JPH04328488A - World clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a world clock which makes it possible to read a world time in relation with a world map and which is unique, interesting and abundant in amenity. CONSTITUTION:A local clock 20 is formed in the inner peripheral part of the surface of a circular base 10 and a world time indicating plate 30 is disposed in the outer periphery of a dial plate 21 of this local clock 20. The world time indicating plate 30 is driven by a world clock mechanism so that it rotates clockwise at an angle of 15 degrees in one hour. On the base 10, a cylindrical world map member 40 formed by displaying a world map 42 on the surface of a transparent cylinder 41 is erected. Inside this cylindrical world map member, a second hand 24 of the local clock 20 is provided three-dimensionally. A world time (a current hour) is read from a numeral 31 on the world time indicating plate 30. Besides, the world time (the current minute) is read from a minute hand 23 of the local clock 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a world clock, and in particular,
This book concerns a world clock that allows the world time to be read in relation to a world map.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various world clocks for knowing the time around the world have been known. For example, if an annular plate is placed along the equator of a globe, this annular plate (a ring-shaped plate)
is divided into 24 equal parts, numbers 1 to 24 (representing world time) are displayed on the ring board every 15 degrees, and the globe or ring board rotates 15 degrees in one hour. There is a known world clock that reads the world time from the numbers on the ring plate at the position corresponding to the longitude of the globe (Jikko 3).
6-2394, Utility Model Application No. 56-149976, Utility Model Application No. 62-152286, etc.). Furthermore, a digital world clock is known that stores the time difference between Japan time and various parts of the world in advance, calculates world time from the time difference with Japan time, and displays this.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, among the above-mentioned conventional world clocks, those of the type that use a globe not only lack novelty as an interior design, but also have the problem of being difficult to read the world time visually. Furthermore, digital world clocks have the problem that not only are geographical images difficult to visualize, but they can only tell the time in pre-memorized cities, etc. moreover,
The problem with both world clocks is that they lack uniqueness and interest.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to read the world time while relating it to a world map, and also to create a world clock that is unique, interesting, and rich in amenities as a whole with excellent decorativeness. For the purpose of providing.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the world clock of the present invention includes a world time display board having a 24-hour equally divided scale along the circumference, and a world time display board that divides the world time into 1 hour. A base having a built-in world clock mechanism that rotates clockwise by 15 degrees, and a cylindrical world map member having a world map displayed on the circumferential surface of a transparent cylinder and standing upright on the base. Preferably, a cylindrical world map member is configured such that a transparent film displaying a world map is detachably attached to the inner peripheral surface of the transparent cylinder. Preferably, the scale of a local clock is displayed on the inner circumference of the world time display board,
A local clock mechanism is built into the base, and a clock, a minute hand, and a second hand are provided corresponding to the scale of the local clock, and the second hand of the local clock is formed three-dimensionally.

[0006]

[Operation] According to the world clock configured as described above, the world time can be read using the following procedure. Find the city in which you want to know the time (hereinafter referred to as a city, including place names other than cities) from the world map or the city names displayed on the surrounding wall of the base. Next, read the time on the universal time display board along the dividing line formed in correspondence with the city name displayed on the surrounding wall. When a city is found from a world map, it is linked to a dividing line based on the meridian displayed on the map member. This allows you to know what time it is in the city you want to know the current time. You can also tell what minute it is by reading the minute hand of local time.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a world clock according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base. In the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a base, which has a configuration in which a peripheral wall 12 that is inclined toward the center is connected to the upper side of a circular body 11. A local clock 20 displays the time at the local location (the location where the clock is located). The local clock 20 has a circular dial 21 as a base 1.
It is arranged so that it is located in the center of the upper surface of 0. Also,
The local clock 20 has an hour hand 22 and a minute hand 23 like a normal clock.
and a second hand 24, and is driven by a known clock mechanism (not shown).

The second hand 24 has a three-dimensional structure including a shaft 24a, a support member 24b, and a decorative member 24c. The shaft 24a of the second hand 24 is configured to be detachably attached to the clock shaft of the second hand in a timepiece mechanism. Further, an arcuate support member 24b is attached to the shaft 24a of the second hand 24 with the arc facing upward, and decorative members 24c are suspended from both ends of the support member 24b. The shaft 24a rotates together with the clock shaft of the second hand, thereby causing the support member 24b and the decorative member 24c to rotate and function as a second hand.

Examples of the decorative member 24c include flying objects such as balloons, airships, helicopters, airplanes, and UFOs, birds such as seagulls, insects such as butterflies, ships, and automobiles. The height position of the decorative member 24c is the same as that of the supporting member 24.
It is preferable that the attachment portion 24d to the shaft b be configured to be able to be moved up and down to adjust its position.

