Apparatus for displaying a time overview

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for displaying a point in time specified in a shorter time unit and a longer time unit. In particular, the point in time can be a time of day, for example, specified in hours and minutes, or a calendar date, for example, specified in months and days.

[0002] Such clocks and calendars come in countless different designs. In addition to digital displays that show the two pieces of information (e.g., hour and minute, or month and day) as numbers, there are classic dials with hour and minute hands, as well as numerical or pointer representations of the date. Such displays typically have separate display elements for each of the two pieces of information, each comprising a fixed and a moving element. For example, there are dials with two windows, behind which two circular discs or rollers displaying the month and day are moved, or fixed scales with two moving hands pointing to them.

[0003] From the publication EP 0 813 124 A1, a clock is known whose dial features a curved groove in the shape of an epicycloid. Behind the dial is a gearing system with a sun gear and a planetary gear. The planetary gear has a pin offset laterally from the axis of the planetary gear, which engages in the groove and is visible through the dial from the front. Driven by the gearing system, the pin moves along the groove. The progress of the pin along the groove indicates the time.

[0004] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a device for displaying a time which meets high design requirements while having a simple movement sequence.

[0005] This object is achieved by the device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] The device is used to display a point in time specified in a shorter time unit and a longer time unit. The device has the following: a track forming a closed ring and having a plurality of loops, the track being mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation so that it can be set into a rotating movement, and a marker which is movably guided along the track and moves from one of the loops into an adjacent loop when the track completes a full circle around the axis of rotation, the loop in which the marker is arranged indicating the longer time unit of the point in time and the rotational position of this loop or the rotational position of the marker arranged in this loop indicating the shorter time unit of the point in time.

[0007] The track forms a closed ring, which can, in principle, have any geometry. The track can be arranged in a plane or approximately in a plane. The track can have a circular basic shape. The track can be designed in a curved shape, so that it is not arranged in a plane or is arranged only approximately in a plane.

[0008] As the track rotates around the axis of rotation, the marker moves along the track, first along the loop in which it is currently located, then, upon completing a full circle around the axis of rotation, into an adjacent loop, further along this loop, into the next loop adjacent to this loop, and so on, until the marker returns to its starting point and the process begins again as the rotational movement continues.

[0009] The loops can all have the same geometry, resulting in a particularly harmonious design. However, it is also possible to use loops of different shapes and / or sizes, for example, to visually distinguish loops for certain times (e.g., for the hours 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock) from the loops for the other times. The number of loops corresponds to the number of longer time units to be displayed.

[0010] In this device, the rotation of the track corresponds to the passage of time. If the track is rotated by a certain angle from a specific starting point (where the angle can be one or more full circles, or even just parts of a full circle), the position of the marker along the track indicates how far the track has rotated and thus the point in time corresponding to this rotation. Due to the special geometry of the track with its loops, the marker moves "one loop further" for each full circle of rotation. Therefore, the loop in which the marker is located at a specific point in time provides information about the number of full circles completed since the starting point. The rotational position of this loop, or the rotational position of the marker located within this loop, indicates the shorter time unit of the point in time.The rotational position of the marker arranged in the loop refers to the position of the marker in relation to the rotational movement of the track, not a possible rotation of the marker itself around its own axis. For example, if the device is a calendar that displays the month as the longer time unit and the calendar day of that month as the shorter time unit, one full circle of the track corresponds to the completion of a month. Accordingly, starting from the loop in which it was initially located, the marker moves one loop further as a result of the rotation around one full circle, so that the displayed time advances by one month.The rotational position of the loop follows the rotational movement and, by selecting the appropriate rotational speed, can advance a fraction of a full circle for each shorter time unit, so that the shorter time unit of the moment can always be read based on the rotational position of the loop or the rotational position of the marker arranged in this loop. In the calendar example sketched above, a rotational movement by a certain fraction of a full circle, for example, 360° divided by 31 calendar days, can thus correspond to the passage of time of one day.

[0011] It is not mandatory for the track to rotate at a constant speed around the rotational axis. For example, the device can be used as a desk calendar, where the rotation is performed manually, so that the track's rotational position is manually advanced by one day each day. Therefore, a scale, on which the shorter time unit of the point in time is read, can be designed largely freely.

