With Movable Disk Display Patents (Class 368/27)
  • Patent number: 11934151
    Abstract: Exemplary arrangements relate to a universal world timepiece such as a clock having a movement (11) in connection with indicators such as hands (16, 18, 20). The timepiece includes a stationary oriented 24-hour clock face (101, 301, 401, 501) including hour marks for each hour, and a dial (103, 303, 403, 503) which is movable relative to the 24-hour clock face. The example dial has a unique icon such as a different Latin letter for each hour of the 24 hours. A computer (10) of the timepiece may operate to determine geographic coordinates and/or or to receive wireless time signals and to determine the time zone in which the timepiece is currently located. The computer operates to cause the dial to be rotatably positioned responsive to the time zone determination, to cause a particular icon to be linearly aligned with a particular hour mark of the clock face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Hussam Hebbo
  • Patent number: 11635732
    Abstract: A correction device for a timepiece, including a differential gear having a first input, a second input and an outlet output, wherein: — the first inlct input is arranged to be driven by a timepiece movement; — the second input is kinematically linked with a corrector gear extending from a control member and including a clutch for establishing and interrupting the kinematic link between the control member and the second input; — the output is arranged to drive a display device of the timepiece movement, the angular position of the output being defined on the basis of the angular position of the first input as well as on that of the second input, wherein the correction device further includes a memory cam desmodromically linked with the second input, in that the memory cam experiences a return force provided by a resilient member tending to maintain the memory cam in at least one predetermined angular position when the kinematic link between the control member and the second input is interrupted, the resilient
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Samuel Vuillemez, Séverin Donze
  • Patent number: 11042123
    Abstract: A clockwork module (100) including (i) a mobile part (11) including a first functional part and a second functional part (11a, 11b) and an arbor (15), (ii) a spring (13), (iii) a casing (14) including a housing (140), (iv) a first guide surface (14a, 140a) in the housing (140), (v) a first stop (140b) in the housing, (vi) a second stop (16b) arranged on the mobile part (11), the arbor (15) being guided by the first guide surface, the spring being arranged in the housing between the first and second stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Denis Rudaz
  • Patent number: 10289072
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a bezel having location markers for indicating positions of the world; a second hand moving relative to the bezel; a memory storing time difference information in which each location marker is associated with information relating to a time zone to which a position indicated by each location marker belongs; and a controller performing operation control for moving the second hand relative to the bezel, and the bezel has a set exception indication position representing non-correspondence to any time zone associated with each location marker by being in a predetermined positional relationship with the second hand, and the controller causes the second hand and the exception indication position to be in the predetermined positional relationship when there is no location marker associated with a set time zone, during display relating to the set time zone for a date and time to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosuke Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10144239
    Abstract: A laser markable composition includes (a) an aqueous medium; (b) polymeric particles dispersed in the aqueous medium; (c) a color developing agent or color developing agent precursor; and (d) an optothermal converting agent; characterized in that a leuco dye is covalently bonded to the polymeric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Hubertus Van Aert, Johan Loccufier, Dirk Kokkelenberg
  • Patent number: 9268309
    Abstract: A timepiece includes: a central pivot; a central disk rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the central pivot; a stationary 24-hour scale arranged concentric to the central pivot; a sun mark; a large moon disk, the large moon disk being rotatably drivable in the counterclockwise direction at a rate of one revolution per synodic month; a moon view aperture in the large moon disk; and a small moon disk mounted at the large moon disk so as to be rotatable around a moon pivot parallel to the central pivot, the small moon disk carrying a plurality of dark circular areas. The dark circular areas are movable successively into registration with the moon view aperture and successively out of registration with the moon view aperture by the rotational movement of the small moon disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lange Uhren GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Karsch
