US1851824A - Clock face and hand - Google Patents

Description

2 March 29, 1932. E, R FEWELL 1,851,824

CLOCK FACE AND HAND Filed Sept. 24, 1927 ifiifazm il w INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES ERNEST BOY FEWELL, OF RED HOUSE, WEST VIRGINIA CLOCK FACE AND HAND Application fi1ed September 24, 1927. Serial No. 221,767.

This invention relates to clocks and has for its object the provision of a clock dial with which is associated a single hand, the dial and hand being so constructed that the time may be quickly and easily ascertained at a glance while obviating the use of two hands.

An important object is the provision of a clock face or dial which has inscribed thereon an inner circular series of circles within which are inscribed the numerals running from one to twelve and designating the hours of the day, the face being further provided with an outer circle divided into graduations designating minutes, every fifth graduation being prolonged somewhat and every tenth graduation being additionally prolonged and having adjacent thereto the numeral designating the number of minutes, the invention further including the use of a single hand formed intermediate its ends with a circular opening through which the hour indicia are visible and successively carrying at its outer end a pointer moving over the minute graduations and the outer end being further provided with an opening through which the indicia adjacent the longer graduations may be readily seen.

A further object is the provision of a hand which has its end opposite the indicating end formed as a knob which will counterbalance the weight of the indicating end so as to insure smooth and easy movement which will conduce to greater accuracy.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive, efficient, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and ad vantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the figure shows a face view of the dial and hand associated therewith.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the dial or face and 11 designates the hand which is secured to the hour arbor of the clock mechanism, not shown. The dial is provided with an inner circular series of circles 12 within which are inscribed numerals ranging from 1 to 12 and designating the hours of the day in the ordinary manner. The dial has further inscribed thereon adjacent its outer edge, a pair of concentric circles 13 between which are drawn graduations indicating minutes. It will be observed that every fifth graduation is prolonged slightly to extend inwardly of the inner circle 13, every 10th graduation is prolonged still more, the thirtieth graduation is prolonged additionally, and every sixtieth graduation is prolonged still more and extends radially toward the center of the associate circle 12. Every fifth graduation had adjacent thereto a number designating the number of minutes, as clearly shown in the drawing.

The hand 11 has the end opposite its indicating end formed as a knob 14 which counterbalances the weight of the indicating end so as to effect smooth and easy movement. Intermediate its ends the hand has formed therein a circular hole 15 which registers with the successive circles 12 as the difierent hours are I reached and the numbers within the circles are of course visible through the hole 15. The outer end of the hand has formed thereon a point 16 which travels over the innermost one of the concentric circles 13 and which points to the exact minute past the hour. The outer portion of the hand is widened, as shown, and as formed with an elongated opening 17 through which the numbers designating the minutes are clearly visible. In this way it will be seen that when a certain hour numeral is visible through the hole 15 the hour of the day is easily visible and stands forth conspicuously and in the same way which every minute designating number or numeral is visible through the opening 17 clearly sets forth the nearest five minutes, the point 16 indicating the exact individual minute.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will be apparent that I have thus provided a clock dial or face and hand which cooperate to enable one to ascertain the time accurately while obviating the making it possible to simplify the mechanism of a clock for the reason that only'one hand is, provided and must be driven.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course tobe understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A device of the character set forth including a dial having an inner circularseriesof numbers designating hours and provided adjacent the outer edge thereof with graduations designating minutes, a rotatable hand movable over the dial and having a circular opening intermediate the ends thereof to encircle the hour numbers successively for attracting an obs'ervers eyes to a particular hour according to the position of the hand on the. dial said hand having an oblong slot adjacent its free end to move over the minute graduations, oppositely disposed projections formed on the hand within the ends of the slot and adapted to align with the minute graduations during movement of'the hand relative. to the dial, and a projection at the free end of the hand and aligning with the first named projections, said projections 00- operating with the opening to permit the ob.- server to easily determine the time. by the position of the hand relative to the dial.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ERNEST BOY FEWELL.

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