JPH10260642A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily operate an actuator which is difficult to look for in the dark and operate as to a travel or pocket display device having a hinged casing. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a display mechanism 1 with a display surface and 1st and 2nd casing parts 2 and 3 which are movable between opening and closure positions, the 1st casing part 2 is pivoted on a 1st axis 4 up to the 2nd casing part 3, and the mechanism 1 is pivoted on a 2nd axis 5 parallel to and distant from the 1st axis up to one of the 1st and 2nd casing parts; and the peripheral part of the mechanism 1 distant from the 2nd axis 5 and part of the other 1st or 2nd casing part distant from the 1st axis 4 are provided with mutual engagement members 6 and 7 so as to hold the casing parts at the opening positions, and the said display mechanism is equipped with an actuator 8 which can be operated by pressing this mechanism and 1st casing part together when the 1st and 2nd casing parts are the closure positions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a travel or pocket indicating device of the kind having a hinged casing.
ce). This device can be, in particular, a clock, but instead of a thermometer, a barometer,
It may be a hygrometer, a compass, or a combination device having more than one of these functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A known travel clock of this type has first and second casing portions which are entirely circular, and the first casing portion extends around a first axis to the rear edge of the second casing portion. A clock mechanism for pivoting and further pivoting about a second axis parallel to the first axis to a front edge of the second casing portion; When looking at the timepiece, the first and second casing parts pivot away from the first axis, and the second casing part rests flat on the support surface. The timepiece mechanism pivots about a second axis to an open position, and the top of the timepiece mechanism engages members of the first casing portion to hold the casing portion in the open position. To fold the timepiece, the timepiece mechanism is disengaged from the first casing part and pivots downward around the second axis into the second casing part. The first casing part thereafter pivots downward about the first axis and catch means holds the casing part in the closed position.

[0003]

This known timepiece is usually provided with one or more actuators in the form of buttons or switches. In the case of an alarm clock, an actuator may be provided to silence the alarm or to activate a "snooze" function. Known actuators are often difficult to find and operate, especially in the dark.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising a display mechanism having a display surface, and first and second casing portions movable between an open position and a closed position. 1
The casing pivots about a first axis to a second casing, and the mechanism pivots about a second axis parallel to and spaced from the first axis to one of the first and second casings. In order to hold the casing part in the open position, the periphery of the mechanism far from the second axis and the other part of the first and second casing parts far from the first axis are interengaged members (intere
ngageable elements) and the display mechanism comprises an actuator which can be operated by pressing the first and second casing parts together when the first and second casing parts are in the open position. And a display device.

[0005] The actuator is disposed in contact with the surface of the first casing portion so that when the mechanism and the first casing portion are pressed together, the switch member pivots and closes the electric switch. Preferably, there is provided a pivotable switch member having a defined cam surface and means for resiliently biasing the switch member to the open position of the switch. The interengaging member includes at least one protrusion on one of the mechanism and the first casing portion,
The projection can be received in at least one other hole of the mechanism and the first casing part.

Alternatively, the actuator may be a plunger or a plunger having a means capable of being pressed inward by pressing the mechanism and the first casing portion together and elastically biasing the actuator to a position extending outward. A push button can be provided. In this case, the interengaging member of the mechanism is advantageously formed by an end member of a plunger or a push button.

[0007] If the device is an alarm clock, the actuator may be used to stop the alarm sound, or
It can be arranged to activate the "snooze" function, which is a temporary stop of the alarm sound. Alternatively, the actuator is an electroluminescent panel (electrolum)
An inescent panel or other lighting device on the clock face can be activated and arranged to illuminate the clock face. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator simultaneously activates a "snooze" function and an electroluminescent panel (or other lighting device).

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows a travel or pocket alarm clock having a clock mechanism 1 and first and second casing parts 2, 3 which are generally rectangular or circular. The two casing parts are pivoted together at a rear hinge 4 and the mechanism 1 is pivotally connected to a second casing part 3 at a front hinge 5.

In order to display the clock plane, a hinge 4,
5 is opened to the illustrated position, and the first casing part 2 is disposed on the support surface. The positioning tab 6 shown in FIG.
The mechanism 1 hangs down from the lower edge. The locating tabs are provided in the first casing part 2 to hold the mechanism at the correct angle.
Is engaged in the slot 7 at the front edge.

