WO2009031789A1

WO2009031789A1 - The solid watch

Info

Publication number: WO2009031789A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung-Wook Choi
Original assignee: Seung-Wook Choi
Priority date: 2007-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2009-03-12

Abstract

The present invention provides a solid timepiece, and more particularly, to such a solid timepiece which is evolved from a conventional driving scheme in which needle-shaped hour, minute and second hands are rotated about the central axis of the dial in a table clock or a wall clock, and adopts a novel driving principle in which an hour-indicating element, a minute- indicating element and a second-indicating element formed on the inner circumferential surface o f the solid timepiece are rotated with a certain space defined in the center of the solid timepiece, and a stereoscopic design, such that it can be installed on a clock tower or other stereoscopic models so as to allow the time to be easily read in all directions and even at night as well as can provide decoration effects.

Description

Description THE SOLID WATCH

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a solid timepiece, and more particularly, to such a solid timepiece which is evolved from a conventional driving scheme in which needle- shaped hour, minute and second hands are rotated about the central axis of the dial in a table clock or a wall clock, and adopts a novel driving principle in which an hour- indicating element, a minute-indicating element and a second- indicating element formed on the inner circumferential surface of the solid timepiece are rotated with a certain space defined in the center of the solid timepiece, and a stereoscopic design, such that it can be installed on a clock tower or other stereoscopic models so as to allow the time to be easily read in all directions and even at night as well as can provide decoration effects. Background Art

[2] Timepieces which we sees frequently in a daily life are classified into a digital type and an analog type according to the operating and indicating method, and are classified into a wristwatch, a table clock, a wall clock, etc., according to their use purpose.

[3] Since the digital type timepieces employ a time expression method which can be converted diversely and are limitless in its size and design, they are used widely in various places. However, the digital type timepieces have a drawback associated with a planar geometrical structure, and show a possibility of conversion into a stereoscopic type at present or in the future.

[4] On the contrary, the analog type timepieces possess a difference in a driving method by an electric motor or a mechanical spring, but are substantially the same in terms of a rotation method in which an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand rotate different angular speeds about a central axis of the dial.

[5] That is, the analog type timepieces encounter a shortcoming in that they do not overcome a basic limitation in the operation scheme despite an attempt to change the designs.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems associated with the prior art, and it is an object to provide a novel analog timepiece which is differentiated from an existing type analog wristwatch.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid timepiece which includes a light-emitting device so as to give more improved aesthetic effects than in an existing planar design as well as easily identify and read the time in all directions. Technical Solution

[8] To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a solid timepiece comprising: a cylindrical hollow housing 1 including an open front end and an open rear end having a predetermined diameter, the open front end having a stepped portion 11 extending inwardly from an inner circumferential edge thereof, the stepped portion having a reduced diameter and a first guide protrusion 12 formed circumferentially on the rear surface thereof, the cylindrical hollow housing having a screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof in close proximity of the open rear end thereof; a minute-driven gear 2 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the minute-driven gear having a first guide groove 21 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a first guide protrusion 22 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof, a minute-indicating element 23 mounted pro- trudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, a first gear-teeth portion 24 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; an hour-driven gear 3 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the hour-driven gear having a third guide groove 31 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the second guide protrusion 22 of the housing, a hour- indicating element 32 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a second gear-teeth portion 33 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a cover 4 having a crew thread formed on the outer circumferential surface to correspondingly be engaged with the screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical hollow housing 1 so that the cover is securely inserted into the housing; a minute-driving gear 5 adapted to be rotatably engaged with the first gear-teeth portion 24 of the minute-driven gear 2, and a hour-driving gear 6 rotatably engaged with the second gear-teeth portion 33 of the hour-driven gear 3 so that when the minute-driven gear 2 is rotated once, the hour-driven gear 3 is rotated by 6° and a drive unit 7 adapted to rotate the minute-driving gear 5 and the hour-driving gear 6.