  • Patent number: 9128466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a correction device for changing the data of a plurality N of time-related functions displayed by a timepiece. It is characterized in that the device includes a pusher (1) for changing function, whose actuation moves a control wheel (2) and meshes said wheel with a corrector pinion (3, 4, 5) for the selected function, and a stem (7) whose rotation in one direction or the other pivots said control wheel (2), which in turn drives one of said corrector pinions (3, 4, 5) to correct the data of said selected function by adding or subtracting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BLANCPAIN SA
    Inventors: Bernat Monferrer, Marco Rochat
  • Patent number: 9116507
    Abstract: A universal timepiece includes a manual mechanism to shift selectively some of geographical labels borne by a dial by 1/24th of a revolution, to make it possible to change, by one hour, local times associated with the geographical labels during a change from wintertime to summertime or from summertime to wintertime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Vuilleumier, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot
  • Publication number: 20140321247
    Abstract: Device (300; 200) for displaying the time, comprising a time-display member (A1, A2) and a switchover mechanism (100) allowing the time-display member to switch between a first time zone and a second time zone. This switchover mechanism comprises: a first heart piece (3) capable of rotating; a first lever (1) having a first end (1a) designed to collaborate with the first heart piece (3) with a view to causing the display member (A1, A2) to indicate the time in the first time zone; a second lever (2; 42) designed to cause the display member (A1, A2) to indicate the time of the second time zone; a two-position selector member (5) collaborating with the first lever (1), and a control member (P) allowing selection of the first or the second time zone for display. The two-position selector member (5) is designed to collaborate directly with a second end (1b) of the first lever (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventors: Julien Cattaneo, Marco La China, Denis Rudaz, Martin Breuilh, Frederic Jolliet
  • Patent number: 8787118
    Abstract: A universal watch including a movement driving a main display means cooperating with a complementary main display means, a means for adjusting the main display means to set the time of a determined place, a secondary display means which is moveable relative to the complementary main display means, and comprises geographical reference points of different time zones. This movement drives synchronously with the main display means the secondary display means, and a structure carrying first screens, each superposed on a geographical reference point and, according to the time of day, changing position under the action of a drive torque from drive means which is greater than the resistant torque imparted thereon by friction means connected to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Blancpain S.A.
    Inventors: Vincent Beccia, Nicolas Debaud
  • Patent number: 8699303
    Abstract: A world timepiece dial comprising a first ring (2) for minutes, with a first series of digits marked thereon, a second ring (4) for hours, with a second series of digits marked thereon, a third ring (6) with a plurality of time-zone indicating geographical site markings, such markings being adapted to be angularly aligned with the numbers of the first and second series, for instant and simultaneous reading of the time in the geographical sites. The second ring (4) is divided into twelve angular sectors (8, 8?, 8?, . . . ) each bearing one digit of the second series marked thereon. The markings of the third ring (6) are arranged over at least two concentric circular areas (9, 10), each marking of one of the areas (9) being radially opposed to one marking of at least another area (10) to define respective pairs (11, 11?, 11?, . . . ). The geographical sites of each pair (11, 11?, 11?, . . . ) are selected for the time offset between their respective time zones to be twelve hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Voyager Watches di Francesco Caruso
    Inventor: Francesco Caruso
  • Patent number: 8654615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a timer movement with a display for world time zones. While operating, by aligning the landmark of local time zone with a fixed point for calibrating the local time, then turning a time zone adjustable ring to the landmark of another time zone to be aligned with the fixed point, an inner gear ring of the time zone adjustable ring can drive a planetary idle gear, a planetary driven gear and a planetary base gear to rotate, and each elastic positioning ball is sequentially buckled and positioned along each positioning hole, and a first front hour wheel is enabled to perform planetary motion about a first minute wheel set on the planetary base gear, so as to rotate the first hour wheel meshed therewith for displacing a first hour hand to display the time of first location at the landmark of another time zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Lin
  • Publication number: 20130343163
    Abstract: Universal watch (1) including: a movement (10) driving a main display means (2) cooperating with a complementary main display means (3), a means (4) for adjusting said main display means (2) to set the time of a determined place, a secondary display means (5) which is moveable relative to said complementary main display means (3), and comprises geographical reference points (6) of different time zones. This movement (10) drives synchronously with the main display means (2): said secondary display means (5), a structure (7) carrying first screens (8), each superposed on a geographical reference point (6) and, according to the time of day, changing position under the action of a drive torque from drive means (9) which is greater than the resistant torque imparted thereon by friction means (11) connected to said structure (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Vincent BECCIA, Nicolas Debaud