[0012] Overall, the device is an aesthetically pleasing object that represents the progress of time in an interesting way.

[0013] In one embodiment, the device has a drive that sets the track in a rotating movement around the axis of rotation so that the track describes a full circle in one of the longer time units. The drive can be a stepper motor or other electric drive, for example. It can drive the track at a constant speed. However, it is equally possible to vary the rotational speed. In particular, a constant speed can be selected within one of the longer time units so that the rotational position of the track (including the loop in which the marker is currently located) advances by the same angle in each of the shorter time units. If the last, shorter time unit is exceeded within one of the current, longer time units, the track can be driven at a different rotational speed, in particular a higher one.This allows the marker to move quickly from the corresponding loop to the adjacent loop upon completion of the full circle or at the end of the longer time unit. This process thus runs particularly smoothly and at a precisely defined time. In the calendar example, this applies particularly to the crossing of the month boundary, for example, at the end of March 31st. At this point, a rotational movement can be performed at a relatively high speed to cause the display to quickly "jump" to April 1st.

[0014] In one embodiment, the track is arranged in a vertical plane and the rotation axis is horizontal. In this case, the device has a particularly clear design, which is well suited for wall mounting or upright positioning. Gravity can optionally be optimally utilized for moving the marker along the track (see below). In principle, however, it is neither necessary to arrange the track in a plane nor to arrange the rotation axis horizontally. In particular, the rotation axis can be inclined. A prerequisite for the proper functioning of the device is that the track with the loops is shaped in such a way that the marker moves into the adjacent loop upon completing a full circle.

[0015] In one embodiment, the path describes a curve in the area of ​​each loop, the angle of which is 360° minus 360° divided by the number of loops present. The curve can be circular along the spanned angle, but can also have a geometry other than circular, for example, elliptical or oval.

[0016] In one embodiment, the loops are arranged in a circle and connected to one another via intermediate pieces of the track and each have an inlet and an outlet, such that each outlet is connected to the inlet of an adjacent loop via one of the intermediate pieces. The intermediate pieces can be straight or curved. The fact that the loops are arranged in a circle does not refer to the shape of the individual loops, but rather to the arrangement of the loops as a whole. For example, the center points or the innermost or outermost points of the individual loops can be arranged in a circle. The inlet and outlet of a loop can be arranged adjacent to one another, in particular offset from one another in the direction of the axis of rotation.In any case, the entrances and exits of the loops and the geometry of the loops are designed in such a way that the marker passes from the exit of one loop via the corresponding intermediate piece to the entrance of the next loop, thus ensuring a smooth transition from one loop to the next loop.

[0017] In one embodiment, the spacers are arranged on a circle, with the loops pointing inwards or outwards from this circle. The spacers can, provided they themselves have a curvature, follow an exact circular path, but they can also be arranged only approximately on an imaginary circle. The latter applies, for example, if the spacers themselves have a geometry that deviates from a circular path, e.g. are straight or straight in sections. If the inlets and outlets of the loops are arranged at the same point or closely adjacent to each other with respect to the rotational movement, the basic shape of the track is essentially determined by the arrangement of the spacers. Depending on whether the loops point inwards or outwards, the approximately circular shape described by the spacers can represent an inner or outer boundary of the track.In the case of outward-facing loops, the intermediate pieces can represent an inner boundary of the track. In this case, the entrances and exits of the loops are located in particular on the inner boundary of the track, and the transition of the marking from one loop to the adjacent loop always occurs when the current loop is approximately at its highest point. In the case of inward-facing loops, the intermediate pieces can represent an outer boundary of the track. In this case, the entrances and exits of the loops are located in particular on the outer boundary of the track, and the transition of the marking from one loop to the adjacent loop always occurs when the current loop is approximately at its lowest point.

[0018] In one embodiment, the track has a stop element at the exit of a loop, which is designed so that the marker stops upon reaching the stop element and only continues moving once the track has rotated a defined angle. For example, the track may have a raised section or hump that the marker must overcome. This measure allows the point in time at which the marker "jumps" from the respective loop to the adjacent loop to be specified with particular precision by appropriately controlling the track's rotational movement.