[9] The solid timepiece further comprises: a second-driven gear 8 adapted to be rotatably interposed between the stepped portion 11 of the housing 10 and the minute-driven gear 2, the second-driven gear having a third guide groove 81 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a third guide protrusion 82 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide groove 21 of the minute-driven gear 2, a second-indicating element 83 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a third gear-teeth portion 84 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; and a second-driving gear 9 rotatably engaged with the third gear-teeth portion 84 of the second-driven gear 8 so that when the second-driven gear 8 is rotated once, the minute-driven gear 3 is rotated by 6°

Advantageous Effects

[10] As described above, the present invention has advantageous effects in that owing to development of an analog timepiece employing a new principle, more diverse design changes can be made as compared to an existing uniform design, a stereoscopic sense is more enhanced than in a conventional analog timepiece, and a wearer can feel a variety of stereoscopic senses according to the shapes of the hour-, minute- and second- indicating elements and the inner circumferential surfaces of the hour, minute and second driven gears.

[11] In addition, the present invention has excellent effects in that an hour- indicating element and a minute-indicating element is applied with electric power from the respective rotating driven gears so that they are easily discerned by emission of light even at night as well as a lamp cover having various shapes is simply replaced so as to easily express aesthetical symbols. Also, since the solid timepiece of the present invention is configured to be rotated, although it is positioned at the center of an opened public place, the time can be easily read in all directions through one timepiece.

[12] Further, the solid timepiece of the present invention has advantageous effects in that it is improved to be suited for a wristwatch and a wall clock which are adapted to read the time only at one side, and various patterns can be formed on a closing plate and a guide ring to thereby attracting the interest of consumers as a new design trend. Brief Description of the Drawings

[13] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention;

[15] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention;

[16] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention;

[17] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece in use according to the present invention;

[18] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention; [19] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention; [20] FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view illustrating an indicating unit a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention; [21] FIGs. 8 and 9 are partial cross-sectional views illustrating a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention; [22] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention; [23] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention; [24] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention; [25] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 14 is a conceptual view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [27] FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[28] * Explanation on reference numerals on main elements of drawings*

[29] 1 : cylindrical hollow housing

[30] 11 : stepped portion

[31] 12 : first guide protrusion

[32] 13 : power- applying ring

[33] 2 : minute-driven gear

[34] 21 : first guide groove 22 : second guide protrusion

[35] 23 : minute-indicating element 24 : first gear-teeth portion

[36] 3 : hour-driven gear

[37] 31 : second guide groove 32 : hour- indicating element

[38] 33 : second gear-teeth portion

[39] 4 : cover

[40] 5 : minute-driving gear

[41] 6 : hour-driving gear

[42] 7 : drive unit

[43] 71 : motor 72 : driving gear

[44] 73 : reduction gear

[45] 8 : second-driven gear

[46] 81 : third guide groove 82 : third guide protrusion

[47] 83 : second-indicating element 84 : third gear-teeth portion [48] 9 : second-driving gear

[49] 10 : support stand

[50] 110 : indicating unit

[51] 111 : first insertion groove 112 : fixing slit

[52] 113 : power- applying piece 114 : light-emitting element

[53] 115 : second insertion groove 116 : power contact piece

[54] 117 : mounting protrusion 118 : lamp cover

[55] 120 : cylindrical body 121 : internal gear

[56] 122 : driving gear 123 : motor

[57] 200 : casing 201 : stepped portion

[58] 202 : mounting aperture 210 : closing plate

[59] 211 : arc-shaped indentation 220 : guide ring

[60] 221 : tapered portion 230 : cover

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[61] The construction of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order for those skilled in the art to easily understand and carry out it.

[62] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross- sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece in use according to the present invention;

[63] First, the basic construction of a solid timepiece according to the present invention is as follows.