  • Publication number: 20130100780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a timer movement with a display for world time zones. While operating, by aligning the landmark of local time zone with a fixed point for calibrating the local time, then turning a time zone adjustable ring to the landmark of another time zone to be aligned with the fixed point, an inner gear ring of the time zone adjustable ring can drive a planetary idle gear, a planetary driven gear and a planetary base gear to rotate, and each elastic positioning ball is sequentially buckled and positioned along each positioning hole, and a first front hour wheel is enabled to perform planetary motion about a first minute wheel set on the planetary base gear, so as to rotate the first hour wheel meshed therewith for displacing a first hour hand to display the time of first location at the landmark of another time zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ATOP PRECISION IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Chun LIN
  • Patent number: 8339900
    Abstract: The analogue display watch includes two separate time displays (40, 44) for first and second time zones, and a time zone indicator (50), which includes a place ring (53) associated with two apertures (51, 52) shifted angularly by 1/24th of a revolution, and one of which is used in combination with winter time and the other with daylight saving time (DST). A first, manual, time-setting device (31) can simultaneously set the time of the first and second time displays (40, 44). A second, manual, time-setting device can rotate the second time display (44) and the time zone indicator (50) together, step-by-step, without changing the state of the first time display (40). A manual corrector (34, 63) rotates the place ring (53) step-by-step without changing the state of the first and second time displays (40, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Müller, Peter Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110032802
    Abstract: The analogue display watch includes two separate time displays (40, 44) for first and second time zones, and a time zone indicator (50), which includes a place ring (53) associated with two apertures (51, 52) shifted angularly by 1/24th of a revolution, and one of which is used in combination with winter time and the other with daylight saving time (DST). A first, manual, time-setting device (31) can simultaneously set the time of the first and second time displays (40, 44). A second, manual, time-setting device can rotate the second time display (44) and the time zone indicator (50) together, step-by-step, without changing the state of the first time display (40). A manual corrector (34, 63) rotates the place ring (53) step-by-step without changing the state of the first and second time displays (40, 44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Müller, Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7826311
    Abstract: A time counting assembly with a display for world time zones comprised of a power source, a second counter, a minute counter, an hour counter, and a time zone display for displaying a correct time over a faceplate. Stir the time zone adjustable ring with the hand to align a first landmark of a local time zone with a fixed point and then calibrate the time counting assembly in accordance with the local time, and then stir the time zone adjustable ring with the hand to align a second landmark of another locating time zone with the fixed point such that the inner gear ring moves the planetary idle gear set and the planetary base wheel to shift engagement of the engaging hooks in the ratchet holes, and the front hour wheel is rotated on the planetary base wheel with a planetary movement along the minute wheel set to cause rotation of a meshed hour wheel so as to turn a hour hand to the time in accordance with the time zone corresponding to the second landmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Lin
  • Publication number: 20090323477
    Abstract: Universal wristwatch and the relevant system for setting the time according to the time zone. The wristwatch (1) comprises concentric dials (A5 B5-C) showing the 24 hours (dial B) 5 the 24 time zones (dial C) and the minutes (winder A) and comprises also selecting devices (11) suitable to implement a temporary-connection between the rotation of the time zone dial (C) and. the 24-hour dial (B) in order to realise an identical synchronous rotation further to which it will be possible to set the hour hand (O) on the new place thus obtaining independently and at the same time the collimation with the joint unit of dials (B) and (C). Once the aforesaid collimation is completed, the previous different rotation of dials (B) and (C) is restored. The result is to have the wristwatch (1) showing the time of the current time zone in twelfths and twenty-fourths, universal wristwatch, in addition to the other 23 places.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Ruggero Ferrari
  • Patent number: 7639568