30 is the world time display board (time ring),
The outer periphery of the upper surface of the disk is divided into 24 equal parts along the circumference, and numbers 31 from 1 to 24 are sequentially attached to each divided scale, and these numbers 31 represent universal time. This world time display board 30 is mounted on the base so that the numbers (scale) 31 appear from the ring-shaped window 10a formed between the outer periphery of the local clock face 21 and the outer periphery 32 of the base surface. It is located inside. This world time display board 30
is rotated 15 degrees clockwise in one hour by a known world clock mechanism (not shown) built into the base 10. In addition, the surface of the world time display board 30 is marked in red (
By coloring them in different colors (6 o'clock to 18 o'clock) and blue (18 to 6 o'clock), and adding an illustration of the sun at 12 o'clock and an illustration of the moon at 24 o'clock, you can distinguish between day and night. It's easier and more interesting. 24 dividing lines 33 are drawn on the outer periphery of the base surface 32, and on the sloping peripheral wall 12 of the base 10, which is an extension of each dividing line 33, there are a plurality of cities (place names) from all over the world. Name 34 etc. are displayed.

40 is a cylindrical world map member, and the base 1
It is removably installed on the upper surface of 0. The cylindrical world map member 40 is constructed by inserting a transparent rectangular film 43 on which a world map 42 is displayed on the inner peripheral surface of a transparent cylinder 41 in a cylindrical shape. On the world map 42, meridians 44 are displayed every 15 degrees, and the base 10
It has a configuration that matches the 24 dividing line 33 drawn on the surface of. If the world map member 40 has a structure in which the transparent cylinder 41 and the film 43 displaying the world map are separately provided as described above, by changing the type of the world map,
You can enjoy various atmospheres. The shape of the top of the transparent cylinder 41 may be, for example, semi-spherical, other than the flat shape shown in the illustrated embodiment.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned world clock will be explained. First, when using the local clock 20 in Japan, for example, after setting it to the Japanese time,
Set the time on the world time display board so that the part of the world time corresponding to Japan's location shows the same time as Japan's time. In world time, there is a one-hour time difference for every 15 degrees of longitude. Therefore, the universal time display board 30 is 15 in one hour.
It rotates in degrees and rotates as universal time passes, allowing it to display world time in different parts of the world.

That is, to know the world time of a city located on the meridian 44 corresponding to the 24-divider line 33, read the number 31 on the universal time display board 30 located on the central extension of the 24-divider line 33. This allows you to know what time it is. Furthermore, since a difference in longitude of 15 degrees causes a time difference of exactly one hour, by reading the minute hand 23 of the local clock 20, one can also know "what minute it is." At this time, if the user shifts his/her eyes a little along the meridian 44 of the map member 40, the city in which the time is to be determined can be found on the map, allowing the user to integrally recognize the geographical sense and the time.

[0014] Furthermore, from the world time of cities located on the meridian corresponding to the 24-division line 33, which can be accurately known as described above, the approximate world time of cities in various parts of the world that are not located on the meridian can be calculated. You can know. In this case, since the world map has a cylindrical shape, it is easy to visually follow the meridians, and since the meridians are straight and equally spaced, it is easy to visually read the world time. Also, when trying to find out the time by finding a city name on a world map, use the dividing line 3 based on the meridian that passes through the target city (near the city).
By linking with 3, you can find out what time it is.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the invention. For example, the cylindrical world map member may be transformed into a transparent cylinder. You can draw and compose a world map directly, or
It is also possible to configure the world time display board to be located on the peripheral wall portion 12 of the base 10.

[0016]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the world clock of the present invention can read the world time in association with a world map, and the cylindrical map member also functions as a decorative clock, so it is practical as a whole. It is both functional and decorative, and exhibits uniqueness.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a world clock of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10... Base 20...Local clock 24...Second hand 30…Universal time display board 33...24 dividing line 40...Cylindrical world map member

Claims (4)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A base having a built-in world time display board with a 24-hour equally divided scale along the circumference, and a world clock mechanism that rotates the world time display board 15 degrees clockwise in one hour;
A world clock comprising: a world map displayed on the peripheral surface of a transparent cylinder, and a cylindrical world map member erected on the base. 2. The world clock according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical world map member has a transparent film displaying a world map detachably attached to the inner peripheral surface of the transparent cylinder. . [Claim 3] The scale of a local clock is displayed on the inner periphery of the world time display board, and the base has a built-in local clock mechanism, and a clock, minute hand, and second hand are provided corresponding to the scale of the local clock. The world clock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The world clock according to claim 3, wherein the second hand of the local clock is formed three-dimensionally.