[64] The solid timepiece of the present invention comprises:

[65] a cylindrical hollow housing 1 including an open front end and an open rear end having a predetermined diameter, the open front end having a stepped portion 11 extending inwardly from an inner circumferential edge thereof, the stepped portion having a reduced diameter and a first guide protrusion 12 formed circumferentially on the rear surface thereof, the cylindrical hollow housing having a screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof in close proximity of the open rear end thereof;

[66] a minute-driven gear 2 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the minute-driven gear having a first guide groove 21 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a first guide protrusion 22 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof, a minute-indicating element 23 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, a first gear-teeth portion 24 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof;

[67] an hour-driven gear 3 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the hour-driven gear having a second guide groove 31 formed circum- ferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the second guide protrusion 22 of the housing, a hour- indicating element 32 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a second gear-teeth portion 33 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof;

[68] a cover 4 having a crew thread formed on the outer circumferential surface to correspondingly be engaged with the screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical hollow housing 1 so that the cover is securely inserted into the housing;

[69] a minute-driving gear 5 adapted to be rotatably engaged with the first gear-teeth portion 24 of the minute-driven gear 2, and a hour-driving gear 6 rotatably engaged with the second gear-teeth portion 33 of the hour-driven gear 3 so that when the minute-driven gear 2 is rotated once, the hour-driven gear 3 is rotated by 6° and

[70] a drive unit 7 adapted to rotate the minute-driving gear 5 and the hour-driving gear 6.

[71] That is, a conventional analog timepiece employs a structure in which the hour and, the minute hand and the second hand are rotatably mounted radially at the central shaft of the dial. On the contrary, the solid piece of the present invention employs a novel structure in which it includes the hour-, minute- and second indicating elements 23, 32 and 83 mounted protrudingly inwardly from the inner circumferential surface thereof, respectively, so as to allow a wearer to read the time through the indicating elements.

[72] Also, the respective indicating elements 23, 32 and 83 take a protruded spherical shape on the drawings, but if they are manufactured in an elongated rod shape to be radially oriented toward the center of the inventive solid piece similarly to an existing timepiece, it is possible to prevent confusion of identifying the timepiece and time as in the conventional timepiece.

[73] First of all, the solid timepiece of the present invention has a great advantage in that it enables a user to feel a sense of depth in a forward and rearward direction like a perspective besides a two-dimensional sense as well as various variations of shapes are possible in addition to the basic shapes shown in the drawings proposed in the present invention.

[74] Also, the solid timepiece of the present invention further comprises:

[75] a second-driven gear 8 adapted to be rotatably interposed between the stepped portion 11 of the housing 10 and the minute-driven gear 2, the second-driven gear having a third guide groove 81 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a third guide protrusion 82 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide groove 21 of the minute-driven gear 2, a second-indicating element 83 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a third gear-teeth portion 84 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; and

[76] a second-driving gear 9 rotatably engaged with the third gear-teeth portion 84 of the second-driven gear 8 so that when the second-driven gear 8 is rotated once, the minute- driven gear 3 is rotated by 6°

[77] The above embodiment of the present invention is proposed to make clear that a second hand-related configuration is optional, but not indispensable.

[78] Also, the first and third guide protrusions 12, 22 and 82 and the first and third guide grooves 21, 31 and 81 corresponding thereto may be formed inversely in positions.

[79] That is, although the stepped portion 11 has a guide groove, but not a guide protrusion, formed on the rear surface thereof, and the guide groove and the guide protrusion of each driven gear are formed inversely correspondingly, this principle will be able to be regarded as being the same as that of the above embodiment.

[80] In addition, the inventive solid timepiece may be constructed such that it has twenty- four hours in a rotation of the hour hand without being limited to the basic concept of the conventional timepiece that has twelve hours in the rotation of the hour hand. Thus, a manufacturer may set the operation mode selectively.

[81] Further, in the present invention, the drive unit 7 may be implemented with a motor 7 as shown in the drawings or a spring.

