WO2001025858A1 - A decorative article - Google Patents

A decorative article Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001025858A1
WO2001025858A1 PCT/IB2000/001412 IB0001412W WO0125858A1 WO 2001025858 A1 WO2001025858 A1 WO 2001025858A1 IB 0001412 W IB0001412 W IB 0001412W WO 0125858 A1 WO0125858 A1 WO 0125858A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
article
inserts
hollow body
decorative article
hollow
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2000/001412
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Conrad Michael Scheepers
Original Assignee
Conrad Michael Scheepers
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Conrad Michael Scheepers filed Critical Conrad Michael Scheepers
Priority to GB0207861A priority Critical patent/GB2370886A/en
Priority to AU75475/00A priority patent/AU7547500A/en
Publication of WO2001025858A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001025858A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B47/00—Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece
    • G04B47/02—Installations within mirrors, pictures, furniture or other household articles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/10—Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial
    • G04B19/103—Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial attached or inlaid numbers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/30—Illumination of dials or hands
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B47/00—Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece
    • G04B47/04—Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece with attached ornaments or amusement apparatus
    • G04B47/046—Changeable decorations and parts thereof, decorations for the case which change the external appearance of the clockwork

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a decorative article.
  • a decorative article which comprises
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the hollow body to be formed of a material which permits light to be transmitted therethrough and, as such, the decorative article may include a lamp holder, connectable to an electric current supply, securely mounted within the hollow body in a configuration in which a lamp received by the lamp holder can be electrically energised for illuminating the body by transmitting light therethrough.
  • the hollow body may be made up of at least two body parts which, in combination, define an enclosed space within which the lamp holder is located
  • the body parts forming the hollow body may be releasably secured to one another, particularly in a configuration in which at least one body part is separable from other body parts in order to provide access into the enclosed space defined within the hollow body
  • the decorative article of the invention includes a clock mechanism located within the hollow body with a display face of the hollow body serving as a clock face
  • the hollow body may define twelve receiving formations positioned in locations where they coincide with the conventional clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2 and the set of body inserts may include twelve inserts having respectively the numbers 1 to 1 2 applied thereto and that are releasably located on the hollow body via the receiving formations in the respective clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2
  • the body inserts may be formed of a material having the property of being any one of transparent, translucent and opaque
  • the set of body inserts may have representations applied thereto that are associated with a predetermined theme and the set of body inserts may thus be selected from a plurality of sets which each have different representations applied thereto , associated with either the same or a different theme
  • the theme associated with the representations applied to the set of inserts may be a sports theme, with the representations being images of players that form a part of a team linked with a particular sport type
  • the decorative article of the invention further may include a stand formation for securely standing the article on a support surface
  • the article also may be associated with any other support formation that is adapted to cooperate with a support for the article
  • the hollow body of the decorative article of the invention may be formed of any suitable material and, preferably, are formed of a synthetic plastics material
  • the overall configuration of the hollow body of the decorative article and of the body inserts also may be greatly variable, both in relation to shape, configuration and size
  • the different forms of the decorative article of the invention provides for the article to serve as any one of a light source, a clock, and a combination of both a light source and a clock
  • Figure 1 shows an elevational front view of a decorative article, in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional, partially exploded, side view of the decorative article of Figure 1
  • a decorative article in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10
  • the decorative article 10 includes a body 1 2 which defines a generally circular profile when viewed in front view and which is secured on a stand formation 14 for supporting the body 1 2 in a stable, upright configuration as shown
  • the body 1 2 as shown is made up of three body components, 1 6, 1 8 and 20, the body components being secured together in their operative configuration in any suitable manner, for example, with a suitable adhesive Clearly, the body components are configured to cooperate with one another in order to form the body 1 2 and in their operative configuration they define an enclosed space 22 between them
  • the body 1 2 further defines a front face side 26 and a rear ace side 28, the major face portions of these faces being defined by insert element 30 that clip into openings defined therefor by the respective body components 1 6 and 20
  • each opening 34 has a body insert 36 (only one shown both in an operative configuration, 36 2, and in an inoperative configuration, 36 1 , in Figure 2) releasably located therein
  • each body insert 36 defines a disc-like element 38 which has a slotted skirt
  • the body 1 2 further has a lamp holder 44 securely mounted therein via a mounting bracket 46, the lamp holder having an electric cable (not shown) connected thereto, which can extend from the stand formation 1 4 of the decorative article 10, to be connectable to an electric current supply
  • a lamp (not shown) received by the lamp holder 44 can thus be energised to emit light within the body 1 2
  • the body 1 2 has a clock mechanism 52 mounted therein via support pillars 54 and by providing the insert element 30 1 as a transparent element, the face 53 of the clock mechanism 52 is rendered visible, thereby providing for use of the decorative article 1 0 both as a clock and as a light source
  • the back of the clock mechanism 52 has an aluminium sheet element 55 applied thereto that can serve as a heat sink
  • the insert 30 2 has an aluminium sheet element 57 applied thereto for the same purposes, whereas it is envisaged that the element 30 2 can be located proud of the component 20 to provide for a ventilation opening
  • the body inserts themselves may be associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2 for facilitating use of the clock mechanism 52, although it is envisaged also that the body inserts 36 can permit the decorative article 1 0 to be associated with different themes by having different representations applied thereto
  • the body inserts 36 may have representations of animals, or the like applied thereto, in order to associate the decorative article with a nature theme
  • the decorative article 1 0 can be associated with a sports theme for which the body inserts 36 can have representations of the faces of the members of a football team applied thereto, so that the complete decorative article can be associated with a particular football team or club
  • the decorative article 1 0 can be associated with different football teams, particularly by having representations of the faces of the players of different football teams applied to the body inserts 36 to be releasably located on the body 1 2 of a particular decorative article
  • the decorative article of the invention can be provided without a clock mechanism, in which case it will merely serve as a light source, or without a lamp holder, in which case it will merely serve as a clock
  • the decorative article can be provided without a stand formation, in which case it can be suspended from a wall or be supported by any other suitable support

