Clock with a novel backlight for its hands

Abstract

Clock (U), in particular a 12 or 24 hour single-hand clock, for mounting on a wall (W) with a pointer (Z) rotatable via a pointer drive (ZA) for indicating a time, comprising a plate, in particular designed as a dial (ZB), characterized in that the pointer (Z) has phosphorescent material (LI) exclusively on its side facing the wall (W), so that in bright light (L1) incident on the plate is reflected onto the phosphorescent material (LI) to charge it, and in darkness the phosphorescent material (LI) emits visible light (L2) onto the plate, so that a sharp-edged and glare-free backlight of the pointer (Z) is achieved.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a clock, in particular a 12 or 24 hour single-hand clock, for mounting on a wall with a hand rotatable via a hand drive for displaying a time, comprising a plate, in particular designed as a dial.

[0002] Clocks with a hand that can be rotated via a pointer drive to display the time have been known for centuries to enable the time to be read in a comfortable way.

[0003] DE 20 211 338 U1 discloses such a clock with a backlight, which allows the time to be read in the dark. One or more colored and actively glowing luminescent films or polymer light-emitting diode films are arranged on or below the plate designed as a dial, with these films emitting visible light in the direction of the viewer.

[0004] The problem with such previously known clocks is that they lead to an undesirable glare effect for the viewer, as they look directly at the emitting foils.

[0005] Also known is the lighting concept of applying luminescent material to the side of the clock's hands facing the viewer, making them legible in the dark. However, this not only results in the aforementioned undesirable glare for the viewer, but also impairs the aesthetic appeal of the side facing the viewer, especially in daylight, as the choice of materials and colors is severely limited by the requirement that the side of the hand facing the viewer be luminescent. This substantially limits the design possibilities by eliminating the need to cover the side of the hand facing the viewer with a luminous material.This even leads to the problem that the multitude of different hands cannot make a particular contribution to the recognition value or differentiation of a watch, since all hands are dominated by the luminous material used and its luminous impression.

[0006] Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a clock, in particular a wall clock or wristwatch, which on the one hand enables sharp and glare-free reading in the dark and on the other hand offers a maximum degree of freedom with regard to design possibilities.

[0007] This object is achieved by a clock, in particular a 12 or 24 hour single-hand clock, for attachment to a wall with a hand which can be rotated via a hand drive for displaying a time, comprising a plate, in particular designed as a dial, wherein the hand has phosphorescent material exclusively on its side facing the wall, so that in brightness light incident on the plate is reflected onto the phosphorescent material to charge it and in darkness the phosphorescent material emits visible light onto the plate, so that a sharply contoured and glare-free background illumination of the hand is effected.

[0008] This cleverly achieves the goal of eliminating the need to design the side of the hand facing away from the wall with a luminous material, as the hand only features phosphorescent material on its wall-facing side. This effectively increases the degree of freedom regarding design options compared to previously known clocks.

[0009] In symbiotic interaction with this, the clock according to the invention, particularly due to the fact that the hand has phosphorescent material only on the side facing the wall, simultaneously offers a uniquely sharply contoured and glare-free background illumination of the hand. This is achieved intelligently in that in bright conditions, light incident on the plate is reflected onto the phosphorescent material to charge it, and in the dark, the phosphorescent material emits visible light onto the plate. This exploits the fact that the luminance resulting from this construction is added to the hand, so that particularly high contour sharpness is achieved. At the same time, the inventive illumination, acting like a shadow gap, achieves indirect illumination of the hand, which is extremely low in glare.This also takes advantage of the fact that the illumination according to the invention, in the manner of a shadow gap, does not directly and therefore dazzlingly illuminate a circumferential area of ​​the entire plate or dial, but instead indirectly illuminates only the hand that moves as the time progresses, in an efficient manner, so that a flat illumination of the dial is effectively avoided.

[0010] The invention refers not only to wall clocks, but also, in principle, to wristwatches and pocket watches. Such clocks are also, in principle, suitable for mounting on a wall, for example, by hanging.

[0011] According to an exceptionally preferred embodiment of the watch according to the invention, the phosphorescent material is implemented as a foil. This makes the production of the hand largely independent of the application of the phosphorescent material.

[0012] In a further development of the clock according to the invention, it has a body enclosed at the front by a cover, in particular a glass cover. This protects the hand from mechanical interference that could lead to its damage.

[0013] According to a further development of the clock according to the invention, it comprises a body with a spherically curved aluminum sheet. This allows the interior of the body to also be reflective, so that this surface can contribute to charging the phosphorescent material. Preferably, the body is made of stainless steel shot-blasted and brightly anodized. This further improves reflectivity and thus the ability to charge the phosphorescent material.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the clock according to the invention, the hand is black on the side not only facing the wall. Such a design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also allows for a particularly high contrast between the hand and the indirectly illuminated area around it.