[0019] In one embodiment, the marker moves freely along the track due to gravity, so that it is always located at a local low point on the track. The local low point usually corresponds to the lowest point of the loop on which the marker is currently located. In this embodiment, an intermediate piece connecting two adjacent loops is never the local low point, or only for a short period of time, namely while the marker moves to the next loop. Moving the marker using gravity in this way is particularly simple and interesting and entertaining for an observer to observe. In principle, however, other options for moving the marker along the track are also conceivable, for example using a separate drive and / or elastic and / or magnetic forces.

[0020] In one embodiment, the marker comprises a body that rolls along the track, wherein the track has a geometry tailored to the body and guides the body laterally. For example, the marker can be a ball, a roller, or a more complex object with wheels. The track can in particular be designed as a groove, a trough, or a rail to enable the body to roll along the track while simultaneously being guided laterally. A track well suited for this purpose can have two wires arranged at a uniform, horizontal distance from one another. The distance can be dimensioned such that the body arranged between the two wires does not fall through and is guided laterally by the two wires. The use of a ball, in particular, is impressive due to its simplicity and aesthetic clarity. At the same time, a ball can move easily along the track with minimal resistance and even with manufacturing tolerances.

[0021] In one embodiment, the marker comprises a body that slides along the track. The resulting sliding movement of the body along the track can be achieved, for example, with a body having a through-hole, such as a sphere or a cube. The track can comprise a wire or a similar guide element that runs through the through-hole. This solution is also particularly simple and is characterized by the fact that the body is securely held to the track and thus cannot be lost.

[0022] In one embodiment, the device has a scale on which the rotational position of the loop in which the marker is arranged, or the rotational position of the marker arranged in this loop, can be read. The scale has sectors with a central angle corresponding to the angle of rotation representing one of the shorter time units. Using the scale, the rotational position of the track, which is important for reading the shorter time unit, can be read particularly easily.

[0023] In one embodiment, the scale has a starting point and an end point, with a free sector between them, the central angle of which corresponds to the angle that two adjacent loops subtend with a rotational axis of the track. A slightly smaller or larger dimension of the central angle of the free sector is included. In any case, the free sector offers sufficient leeway for the marker to move into the adjacent loop. The marker is then automatically located approximately at the starting point of the scale. In the example of a calendar with a sphere as a marker, this means, for example, that at the end of March 31st, the sphere sweeps over the free sector along the intermediate section and moves into the adjacent loop for the following month of April, which, at the "switchover time," is located approximately at the starting point of the scale, i.e., on the first calendar day.

[0024] In one embodiment, the time is a time, the shorter time unit is a minute, and the longer time unit is an hour. In this case, the device serves as a clock that displays the time in minutes and hours. For example, 12 or 24 loops can be used, so that the time is displayed in 12-hour or 24-hour format, respectively.

[0025] In one embodiment, the time is a calendar date, the shorter time unit is a day, and the longer time unit is a month. In this case, the device comprises 12 loops for the months. It is also conceivable to use 52 loops to display the calendar week as a longer time unit, particularly with the day of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) as a shorter time unit.

[0026] In one embodiment, the time point is a calendar date, the shorter time unit is a month, and the longer time unit is a year. In this case, for example, 12 loops can be used for 12 years, corresponding to the zodiac signs on which certain Chinese calendars are based.

[0027] In one embodiment, the track has a marking by means of which each loop can be assigned a specific element of the longer time unit, for example a specific hour, a specific month or a specific year. The marking can have a single marking element or multiple marking elements. Each marking element can, for example, be a character, a color marking or a special geometry or decoration of the track. The marking elements move with the track. They can be attached to the track itself, in particular to the loops of the track, or to another element that moves with the track. For example, when used as a calendar, where the elements of the longer time unit are the calendar months, the loop representing the month of January can be marked as such.This also results in the assignment of the next loop to the following month, February, and so on. When using multiple marking elements, several or all loops can be provided with a marking element. For example, if the device is a clock and the longer time unit is the hour, only the loops representing the elements 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock can be marked, for example, with Roman or Arabic numerals.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. They show: Figure 1 shows a device with a track and a marking in a schematic representation, Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 underlying device in a plan view, Figure 3 an enlarged section of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a section of another device with a loop and a ball arranged therein, Figure 5 shows yet another device in a front view, and Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of a section of the device from Figure 5 .

