Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Astronomical
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-04-24
Roskoski, Bernard (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Astronomical
C368S223000, C368S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222796
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to astronomic timepieces and more particularly to an astrological watch. The astrological watch comprises a liquid crystal display having an alphanumeric output wherein the watch contains information regarding one of the astrological signs for approximately a one year period. Each day the user can access a new horoscope type of prediction and read it on the alphanumeric display.
BACKGROUND ART
Numerous astronomic timepieces have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,750,505 to Bulka; 4,583,864 to Graves; 4,711,583 to Oechslin et al.; 4,759,002 to Cash; 4,766,579 to Sporring; and 5,023,849 to Vaucher all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
The Bulka U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,505 discloses an astronomical clock. In an astronomical clock, a dial structure including an inner dial member having characters on the face thereof indicating the hours of the day. An outer dial member is disposed around the inner dial member and has characters thereon representing the calendar months and the days thereof. Hands are adapted for cooperation with the dial structures. Means for driving the hands includes a shaft supporting one of the hands and adapted for a revolution once in twenty-four hours. A rotatable sleeve is disposed around the shaft and adapted to carry the other of the hands. The sleeve being operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith in the ratio of 366 to 1. The inner dial being mounted on the sleeve for rotation therewith. The first mentioned hand cooperating the inner dial whereby to indicate the hour of the day, and the second mentioned hand cooperating with the outer dial whereby to indicate the day of the month.
The Graves U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,864 discloses a solar system clock. A novelty clock is provided wherein a spherical representation of the earth rotates about the face of the clock as would a second hand. While rotating about the face of the clock, the earth also rotates upon its own axis, thereby providing a more realistic and appealing visual effect. The special motion of the earth is achieved by a motion producing mechanism driven by the rotational force of the shaft which ordinarily drives the second hand of the clock.
The Oechslin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,583 discloses an astronomical wristwatch. A watch designed to display, by means of indicators several astronomical magnitudes. The indicators are driven by means of a planetary gear train which is rotatingly supported by means of a ball bearing within a support ring of the watch. The drive force, as well as the time reference, are provided by a work simultaneously driving the planet-wheel carrier of the planetary gear train and the gear clusters mounted thereon. Each of the clusters has a reduction ratio depending on the indicator it is intended to drive.
The Cash U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,002 discloses a clock. A clock having a housing which contains two internal discs and a motor for rotation of those discs on a shaft is disclosed. An hour disc is provided having a shaded region representing night and an unshaded region representing day. The hour disc is positioned to appear through an opening in the clock face. The face of the clock may have one or more openings to expose the minute and hour discs. One of the openings has a numerical representation of hours provided on the clock face there around. The clock is arranged so that the line separating the dark and light regions of the hour disc indicates the hour of day by pointing to a number on the face, and also graphically represents the amount of time from and to the previous and next sunrise or sunset.
The Sporring U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,579 discloses a timepiece having a control stem correcting mechanism with at least two setting positions. A basic clockwork, initially arranged in such a way as to comprise two supplementary indicators, of the date and of the days of the week, which have been removed, is provided with an additional module carrying supplementary indicators, which can number two, three or even four. These indicators being separate from the basic clockwork, their position can be chosen very freely by a constructor. In order to prevent having to provide the clockwork with one or several supplementary control members, for the correction of the indicators, a correcting mechanism of the basic clockwork, comprising a control stem operating a sliding pinion is used. A shaft of the sliding pinion has been extended up to a frame of the additional module and carries a pinion meshing, according to the sense in which the control stem is operated, either with a wheel belonging to a correcting gear train of one of the supplementary indicators, or with a pinion belonging to a correcting gear train of another supplementary indicator.
The Vaucher U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,849 discloses an astronomic timepiece and disc intended for use therein. The invention concerns an astronomic timepiece enabling a simple display of the daily value of an astronomic magnitude having an annual cycle. The timepiece comprises a month disc, at least a portion of which is visible through an opening provided in the dial. The development of the astronomic magnitude is represented in the form of a curve in a frame of reference one coordinate of which indicates the date and the other indicates a value of the astronomic magnitude.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
The astrological watch consists of a standard type electronic wristwatch fabricated of attractive metals or possibly plastic. It will feature an LCD readout and several control buttons to activate or change the various functions. The display face has a picture or emblem representing a specific zodiac sign. In addition to the electronic digital watch circuitry, the astrological watch includes an internal computer chip which is programmed with a horoscope of the specific zodiac sign over a period of one year. The watch will be designed so that the computer chip could be easily replaced at the end of each year. The display face of the astrological watch can include a small jewel, or facsimile representing a precious stone for the zodiac month sign. This small jewel could also be part of the horoscope forecast button that is pressed to provide the daily horoscope.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an astrological watch that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide an astrological watch that contains a computer chip, which will have the daily horoscope of a specific zodiac sign of a person, based upon the birth date and time, covering one entire year.
An additional object is to provide an astrological watch in which an LCD readout will allow the person to read their individual daily horoscope each day, while also functioning as a standard type electronic wristwatch.
A further object is to provide an astrological watch that is simple and easy to use.
A still further object is to provide an astrological watch that is economical in cost to manufacture.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1750505 (1930-03-01), Bulka
patent: 4583864 (1986-04-01), Graves
patent: 4659231 (1987-04-01), Barkouki
patent: 4711583 (1987-12-01), Oechslin et al.
patent: 4712923 (1987-12-01), Martin
patent: 4759002 (1988-07-01), Cash
patent: 4766579 (1988-08-01), Sporring
patent: 5023849 (1991-06-01), Vaucher
patent: 5208790 (1993-05-01), Sato
patent: 5457663 (1995-10-01), Mejaski
patent: 0489652 (1992-06-01), None
Breaux Joseph N.
Roskoski Bernard
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