GB2409295A

GB2409295A - Watch in the form of a band

Info

Publication number: GB2409295A
Application number: GB0329434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Lankford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-19
Filing date: 2003-12-19
Publication date: 2005-06-22
Also published as: GB0329434D0

Abstract

A watch 1 is in the form of a band or ring for fitting around a wrist, ankle or finger. It has time indicating markings 3 or 10 spaced around its circumference around its edge(s) and movement means 5 or 9 to tell the current time. The movement means can be a series of led's as shown or a liquid crystal display or mechanical movement markers. The band can be in the form of a flexible bracelet (Fig 2) or in the form a spilt ring (Fig 4). The watch can have inner and outer rotatable races (35, 37, Fig 5) and a stationary middle ring (36). In a further arrangement, a watch and calendar (21, 23, Fig 3) can be provided inside the circumference of the band.

Description

AN IMPROVED WATCH

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of watches and clocks.

A. . Background to the Invention .. ..

go Traditional wrist watches comprise a face where the 'hours' and 'minutes' markings are .

. part of a single plane which is conventionally viewed 'face-on' by the wearer of the A:: watch. The 'hours' and 'minutes' markings are usually limited to a single plane of a circular or rectangular shape which is held onto a wearer's wrist by a bracelet which has .

no other function than to secure the watch face in place. In this configuration, the wearer .

usually views time 'face-on' whilst the marking are limited to a relatively small section of the circumference of the watch, commonly described as the watch face.

The conventional watch has the following drawbacks: so the watch markings are located exclusively in one section which in conventional use is above the wearer's wrist; the watch is required to be viewed 'face-on'; time cannot be read when the watch is viewed 'edge-on'; the watch has two distinct parts located into distinct sections of the watch's circumference, one being typically the housing for the markings and the other wrapping around the wearer's wrist in use; Special care is required to secure the watch markings in a given position about the wrist; If the face has slipped round the wrist, the wrist-strap must be revolved to show time; the markings are located in an outer portion of the traditional watch face whilst the inner portion of the watch face is occupied by mechanical and electronic actuators.

One of the objectives of the invention is provide a watch with a marking and face arrangement which radically departs from conventional watch systems and addresses many of the drawbacks outlined above.

Summary of the Invention

. .. In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a watch comprising a band suitable for sufficiently wrapping around a wearer's member - for example his or her so wrist - so as to hold the watch on said member, and a succession of time-indicating .

markings; characterised in that a succession of time markings is spaced about a portion of the member-enclosing circumference of the band. ë

. This configuration marks a complete departure from the conventional watch type whose ë drawbacks are listed above. It will allow time to be presented for viewing by the wearing in an unconventional yet immediately readable form. For example, time may be read from the wrist-enclosing band rather than from a transversally-set watch face.

It will also remove the structural barriers inherent in the manufacture of all conventional 'mechanical housing plus strap' watches. In other words, the present configuration will allow a different range of watch designs to be exploited which were not achievable in

prior art watches.

In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad aspect, the time- indicating markings are spaced about the totality of the circumference of the watch.

The well understood completion of a 360 degrees circular motion as an indicator of time iS preserved in this inventive configuration which will allow the wearer to rapidly with little or no explanation be able to read time.

In a second broad independent aspect, the invention provides a watch or clock having its hours' and 'minutes' markings spaced circumferentially or part-circumferentially about to the edge of the clock face and characterized by the feature that the individual markings illuminate selectively and automatically to indicate the time.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because time will be read in an improved manner, particularly in the dark. Having the markings spaced circumferentially will also t5 have the benefit of the watch not having to be as wide as conventional watches as the information of time may be spread about the circumference. Furthermore, since the markings are to be placed circumferentially they will also allow do away with the prior art

. requirement of having to provide relatively sophisticated means to secure a specific portion of the markings in a prescribed position about the wearer's wrist. The watch may be so sized and shaped to allow it to freely rotate around the wearer's wrist. . :..DTD: In a third broad independent aspect, the invention provides a watch or clock having its . 'hours' and 'minutes' markings spaced circumferentially or partcircumferentially about .

lo. the edge of the clock face in a manner which intends them to be viewed 'edge-on'.

