Analog timepiece with self-illuminating hands for enhanced visibility

Abstract

To provide a timepiece that offers enhanced visibility by allowing hands thereof to directly emit light, so as to solve the problem that existing timepieces are configured to illuminate hands using luminous paint or indirect illumination and thus fail to offer sufficient visibility at night because of insufficient light volume.SOLUTION: The present invention provides a mechanism for supplying power to a light-emitting bodies attached to hour and minute hands of an analog timepiece using conductive slip rings and brushes, so as to enable the hands to rotate without being tangled up with chords for supplying power to light-emitting bodies.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analog clock in which a tape-shaped LED attached to a needle causes the needle itself to emit light, enhancing visibility.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to illuminate the hands of a clock, methods using luminous paint or phosphorescent paint have been commonly used. However, these paints have the drawback that the emitted light is weak and there is not enough visibility. Alternatively, a method has been developed in which the hands are indirectly illuminated by shining light on the clock face or hands, but the poor visibility has not been sufficiently improved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, luminous paint or phosphorescent paint has been used to enhance the visibility of the hands of a clock at night. These have insufficient light quantity and it is difficult to obtain sufficient visibility. Also, a structure has been considered in which the clock face is illuminated with an LED or the like, or the hands are illuminated by light emitted from inside the clock using a transparent light guide material, but it cannot be said to be a sufficient solution including brightness and design aspects. If a light source such as an LED is directly attached to the hands of the clock to illuminate them, these problems can be solved, but this has not been possible because the cord that supplies power to the light source attached to the hand twists as the hand rotates. Also, interference of the cord when the minute hand overtakes the hour hand becomes a problem. An object of the present invention is to provide an analog clock that enhances visibility by providing a light source for each of the long hand and the short hand and directly illuminating them.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention supplies external power to the respective brushes (6, 9) for the long hand and the short hand installed at the lower part of the clock structure. The power is transmitted to the tape-shaped LED (27) installed on the hands through the power supply lines (21, 22, 23, 24) connected to the slip rings (7) in contact therewith.

[0006] The power supply lines (21, 22, 23, 24) extending upward from the respective slip rings are connected to the tape-shaped LEDs (27) attached inside the hands to light them up.

[0007] Even if the long hand (2) and the short hand (3) rotate at different speeds, the power supply lines (21, 22, 23, 24) extending from the slip rings for the long hand and the short hand can supply power to the LEDs (27) that light up the respective hands without interfering with each other.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] Since the long hand (2) and the short hand (3) emit light directly, the visibility is significantly improved not only at night but also in dim rooms during the day.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. The power supplied from the motor for driving the clock rotates the long hand (2) via the gear A (11) and the gear B (10). At the same time, it rotates the short hand (3) via the gear A (11), the gear C (4), and the gear D (5). Note that the gear A (11) and the gear C (4) are of an integral structure via a shaft. Also, the gear B (10) is of an integral structure with the long hand shaft (1). The gear D (5) is of an integral structure with the short hand shaft (8). Refer to Figure 1.

[0011] The brushes (12, 14) for the short hand made of a conductive material form an integral structure via an insulator (13), and + and - powers are supplied to each of them. The same applies to the brushes (15, 16) for the long hand. Refer to Figure 2.

[0012] The power supplied to the brushes (12, 14) for the short hand comes into contact with the slip rings (17, 18) made of a rotating conductive material as the clock operates, and transmits the power to them. The same applies to the brushes (15, 16) for the long hand. Refer to Figure 3.

[0013] Feeder wires (21, 24) for power supply are connected to the + and - slip rings (17, 18) for the short hand, go upward through the gap between the short hand shaft (8) and the long hand shaft (1), and are connected to the tape-shaped LED (27) attached inside the short hand (3) through the LED feeder wire (28), causing it to emit light. The same applies to the long hand (2). Refer to Figures 3 and 4.

[0014] The inside of the hands is hollow, and the tape-shaped LED (27) is attached to the back cover (26). The light from the tape-shaped LED (27) passes through a white translucent light diffusing plate (25) so that it cannot be seen as individual particles, and the entire hand appears uniformly lit from the outside. Refer to Figure 4.

Example

[0015] Since the emission of light by the LED consumes power, it is also conceivable to use a light sensor to adjust the light intensity according to the current brightness of the room.

Industrial Applicability

[0016] It can be considered for use not only in homes but also as a clock that enhances the visibility of time in public facilities such as sports facilities and halls, and in large places such as stations and airports.

Explanation of symbols

[0017] 1 Long hand shaft 2 Long hand 3 Short hand 4 Gear C 5 Gear D 6 Brush for short hand 7 Slip ring 8 Short hand shaft 9 Brush for long hand 10 Gear B 11 Gear A 12 Brush (for short hand +) 13 Insulator 14 Brush (for short hand -) 15 Brush (for long hand -) 16 Brush (for long hand +) TIFF2025101903000002.tif4417 Slip ring (for short hand +) 18 Slip ring (for short hand -) 19 Slip ring (for long hand -) 20 Slip ring (for long hand +) 21 LED power supply wire (for short hand +) 22 LED power supply wire (for long hand -) 23 LED power supply wire (for long hand +) 24 LED power supply wire (for short hand -) 25 Light diffusion plate 26 Back cover 27 Tape-shaped LED 28 LED power supply wire

Claims

1. A mechanism for supplying power from the outside to a light-emitting body provided on the long hand and the short hand of a clock via a slip ring without the cord getting entangled.

2. A mechanism for directly installing a light-emitting body on the long hand and the short hand of a clock to enhance visibility.

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