frame 10, an inner frame 20, a main device 30 (the same as the main device 70 of the conventional clock), and a back cover 40.

In this embodiment, the outer frame 10 is substantially rectangular and has a central opening 12, which is also substantially rectangular. The outer frame 10 has a flange 13 formed on a rear side thereof and around the central opening 12. Four tubes 14 with threads inside are respectively formed at the four corners of an inner side of the flange 13. The outer frame 10 is further formed with a pair of supporting feet 11 to be stably placed on a table.

The inner frame 20 is formed with a clock dial (not shown) on a front side thereof and has a receiving recess 24 defined in a rear side thereof. A central portion of a bottom of the recess is defined with a through hole for a hand axis (not shown) of the main device 30 to extend through. The inner frame 20 has a substantially rectangular rim 21 around an side wall 26 thereof, and the rim 21 has four threaded holes 22 defined in four corners thereof. The outer diameter of the rim 21 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the flange 13. The inner frame 20 further has a bump 25 formed on an inner side of a rear portion 261 of the wall 26 surrounding the recess 24 to prevent the main device 30 from escaping from the recess 24 when the main device 30 is received in the recess 24. Alternatively, the inner frame 20 may be formed with two bumps 25 on the inner side of the rear portion 261 of the wall 26 surrounding the recess 24.

When the clock is assembled, the inner frame 20 is mounted and fixed to the outer frame 10 by utilizing a fastener 23 extending through each threaded through hole 22 defined in the rim 21 of the inner frame 20 and the corresponding one of the tubes 14 of the outer frame 10. The main device 30 is disposed in the receiving recess 24 of the inner frame 20. Then the back cover 40 is disposed to cover the main device 30.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are ex pressed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A clock assembly structure comprising: an outer frame having an opening defined in a central portion thereof; an inner frame having a clock dial at a front side thereof and a receiving recess defined in a rear side thereof, and to be securely fixed in said opening; a main device containing a clock operating mechanism and being adaptably received in said receiving recess; and a back cover for covering said main device.

2. The clock assembly structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: the outer frame has a flange formed around said opening; and the inner frame has a rim formed around a side wall thereof, an outer diameter of said rim is substantially equal to an inner diameter of said flange.

3. A clock structure as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising at least one supporting foot formed on the lower side of the outer frame to facilitate placement of the clock.

3. The clock assembly structure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein: the outer frame further has at least one tube with thread inside formed at an inner side of said flange; and the inner frame further has at least one threaded through hole defined in said rim corresponding to said at least one tube, and at least one fastener, each fastener extends through each through hole and a corresponding tube to securely combined the inner frame with the outer frame.

4. The clock assembly structure as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the opening and accordingly the flange of the outer frame is substantially rectangular, and the outer frame has four tubes with threads inside formed at four corners of an inner side of the flange, the rim of the inner frame is also formed to be substantially rectangular and has four through holes defined in four corners of the rim, respectively, and the inner frame has four fasteners, each fastener extends through each through hole and a corresponding tube to combined the inner frame with the outer frame.

5. The clock assembly structure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the inner frame further comprises at least one bump formed on an inner side of the rim to prevent the main device received in the receiving recess from sliding out.

6. The clock assembly structure as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising at least one supporting foot formed on a lower side of the outer frame to facilitate placement of the clock.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A clock structure comprising: an outer frame having an opening defined in a central portion thereof and a flange formed around said opening, said outer frame having at least one tube with an internal thread formed at the inner side of said flange; an inner frame, having a clock dial at the front side thereof and a receiving recess defined in the rear side thereof, securely fixed in said opening, said inner frame having a rim formed around a side wall thereof, the outer diameter of said rim being substantially equal to the inner diameter of said flange, and having at least one threaded through hole defined in said rim corresponding to said at least one tube, and at least one fastener, each fastener extending through a corresponding through hole and a corresponding tube to securely connect the inner frame with the outer frame; a main device containing a clock operating mechanism and being received in said receiving recess; and a back cover covering said main device.

2. A clock structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the opening and accordingly the flange of the outer frame is substantially rectangular, and the outer frame has four tubes with internal threads formed at the four corners, respectively, of the inner side of the flange, the rim of the inner frame is also of substantially rectangular shape and has four through holes defined in the four corners of the rim, respectively, and the inner frame has four fasteners, each fastener extending through a corresponding through hole and a corresponding tube to connect the inner frame with the outer frame.