US3593517A

US3593517A - Illuminated disk clock face

Info

Publication number: US3593517A
Application number: US758842A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence S Knippler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-09-10
Filing date: 1968-09-10
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20

Abstract

A clock face having a multiple of clear windows which will indicate through the use of an opaque disc having an arcuately clear window which will allow view to the face in order to indicate the hour. This device also includes an opaque disc to indicate minutes of the hour, the disc indicating minutes having a clear triangular window which will allow the passage of light from the interior of the clock to go through an annular window in order to indicate minutes of the hour simultaneously as the hour is indicated by the same light.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Lawrence S. Knippler 354 East 21st St. Apt. 3A, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226 Appl. No. 758,842

Filed Sept. 10, 1968 Patented July 20, 1971 ILLUMINATED DISK CLOCK FACE 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 58/50, 240/6.43 Int. Cl G04b 19/30 Field of Search SEE/23,50; 240/2.1, 6.43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l.887,479 11/1932 Bulova 240/643 2,687,470 8/1954 Weisz 240/6.43

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-- Edith C Simmons ABSTRACT: A clock face having a multiple of clear windows which will indicate through the use of an opaque disc having an arcuately clear window which will allow view ,to the face in order to indicate the hour. This device also includes an opaque disc to indicate minutes of the hour, the disc indicating minutes having a clear triangular window which will allow the passage of light from the interior of the clock to go through an annular window in order to indicate minutes of the hour simultaneously as the hour is indicated by the same light.

mm m 2 3.593.517

PATENTEI] JULZO I9?! I N VEN f ()R Lawrence S. Kaf Ier JULZOIQYI T SHEET 2 OF 2 I N VEN TOR.

Lawrence $.Kn7'a o/er ILLUMINATED DISK CLOCK FACE This invention relates to illuminated clock faces and more particularlyto an illuminated disc clock face.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide an illuminated clock face which may be easily seen in the dark without having a disturbing glare of light as is found with illuminated clocks of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide an illuminated disc clock face which will have a pair of opaque discs one of which will have an arcuate and clear windows spaced away from the outside of an annular clear window, the arcuately shaped clear window allowing the passage of light to enter into one of a plurality of equally spaced apart clear windows of the clock face which will indicate the hour and the other of the discs being also opaque is provided with a triangular configurated clear window which will allow the passage of light which will be visible through the annular clear window making up the face of the clock, thus indicating the minutes of the hour simultaneously.

A further object of this invention is to provide an illuminated disc clock face which will have shaft means receivable one within the other within the body of the clock in order to rotate the discs through means of a conventional clock.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an illuminated disc clock face which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient. in operation.

These and other objects will become readily apparent upon a study of the following specification together with a study of the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the minute disc shown removed from the invention.

According to this invention, an illuminated disc clock face is provided with a sheet of translucent plastic 11 which is secured to a similar shaped opaque sheet 12 by suitable means. The opaque sheet 12 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart transparent windows 13 in a radial arrangement for the purpose which hereinafter will be described. The opaque sheet 12 is also provided with an annular shaped window 14 for a reason which hereinafter will be described. A circular minute indicating disc 15 spaced apart from sheet 12 is secured to the hour indicating disc 13. The hour indicating disc 18 is constructed of opaque material and is provided with an arcuately shaped window 19 which aligns plan view of the hour disc shown removed from with transparent windows 13 in order to allow the light to indicate the hour. The hour indicating disc is also provided with a transparent and annular window 20 Shaft 16 is supported within bearing 21 secured within sheet 12. The minute indicating disc 15 adjacent to the hour indicating disc 18 is provided with a triangular configurated clear window 22 which aligns with annular window 20in order to indicate minutes.

It is to be noted that in regard to the clock mechanism, the

elements

23 and 24 are not means of setting but are the driven gears which the shafts l6 and 17 are attached. Setting of the discs will be the same as for any clock mechanism, and at the rear of the mechanism itself. It is understood that the present clock may use any conventional clock mechanism therewithin, well known in the art. Within the clock housing 25 is positioned a reflector 26 in which is secured electric bulbs 27. Also within clock housing 25 is secured a housing 28 by suitable means which contains a conventional electric clock mechanism (not shown).

In use, the electric clock mechanism (not shown) within housing 28 will simultaneously drive the shafts l6 and 17, thus rotating

discs

15 and 18 at their proper speeds which will show light through the various windows to indicate the hour and the minute.

I! will be noted that vents and baffles may be used to lengthen the bulb and provide for cooling, however, the baffles when used will be primarily for containing or confining stray light. The baffles and vents have been eliminated in the drawings in order to obtain maximum clarity.

It will be noted further that

discs

15 and 18 should be of translucent plastic material, opaque areas being painted and the various windows may be colored with dye if different hour and minute colors are desired.

What I now claim is:

1. An illuminated clock having an housing and an electric clock mechanism mounted within said housing comprising a shaded translucent plastic disc, an opaque disc having a clear annular shaped window and a plurality of diametrically spaced windows and being carried by said translucent disc, an hour indicating disc, a minute indicating disc, a pair of coaxially mounted shaft members mounted within said housing and drivingly connected to said minute indicating disc and said hour indicating disc, respectively, a reflector mounted within said housing and carrying a pair of lamps, wherein said minute indicating disc has a triangular window and said hour indicating disc has a short arcuate window and upon movement of the said hour indicating disc and said minute indicating disc, their respective windows coincide with said annular window and said diametrically spaced windows to transmit light from said lamp thereby giving an illuminated time indication.