Time display device

Abstract

1. A device for displaying a point in time indicated in short and long time units, the device comprising: a track having a plurality of loops forming a closed ring, the track being mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation so as to impart rotational movement; a mark movably guided along a track and moving from one loop to an adjacent loop as the track makes one complete revolution about the axis of rotation, the loop on which the mark is located indicating a major time unit at a point in time and the rotational position of this loop indicating a minor time unit at that point in time.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for displaying a point in time expressed in short and long time units, in particular the point in time may be a clock time, e.g., expressed in hours and minutes, or a calendar date, e.g., expressed in months and days.

[0002] The corresponding clocks and calendars are known in countless different designs. In addition to digital displays that show two pieces of information (hours and minutes, or month and day, respectively) as numbers, there are also classic dials with hour and minute hands, and displays with a numeric date or pointer. Such displays usually have a separate display element for each of the two pieces of information, each with a fixed and a moving element. For example, there are dials with two apertures behind which two disks or rollers with numeric month and day displays move, or there are fixed scales with two moving pointers indicating the month and day.

[0003] From European Patent Publication EP 0 813 124 A1, a watch whose dial has curved grooves in the form of an epicycloid is known. Behind the dial is a gear unit with a sun gear and planetary gears. Pins offset laterally from the axes of the planetary gears engage in the grooves, and the gear unit is visible from the front through the dial. The pins move along the grooves due to the drive of the gear unit. The progression of the pins along the grooves indicates the time on the watch.

[0004] Based on this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a time point indicator that meets high design requirements with a simple operating sequence.

[0005] This object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0006] This device is used to display points in time expressed in short and long time units. a track having a plurality of loops forming a closed ring, the track being mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation so as to impart rotational movement; a mark movably guided along a track and moving from one loop to an adjacent loop as the track makes one complete revolution about the axis of rotation, the loop on which the mark is located indicating a major time unit at a point in time, and the rotational position of this loop or the rotational position of the mark located on this loop indicating a minor time unit at that point in time.

[0007] The track forms a closed ring and can have essentially any shape. 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 with a curved shape so that it is not arranged in a plane or is only arranged approximately in a plane.

[0008] As the track rotates around the axis of rotation, the mark moves along the track, first along the loop in which it is currently located, then, after completing one revolution around the axis of rotation, enters an adjacent loop, continues along this loop, enters the next loop adjacent to this loop, and so on until the mark returns to its starting point, and the process begins again as the rotational motion continues.

[0009] The loops may all be the same shape, resulting in a particularly harmonious design. However, loops of different shapes and / or sizes may also be used, for example to make loops at certain times (3, 6, 9, 12, etc.) visually more prominent than loops at other times. The number of loops corresponds to the number of longer time units being displayed.

[0010] In this device, the rotation of the orbit corresponds to the passage of time. When the orbit rotates a specific angle (which may be one or more complete circles, or a portion of a complete circle) from a specific starting point, the position of the mark along the orbit indicates how far the orbit has rotated and therefore indicates the point in time corresponding to this rotation. Due to the special shape of the orbital loop, the mark moves "one more loop" for each full rotation. Thus, the loop on which a mark is placed at a specific time provides information about one completed rotation from the starting point. The rotational position of this loop or the rotational position of the mark placed on this loop indicates the short time unit at that time. The rotational position of a mark placed within a loop refers to the position of the mark with respect to the rotational movement of the orbit, and does not refer to the rotation of the mark itself around its axis, even if that is possible. For example, if this device is a calendar that displays months as the long time unit and calendar days of these months as the short time units, one rotation of the orbit corresponds to the passage of one month. As a result of one rotation, the mark moves one more loop from the starting loop, and the displayed point in time advances by one month. The rotational position of the loop follows the rotational movement and, by a corresponding selection of the rotational speed, can be advanced by one division of a revolution for each short time unit, so that the current short time unit can always be read from the rotational position of the loop or from the rotational position of the markings respectively arranged on the loop. In the example calendar shown here, the rotational movement of a certain division of a revolution, for example 360 ​​degrees divided by 31 calendar days, corresponds to the passage of one day.

