Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With mechanical or electromechanical driven display
Patent
1997-05-17
1999-03-02
Miska, Vit W.
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With mechanical or electromechanical driven display
368 77, 368223, 368233, G04B 1900, G04B 1906, G04B 1920
Patent
active
058780033
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a clock and, more particularly, a so-called `mystery` clock, so-called because of its almost total transparency.
Such clocks are produced in the form of a fixed frame having a circular opening in which transparent discs, which are driven at their periphery, are arranged.
Such clocks are well-known in the state of the art and, by way of example, patent document FR-A-2,632,426, describing a mystery clock of a particular kind, with extensile hands, can be referred to.
In all state of the art mystery clocks, the cross-sectional form of the transparent discs concerned corresponds to the form and size of the clock opening, so that each disc turns around its fixed axis.
The object of the present invention is to propose a clock which adds to the surprise effect, through the movement of axes of discs or the like, while preserving an apparent absence of connection between the hands or the like and the clock driving mechanism.
It has already been proposed, in conventional clocks, that there be construction enabling surprise effects through the movement of the geometrical axis of rotation of the hour- and/or minute-indicators, or through a shift or partial removal of normal reading elements (dial, hour-indicator, minute-indicator).
Thus, in patent document DE-A-2,044,355, it is envisaged that an hour- or minutes-indicating circular disc (or ring), while turning around its geometrical axis, can be moved bodily in relation to a ring (or a disc) with a fixed axis, following a rotational movement without slipping, by means of gearing for example, in which the said geometrical axis describes a circle. The time is read through visual assessment of the relative position of the ring and of the disc.
As another example, patent document WO-A-94,04965 describes a clock comprising a casing which turns at a constant speed in a clockwise direction, about a fixed axis, and carries eccentrically, a conventional clock-mechanism controlling the rotation of said casing and that of a minute-indicating pointer. A conventional, graduated dial is positioned behind the minute-indicating pointer, a it is ballased in such a way that it maintains its fixed angular position through gravity, by itself, that is, so that the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock-line is always vertical. The casing concerned comprises an hour-marker or pointer, a pointer for example. The hour is read on the basis of the angular position of the said casing in relation to the dial and the minutes are read in the usual way from the position of the pointer in relation to said dial positioned behind it.
In these known devices, reading of the time is very impractical because the hour- and minute-indicators are not coaxial and are spaces in relation to each other, the user therefore having to make an unusual optical or visual assessment of the relative positioning of two elements. Moreover, these devices are not applicable to so-called `mystery` clocks because discs or similar indicators have to mask the mechanism and therefore cannot be transparent.
The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a `mystery` clock which, while enabling easy reading of the time through a coaxial arrangement of hour and minute indicators, has another surprise effect through the movement of the geometrical axes of rotation of these indicators in relation to each other.
To this end, the present invention proposes a so-called `mystery` clock comprising a transparent dial bearing reading markers, a minute-indicator, transparent except in the area of a reading-pointer, and an hour-indicator, also transparent except in the area of a reading-pointer, indicators and dial having a common geometric axis Y and being carried by a frame or surround, and at least part of these indicators and dial having teeth at their periphery, masked by the surround, for driving them in rotation in relation to the surround about said axis Y, characterized in that it also includes: surround, indicators which it carries, about said fixed axis X, in a pre-determined direction and at a pre-determi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2466312 (1949-04-01), Heintz
patent: 2749904 (1956-06-01), Heikkila
patent: 5297121 (1994-03-01), Sepehri
patent: 5349512 (1994-09-01), Belik
Hinds William R.
Holt William H.
Miska Vit W.
Van Cleef & Arpels
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