[0029] The device made of Fig. 1serves as a calendar for displaying the date, with the longer time unit indicating the month and the shorter time unit indicating the day. Therefore, the schematically represented track comprises twelve loops, which are designated by the Roman numerals I to XII and represent the calendar months from January to December. The loops I to XII are each approximately circular and arranged with their centers on a circle. The loops I to XII all have the same shape and size and are connected to one another via twelve spacers 10. The track, which comprises the spacers 10 and the loops I to XII, is approximately in a vertical plane and rotates around a rotation axis 12, which is arranged horizontally (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) and is located at the center of the track.

[0030] The track is mounted on three rollers 14, which rest on an inner side of the track, so that the track rotates around the (imaginary) axis of rotation 12. A marker in the form of a ball 16 is arranged in loop IV. This indicates that the current calendar month is April. Inside the track is a scale with 31 points, which correspond to the 31 calendar days. The calendar days 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 do not have points, but are numbered accordingly. Each pair of two adjacent scale points forms a sector 18 with a central angle α.

[0031] The device has a drive 20, indicated only schematically, which, in the example, engages the inner side of the track and rotates the track around the rotational axis 12. The drive 20 is controlled such that the rotational movement of the track sweeps over the central angle α of a sector within one day, i.e., within one of the shorter time units. As a result, the track, and thus in particular loop IV, in which the ball 16 is located, moves forward on the scale by one calendar day within 24 hours.

[0032] If the ball 16 or the loop in which the ball 16 is currently located is on the last day of a calendar month, for example on April 30th, the drive 20 is controlled in such a way that the track continues to move around the axis of rotation 12 until the loop IV is finally so far up that the ball 16 leaves this loop IV and moves along the intermediate piece 10 leading to the loop V into the loop V. Then the loop V is at the scale marking for the first calendar day or the track is moved up to this point so that the calendar shows May 1st. In this way, the marking 16 moves into the adjacent loop upon completion of each full circle so that the displayed time advances by one month.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the Fig. 1schematically illustrated device in a concrete embodiment in which a ball 16 serves as a marker and the track is formed by a metal profile 32 which forms the loops I to XII and intermediate pieces 10.

[0034] In the enlarged images of the Figures 3 and 4The design of the individual loops I to XII is best seen. The metal profile 32 forms a groove in which the ball 16 is guided. Each loop I to XII has an entrance 22 located at a specific position on the metal profile and an exit 24 arranged at the end of the respective loop. The entrance 22 and exit 24 are arranged adjacent to one another and are located at approximately the same position in the direction of the track's rotational movement. The lateral distance between the entrance 22 and exit 24 is sufficiently large so that the ball 16 can pass the "crossing point." The ball 16 rolls along the track and is guided laterally by the groove-shaped contour of the metal profile 32.

[0035] In the Figures 2 and 3It can be seen that the track has a marking: Each of the loops I to XII has a Roman numeral I to XII attached to the respective loop as an identification element, by means of which the corresponding calendar month can be assigned to each loop.

[0036] Figure 5 shows another device, also serving as a calendar, with a track that, like the one from the Figures 1 and 2 twelve loops I to XII and twelve intermediate pieces 10. The loops I to XII are arranged on a circle, as are the intermediate pieces 10. Unlike in the Figures 1 and 2 Here, loops I to XII point inwards and the intermediate pieces 10 do not form an inner but an outer boundary of the track. The marking is as shown in the Figures 1 and 2designed as a ball 16. In the rotational position of the track shown, ball 16 is located in loop VIII, indicating the month of July. The rotational position of ball 16, or the "VIII" marking of the current loop, is near the number 1 on the scale from 1 to 31, which corresponds to the days, arranged along the inside of the track. Thus, the device displays the date August 1st.