[0011] The track does not need to rotate at a constant speed around the axis of rotation. For example, this device can be used as a manually rotated desk calendar, with the track's rotation position manually advanced by one day each day. Therefore, the scale, especially the scales that read short time units, can be designed with great freedom.

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

[0013] In one embodiment, the device includes a drive for rotating the track around the axis of rotation so that the track completes one revolution in one of the long time units. The drive may be, for example, a stepper motor or other electric drive. It may drive the track at a constant speed. However, the rotation speed may also be variable. In particular, a constant speed may be selected in one of the long time units so that the rotational position of the track (including the loop in which the mark is currently located) advances the same angle in each of the small time units. If the last small time unit is exceeded within one of the current long time units, the track may be driven at a different rotation speed, particularly a higher speed. This allows the mark to move from the associated loop to the adjacent loop in a short time when one revolution is completed or when each long time unit ends. As a result, this process is performed particularly smoothly and at precisely defined times. In the calendar example, this applies particularly when the end of each month, such as the end of March 31st, is exceeded. At this point, a relatively high rotation speed may be used to quickly "jump" the display to April 1st.

[0014] In one embodiment, the track is arranged in a vertical plane and the rotation axis is arranged horizontally. In this case, the device has a particularly clear design suitable for wall mounting or vertical installation. Gravity can optionally be used to optimally move the mark along the track (see below). However, in principle, it is not necessary for the track to be arranged on a plane, nor for the rotation axis to be arranged horizontally. In particular, the rotation axis can also be inclined. A prerequisite for the device to function properly is that each track with loops is shaped in such a way that the mark reaches the adjacent loop upon completion of one revolution.

[0015] In one embodiment, the trajectory describes a curve in the area of ​​each loop, the angle being 360 degrees minus 360 degrees divided by the number of existing loops. The curve may be circular along the angle spanned, or may have a shape that deviates from a circle, such as an ellipse or oval.

[0016] In one embodiment, the loops are arranged in a circle and connected to one another by intermediate pieces of a track, each having an inlet and an outlet, with each outlet connected to the inlet of an adjacent loop by one of the intermediate pieces. The intermediate pieces may be straight or may have curved sections. The circular arrangement of the loops refers not to the shape of the individual loops, but to the overall arrangement of the loops. For example, the center point, innermost point, or outermost point of each loop may be located on a circle. The inlet and outlet of a loop may be located adjacent to one another, offset from one another, particularly in the direction of the rotation axis. In any case, the inlet and outlet of the loop and the shape of the loop are designed so that the mark moves from the outlet of one loop through the associated intermediate piece to the inlet of the next loop, ensuring a smooth transition from one loop to the next.

[0017] In one embodiment, the intermediate pieces are arranged on a circle, and the loops point inward or outward from this circle. If the intermediate pieces themselves have a curved portion, the intermediate pieces may follow an exact circular path, or may be arranged approximately on an imaginary circle. The imaginary circle applies, for example, when the intermediate pieces themselves have a shape that deviates from a circular path, such as when they are linear or partially linear. If the entrance and exit of the loop are located at the same point relative to the rotational motion or are located very close to each other, the basic shape of the path is essentially determined by the arrangement of the intermediate pieces. Depending on whether the loop is inward or outward, the approximately circular shape described by the intermediate pieces can represent the inner or outer boundary of the path. In the case of outward-facing loops, the intermediate pieces can represent the inner boundary of the path. In this case, the entrance and exit of the loop are particularly located on the inner boundary of the path, and the transition of the mark from one loop to the adjacent loop always occurs, in particular, when the current loop is approximately at its highest point. In the case of inward-facing loops, the intermediate pieces can represent the outer boundary of the path. In this case, the entrance and exit of the loops are located in particular at the outer boundaries of the track, and the transition of the mark from one loop to the adjacent loop always takes place in particular when the current loop is approximately at its lowest point.