[82] The present invention adopts a basic construction in which the rotation of each driven gear is controlled by the meshing engagement between gears, but it is the most desirable that means for driving each driving gear employs the same as the driving scheme of the conventional analog timepiece.

[83] Thus, the detailed connection structure and operation principle of the motor 71 or the spring will be omitted hereinafter.

[84] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the solid timepiece can be used as a s tereoscopic model.

[85] The cylindrical hollow housing 1 includes a pair of power- applying rings 13 formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof in such a fashion as to be spaced apart from each other at a given interval so as to allow current to flow therethrough;

[86] Each of the hour-indicating element 32 and the minute-indicating element 23 further includes a first insertion groove 111 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3 in a normal direction to the inner circumferential surfaces of hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3, a light-emitting element 114 mounted on a power- applying piece 113 inserted into the first insertion groove 111 and having fixing slit 112 formed penetratingly in proximity of a distal end thereof, a second insertion groove 115 formed horizontally adjacent to a bottom terminating point of the first insertion groove 111 in such a fashion as to penetrate through the minute-driven gear in a forward and rearward direction, a power contact piece 116 inserted at one end thereof into the second insertion groove 115 so as to allow a distal end of the power contact piece to be fixedly inserted into the fixing slit 112 of the power- applying piece 113 and bent at the other end thereof in a normal direction to the inner circumferential surfaces of hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3 so as to come into close with the inner circumferential surface of the power- applying rings 13 while creating an elastic restoring force.

[87] In other words, the hour-indicating element 32 and the minute-indicating element 23 must be applied with power from an external power source so as to emit light therefrom. At this time, a separate construction is needed to in order that the hour- indicating element 32 and the minute-indicating element 23 can be applied with power while rotating.

[88] Thus, the power contact piece 116 which comes into contact with the power- applying ring 13 is electrically connected with the light-emitting element 114 so as to apply power to the hour- indicating element 32 and the minute-indicating element 23.

[89] In addition, preferably, a hook is formed at the distal end of the power contact piece

116 so as to prevent escape from the fixing slit 112 of the power- applying piece 113 after being inserted into the fixing slit 112.

[90] Moreover, the light-emitting element 114 may use a general electric bulb as shown in the drawings and an LED lamp.

[91] In this case, the general electric bulb or the LED lamp used as the light-emitting element 114 is configured to cooperate with a typical PCB so that it emits light by the power applied to the power- applying piece 113.

[92] Besides, FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view illustrating an indicating unit a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIGs. 8 and 9 are partial cross-sectional views illustrating a solid timepiece according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the respective driven gears 2 and 3 are rotated while being in close contact with each other, and hence a groove is preferably formed on a portion which is in close contact with the respective driven gears 2 and 3 in a section where the power contact piece 116 inserted into the second insertion groove 115 extends to the power- applying ring 13.

[93] Further, the present invention further includes:

[94] a mounting protrusion 117 projecting radially from the inner circumferential surface of the hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3 and having a screw thread formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof so as to allow the light-emitting element 114 to be mounted at the center thereof; and

[95] a lamp cover 118 correspondingly engaged at side thereof with the mounting protrusion 117 and having a hollow space formed therein so as to allow light emitted from the light-emitting element 114 to be transmitted and scattered therethrough.

[96] The above embodiment can be applied to the case where when it is desired to install a solid timepiece considering such model characteristics, the shape of the lamp cover 118 is modified to enable to create various atmospheres.

[97] For instance, in case where the basic frame of the solid timepiece is mass-produced, there is no difference in the produced timepiece. Thus, although models surrounding the solid timepiece are replaced with others, a monotonous or inharmonious atmosphere may be produced.

[98] For this reason, in case where the solid timepiece is installed in an important site of a local autonomous entity in consideration of regional characteristics and temporal characteristics, it can substitute for a model symbolizing the local autonomous entity. Also, in Christmas or harvest festival reason, the solid timepiece can be replaced to be suited for its atmosphere.