    Abstract: A time counting assembly with a display for world time zones includes a power source, a second counter, a minute counter, an hour counter, and a time zone display for displaying a correct time over a faceplate. Stirring the time zone adjustable ring with the hand ultimately turns a hour hand to the time in accordance with the time zone corresponding to a second landmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 7518956
    Abstract: A timepiece for displaying a planisphere and indicating a portion of the planisphere. Another exemplary embodiment is a clock that displays both sidereal and solar time, while indicating a portion of the planisphere at a particular time. Another exemplary embodiment of the timepiece includes an adjustment feature that allows a user to adjust the portion of the planisphere indicated to a particular geographic location. An exemplary embodiment may contain a celestial or terrestrial planisphere. As a result, an exemplary embodiment of the timepiece may provide valuable information about the planisphere at any particular sidereal or solar time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Trident Design, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas D. Hansel
  • Patent number: 7483340
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a dial provided with means (7a, 7b) for selective and simultaneous analog display of respective hours of several time zones, distributed on two non-coaxial superimposed annular discs (9, 10) of similar diameters, arranged beneath said dial and each of which is divided into twelve sectors each corresponding to a time zone. The dial has two diametrically opposite windows (5, 6), arranged on a diameter passing through the swivel axes of the two annular discs (9, 10), each being located opposite a segment of the trajectory of the respective discs. Each of the discs (9, 10) is linked to a manual selection member (23, 24) and, by a one-way kinematic link (17, 18), to an hour display member (7a, 7b) of the corresponding time zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Manufacture Roger Dubuis S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Dias
  • Publication number: 20080198696
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a dial provided with means (7a, 7b) for selective and simultaneous analog display of respective hours of several time zones, distributed on two non-coaxial superimposed annular discs (9, 10) of similar diameters, arranged beneath said dial and each of which is divided into twelve sectors each corresponding to a time zone. The dial has two diametrically opposite windows (5, 6), arranged on a diameter passing through the swivel axes of the two annular discs (9, 10), each being located opposite a segment of the trajectory of the respective discs. Each of the discs (9, 10) is linked to a manual selection member (23, 24) and, by a one-way kinematic link (17, 18), to an hour display member (7a, 7b) of the corresponding time zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: MANUFACTURE ROGER DUBUIS S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Dias
  • Patent number: 7236429
    Abstract: A timepiece includes first, second, and third clockwise rotating central shafts, a rotary dial joined to the first central shaft, a minute hand joined to the second central shaft, a second hand positioned around the rotary dial and joined to the third central shaft, a second ring, and a time zone ring; the rotary dial has twelve hour graduations, which are marked with respective numerals arranged in counterclockwise order; the second ring having sixty graduations thereon; the time zone ring is positioned around the second ring, and divided into twenty-four subsections; each subsection of the time zone ring has an indicating point on a middle portion of an inward edge, and is printed with names of main cities and countries in a time zone; thus, people can find out current local time in the main cities and countries with the timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Neng-Chang Yeh
  • Patent number: 7050357
    Abstract: A global time indicating calculator has a clock member with a rotating dial for calculating global standard time and advanced time in various international time zones. Indicia printed on the face of the dial and corresponding boxes on oppositely opposed faces of the calculator can be easily referenced to determine time of day at selected locations throughout the world. The faces have recesses therein to interchangeably accommodate the clock member whereby the calculator can be modified to calculate the time of day during either standard time or advanced time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Eddie M. Garcia
  • Patent number: 6901032
    Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece from which a sunrise and sunset time along with the position of the sun can be determined. The sunrise time and the sunset time are changed according to the season and the latitude of the place where one man the time. People acquire the sunrise and sunset time from the news of a television or a newspaper. According to the enlargement of cities, underground activities and the degree of building closure are increased to shield the sun. The timepiece of the present invention comprises a circular hour plate which rotates once per 24 hours. Also included is a sunrise and sunset time designating section (21) for indicating the sunrise time and the sunset time for each month. Through the timepiece of the present invention, the present time, the position of the sun at the present time, the sunrise and sunset time can be appreciated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Timespace System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-hyoung Eo, Jang-sung Choi