[0018] In one embodiment, the track has a stop element at the exit of the loop that is designed to stop the mark when it reaches the stop element and continue moving only when the track has rotated a further defined angle. For example, the track may have a height difference or bump that the mark must overcome. This allows the precise point at which the mark "jumps" from each loop to the adjacent loop to be specified by appropriately controlling the rotational movement of the track.

[0019] In one embodiment, the mark moves freely along the trajectory due to gravity, and is therefore always located at a local low point on the trajectory. The local low point typically corresponds to the lowest point of the loop on which the mark is currently located. In this embodiment, the intermediate piece connecting two adjacent loops is not a local low point, or it only becomes a local low point for a very short time interval, specifically while the mark is moving toward the next loop. Moving the mark using gravity in this way is very simple and is interesting and entertaining for the viewer. However, in principle, other options are possible for moving the mark along the trajectory, for example, using a different drive and / or elastic and / or magnetic forces.

[0020] In one embodiment, the mark comprises a body that rolls on a track, the track having a shape that accommodates the body and guides it laterally. For example, the mark may be a ball, a roller, or a more complex object with a wheel. In particular, the track may be designed as a channel, groove, or rail, allowing the body to roll on the track while being guided laterally. A track well suited for this purpose may comprise two wires arranged at a uniform horizontal distance from each other, and this distance may be dimensioned so that a body placed between the two wires is guided laterally by the two wires without passing through the wires. The use of a ball in particular impresses with its simplicity and aesthetic clarity. At the same time, the ball can move along the track with minimal resistance, even with manufacturing tolerances.

[0021] In one embodiment, the marking has a body that slides along a track. In this way, the sliding movement of the body along the track can be achieved by a body, such as a ball or cube, with a through-hole. The track can also have a wire or similar guide element that passes through the through-hole. This solution is also particularly simple and has the advantage that the body is firmly fixed to the track and therefore cannot be lost.

[0022] In one embodiment, the device has a scale by which the rotational position of the loop on which the marks are arranged or the rotational position of the marks respectively arranged on this loop can be read, the scale having sectors with central angles corresponding to the rotational angles representing one of the short time units. The scale makes it particularly easy to read the rotational position of the orbit, which is important for reading the short time units.

[0023] In one embodiment, the scale has a start point and an end point with a free sector between them, and the central angle of the free sector corresponds to the angle between two adjacent loops with the axis of rotation of the orbit. The dimension of the central angle of the free sector is slightly smaller or larger. In either case, the free sector provides enough clearance for the mark to reach the adjacent loop. The mark is then automatically positioned near the start of the scale. For example, in the calendar example using a ball as the mark, this means that at the end of March 31st, the ball passes through the free sector along the intermediate piece and enters the adjacent loop for the next month, April, and this "switch point" is near the start of the scale, i.e., the first calendar day.

[0024] In one embodiment, the time point is clock time, the short time unit is minutes, and the long time unit is hours. In this case, the device functions as a clock that displays time point in minutes and hours. For example, a 12-hour loop or a 24-hour loop may be selected to display the clock time in 12-hour or 24-hour format, as appropriate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the time points are calendar days, the short time units are days, and the long time units are months. In this case, the device is configured with 12 loops for months. It is also conceivable to use 52 loops to display calendar weeks as long time units and days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) as short time units.

[0026] In one embodiment, the time points are calendar days, the short time units are months, and the long time units are years, where, for example, 12 loops for 12 years may be used, corresponding to the zodiac signs according to a particular Chinese calendar.

[0027] In one embodiment, the track has a label that can be used to assign a specific element of the long time unit, such as a specific hour, a specific month, or a specific year, to each loop. This label may have a single label element or several label elements. Each label element may be, for example, a letter, a color mark, or a special shape or decoration of the track. The label elements move with the track. They may be attached to the track itself, particularly to a loop of the track, or to another element that moves with the track. For example, in a calendar in which the elements of the long time unit are calendar months, the loop representing the month of January may be labeled as such. The next loop would then be assigned to the following month, February, and so on. When several label elements are used, some or all loops may have label elements. For example, if the device is a clock and the long time unit is hours, only the loops representing the 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, and 12:00 elements may be marked, for example, with Roman or Arabic numerals.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] Conceptual drawing of the device with tracks and marks. [Figure 2] 2 is a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1; [Figure 3] Enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a partial view of another device with a loop and a ball placed within it. [Figure 5] A front view of another device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the device shown in FIG. 5.