The switch member 8 has a pivot portion 9 housed in a hole at the lower edge of the mechanism, and a cam portion 10 projecting from the hole. This cam portion is mounted on the first casing portion 2 and supports the mechanism 1 at a predetermined position.

The rear surface of the switch member 8 abuts an electric switch element 11 which is restrained so as to slide backward from the position shown in FIG. The rear side of the element 11 abuts the front end of a resilient buffer 12, which may be rubber, the rear end of which is engaged in a housing 13.

The clock face includes an electroluminescent panel of the type that can emit light to illuminate the face. To operate the panel, the second casing part 3 is pushed down at its leading edge in the manner shown in FIG. 3 to press the mechanism 1 and the first casing part 2 together.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, this causes the cam portion 10 of the switch member 8 to move upward and backward, pivoting about the pivot portion 9. At the same time, the positioning tab 6 slides further into the slot 7. The switch member 8 moves the switch element 11 backward, closing the electric switch and activating the electroluminescent panel.
Movement of the element 11 is controlled by the buffer 1 in its housing 13.
Compress 2. When the second casing part 3 is released, the parts 6 to 11 are moved under the action of the loose buffer 12.
Returning to the position shown in FIG. 2, the panel is deactivated.

A large contact area is formed by the outer leading edge of the second casing part, which can be easily located in the dark.

In this example, when the alarm is sounding, the switch has two purposes in activating the electroluminescent panel and initiating the "snooze" function. During the “snooze”, the alarm sound is stopped for a few minutes, then restarted and continued until the second casing part 3 is pushed down again, and this cycle is repeated.

To close the casing, the mechanism 1
It pivots into the second casing part 3, and the casing parts 2, 3
Are moved together after this. A catch 14 at the front edge of the second casing part 3 is engageable with a knob 15 at the front edge of the first casing part 2 and holds the casing part in the closed position. Knob 15 can be spring loaded for this purpose.

As an alternative to the above-described actuator, a push-button actuator having a convex end face which engages with the inner concave surface of the front edge of the first casing part can be used, and the first casing part and the above-mentioned mechanism are used. This mechanism supports each other in the clock plane, which is easily visible.

To activate the electroluminescent panel, the second casing part is pushed down at its leading edge, whereby the actuator is pushed into the housing of the mechanism. The actuator is biased outward by a spring and returns to the extended position when the casing is released.

While the above embodiment includes a timepiece, it will be appreciated that a thermometer, barometer, etc., may be used in accordance with the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detailed portion of the actuator shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is another vertical sectional view of the timepiece showing the operation of the actuator.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a detailed portion of the actuator at the position shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Watch mechanism 2, 3 Casing part 4 Rear hinge 5 Front hinge 6 Positioning tab 7 Slot 8 Switch member 9 Pivot part 10 Cam part 11 Switch element 12 Buffer 13 Housing 14 Capture member 15 Knob

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A display device comprising: a display mechanism having a display surface; and first and second casing portions movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first casing portion has a first axis. Around the second casing part, and the mechanism rotates the first and second axes around a second axis parallel to and separated from the first axis.
In order to pivot to one of the casing parts and hold the casing part in the open position, the periphery of the mechanism far from the second axis and the other part of the first and second casing parts far from the first axis , An interlocking member is provided, and the display mechanism includes an actuator which can be operated by pressing the first casing portion and the first casing portion together when the first and second casing portions are in the open positions. A display device. 2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pivotable switch member such that when the mechanism and the first casing portion are pressed together, the switch member pivots and closes the electrical switch. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pivotable switch member having a cam surface disposed in contact with a surface of the switch, and means for elastically biasing the switch member to an open position of the switch. 3. The interengaging member includes at least one protrusion on one of the mechanism and the first casing portion, the protrusion being received in at least one hole of the other of the mechanism and the first casing portion. The display device according to claim 1, which can be used. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is provided with the first mechanism and the first mechanism.
The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a plunger or a push button having a means capable of being pressed inward by pressing together with the casing portion and elastically urging the actuator to a position extending outward. . 5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the interengaging member of the mechanism is formed by an end member of the plunger or the push button. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is arranged to operate a lighting device for a display surface. 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the lighting device is an electroluminescence panel. 8. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a clock. 9. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising an alarm clock. 10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is arranged to stop an alarm sound. 11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the stop of the alarm sound is temporary.