  • Patent number: 6788622
    Abstract: A global time indicating calculator has a rotating dial for calculating global standard time and advanced time in various international time zones. Indicia printed on the face of the dial and corresponding sections of the face of the calculator can be easily referenced to determine time of day at selected locations throughout the world. The calculator is used by dialing present time and reading the indicia to determine time at a different local. The dial has an outer annular ring marked with numerical indicia and scale indicia along its circumference for measuring time at selected increments. The time indicia is matched with selected geographical region to calculate the time of day worldwide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Eddie M. Garcia
  • Patent number: 6744695
    Abstract: A planisphere watch includes a watch case having a transparent lens. A time keeping mechanism is disposed within the case and has a time display viewable through the lens. A planisphere map of star constellations and star systems is viewable through the lens. A rotatable bezel overlies the lens and defines a window through which a portion of the planisphere is viewed. The bezel includes time indicia alignable with date indicia imprinted onto an underlying tension ring. Rotating the bezel to align a selected time with a selected date reveals a portion of the planisphere map viewable in the night sky at that selected time and date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventor: Alex Goldberg
  • Patent number: 6714485
    Abstract: A timepiece is disclosed allowing a reading of a first conventional time information by means of first analogue display means including a dial (5) and hours (4a) and minutes (4b) indicator members driven by a movement of the timepiece, this timepiece including second analogue display means allowing a simultaneous reading of second time information based on a decimal system wherein time is divided at least into thousandths of a day. The second analogue display means include the dial and the minutes indicator member in addition to complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12) indicating at least approximate decimal values (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Swatch Group Mngmt Services AG
    Inventors: Carlo Albisetti, Daniel Donzé, Clément Meyrat
  • Patent number: 6636457
    Abstract: A clock movement with a display for world time zones comprises a power source, a second counter, a minute counter, an hour counter, and a time zone display. The time zone display further comprises an intermediate base, a time zone adjustable ring, and a dial plate. The intermediate base provides a planetary basic gear axially attached to the central of the bottom thereof to be passed through by a minute wheel set. The planetary basic gear at a lower side thereof connects with an axial stem provided a front hour wheel and a join ring at a lower periphery thereof. The join ring at a periphery thereof extends at least two circumferential elastic engaging hooks. The time zone adjustable ring provides an inner gear ring part to mesh with the planetary basic gear. An inner ratchet ring with a plurality of ratchet teeth at the top of the time zone adjustable ring for engaging with the two engaging hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Atop Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 6597635
    Abstract: A toothed correcting gear (33, 34), in engagement with means of angular positioning (35), kinematically links the stepwise, drive members (14, 15) of the display members with a time zones indicator gear (19, 20), toothing (34) of the said correcting gear being in engagement with a drive finger (36a) of a correcting rocker (36), in the position of rest of this rocker, corresponding to the relaxing of its restoring spring (37), the trajectory described by this rocker (36), for bringing it into its other limit position, passing via one of the teeth of the said correcting gear (34), this trajectory being chosen so that this tooth is reset into its initial angular position once this rocker (36) has moved into its other limit position, the return of this rocker to its position of rest via the relaxing of the said restoring spring, causing the driving by one step of the said toothing of the said correcting gear (34) by the said drive finger (36a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Daniel Roth & Gerald Genta Haute Horlogerie SA
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dalloz
  • Publication number: 20030112706
    Abstract: A toothed correcting gear (33, 34), in engagement with means of angular positioning (35), kinematically links the stepwise drive members (14, 15) of the display members with a time zones indicator gear (19, 20), toothing (34) of the said correcting gear being in engagement with a drive finger (36a) of a correcting rocker (36), in the position of rest of this rocker, corresponding to the relaxing of its restoring spring (37), the trajectory described by this rocker (36), for bringing it into its other limit position, passing via one of the teeth of the said correcting gear (34), this trajectory being chosen so that this tooth is reset into its initial angular position once this rocker (36) has moved into its other limit position, the return of this rocker to its position of rest via the relaxing of the said restoring spring, causing the driving by one step of the said toothing of the said correcting gear (34) by the said drive finger (36a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dalloz
