WO2000077579A1

WO2000077579A1 - Timepiece for designating lunar date

Info

Publication number: WO2000077579A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000310
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoon-Hyoung Eo; Jang-Sung Choi
Original assignee: Eo Yoon Hyoung; Choi Jang Sung
Priority date: 1999-06-16
Filing date: 1999-06-17
Publication date: 2000-12-21
Also published as: KR19990083709A; AU4654699A

Abstract

Disclosed is a timepiece for designating the lunar date. The timepiece comprises a circular hour plate (1) which is separated into 24 sections having the same angles with respect to the center at the end portion thereof and a moon hand (3) which rotates 347.8° per 24 hours with respect to the center of the hour plate (1) to the same direction of the hour hand (2). A lunar designating ring (4) being optionally rotatable is positioned at the outer portion of the hour plate (1), the lunar designating ring (4) having a plurality of scales having the same angles with respect to the center thereof. By means of the timepiece of the present invention, the time and the lunar date can be relatively simply noticed. In addition, the relation between the positions of the earth, the sun and the moon can be noticed.

Description

TIMEPIECE FOR DESIGNATING LUNAR DATE

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece for designating the lunar date, and more particularly to a timepiece for advantageously deciphering dates of the lunar calendar by using an hour hand which rotates once per 24 hours and a lunar hand which rotates 347.8 per 24 hours.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present invention relates to a timepiece for designating the lunar date, and more particularly, to a timepiece comprises a circular hour plate which is separated into 24 sections having the same angles with respect to the center at the end portion thereof and a moon hand which rotates 347.8 per 24 hours with respect to the center of the hour plate to the same direction of the hour hand. Nowadays, the widely used system of the date is the solar calendar which directly reflects the moving state of the sun around the earth. That is, one day is obtained from the time of one due culmination to the next due culmination at a specific place. One day is divided into 24 hours and one hour is divided into 60 minutes. One year is obtained by measuring the time from the starting point to the next returning point to the starting point at a specific place on the ecliptic. The widely used calendar is the solar calendar and the timepiece is the system of the solar time system. A season and day and night can be determined through the relation of the sun and the earth. Therefore, a lot of the living period coincides with the system of the solar time system. However, most of the timepiece is 12- hour system of which hour hand rotates once per 24 hours for indicating the present time and so, the natural phenomenon such as the present position of the sun, the altitude and day and night can not be designated by the solar time system. This may break the natural band between nature and a human being. Meantime, there's a period determined by the moon as well as the living period determined by the sun. For a short period, the working period for the people who lives near seashore or engaged with the sea can be exemplified. For a long period, the farming period can be exemplified. The date of the lunar calendar is actually very important for the farming period. The living period for the people engaged with inshore fishery or gathering occupation of various fishes and shellfishes, is determined by the ebb and flow of the tide. And this period is a definite factor for judging the connection of ships in a harbor. Recently, this period is a very important indication in determining the time when a sea fishing as a link in the chain of the activities of leisure hours.

However, the system of the lunar calendar is not a simple one with respect to the solar system. Therefore, a calendar having the solar dates along with the lunar dates should be referred to.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above- mentioned problems and to provide a timepiece for designating the lunar date having an hour hand which rotates 360 per 24 hours and a moon hand which rotates 347.8 per 24 hours, as the main constituents.

To accomplish the object, there is provided in the present invention a timepiece for designating a lunar date comprising a circular hour plate which is separated into 24 divisions having the same angles with respect to the center at the end portion of the hour plate, an hour hand which rotates 360 per 24 hours around the center of the hour plate, a moon hand which rotates 347.8 per 24 hours to the same direction of the hour hand and a lunar designating ring which is positioned at the outer portion of the hour plate and has a plurality of scales having the same angles with respect to the center.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above object and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic planar view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a planar view for illustrating a method for deciphering a lunar date from FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a schematic planar view of another embodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a planar view for illustrating a method for deciphering a lunar date from FIG. 3.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The lunar designating ring can be classified into two types as follows.