[99] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[100] The solid timepiece is constructed to be installed upright on a body 120 in such a fashion that an internal gear 121 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the body 120 and a driving gear 122 is connected to a motor 123 so as to be rotatably engaged with the internal gear 121.

[101] In the above embodiment, the solid timepiece is constructed such that the upper portion of the body 120 on which the solid timepiece is mounted is rotated so as to allow a user to read the time in all directions.

[102] In addition, a solid wristwatch can be configured in another embodiment of the solid timepiece of the present invention.

[103] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a conceptual view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a solid timepiece according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[104] In another embodiment of the present invention, the solid timepiece includes:

[105] a casing 200 having a predetermined depth and a circular mounting opening 202 formed therein, the casing having a retaining step 201 formed on the inner circum- ferential surface thereof to have a reduced diameter;

[106] a drive unit 7 including a motor 71 mounted in the mounting opening 202, a driving gear 72 mounted on a shaft of the motor 71, a reduction gear 73 operated in cooperation with the driving gear 72, a hour-driving gear 6 and a minute-driving gear 5 operated in cooperation with the reduction gear 73 at one side of the mounting opening 202, the hour-driving gear and a minute-driving gear being protruded higher than the retaining step 201 and being different in diameter and the number of gears from each other;

[107] a closing plate 210 having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the retaining step 201 so as to be seated on the retaining step after being inserted into the mounting opening 202, the closing plate having a notch formed on the outer circumferential surface of a side thereof so as to allow the hour-driving gear 6 and the minute- driving gear 5 to penetrate therethrough; and

[108] hour-driven gear 3 and a minute-driven gear 2 formed in a ring shape having the outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting opening 202, and having time-indicating elements 32 and 22 respectively mounted on the inner circumferential surfaces thereof in such a fashion as to project radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surfaces thereof, the hour-driven gear and the minute-driven gear having gear teeth formed on the outer circumferential surfaces thereof so as to be meshingly engaged with the hour-driving gear 6 or the minute-driving gear 5, so that the time-indicating elements 32 and 22 are rotated once for twenty-four hours and one hour, respectively;

[109] a guide ring 220 adapted to be inserted into the mounting opening 202 and having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the mounting opening 202, wherein an inner diameter of the guide ring is set in such a fashion as to be slightly spaced apart from the outer circumferential surfaces of the hour-driven gear 3 and the minute-driven gear 2 except a portion where the hour-driving gear 6 and the minute- driving gear 5 are formed, and the guide ring is cut inwardly vertically from an outer circumferential edge end thereof so as to come into close with the outer circumferential edge of the hour-driven gear 3 and the minute-driven gear 2 and is positioned at the top end thereof lower than the top end of the mounting opening 202; and

[110] a transparent cover 230 securely press-fit into the mounting opening 202 of the casing.

[I l l] Since the operating principle of the solid timepiece is mainly focused on a wristwatch, a separate guide groove or protrusion is not required to rotate relatively light driven gears 2, 3 and 8 and thus is eliminated. Also, a method of making the thickness of the wristwatch thin includes allowing the position of the drive unit to be changed. [112] In the above embodiment, especially, the closing plate 210 may have Arabic numerals or the Roman alphabet indicating the time formed on the top surface thereof, and various patterns additionally formed thereon to increase decorative effects.

[113] As another embodiment, the solid timepiece may be configured transparently so as to check the operation state inside thereof according to the circumstances.

[114] In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit 7 further includes a second-driving gear 9 and a second-driven gear 8 operated in cooperation with the second-driving gear. Also, it is possible for a person having an ordinary skill in the art to add the principle the same as that of the present invention to the above embodiment.

[115] Moreover, in another embodiment of the present invention, the guide ring 220 includes a tapered portion 221 which is gradually increased in diameter as it goes to its top end from its bottom distal end in close contact with the top outer circumferential edge of the hour-driven gear 3 or the minute-driven gear 2.