[0015] According to a further development of the watch according to the invention, the visible light has a wavelength corresponding to the blue spectral range, in particular 450 nm to 490 nm. This further improves the contrast and creates a particularly pleasant color appearance.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the clock according to the invention, the plate is white. This allows for diffuse reflection and results in a high charging capacity of the phosphorescent material at a given brightness.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the clock according to the invention, the plate has a textured or smooth reflector layer. A textured, glossy surface creates a softly structured brightness gradient, whereas a smooth surface produces a particularly sharply defined or high-contrast luminous effect.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the watch according to the invention, it has 12 markings for hour indices on the plate or the reflector layer, wherein the markings comprise phosphorescent material.

[0019] In a particularly striking and impressive further embodiment of the clock according to the invention, it comprises a hand with a length of at least 15 cm.

[0020] The invention is described below with reference to various exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: a plan view of a single-hand clock according to the invention installed on a wall, Fig. 2: a cross-sectional view of a single-hand clock according to the invention in bright light, and Fig. 3: a cross-sectional view of the single-hand watch according to the invention according to Fig. 2 in the dark.

[0021] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once.

[0022] The Fig. The clock U shown in Figure 1 is designed as a 12-hour single-hand clock. It comprises a hand Z, which can be rotated via a hand drive ZA to indicate the time, a body G, and a plate designed as a dial ZB.

[0023] What is special about the single-hand clock according to the invention shown is that the hand Z has phosphorescent material LI only on its side facing the wall W, so that in bright conditions, light L1 incident on the plate is reflected onto the phosphorescent material LI to charge it, and in the dark, the phosphorescent material LI emits visible light L2 onto the plate, so that a sharply contoured and glare-free background illumination of the hand Z is achieved. The visible light L2 creates a movable area P around the hand Z that is illuminated and progresses with the hand Z and is indirectly and glare-freely illuminated. In addition, the side of the hand Z that does not face the wall W (here black) contributes to the high contrast, which is further enhanced by the high light intensity on the phosphorescent material LI caused by the diffuse reflection of the white dial ZB.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a single-hand watch according to the invention in bright light, with the incident light L1 being reflected onto the phosphorescent material LI to charge it. To improve reflection, the dial ZB has a thin, smooth reflector layer R. It can also be seen that the markings LD represent hour indices on the plate or the reflector layer R, with the markings comprising phosphorescent material. A glass cover A is also provided for mechanical protection of the hand Z.

[0025] To illustrate the indirect lighting made possible by the invention in the manner of a shadow gap, Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of the single-hand watch according to the invention according to Fig. 2 in the dark. The indirectly and glare-free illuminated area P is shown schematically.

[0026] The invention is described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, numerous further possibilities for implementing it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art without the need for detailed explanation within the scope of these statements. List of reference symbols A cover G Corps LD marking LI phosphorescent material L1 incident light L2 visible light P illuminated area R Reflector layer U o'clock W Wall Z pointer ZA pointer drive ZB dial QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 211 338 U1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Clock (U), in particular a 12 or 24-hour single-hand clock, for attachment to a wall (W) with a hand (Z) rotatable via a hand drive (ZA) for displaying a time, comprising a plate, in particular designed as a dial (ZB), characterized by that the pointer (Z) has phosphorescent material (LI) exclusively on its side facing the wall (W), so that in bright conditions, light (L1) incident on the plate is reflected onto the phosphorescent material (LI) to charge it, and in the dark, the phosphorescent material (LI) emits visible light (L2) onto the plate, so that a sharply contoured and glare-free background illumination of the pointer (Z) is effected. [2] Clock (U) according to claim 1, characterized by that the phosphorescent material (LI) is designed as a foil. [3] Clock (U) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the clock (U) comprises a body (G) which is enclosed at the front by a cover, in particular a glass cover. [4] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the clock (U) comprises a body (G) which comprises a spherically curved aluminium sheet. [5] Clock (U) according to claim 4, characterized by that the body (G) is made of stainless steel shot-blasted and bright anodized. [6] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the pointer (Z) is black on the side that does not only point towards the wall (W). [7] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the visible light (L2) has a wavelength corresponding to the blue spectral range, in particular 450 nm to 490 nm. [8] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the plate is white. [9] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the plate has a structured or smooth reflector layer (R). [10] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the watch comprises 12 markings (LD) for hour indices on the plate or the reflector layer (R), the markings (LD) comprising phosphorescent material. [11] Clock (U) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the clock (U) has a hand (Z) with a length of at least 15 cm.

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