The first type is for knowing the lunar date roughly at a glance. Six scales having the same angles with respect to the center are formed at lunar designating ring 4 and a designating line of the end of the month 4 and the numerals 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25, that is the dates, are continuously indicated. At this time, it is preferred that the shape of the moon is drawn for the corresponding dates at the outer portion of the numerals. The second type of lunar designating ring 4 is for deciphering the correct lunar date. Lunar designating ring 4 is divided into two circular bands, an outer band 42 and an inner band 43. At the two circular bands, the numerals from 1 to 29 are sequentially designated on the 29 sections having the same angles of 12.2 with respect to the center thereof and 30 is designated on the remaining angle of 6.2 . The starting line of section 1 of outer band 42 and the ending line of section 29 of inner band 43 coincide.

Lunar designating ring 4 can be a circular band type which is optionally rotatable and can be fixed to a specific position. Lunar designating ring 4 can be a rotatable cover glass of the timepiece. The timepiece of the present invention can further includes a circular minute plate 5 which has a 12-divisional scale having the same angles with respect to the center at an end portion thereof and a minute hand 6 which rotates 360 per hour with respect to the center of minute plate 5.

For improving the visual perception of the timepiece, designs symbolizing the sun and the moon can be carved or attached on hour hand 2 and moon hand 3.

Although, the shapes of the plates are mentioned as 'circular', the plates should not be 'circular' but somewhat modified 'circular' or 'ellipsoidal' shape which can be applied to common time pieces, can be included. The modification degree of the clock plates is within the scope of the application by the one who has skilled in this field. The circular shape will include the above-mentioned meaning in this description and claims below.

In addition, the term 'clockwise' is used as the common meaning, which means that a hand on the timepiece rotates from the upper portion to the rightward of the timepiece. In this specification including the description and the claims, this term is used for the above-mentioned meaning.

At each scale or between scales on hour plate 1 , the numerals from 1 to 24, or the numerals from 1 to 12 for illustrating ante meridian hours and continuously the numerals from 1 to 12 for illustrating post meridian hours can be designated. For the latter case, the numerals corresponding to the ante meridian hours and the numerals corresponding to the post meridian hours can be designated in different brightness or color saturation for an easy notice. For another case, the brightest numeral may be positioned at noon and the numerals from the noon to midnight may be gradually darkened and the numerals from the midnight to the noon may be gradually brightened again.

On the minute scales of minute plate 5 of the present invention, minutes can be indicated by the numerals of 0, 10, 20, ...50 or by the numerals of 0, 15, 30 and 45, as occasion needs.

The rotational directions of hour hand 2 and moon hand 3 can be optionally determined. When each hand rotates counterclockwise, the order of the designating numerals of hours and minutes should be clockwise and the order of the dates on lunar designating ring 4 should be clockwise, and when each hand rotates clockwise, the order of the designating numerals of hours and minutes should be counterclockwise and the order of the dates should be counterclockwise. Accordingly, the rotational directions of the plates can be the same clockwise direction or the same counterclockwise direction. Of course, hour plate 2 and minute plate 3 can rotate to the opposite direction. The size of hour plate 2 can be larger or smaller than that of minute plate 3.

