IE80552B1 - A faceplate - Google Patents

Abstract

A faceplate (10) for a clock mechanism includes at least one frangible zone (14). In use of the faceplate, a clock dial is mounted on one side of the faceplate and a clock mechanism is mounted to the opposite side of said faceplate. At least one of the frangible zones is removed to enable the clock mechanism to communicate with said opposite side of said faceplate.

Description

The present invention relates to a faceplate. In particular the invention relates to a faceplate for various configurations of clock mechanism and clock dials.

According to the present invention there is provided a faceplate for a clock mechanism including at least one frangible zone, to which in use of said faceplate a clock dial is mounted on one side of said faceplate and to the opposite side of said faceplate a clock mechanism is mounted, at least one of said frangible zones being removed to enable the clock mechanism to communicate with said opposite side of said faceplate.

Preferably, the faceplate includes an array of circular recesses.

Further preferably, the array of recesses are disposed towards one half of the faceplate.

Preferably, the faceplate has a peripheral lip projecting to the rear of the faceplate.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a clock comprising a faceplate including at least one frangible zone, to one side of said faceplate a clock dial is mounted and to the opposite side of said faceplate a clock mechanism is mounted, at least one of said frangible zones being removed to enable the clock mechanism to communicate with said opposite side of said faceplate. - 2 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a elevation view of a faceplate * according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the faceplate of Figure 1 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown a faceplate generally indicated at 10 according to the invention. The faceplate 10 is fabricated from a plastics material and comprises a substantially sheetlike rectangular front face 11. The front face 11 has a peripheral lip 12 with rounded forward facing edges 13.

In the present embodiment, the lip 12 further projects to the rear of the face 11 to give the faceplate 10 a depth of approximately 2cm, Figure 2. This is sufficient to house a clock mechanism (not shown) to the rear of the face 11 and allow the faceplate to sit flush against a wall (not shown).

The face 11 further includes an array of five by five circular recesses 14, whose thickness is substantially reduced with respect to that of the remainder of the front face 11. The recesses provide frangible zones in the face 11 which are easily punched out to leave a circular opening in the face 11.

A variety of analog clock faces or dials (not shown) are employed in conjunction with the present faceplate 10, each dial requiring a different centre or centers of rotation about which the clock mechanism hands rotate.

In use, a dial, having an aperture therein corresponding to the centre of rotation of the clock hands, is fitted to the front face 11 of the faceplate 10 with the edges helping to locate the dial. Subsequently, the recess 14 lying behind the aperture is punched out to form a circular opening in the front face 11 and allow the clock mechanism to protrude from the rear of the face 11 through the dial. Alternatively, if a large number of a particular batch of dials are to be employed then the recesses can be pre-punched from the face 11.

It will this be seen the present faceplate saves on expensive tooling alterations that may be required if a machine forming the faceplates had to be altered for each configuration of dial to be used in conjunction with a particular shape of faceplate.

If, in use, the centre of rotation of the clock hands is required to disposed be towards the bottom of the face 11 then the faceplate can be employed in an inverted manner to that illustrated. Thus, the array of recesses 14 must only cover substantially one half of the front face 11.

It will also be seen that the invention is not limited to analog clock dials. The frangible zones 14 could enable the clock mechanism to communicate with a digital display mounted on the front face 11.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A faceplate for a clock mechanism including at least ' one frangible zone, to which in use of said faceplate a t clock dial is mounted on one side of said faceplate and to the opposite side of said faceplate a clock mechanism is mounted, at least one of said frangible zones being removed to enable the clock mechanism to communicate with said opposite side of said faceplate.

2. A faceplate as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the faceplate includes an array of circular recesses.

3. A faceplate as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the array of recesses are disposed towards one half of the faceplate.

4. A faceplate as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the faceplate has a peripheral lip projecting to the rear of the faceplate.

5. A clock comprising a faceplate including at least one frangible zone, to one side of said faceplate a clock dial is mounted and to the opposite side of said faceplate a clock mechanism is mounted, at least one of said frangible zones being removed to enable the clock mechanism to communicate with said opposite side of said faceplate.