This marks a complete departure from the prior art teaching over centuries that time is best viewed 'face-on'. This will have the practical advantage of a wearer being able to read time from unconventional positions which may allow him for example to view time without being noticed. It may also, for example, allow a wearer to view time when the watch is covered by the cuffs of a shirt. It may also allow the use of a protective outer layer about the 'face-on' portion of the watch whilst still permitting the time to be read.

In a fourth broad independent aspect, the invention provides a bracelet watch characterised by the feature that the watch face is disposed wholly or partly inside the circumference of the bracelet.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows unconventional time viewing positions to be achieved at a variety of different radial directions. It may therefore improve its practicality whilst removing conventional bracelet watch design barriers.

to Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 illustrates three views of a watch in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows two side elevations of a watch in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

:.. em. Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of a watch in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention ë . Figures 4a and 4b, each shows a side elevation of a watch in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. . .

Figure S shows a side elevation of a further watch embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 a shows a watch generally referenced 1 with a face 2 acting both as the face and the bracelet of the watch. At different circumferential positions hour markings such as that referenced 3 are included. Throughout this specification, the terms markings is to be interpreted broadly so to include within its scope etchings, printed numbers, pointers, displays including liquid crystal displays (LCDs), holograms etc. In figure la, the markings are placed at various positions along the entire circumference of face 2. Face 2 incorporates an inner diameter 4 so sized and shaped to allow the wearer's hand to pass within the inner diameter so that the watch may be located and retained about the wearer's wrist.

A number of light emitting diodes such as that referenced 5 are located in proximity to markings such as that referenced 3 so that when the LED lights up time is indicated.

The watch will comprise lighting control means which will cause the array of light emitting diodes to illuminate selectively and automatically so as to indicate time. These control means will be selected from known technologies by the person skilled in the art.

The frequency of lighting, the intensity of the radiation or even the colours may also be varied as appropriate. Means may be provided to cause an alarm to trigger the intermittent lighting of the LEDs. It is envisaged that the watch is powered by a conventional button battery such as that referenced 6 in Figure lb. A purpose-made housing for the button battery may be provided as selected by the person skilled in the art from known alternatives. ë.e

Figure lb shows two separate paths of LEDs 7 and 8. The LEDs of path 7 will be spaced about the circumference of face 2 in order to accommodate 12 in total to mark each hour.

. Path 8 is designed to accommodate 60 separate LED's to mark each minute. Whilst this embodiment shows two circular paths 7 and 8, the invention also envisages the use of . several extra paths which could mark for example days and years. These additional paths may be added without departing from the scope of the present invention. In this .

:s embodiment paths are formed by markings that coincide with or are parallel with the plane of the wrist-enclosing bracelet which departs from the prior art where the markings are located in an arc-sector of the band and are usually transversal to the plane of their wrist-enclosing bracelet.

so Figure lc shows the opposite edge view used to mark the minutes of the hour with an array of LEDs such as that referenced 9 located on an outer portion of the face corresponding to time markings located inwardly such as that referenced 10. The outer diameter 11 and inner diameter 12 will be so sized and shaped to allow a wearer's hand to pass through the inner hollow portion 13 so as to be placed in use over the user's wrist. A battery compartment 14 may be provided to house battery 6.

Whilst the above embodiment was described with reference to a wrist watch, the invention envisages that the watch may be so sized and shaped to readily fit around any one of the group comprising: fingers, ankles and toes.

Furthermore, whilst in the previous embodiment a button battery was specifically described, the invention envisages that the watch may operate by the power supplied to it to by a rechargeable battery. The watch may incorporate a docking station and a docking member allowing it to charge the battery while the watch is not in use say for example during the night.