Different from the conventional timepiece of which plate is divided into 12 divisions and of which hour hand 2 rotates twice per day, minute hand 6 rotates 24 times per hour and a second hand rotates once per minute for showing the time, the timepiece of the present invention utilizes 24 hours system in which hour hand 2 rotates once per day on 24-divisional hour plate 1. The specific hour is indicated by the rotation of hour hand 2 once per day on hour plate 1 having hour scales of 24 divisions and the specific minute is indicated by the rotation of minute hand 6 once per hour on minute plate 5 having the 12-divisional minute scale. At this time, minutely separated lines can be designated between the scales for deciphering the specific minute only using hour plate 1 , as occasion needs. During the rotation of the earth around the sun once per day, the moon revolves by about 12.2 (= 360 _ 29.5) to the rotational direction of the earth. Therefore, the culmination of the moon is delayed by 50 minutes on the earth. Accordingly, hour hand 2 rotates 360 per 24 hours and moon hand 3 rotates 347.8 per 24 hours to the same direction with hour hand 2 for designating the relation of the positions of the sun and the moon according to the rotation of the earth and the revolution of the moon and for indicating the lunar date. That is, moon hand 3 is delayed by 12.2 per 24 hours than hour hand 2 and the delayed angle of 12.2 corresponds to one division on lunar designating ring 4 (12.2 with respect to the center). Moon hand 3 gets loose by one day indicated on lunar designating ring 4 per 24 hours with respect to hour hand 2. The method for deciphering the present time and the present lunar date from the timepiece of the present invention having the above-described constitution will be described below. For the sake of explanation, it is supposed that each hand rotates to clockwise and the numerals on lunar designating ring 4 are arranged counterclockwise. In addition, minute plate 5 and minute hand 6 are provided with the timepiece.

The using methods are somewhat different according to the type of lunar designating ring 4 in the present invention. Therefore, the methods are separately explained. First, lunar designating ring 4 has six divisions having the same angles with respect to the center and a designating line of the end of the month 41 with the numerals 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 are continuously indicated at the divisions (see FIGs. 1 & 2). The present time is determined by adjusting hour hand 2 and minute hand 6. Lunar designating ring 4 is rotated and fixed so that designating line of the end of the month 41 coincides with hour hand 2 at noon. Then, moon hand 3 is adjusted to coincide with the corresponding numeral of the present lunar date on lunar designating ring 4. Minute hand 6, hour hand 2 and moon hand 3 rotate according to the predetermined velocity and manner. In order to deciphering the specific lunar date, designating line of the end of the month 41 is let to fit hour hand 2 by rotating lunar designating ring 4. At this time, the schematic lunar date can be known by the position of lunar designating ring 4 where moon hand 3 indicates.

For example, the state shown in FIG. 1 is about 6 o'clock and 55 minute ate meridian and the angle of the sun and the moon with respect to the earth is about 100 . At this time, when designating line of the end of the month 41 is let to fit hour hand 2 by rotating lunar designating ring 4 as shown in FIG. 2, moon hand 3 indicates the position above numeral 20. Therefore, it can be noticed that the lunar date is about 21th day.

The second type of lunar designating ring 4 for deciphering the correct lunar date is divided into two circular bands of outer band 42 and inner band 43. At the two circular bands, the numerals from 1 to 29 are sequentially designated in the 29 sections having the same angle of 12.2 with respect to the center and 30 is designated in the remaining section having the angle of 6.2 . The starting line of section 1 of outer band 42 and the ending line of section 29 of inner band 43 coincide.

Hour hand 2 and minute hand 6 are adjusted to the specific present time. Lunar designating ring 4 is rotated and fixed so that hour hand 2 coincides with the line between 1 and 30 of outer band 42 for a 30-day month and coincides with the line between 1 and 29 for a 29-day month at noon. Then, moon hand 3 is let to fit the center portion of the corresponding division where the corresponding numeral to the present lunar date is designated. Minute hand 6, hour hand 2 and moon hand 3 rotate according to the predetermined velocities and manners.

For knowing a specific lunar date, lunar designating ring 4 is rotated and fixed so that hour hand 2 coincides with the line between 1 and 30 of outer band 42 for a 30-day month and coincides with the line between 1 and 29 for a 29-day month at noon. Then, the numeral on lunar designating ring 4 indicated by moon hand 3 is the lunar date at that specific day. At this time, the numeral on outer band 42 is read for the 30-day month and the numeral on inner band 43 is read for the 29-day month. For example, the state shown in FIG. 3 corresponds about 9 o'clock 18 minute post meridian and it can be noticed that the sun is below the horizontal line and the moon is in the sky.

At this time, lunar designating ring 4 is rotated and fixed so that hour hand 2 coincides with the line between 1 and 30 of inner band 43 for a 29-day month, as shown in FIG. 4. Then the specific lunar date is 9th day from the numeral designated on the division of inner band 43 indicated by moon hand 3.