  • Patent number: 6579004
    Abstract: An internet watch in accordance with the present invention further comprises a beat hand 4 to indicate internet time and a beat dial 5 mounted on the circumferential outside of the watch having an hour hand 1, a minute hand 2, and a second hand 3, thereby the internet watch can indicate internet time in addition to Standard time on the basis of GMT. The beat dial 5 is marked with 1000 beats with a day being divided into 1000 equal parts in internet time. The best dial 5 is assembled to be rotatable so that the internet time can be adjusted when the user travels in a region where a different standard time is applied. The beat hand 4 which rotates once a day and the beat dial 5 on which 1000 beats are marked facilitate to get internet time easily without conversion to the standard time based on GMT, which is variable according to the longitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Romanson Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 6243324
    Abstract: A universal digital time disk is printed on its central portion with name of places on behalf of the known 24 time zones in the world, and on its next outer zone with name of four continents: the Australia, the Asia, the Europe and Africa, and the America for quick index. Further, on an outer zone next to the continents, the ordinal numbers from 1 through 24 are marked for a user to rapidly check time of a desired time zone with a given ordinal number and realize date difference between two places in the world on the basis that all the time zones included in the area between a first time zone of the day of exchange and the position of the twenty-fourth hour in a minute/second zone date the same while the rest is one day before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Ching-Shih Teng
  • Patent number: 6141295
    Abstract: A display setting arrangement for a timepiece, having a 12-hour display, on which, driven in a rotatable manner by a basic mechanism with two revolutions every 24 hours, the hours can be displayed. There is also a second hour display, which can be driven in a rotatable manner likewise by the basic mechanism. By means of a correction device, the 12-hour display can be adjusted manually relative to the second hour display. The second hour display is a 24-hour display and can be driven in a rotatable manner, in a direct gear train, by the basic mechanism of the time piece with one revolution every twenty-four hours. Via a force-fit connection, a 12-hour gear train can be driven in a rotatable manner, for the purpose of driving the 12-hour display, by a direct-gear-train wheel which is driven with one revolution every twelve hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: IWC International Watch Co. AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Lange, Kurt Klaus
  • Patent number: 6134186
    Abstract: A multi-area clock or watch includes a base disc, a position ring and an annular hour area section combined together. The hour area section is marked with time differences between countries, the names of countries, and indicating signs. Then the hour area section is rotated relative to an hour indicator on the base disc. Then Adjusting an hour needle align to a country according to the present time, and a user can find out the present time of the foreign country needed to know on the hour area section. So this multi-area clock or watch is handy for carrying out abroad on tour or business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Huei-Lung Jang
  • Patent number: 5943298
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional calendar (10) for indicating the day, date and month. The multi-dimensional calendar (10) includes three disks (28), (30) and (32). The first disk (28) has a circumference and includes indicia indicative of the date printed about a periphery thereof. The second disk (30) has a circumference of a size smaller than the circumference of the first disk (28) and includes indicia indicative of the month printed about a periphery thereof. The third disk (32) has a circumference of a size smaller than the circumference of the second disk (30) and includes indicia indicative of the day printed about a periphery thereof. A platform (12) retains the first, second and third disks (28), (30) and (32) thereon, whereby the second disk (30) is positioned between the first and third disks (28) and (32). A first gear apparatus (64) automatically rotates the first disk (28) a first predetermined distance after expiration of a first predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Flavia Goldson
  • Patent number: 5917778
    Abstract: A geographical chronological device which simultaneously indicates the time in multiple cities or countries, and displays fluctuations in day or night in a geographic location. The earth clock has a semi-transparent world map depicting a polar planetary projection of the world from the north or south pole. An adjustable shadow disk is disposed adjacent to and partly visible through the semi-transparent world map. The shadow disk has a periphery with time indicia disposed about the periphery. The adjustable shadow disk has an adjustable dark portion to indicate night and an adjustable light portion to indicate day. The dark and light portions adjust to indicate relatively greater or lesser night and day according to the change in seasons. A clock movement provides relative movement between the semi-transparent world map and the adjustable shadow disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Cube-I, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John I. James, Thomas C. Innes, Lois A. Loy, Martha C. James
