GB2408354A

GB2408354A - Analogue animation timepiece display

Info

Publication number: GB2408354A
Application number: GB0327307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Siu-Kuen Lau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-24
Filing date: 2003-11-24
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Also published as: GB0327307D0

Abstract

The display (10) produces novelty animation effects by movement of a time indicator (18) against a foreground (26). The foreground is preferably applied to (e.g. printed on) a layer 16 positioned behind a cover glass or lens 14. A dial face (24) may also be provided with graphics as a background for the animated effect. The time indicators 18, 20, 22 may be rotating hands or, as shown, discs.

Description

BP-09-0401 2408354

ANALOGUE TIMEPIECE DISPLAY

This invention concerns displays for analogue timepieces which produce novelty animation effects.

The commonest form of analogue display for timepieces such as wrist watches and clocks has a graduated dial which provides a background over which time indicators in the form of hands move and against which the hands are read. For aesthetic purposes and to generate novelty animated effects, it is known for the dial to be provided (e.g. painted, lo printed, embossed, etc.) with graphics and the hands to be specially shaped and/or provided with complementary graphics, the novelty animation depending upon the relative movement of the hands against the dial background.

Timepieces are also known in which a time indicator in the forth of a graduated dial (e.g. ]5 a disc or cylinder) moves relative to a fixed indicator mark, for example a crosshair or indicator line applied to the clock or watch glass or lens, or a window in which the graduations on the dial are selectively exposed. These kinds of analogue display may be combined, e.g. with dial indicators for day/datc, and hand indicators for hour/minute/second.

The present invention in contrast provides an analogue timepiece display which produces novelty animation effects by movement of a time indicator (a hand, graduated disc or the like) against a foreground. For example, the foreground may be printed or otherwise applied to or incorporated in a lens or cover glass for the timepiece display. However, applying printed graphics to glass in this way can be difficult. Therefore the timepiece of the invention preferably comprises a graphics bearing layer positioned between a cover glass or lens and the time indicators. The layer may be transparent or opaque, formed from plastics, paper, cardboard, metal or any other suitable material, with the graphics covering some or all of its surface. The layer may cover some of the timepiece display, or where transparent and not entirely covered with graphics, all of the display.

illustrative embodiments of the invention are further described below, with reference to the drawings, in which: BP-09-040 1 Fig. I is a schematic cross-section through a watch or clock embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is an illustrative representation of an animation effect obtainable by means of the s invention.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a watch 10 having a display 12 constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a lens 14 overlying a special graphics bearing layer 16. As shown, the layer 16 is transparent and is overprinted in selected regions 0 with graphics 26 which in the finished timepiece form a fixed foreground used in an animation effect. Those portions of the transparent layer 16 which are not overprinted remain clear for viewing time indicators 18, 20, 22 and a dial face 24 positioned below.

Any suitable method can be used to apply the graphics 26 to the layer 16: e.g. screen, ink Is jet, heat transfer or other printing methods, adhesive decals or even hand painting.

Where the layer is opaque, it may additionally or alternatively be painted, enamelled, engraved, etched or embossed, or any other suitable decorative effect applied as desired.

The same range of decorative effects may also be selectively applied to the dial face 24.

The time indicators may be hands which move relative to the dial face 24 backgrround, which is provided with graduations against which the hands are read. For example, in this case, the foreground graphics 26 may be applied to a central region of the layer 16 and/or lens 14, with the graduations in their usual positions around the periphery of the dial face 24 where they are not obscured by the foreground graphics 26. One or more of as the hands may then be specially shaped, and/or coloured, and/or provided with graphics to produce the desired animation effect.

Preferably however, the time indicators are rotating dials such as discs or cylinders, for example discs carried by concentric drive spindles 28 of conventional fond, driven by the watch or clock movement 30. The discs carry hour, minute or second graduations as appropriate and are read against a suitable fixed index mark applied to a transparent part of the layer 16 or to the lens 14.

BP-()9-04U 1 Alternatively, the time indicating graduations may be read through a window or windows provided in the graphics 26 applied to the layer 16.