Abstract

The invention relates to a decorative article (10) which comprises a hollow body (12) that defines a plurality of receiving formations (34) within which a selected set of body inserts (36), having different representations applied thereto, are releasably located. The hollow body is of a translucent material and has a light source located therein which, when energized, can illuminate the body. The body also has a clock mechanism (52) located therein that has an outwardly facing clock face. The representations applied to the set of body inserts are associated with a particular theme and is selected from a plurality of sets associated with the same or a different theme and having different representations applied thereto.

Description

A DECORATIVE ARTICLE
THIS INVENTION relates to a decorative article.
According to the invention there is provided a decorative article, which comprises
a hollow body of a substantially rigid material and defining a plurality of receiving formations therein which permit body inserts to be releasably located on the hollow body; and
a set of body inserts, selected from a plurality of sets having different representations applied thereto, releasably located on the hollow body via the receiving formations.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the hollow body to be formed of a material which permits light to be transmitted therethrough and, as such, the decorative article may include a lamp holder, connectable to an electric current supply, securely mounted within the hollow body in a configuration in which a lamp received by the lamp holder can be electrically energised for illuminating the body by transmitting light therethrough. The hollow body may be made up of at least two body parts which, in combination, define an enclosed space within which the lamp holder is located The body parts forming the hollow body may be releasably secured to one another, particularly in a configuration in which at least one body part is separable from other body parts in order to provide access into the enclosed space defined within the hollow body
Further according to the invention, the hollow body may define at least one display face and, as such, the receiving formations for body inserts may be defined within the said display face The hollow body also may define two oppositely directly display faces with both display faces defining receiving formations for body inserts The decorative article also may include an additional insert element located in at least one of the display faces
Still a further embodiment of the decorative article of the invention includes a clock mechanism located within the hollow body with a display face of the hollow body serving as a clock face As such, the hollow body may define twelve receiving formations positioned in locations where they coincide with the conventional clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2 and the set of body inserts may include twelve inserts having respectively the numbers 1 to 1 2 applied thereto and that are releasably located on the hollow body via the receiving formations in the respective clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2
The body inserts may be formed of a material having the property of being any one of transparent, translucent and opaque
Further according to the invention, the set of body inserts may have representations applied thereto that are associated with a predetermined theme and the set of body inserts may thus be selected from a plurality of sets which each have different representations applied thereto , associated with either the same or a different theme
More particularly, the theme associated with the representations applied to the set of inserts may be a sports theme, with the representations being images of players that form a part of a team linked with a particular sport type
One particular embodiment of the decorative article of the invention provides for each body insert to comprise a disc element having formations that can cooperate with a receiving formation for releasably clipping the element into its position with respect to the hollow body
The decorative article of the invention further may include a stand formation for securely standing the article on a support surface Clearly, the article also may be associated with any other support formation that is adapted to cooperate with a support for the article
The hollow body of the decorative article of the invention, as well as the set of body inserts, may be formed of any suitable material and, preferably, are formed of a synthetic plastics material The overall configuration of the hollow body of the decorative article and of the body inserts also may be greatly variable, both in relation to shape, configuration and size
The different forms of the decorative article of the invention provides for the article to serve as any one of a light source, a clock, and a combination of both a light source and a clock
Further features of the a decorative article, in accordance with the invention, are described hereafter with reference to an example of such a decorative article, illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings In the drawings
Figure 1 shows an elevational front view of a decorative article, in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional, partially exploded, side view of the decorative article of Figure 1