[0030] The device in Figure 1 functions as a calendar for displaying dates, with the longer time units representing months and the shorter time units representing days. To this end, the diagrammatically depicted track is composed of 12 loops, labeled with Roman numerals I through XII, representing the calendar months from January to December. Each of the loops I through XII is roughly circular, with its center located on the circle. The loops I through XII are all the same shape and size and are connected to each other by 12 intermediate pieces 10. The track, with the intermediate pieces 10 and the loops I through XII, lies roughly in a vertically oriented plane and is centered around a horizontally oriented (perpendicular to the drawing plane) rotation axis 12 located at the center of the track.

[0031] The track is rotatably mounted on three rollers 14, which are arranged in contact with the inside of the track, so that the track rotates around an (imaginary) axis of rotation 12. A mark in the shape of a ball 16 is placed on loop IV, indicating that the current calendar month is April. Inside the track is a scale with 31 dots corresponding to the 31 calendar days. Calendar days 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 have no dots but are numbered accordingly. Each pair of adjacent dots on the scale forms a sector 18 with a central angle α.

[0032] The device comprises a drive 20, shown only diagrammatically and in this example engaging the inner surface of the track to rotate it about the axis of rotation 12. The drive 20 is controlled so that the rotational movement of the track passes through the central angle α of one sector within one day, i.e. within one short time unit, so that the track, and in particular loop IV in which ball 16 is located, moves further in scale by one calendar day within 24 hours.

[0033] If ball 16, or respectively the loop in which ball 16 is currently located, is located on the last day of the calendar month, for example April 30, drive 20 is actuated so that the orbit continues to move about axis of rotation 12 until loop IV finally rises so that ball 16 leaves loop IV and enters loop V along intermediate piece 10 which leads to loop V. Loop V is then located at the graduation marking the first calendar day, or respectively, advances the orbit to this point so that the calendar displays May 1. In this way, mark 16 moves to the adjacent loop with each revolution, and the displayed point in time advances by one month in each case.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the device shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 in a particular embodiment, in which the ball 16 serves as the mark and the track is formed by a metal profile 32, which forms the loops I-XII and the intermediate piece 10.

[0035] The enlarged views of Figures 3 and 4 best illustrate the design of the individual loops I-XII. The metal profile 32 forms a channel through which the ball 16 is guided. Each loop I-XII has an inlet 22 located at a specific position in the metal profile and an outlet 24 located at the end of the corresponding loop. The inlet 22 and outlet 24 are located adjacent to each other and are approximately at the same position in the direction of the rotational movement of the track. The lateral distance between the inlet 22 and outlet 24 is large enough to allow the ball 16 to pass through the "cross point." The ball 16 rolls along the track and is guided laterally by the channel-like contour of the metal profile 32.

[0036] Figures 2 and 3 show that the orbits are labeled, i.e., each of the loops I-XII has a Roman numeral I-XII as a label element for the respective loop, which can be used to assign the calendar month corresponding to each loop.

[0037] Figure 5 shows another device that also functions as a calendar. The track, like that of Figures 1 and 2, has 12 loops, numbered I through XII, and 12 intermediate pieces 10. Loops I through XII are arranged on a circle, as are the intermediate pieces 10. In contrast to Figures 1 and 2, loops I through XII face inward here, and intermediate pieces 10 form the outer boundary of the track, rather than the inner boundary. As in Figures 1 and 2, the markings are in the form of balls 16. In the illustrated rotational position of the track, ball 16 is located on loop VIII, indicating July. The rotational position of ball 16, or the marking "VIII" on the current loop, is located near the number 1 on a scale from 1 to 31, which is fixed inside the track and corresponds to the number of days. Therefore, this device indicates August 1st.

