Multi-Vertex Hands for Simultaneous Multi-Zone Time Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GMT time pieces are limited to displaying whole hour time zones and cannot accurately measure and display times within 30- or 45-minute GMT offset time zones simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A time display apparatus that includes a case with a dial member indicating both 12-hour and 24-hour clocks, featuring a multi-zone minute hand with vertices for different minute markings and a multi-zone hour indicator hand with distinct indicators for different time zones, allowing for the simultaneous display of whole hour, 30-minute, and 45-minute GMT offset time zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional GMT time piece uses a single 24-hour GMT hand to track a secondary time zone, then it can display whole hour GMT time zones, but it cannot accurately measure and display times within 30- or 45-minute GMT offset time zones
Solution Approach 1:
The minute hand is segmented into multiple vertices (first vertex, second vertex, third vertex) that can independently indicate different time zones. Each vertex corresponds to a specific GMT offset (whole hour, 30-minute, and 45-minute offsets respectively), allowing the single hand structure to serve multiple measurement functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a dimensional aspect to the minute hand by creating vertices at different angular positions. Instead of a single indicator, the hand has multiple vertices arranged in a specific pattern that allows simultaneous indication of multiple time zones with different offsets, effectively adding a 'vertex position' dimension to the indication mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If a time display apparatus uses multiple separate hands for different time zones, then it can display multiple time zones accurately, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple time zone indication functions are merged into a single multi-vertex hand structure. Instead of having separate hands for whole hour offsets, 30-minute offsets, and 45-minute offsets, the invention combines all these functions into one hand with multiple vertices, reducing the number of moving parts while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-vertex hand serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can indicate whole hour GMT offsets, 30-minute GMT offsets, and 45-minute GMT offsets all at once. This universal hand structure replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized hands, simplifying the overall device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A time display apparatus for indicating time in a plurality of time zones simultaneously, the apparatus includes a case having a compartment enclosed by a cover, the case having a dial member indicating a 12-hour time clock and a 24-hour time clock, a first wheel completing one revolution in 12 hours and coupled to an hour hand, a second wheel completing one revolution in 1 hour and coupled to a multi-zone minute hand having at least two different vertices, and a third wheel completing one revolution in 24 hours and coupled to a multi-zone hour indicator hand having at least two different indicators, wherein each vertex of the multi-zone minute hand indicates a different minute marking on the 12 hour time clock and each indicator of the multi-zone hour indicator hand indicates a different hour marking on the 24 hour time clock corresponding to different time zones.