  • Patent number: 5745440
    Abstract: A time equipment with time zone mechanism includes a 24-hour dial, an hour hand and a minute hand mounted for rotating above said dial, a movement for driving said hour hand and minute hand to rotate one revolution per 24 hours, a time zone mechanism, and a setting mechanism for said time zone mechanism. The time zone mechanism comprises a time zone disc coaxially mounted under the dial and a driving device for driving the time zone disc to rotate one revolution per 24 hours. The time zone disc has an outer time zone ring portion disposed around the periphery of the dial and provided until a plurality of time zone city indicators arranged in the same order as the time zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventor: Eddie Zon Tsu Chen
  • Patent number: 5631878
    Abstract: A time equipment includes a case, a dial, and an hour and a minute indicating hands mounted for rotating above the dial. A movement is installed in the case for driving the hour indicating hand to rotate one revolution in 24 hours. A time setting device is installed in the case for setting the time equipment on time. The dial has an hour portion, a minute portion and a period portion, in which the hour portion inscribes two sequences of numerals ordered by increasing value from 1 to 12. The minute portion is positioned adjacent to the hour portion and inscribes a sequence of numerals ordered by increasing value from 1 to 60. The period portion is position at the central area and encircled by the hour portion, which has a central cross inscription having a vertical line extending from top to bottom and a horizontal line extending from right to left so as to divide said period portion into four sections. An alarm generating mechanism can provide more than one alarm signal at predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Eddie Z. Chen
  • Patent number: 5572489
    Abstract: A universal timepiece (10) having a manually operable outer ring (33) for selecting one of twenty-four time zones, where a display indicates the time of the time zone selected. For this purpose a device for detecting the rotational position of the outer ring (33) is provided which has a special arrangement of permanent magnets (39a-j) in the outer ring (33) and of magnetic switches (27a-h) in the timepiece casing (11, 12) in a specific number as well as evaluating electronics in the timepiece movement (21). The permanent magnets (39a-j) determine the binary statuses of the magnetic switches (27a-h), which are interpreted together as a signal or as a status pattern. The special arrangement of the magnetic switches (27a-h) and the permanent magnets (39a-j) effect for each rotational position an intrinsic status pattern different in each case from the others which permits a clear indication of the selected rotational position of the outer ring (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Etienne Bornand, Gerard Jaeger, Rene Viennet
  • Patent number: 5524102
    Abstract: A structural improvement for the global timepiece principally makes use of an hour wheel which engages and drives a post hour wheel and thereto engages and drives a city wheel through a post hour pinion which is on the same shaft as the post hour wheel, and sequentially lock-to-fit to rotate the city wheel and the city dial through the lock jumper, thereby makes the face become an outer ring which is a stationary time ring, a center ring which is a otationally adjustable city dial and an inner ring which is a dial indicating the local time; in this way and through the simple judgement, one is able to read simultaneously, from the same timepiece's face, the time of each time zone's city all over the world, also as far as time adjustment as concern, one can use the hour wheel or city dial or both to adjust the time inquired. Besides, the face design of the present invention can read clearly and easily the date everywhere through the indication of the international dateline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yi-Yen Liao, Jaw-Horng Tzeng, Jung-Che Hsieh, June-Sheng Weng
  • Patent number: 5383165
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece including a horometric movement (M) with a dial train (8, 46), at least one hours hand (4) which is mounted on an hours pipe (4a) driven by the dial train, a rotary ring (48) driven by the hours pipe so as to effect one revolution per twenty-four hours, a first display means (3) including a twenty-four-hour hours circle and a second display means including geographic indications respectively indicating various time zones, one of the display means (3) being arranged on the rotary ring (48) in order to be displaced facing the other (5) and in order to furnish with the latter a universal time display, characterized in that it includes a correction mechanism (MC) adapted to act on the hours hand (4) independently from the driving of the rotary ring (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon S.A.