[116] In the above embodiment, the cover 230 is press-fit into the mounting opening 202 of the casing while coming into tight contact with the top surface of the guide ring 220. However, in this case, if the guide ring 220 is formed in an extent that its thickness can be easily recognized externally with naked eyes, aesthetic effects can be considerably degraded.

[117] Therefore, when viewed from a user's eyes, if the tapered portion 221 of the guide ring 220 is formed to be gradually decreased in diameter as it goes to the inside of the guide ring, the user can advantageously feel a sense of depth like a perspective. Alternatively, the tapered portion may have Arabic numerals or the Roman alphabet indicating the time formed on the top surface thereof, and various separate patterns additionally formed thereon.

[118] In another embodiment of the wrist- worn watch-style solid timepiece, the solid timepiece may further include a function of capable of indicating a corresponding time signal received through GPS communications depending on a change in use purpose of a person skilled in the art. Industrial Applicability

[119] As described above, the solid timepiece according to the present invention has advantageous effects in that more diverse design changes can be made as compared to an existing uniform design, a stereoscopic sense is more enhanced than in a conventional analog timepiece, and a wearer can feel a variety of stereoscopic senses according to the shapes of the hour-, minute- and second-indicating elements and the inner circumferential surfaces of the hour, minute and second driven gears.

[120] Furthermore, it is possible to manufacture the solid timepiece which can be installed on a clock tower or other stereoscopic models so as to allow the time to be easily read in all directions and even at night as well as can provide decoration effects. While the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that it is merely an illustrative embodiment and various equivalent modifications and variations of the embodiment can be made by a person having an ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

[1] A solid timepiece comprising: a cylindrical hollow housing 1 including an open front end and an open rear end having a predetermined diameter, the open front end having a stepped portion 11 extending inwardly from an inner circumferential edge thereof, the stepped portion having a reduced diameter and a first guide protrusion 12 formed circum- ferentially on the rear surface thereof, the cylindrical hollow housing having a screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof in close proximity of the open rear end thereof; a minute-driven gear 2 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the minute-driven gear having a first guide groove 21 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a first guide protrusion 22 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof, a minute-indicating element 23 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, a first gear-teeth portion 24 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; an hour-driven gear 3 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the cylindrical hollow housing 1, the hour-driven gear having a third guide groove 31 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the second guide protrusion 22 of the housing, a hour-indicating element 32 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a second gear-teeth portion 33 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a cover 4 having a crew thread formed on the outer circumferential surface to correspondingly be engaged with the screw thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical hollow housing 1 so that the cover is securely inserted into the housing; a minute-driving gear 5 adapted to be rotatably engaged with the first gear-teeth portion 24 of the minute-driven gear 2, and a hour-driving gear 6 rotatably engaged with the second gear-teeth portion 33 of the hour-driven gear 3 so that when the minute-driven gear 2 is rotated once, the hour-driven gear 3 is rotated by 6° and a drive unit 7 adapted to rotate the minute-driving gear 5 and the hour-driving gear 6.

[2] The solid timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising: a second-driven gear 8 adapted to be rotatably interposed between the stepped portion 11 of the housing 10 and the minute-driven gear 2, the second-driven gear having a third guide groove 81 formed circumferentially on an open front end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide protrusion 12 of the housing, a third guide protrusion 82 formed circumferentially on an open rear end thereof to correspondingly be engaged with the first guide groove 21 of the minute-driven gear 2, a second-indicating element 83 mounted protrudingly on the inner circumferential surface thereof, and a third gear-teeth portion 84 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; and a second-driving gear 9 rotatably engaged with the third gear-teeth portion 84 of the second-driven gear 8 so that when the second-driven gear 8 is rotated once, the minute-driven gear 3 is rotated by 6°

[3] The solid timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and third guide protrusions 12, 22 and 82 and the first and third guide grooves 21, 31 and 81 corresponding thereto are formed inversely in positions.