Referring to the drawings, a decorative article, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 The decorative article 10 includes a body 1 2 which defines a generally circular profile when viewed in front view and which is secured on a stand formation 14 for supporting the body 1 2 in a stable, upright configuration as shown
The body 1 2 as shown is made up of three body components, 1 6, 1 8 and 20, the body components being secured together in their operative configuration in any suitable manner, for example, with a suitable adhesive Clearly, the body components are configured to cooperate with one another in order to form the body 1 2 and in their operative configuration they define an enclosed space 22 between them
The body 1 2 further defines a front face side 26 and a rear ace side 28, the major face portions of these faces being defined by insert element 30 that clip into openings defined therefor by the respective body components 1 6 and 20
The perimeter face region 32 defined by the body component 1 6, defines twelve receiving formations in the form of openings 34 therein, each opening 34 having a body insert 36 (only one shown both in an operative configuration, 36 2, and in an inoperative configuration, 36 1 , in Figure 2) releasably located therein As shown in Figure 2, each body insert 36 defines a disc-like element 38 which has a slotted skirt
40 extending therefrom on one side thereof, the skirt 40 having two or more clipping formations 42 projecting therefrom which permit the body inserts 36 to releasably clip into their operative configuration with respect to the body component 1 6 A similar clipping arrangement can be associated with the insert elements 30, which define the major face portions of the faces of the decorative article 10 The body 1 2 further has a lamp holder 44 securely mounted therein via a mounting bracket 46, the lamp holder having an electric cable (not shown) connected thereto, which can extend from the stand formation 1 4 of the decorative article 10, to be connectable to an electric current supply A lamp (not shown) received by the lamp holder 44 can thus be energised to emit light within the body 1 2
Still further, the body 1 2 has a clock mechanism 52 mounted therein via support pillars 54 and by providing the insert element 30 1 as a transparent element, the face 53 of the clock mechanism 52 is rendered visible, thereby providing for use of the decorative article 1 0 both as a clock and as a light source
The body components 1 6, 1 8 and 20, forming the body 10, as well as the body inserts
34 associated with the body components 1 6 and 20, all are formed of a suitable translucent material, e g a translucent synthetic plastics material, thus providing for the complete body 1 2 to give a illuminated appearance when the lamp therein is energised
In order to accommodate heat generated by an energised lamp within the enclosed space 22, the back of the clock mechanism 52 has an aluminium sheet element 55 applied thereto that can serve as a heat sink Also, the insert 30 2 has an aluminium sheet element 57 applied thereto for the same purposes, whereas it is envisaged that the element 30 2 can be located proud of the component 20 to provide for a ventilation opening
By providing twelve body inserts 36 in the configuration as shown, the body inserts themselves may be associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2 for facilitating use of the clock mechanism 52, although it is envisaged also that the body inserts 36 can permit the decorative article 1 0 to be associated with different themes by having different representations applied thereto For example, the body inserts 36 may have representations of animals, or the like applied thereto, in order to associate the decorative article with a nature theme Alternatively, the decorative article 1 0 can be associated with a sports theme for which the body inserts 36 can have representations of the faces of the members of a football team applied thereto, so that the complete decorative article can be associated with a particular football team or club By rendering the body inserts 36 replaceable with different sets of inserts that can be selected from , the decorative article 1 0 can be associated with different football teams, particularly by having representations of the faces of the players of different football teams applied to the body inserts 36 to be releasably located on the body 1 2 of a particular decorative article
It will thus be appreciated that the components and parts forming the decorative article of the invention can be utilised for forming a series of decorative articles associated with different themes, teams, or the like This clearly is accommodated by the provision of a plurality of sets of releasably locatable body inserts from which a set can be selected to be located on the body 1 2 via the openings 34
It will be understood also that the decorative article of the invention can be provided without a clock mechanism, in which case it will merely serve as a light source, or without a lamp holder, in which case it will merely serve as a clock Also, the decorative article can be provided without a stand formation, in which case it can be suspended from a wall or be supported by any other suitable support
The exact construction of the decorative article 1 0 also is greatly variable, as is the shape and configuration thereof, and the invention extends to all such variations which still incorporate the general principles of the article as described above