Meantime, for the second type of lunar designating ring 4, an arrow from 30 on outer band 42 to 30 on inner band 43 and an arrow from 29 on inner band 43 to 1 on outer band 42 can be designated. Through these arrows, a user can advantageously decipher the lunar date around the end of the month. In case when the lunar date changes from the 30-day month to the 29-day month, moon hand 3 indicates 30 on outer band 42 during ante meridian on 30th lunar day and indicates 30 on inner band 43 during post meridian. The next day, moon hand 3 indicates 1 on inner band 43 for deciphering the user as the 1st lunar day. And for the case when the lunar date changes from the 29-day month to the 30-day month, month hand 3 indicates 29 on inner band 43 for the 29th lunar day while indicates 1 on outer band 42 for the next day.

By means of the timepiece of the present invention, the time and the lunar date can be relatively simply determined. In addition, the relation between the real positions of the earth, the sun and the moon can be visually noticed. Therefore, the timepiece of the present invention is advantageous for the people who needs the lunar date. Through the lunar date, the shape of the moon, that is, a full moon, a waxing moon, a waning moon, a sickle moon and the like can be noticed. Accordingly, the spring tide or the neap tide can be forecasted when checking the ebb and flow of the tide. In order to realize the directions of sunrise and sunset on the timepiece, in the timepiece of the present invention, it is preferred to make indicators, for example, "E" and "W", at the hour scales of AM6 and PM 6, respectively.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described only for the structure and the rotational velocity of each plate, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to the preferred embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. That is, the timepiece of the present invention can be operated by a mechanical manner through the combination of a driving apparatus and sawtooth having a predetermined rotating ratio. Further the recognition of the data from the timepiece of the present invention can be implemented through an electronic manner using a display device such as an LCD(liquid crystal display device) or a CRT(cathod ray tube).

Effect of the Invention

Through utilizing the clock having the above-described constitution according to the present invention, the time and the lunar date can be relatively simply noticed. In addition, the relation between the positions of the earth, the sun and the moon can be noticed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece for indicating a lunar date comprising: a circular hour plate, the ends of which is separated into 24 divisions having the same angles with respect to the center; an hour hand which rotates 360 per 24 hours around the center of said hour plate; a lunar hand which rotates 347.8 per 24 hours to the same direction of said hour hand around the center of said hour plate; and a lunar designating ring which is positioned at an outer portion of said hour plate and has multiple scales having the same angles with respect to the center thereof.

2. A timepiece acccording to Claim 1 , wherein six scales having the same angles are formed on said lunar designating ring with respect to the center of said lunar designating ring, and a designating line of month's ends and the numerals 5, 10, 15 and 25 are displayed in a continuous manner on said respective scales.

3. A timepiece according to Claim 1 , wherein two bands are displayed on said lunar designating ring by means of a circle which pass through the center of the ring; on said two bands, the numerals from 1 to 29 are displayed in sequence in the 29 sections which are formed at anges of 12.2° with respect to the center thereof, respectively; and the numeral 30 is designated on the remaining section having an angle of 6.2 , respectively; and a starting line of a section showing the numeral 1 on the outer band of said two bands and an ending line of a section showing the numeral 29 on the inner band therein coincide.

4. A timepiece according to Claim 1 , Claim 2 or Claim 3, comprising a circular minute plate at tan end portion thereof, which has a 12-divisional scale having the same angles with respect to the center thereof, and a minute hand which rotates 360 per hour with respect to the center of said minute plate.

5. A timepiece as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a circular minute plate which has a 12-divisional scale having the same angles with respect to a center at an end portion thereof and a minute hand which rotates 360 per hour with respect to a center of said minute plate.

6. A timepiece as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a circular minute plate which has a 12-divisional scale having the same angles with respect to a center at an end portion thereof and a minute hand which rotates 360 per hour with respect to a center of said minute plate.