The hour LEDs have been illustrated as having an oval shaped window whilst the minutes ts LEDs have been illustrated as having a circular window through which the light is emitted. These windows may be of a variety of shapes or even colours other than those illustrated. The invention also envisages that the LED's themselves protrude from the top as, surface of the watch whilst being partly embedded into a substrate. . . ë

The substrate may be of any given material, colour or texture such as steel, gold, plastics . .: of all kinds including transparent. The material properties need not therefore be further : em: described for the purposes of this application. ë

Figure 2 shows a further watch face generally referenced 15. In a similar manner as Figure 1, Figures 2a shows the edge view of the hour markings whilst Figure 2b shows the edge view of the watch where the minute markings are visible.

This particular watch incorporates an inner diameter formed by a link strap 16 which is designed to extend and contract dependent on the radial force applied in use. The outer diameter 17 of the watch may incorporate a number of flexible joints or flexible gaps such as that reference 18 which would allow sufficient flexibility in use. The outer diameter may simply be formed from a rubber wall with an inner space sufficient to accommodate stretching and simultaneously accommodate the necessary electronics for the supply of electricity to the various LEDs and their control.

Whilst the above first two embodiments have illustrated the use of LEDs about the circumference of a watch face, the invention also envisages that the time indication may be realised by mechanically moving elements about the circumference. For instance, a drive wheel may be provided to drive a time indicating belt around the circumference. A bracelet watch may also be formed by a plurality of bracelet rings rotating relative to each other at varying velocities so as to indicate time. The rings may be parallel and/or to concentric employing either moving or stationary ticks marks to indicate time.

A mechanical version may also be constructed by the person skilled in the art by orchestrating the movement of pins or hands about the circumference defined by the watch's band. The hands may be driven by a mechanism hidden within the band of the watch.

Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a watch generally referenced 19 with a A bracelet 20. A first watch face 21 is disposed wholly inside the circumference of the Ems bracelet and may include a quartz watch's liquid crystal display of known kind such as that referenced 22. At the opposite side of the bracelet a further liquid crystal display may ë be provided to indicate another value of time as illustrated at 23. A brake 24 is envisaged :. In: in the bracelet with a closure mechanism 25 for a wearer to easily place the watch over his/her wrist and remove it as required. The closure mechanism may also be modified to create an electrical contact across break 24 if required for certain applications.

Figure 4a shows a watch generally referenced 26 with a band 27 so sized as to receive the wearer's wrist when in use. The band incorporates a liquid crystal display 28 over the totality of the band's circumference. Control means will be provided to mark time on the display as appropriate. It is envisaged that the system would incorporate means to place so the display at a given location of the circumference, say the top of the circumference which when worn by the wearer allows time to be immediately read.

Figure 4b shows an oval shaped watch band 29 comprising a first liquid display unit 30 and a second display unit 31. Means 32 and 33 are envisaged to allow the first and second display portions to be separated to enable the user to mount the watch about his/her wrist.

Figure 5 shows an example of how an electro-mechanical watch within the scope of the present invention may be configured. The figure shows a band watch generally referenced 34 comprising an outer race 35 incorporating minute markers. The outer race 35 is adapted to displace relative to a stationary middle race 36. Similarly an inner race 37 is provided and adapted to rotate within the middle race. Inner race 37 incorporates hour lo markers. The position of the outer race, inner race and middle race as generally shown at 3 8 allows the wearer to readily assess what the time is. ë . . ë . e. .e.e ë ë ë .

Claims

1. A watch comprising a band suitable for sufficiently wrapping around a wearer's member- for example his or her wrist - so as to hold the watch on said member, and a succession of time-indicating markings; characterised in that a succession of time markings is spaced about a portion of the member-enclosing circumference of the band.

2. A watch according to claim 1, wherein the time-indicating markings are spaced about the totality of the circumference of the watch.

3. A watch or clock having its 'hours' and 'minutes' markings spaced circumferentially or part-circumferentially about the edge of the clock face and characterized by the feature that the individual markings illuminate selectively and automatically to indicate the time.

4. A watch or clock having its 'hours' and 'minutes' markings spaced circumferentially or part-circumferentially about the edge of the clock face in a manner which intends them to : be viewed 'edge-on'. .e .

5. A bracelet watch characterized by the feature that the watch face is disposed wholly or .

partly inside the circumference of the bracelet.

e..e .

6. A watch or clock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or ë illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures. .