Yet alternatively, one or more of the time indicating discs or cylinders may be positioned behind the dial face 24, with the relevant graduations being read through windows in that face.

Where rotating discs are used as the time indicators, at least one of them carries graphics applied by any suitable method as discussed above. These graphics co-operate with the lo graphics 26 on the layer 16 or lens 14 and on the dial face 24 to produce the animated effect.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the layer 16 is printed with a bunch of flowers forming the graphic 16, with a rose 26a depicted at the centre of the timepiece display.

The seconds time indicator 18 is a transparent disc printed around its circumference with five rose petals 18a. As the seconds time indicator disc rotates, the petals 18a emerge from and disappear beneath the foreground graphics 26 carried by the layer 16. This produces an illusion to the observer that the rose is blooming. As the petals 18a move beyond the rose 26a, the illusion is produced of petals falling from the rose. The foreground graphic 26 also depicts shed rose petals in the region 26b, to give the impression that these shed petals have accumulated beneath the rose 26a.

As the second disc 18, minute disc 20 and hour disc all rotate, suitable graphics can be applied to any or all of these discs to co-operate with the foreground graphics 26 on the layer 16 or lens 14 and with the background graphics on the dial face 24, to produce the novelty animation effects.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hour disc 22 and minute disc 20 are provided with graduations and numerals which are read against an index mark 32 applied to the layer 16 or to the lens 14. The dial face 24 is decorated with flowery graphics to complement the foreground graphics 26.

BP-09-04() 1 Although the novelty animation effect discussed above concerns a blooming rose, a wide variety of different animation effects can also be produced, for example using human or animal characters, sports play, meteorology, astronomy, astrology, or any other desired dynamic action. s

Claims

BP-()9-040 1 s CLAIMS: 1. An analogue timepiece display which produces

novelty animation effects by movement of a time indicator against a foreground.
2. A display as defined in claim 1 in which the foreground is applied to or incorporated in a lens or cover glass for the timepiece display.
3. A display as defined in claim 1 in which the foreground is applied to or lo incorporated in a layer positioned beneath a lens or cover glass for the timepiece display.
4. A display as defined in claim 3 in which the layer is otherwise transparent.
5. A display as defined in claim 4 in which the layer substantially covers the entire display.
6. A display as defined in any preceding claim comprising a background which co- operates with the time indicators to produce the novelty animated effect.
7. A display as defined in claim 6 in which the background comprises graphics applied to a dial face of the display.
8. An analogue timepiece display which produces novelty animation effects, substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.

8. A display as defined in any preceding claim, in which at least one of the time indicators is a hand.

9. A display as defined in any preceding claim, in which at least one of the time indicators is a rotating disc or cylinder.

10. A display as defined in claim 9, in which the animated effect is produced by a graphic applied to or incorporated in the rotating disc or cylinder for co-operation with the

foreground and background (where present).

BP-09-04() 1 11. A display with a rotating disc as defined in claim 10, in which the disc is otherwise substantially transparent.

12. An analogue timepiece display which produces novelty animation effects, substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.

* * * . * ë *a: e:. :: :: :: :. : A: Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An analogue timepiece display which produces novelty animation effects by movement of a time indicator against a foreground, the foreground comprising graphics s applied to or incorporated in a layer positioned beneath a lens or cover glass for the timepiece display, at least one of the time indicators being a rotating disc or cylinder, and the animated effect being produced by a graphic applied to or incorporated in the rotating disc or cylinder that in use co-operates with and moves relative to the foreground.

lo 2. A display as defined in claim 1 in which the layer is otherwise transparent.

3. A display as defined in claim 2 in which the layer substantially covers the entire display.

4. A display as defined in any preceding claim, in which the layer comprises an adhesive decal.

5. A display as defined in any preceding claim comprising a background which co operates with the time indicators to produce the novelty animated effect.

6. A display as defined in claim 5 in which the background comprises graphics applied to a dial face of the display.

7. A display as defined in any preceding claim, in which the disc is otherwise 2s substantially transparent.