[0037] On the previous day, July 31, the ball 16 was still in loop VII, which is shown to the left of loop VIII and which was located near the scale mark 31. When this was at approximately the lowest point in the course of the rotation of the track, the ball 16 rolled from the exit 24 of loop VII onto the adjacent intermediate piece 10 and then further on the intermediate piece 10 to the entrance 22 of loop VIII, where it was in the Figure 5 This process corresponds to the transition from July 31 to August 1.

[0038] In the enlarged view of the Figure 6 The arrangement of the ball is clearly visible again at approximately the entrance 22 of loop VIII. The track has two wires 34 arranged at a uniform, horizontal distance from each other along the entire track. The distance is approximately half the diameter of the ball 16, so that the ball cannot fall between the wires 34 and is guided laterally along the track by the wires 34.

[0039] Also visible is the arrangement of the marking elements on the track, which are again designed as Roman numerals I to XII. In this example, the track is connected to a component (ring-shaped in the example shown) that is located on the side of the track facing away from the viewer and moves with the track. The marking elements are located on this component, each in the area of ​​one of the loops I to XII, in the example within one of the loops I to XII. List of reference symbols

[0040] I, II, III, IV, .., XII Loop 10 Intermediate piece 12 Rotation axis 14 Roller 16 Ball 18 Sector 20 Drive 22 Input 24 Output 26 Starting point 28 End point 30 Free sector 32 Metal profile 34 Wire α Center angle β Center angle

Claims

1. A device for indicating a point in time given in a shorter time unit and a longer time unit, the device comprising • a track forming a closed ring and having a plurality of loops (I to XII), the track being rotatably supported about an axis of rotation (12) so that it can be set in a rotating motion, and • a marker which is movably guided along the web and passes from one of the loops (I to XII) into an adjacent loop (I to XII) when the web completes a full circle around the axis of rotation (12), wherein • the loop (I to XII) in which the marking is arranged at a certain point in time provides information about the full circles completed since a starting point and indicates the longer time unit of the point in time, and • the rotational position of this loop (I to XII) or the rotational position of the marker arranged in this loop (I to XII) indicates the shorter time unit of the point in time.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a drive (20) which sets the web in a rotating movement around the axis of rotation (12), so that the web describes a full circle in one of the longer time units.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the web is arranged in a vertical plane and the axis of rotation (12) is arranged horizontally.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the web describes a curve in the region of each loop (I to XII), the angle of which is 360° minus 360° divided by the number of existing loops (I to XII).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the loops (I to XII) are arranged on a circle and are connected to one another via intermediate pieces (10) of the web and each have an input (22) and an output (24), so that each output (24) is connected to the input (22) of an adjacent loop (I to XII) via one of the intermediate pieces (10).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate pieces (10) are arranged on a circle, the loops (I to XII) pointing inwards or outwards from this circle.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the web has a stop element at the exit of a loop (I to XII), which is designed in such a way that the marker stops when the stop element is reached and only continues to move when the web has continued to rotate by a defined angle.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the marker moves freely along the web due to gravity, so that it is always located at a local low point of the web.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the marker comprises a body which rolls along the track, the track having a geometry which is adapted to the body and which guides the body laterally.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the marker comprises a body which slides along the track.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the device has a scale on which the rotational position of the loop (I to XII) in which the marker is arranged or the rotational position of the marker arranged in this loop (I to XII) can be read, the scale having sectors (18) with a center point angle (α) corresponding to the angle of rotation representing one of the shorter time units.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the scale has a starting point (26) and an end point (28) and between them a free sector (30) whose center point angle (β) corresponds to the angle that two adjacent loops (I to XII) form with an axis of rotation of the track.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the point in time is a time of day, the shorter time unit is a minute and the longer time unit is an hour.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the point in time is a calendar date, the shorter time unit is a day and the longer time unit is a month.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the point in time is a calendar date, the shorter time unit is a month and the longer time unit is a year.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the track has a marking by means of which each loop can be assigned a specific element of the longer time unit, for example a specific hour, a specific month or a specific year.