Claims

1 A decorative article, which comprises
a hollow body of a substantially rigid material and defining a plurality of receiving formations therein which permit body inserts to be releasably located on the hollow body, and
a set of body inserts, selected from a plurality of sets having different representations applied thereto, releasably located on the hollow bodv via the receiving formations
2 An article as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the hollow body is formed of a material which permits light to be transmitted therethrough and which includes a lamp holder, connectable to an electric current supply, securely mounted within the hollow body in a configuration in which a lamp received by the lamp holder can be electrically energised for illuminating the body by transmitting light therethrough
3 An article as claimed in Claim 2, in which the hollow body is made up of at least two body parts which, in combination, define an enclosed space within which the lamp holder is located
4 A decorative article as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the hollow body defines at least one display face and in which the receiving formations for body inserts are defined within the said display face
5 An article as claimed in Claim 4, in which the hollow body defines two oppositely directed display faces with both display faces defining receiving formations for body inserts An article as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, which includes an additional insert element located in at least one of the display faces
An article as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, which includes a clock mechanism located within the hollow body and in which a display face serves as a clock face
An article as claimed in Claim 7, in which the hollow body defines twelve receiving formations positioned in locations where they coincide with the conventional clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2 and in which the set of body inserts include twelve inserts having respectively the numbers 1 to 1 2 applied thereto that are releasably located on the hollow body via the receiving formations in the respective clock positions associated with the numbers 1 to 1 2
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body inserts are formed of a material having the property of being any one of transparent, translucent and opaque
A decorative article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the set of body inserts have representations applied thereto that are associated with a predetermined theme and in which the set of inserts is selected from a plurality of sets which each have different representations applied thereto, associated with either the same or a different theme
An article as claimed in Claim 10, in which the theme associated with the representations applied to the set of inserts is a sports theme with the representations being images of players that form a part of a team linked with a particular sport-type An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each body insert comprises a disc-like element having formations that can cooperate with a receiving formation for releasably clipping the element in its position with respect to the hollow body
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a stand formation for securely standing the article on a support surface
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hollow body is formed of a synthetic plastics material
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body inserts are formed of a synthetic plastics material
A decorative article substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings
A set of body inserts provided for releasable location on the hollow body of a decorative article as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 1 6
PCT/IB2000/001412 1999-10-04 2000-10-04 A decorative article WO2001025858A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0207861A GB2370886A (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-04 A decorative article
AU75475/00A AU7547500A (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-04 A decorative article

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA996289 1999-10-04
ZA99/6289 1999-10-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001025858A1 true WO2001025858A1 (en) 2001-04-12

Family

ID=25587942

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2000/001412 WO2001025858A1 (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-04 A decorative article

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7547500A (en)
GB (1) GB2370886A (en)
WO (1) WO2001025858A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2380816A (en) * 2001-08-10 2003-04-16 Seiko Precision Kk Connecting inset clock into outer frame
US20110310243A1 (en) * 2009-03-05 2011-12-22 Intravis Gmbh Method and Device for the Quality Assurance of at Least Partially Translucent Hollow Bodies

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7739585U1 (en) * 1977-12-24 1978-04-27 Hoemberg, Rudolf, 4300 Essen Time clock
DE9413324U1 (en) * 1993-11-13 1994-12-22 Bathelt Dieter Dr Children's watch
US5654940A (en) * 1996-05-14 1997-08-05 Wei; Chao-Chia Multi-purpose clock
DE29521678U1 (en) * 1995-09-13 1998-04-30 Bombek Analog children's watch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7739585U1 (en) * 1977-12-24 1978-04-27 Hoemberg, Rudolf, 4300 Essen Time clock
DE9413324U1 (en) * 1993-11-13 1994-12-22 Bathelt Dieter Dr Children's watch
DE29521678U1 (en) * 1995-09-13 1998-04-30 Bombek Analog children's watch
US5654940A (en) * 1996-05-14 1997-08-05 Wei; Chao-Chia Multi-purpose clock

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2380816A (en) * 2001-08-10 2003-04-16 Seiko Precision Kk Connecting inset clock into outer frame
US20110310243A1 (en) * 2009-03-05 2011-12-22 Intravis Gmbh Method and Device for the Quality Assurance of at Least Partially Translucent Hollow Bodies

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7547500A (en) 2001-05-10
GB2370886A (en) 2002-07-10
GB0207861D0 (en) 2002-05-15

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