[0038] On the previous day, July 31st, ball 16 was still located in loop VII, which is shown to the left of loop VIII and located near scale mark 31. When ball 16 was approximately at the lowest point during its rotational movement in the orbit, ball 16 rolled from the exit 24 of loop VII onto the adjacent intermediate piece 10, and then continued down intermediate piece 10 to the entrance 22 of loop VIII, as shown in Figure 5. This process corresponds to the transition from July 31st to August 1st.

[0039] In the enlarged view of Figure 6, the placement of the balls near the entrance 22 of loop VIII can again be clearly seen. The track has two wires 34, which are spaced horizontally at a uniform distance from each other along the entire track. This distance is approximately half the diameter of the ball 16, so that the ball has no chance of falling between the wires 34 and is instead guided laterally along the track by the wires 34.

[0040] The arrangement of label elements on the track can also be seen, and the label elements are again designated by Roman numerals I to XII. In this example, the track is connected to a component (ring-shaped in the illustrated example) that is located on the opposite side of the track and moves with the track. This component has label elements arranged in the regions of loops I to XII, in this example inside each of the loops I to XII. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] I, II, III, IV...XII Loop 10 Intermediate Piece 12 Rotation axis 14 Laura 16 balls 18 sectors 20 Drive 22 Entrance 24 Exit 26 Starting Point 28 End 30 free sectors 32 Metal Profiles 34 wires α central angle β central angle

Claims

1. 1. A device for displaying a point in time indicated in short and long time units, said device comprising: a track forming a closed ring and having a number of loops (I-XII), mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (12) so as to be able to cause a rotational movement; a mark movably guided along said track and moving from one of said loops (I-XII) to an adjacent loop (I-XII) when said track makes one complete revolution around said axis of rotation (12); The loops (I-XII) in which the marks are placed at specific times provide information about one complete loop from the start point and indicate the long time unit of the time; - A device in which the rotational position of this loop (I-XII) or the rotational position of the mark placed on this loop (I-XII) indicates a short time unit of the point in time.

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a drive (20) for rotating the track about the axis of rotation (12) so that the track completes one revolution in one of the long time units.

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

4. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trajectory describes a curve in the area of ​​each loop (I-XII) by an angle equal to 360 degrees minus 360 degrees divided by the number of existing loops (I-XII).

5. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the loops (I-XII) are arranged in a circular shape and are connected to one another by intermediate pieces (10) of the track, each having an inlet (22) and an outlet (24), each outlet (24) being connected to the inlet (22) of an adjacent loop (I-XII) by one of the intermediate pieces (10).

6. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate piece (10) is arranged on a circle and the loops (I-XII) point inwards or outwards from this circle.

7. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the track has a stop element at the exit of the loop (I-XII), which stop element is designed to stop when the mark reaches it and to continue moving only when the track has rotated further by a defined angle.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mark is free to move along a track due to gravity and is therefore always located at a local low point of the track.

9. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the markings have bodies that roll on the track, the track having a shape that adapts to the bodies and guides them laterally.

10. 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mark has a body that slides along the track.

11. 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device has a scale on which the rotational position of the loop (I-XII) on which the mark is arranged or the rotational position of the mark arranged on this loop (I-XII), respectively, can be read, the scale having sectors (18) with a central angle (α) corresponding to the angle of rotation representing one of the short time units.

12. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the scale has a starting point (26) and an end point (28) and a free sector (30) therebetween, the central angle (β) of the free sector corresponding to the angle made by two adjacent loops (I-XII) with the axis of rotation of the orbit.

13. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said points in time are clock times, said short units of time are minutes and said long units of time are hours.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said points in time are calendar days, said short units of time are days and said long units of time are months.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said points in time are calendar days, said short units of time are months and said long units of time are years.

16. 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trajectory has a label that can be used to assign to each loop a particular element of the long unit of time, such as a particular hour, a particular month, or a particular year.

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