[4] The solid timepiece according to claim 1, wherein each of the hour- indicating element 32 and the minute-indicating element 23 comprises a first insertion groove 111 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hour- and minute- driven gears 2 and 3 in a normal direction to the inner circumferential surfaces of hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3, a light-emitting element 114 mounted on a power- applying piece 113 inserted into the first insertion groove 111 and having fixing slit 112 formed penetratingly in proximity of a distal end thereof, a second insertion groove 115 formed horizontally adjacent to a bottom terminating point of the first insertion groove 111 in such a fashion as to penetrate through the minute-driven gear in a forward and rearward direction, a power contact piece 116 inserted at one end thereof into the second insertion groove 115 so as to allow a distal end of the power contact piece to be fixedly inserted into the fixing slit 112 of the power- applying piece 113 and bent at the other end thereof in a normal direction to the inner circumferential surfaces of hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3 so as to come into close with the inner circumferential surface of the power- applying rings 13 while creating an elastic restoring force.

[5] The solid timepiece according to claim 4, further comprising: a mounting protrusion 117 projecting radially from the inner circumferential surface of the hour- and minute-driven gears 2 and 3 and having a screw thread formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof so as to allow the light- emitting element 114 to be mounted at the center thereof; and a lamp cover 118 correspondingly engaged at side thereof with the mounting protrusion 117 and having a hollow space formed therein so as to allow light emitted from the light-emitting element 114 to be transmitted and scattered therethrough.

[6] The solid timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the solid timepiece is constructed to be installed upright on a body 120 in such a fashion that an internal gear 121 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the body 120 and a driving gear 122 is connected to a motor 123 so as to be rotatably engaged with the internal gear 121.

[7] A solid timepiece comprising: a casing 200 having a predetermined depth and a circular mounting opening 202 formed therein, the casing having a retaining step 201 formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof to have a reduced diameter; a drive unit 7 including a motor 71 mounted in the mounting opening 202, a driving gear 72 mounted on a shaft of the motor 71, a reduction gear 73 operated in cooperation with the driving gear 72, a hour-driving gear 6 and a minute- driving gear 5 operated in cooperation with the reduction gear 73 at one side of the mounting opening 202, the hour-driving gear and a minute-driving gear being protruded higher than the retaining step 201 and being different in diameter and the number of gears from each other; a closing plate 210 having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the retaining step 201 so as to be seated on the retaining step after being inserted into the mounting opening 202, the closing plate having a notch formed on the outer circumferential surface of a side thereof so as to allow the hour-driving gear 6 and the minute-driving gear 5 to penetrate therethrough; and hour-driven gear 3 and a minute-driven gear 2 formed in a ring shape having the outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting opening 202, and having time-indicating elements 32 and 22 respectively mounted on the inner circumferential surfaces thereof in such a fashion as to project radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surfaces thereof, the hour-driven gear and the minute-driven gear having gear teeth formed on the outer circumferential surfaces thereof so as to be meshingly engaged with the hour-driving gear 6 or the minute-driving gear 5, so that the time-indicating elements 32 and 22 are rotated once for twenty-four hours and one hour, respectively; a guide ring 220 adapted to be inserted into the mounting opening 202 and having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the mounting opening 202, wherein an inner diameter of the guide ring is set in such a fashion as to be slightly spaced apart from the outer circumferential surfaces of the hour- driven gear 3 and the minute-driven gear 2 except a portion where the hour- driving gear 6 and the minute-driving gear 5 are formed, and the guide ring is cut inwardly vertically from an outer circumferential edge end thereof so as to come into close with the outer circumferential edge of the hour-driven gear 3 and the minute-driven gear 2 and is positioned at the top end thereof lower than the top end of the mounting opening 202; and a transparent cover 230 securely press-fit into the mounting opening 202 of the casing.