    Inventor: Frank Vaucher
  • Patent number: 5323363
    Abstract: A timepiece for simultaneously indicating the time for at least two time zones, the timepiece comprising a watch movement; a dial, an hour indicating hand and a minute indicating hand, the hour indicating and minute indicating hands being mounted for rotating above the dial, for indicating the time for a first time zone; a first setting mechanism for the hands, first driving means for connecting the hour indicating and minute indicating hands to the watch movement, so as to rotate the hands for indicating the time over 12 hours; a first rotatable disc for indicating the time over 24 hours; second driving means for connecting the first rotatable disc to the watch movement, so as to rotate the disc of one revolution in 24 hours; a second rotatable disc for indicating the time zones; a second setting mechanism for the first and second rotatable discs, the mechanism comprising first setting means operable for setting the angular position of the first rotatable disc, independently of the rotation thereof by the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Tiffany and Company
    Inventors: Jorg Hysek, Philippe Subilia, Francois Bertouhd
  • Patent number: 5285427
    Abstract: A timepiece including: an inner hours pipe (2) supporting a lower wheel (6), an outer pipe (30) mounted on the inner pipe (2) and supporting an upper wheel (32) arranged above the lower wheel (6), a star (12) mounted on the hours pipe (2) and fixed in rotation to the lower wheel (6), two driving rollers (20) cooperating with the star (12) and driven by the upper wheel (32) and a spring (26) bringing back the roller (20), such timepiece being characterized in that the lower wheel (6), which constitutes an hours wheel in mesh with a dial train, is mounted to be free in rotation relative to the inner hours pipe (2), while the upper wheel (32) forms a correction wheel capable of acting on the hours pipe (2) in order to modify the hour displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines
    Inventor: Frank Vaucher
  • Patent number: 5228722
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a travel document folder, such as an airline ticket folder, U-rail pass folder, passport holder, or the like, having a time zone conversion chart rotatably mounted to one leaf of the folder. In the preferred embodiment, the time zone conversion chart is made from mounting an inner dial to an outer dial such that the two dials share a common spindle and are arranged concentrically. A time scale in units of hours is provided on the outer dial, while geographic location divisions are provided on the inner dial. Cities around the world that are located in a common time zone are then grouped and assigned to the geographic location divisions. By rotating a local city on the inner dial into alignment with a time on the outer dial, a local reference time is established. Then by moving around the inner dial to find the desired city, it is possible to look up the local time there by reading off the outer dial the particular hour that is aligned with the desired city.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Cher (Intl.) Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Zoland
  • Patent number: 5210721
    Abstract: An analog universal watch has an area dial 4 showing different areas of the world attached to an area dial spindle 10 and an area dial wheel 11 linked to a timepiece drive mechanism through a minute wheel 15. A pawl fastened to an hour wheel 17 engages with a ratchet wheel 12 fastened to the area dial spindle 10 so that an hour hand spindle 16 is driven indirectly. Provisions are made to permit correcting the area dial spindle 10 by means of a hand setting stem through the minute wheel 15, along with the independent correction of the hour wheel 17 by means of the hour hand correcting wheel 25 that engages with and releases the hand setting stem. Thus, the timepiece permits not only the ordinary correction of the pointers but also the setting of the hour hand alone to the local time of the desired area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Orient Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadahiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5197043
    Abstract: A clock, a calendar, and a two dimensional model of the earth viewed looking at the polar axis as the earth is rotated during a twenty-four hour period thus showing day and night, dawn and dusk. The shadow cast on the earth by the absence of the sun's rays are also shown. The changing of said shadow to show the seasons of the year is also shown as the shadow is rotated once every 365 days. The disc containing the rotating shadow has a pointer that tells the observer the month of the year and the day of the month along with the sign of the zodiac. The rotating earth map has symbols to represent the major cities of the earth and a symbol to represent the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Verne A. Strader
  • Patent number: 5146436
    Abstract: A universal world clock (10) for indicating universal standard and fast time at any geographical location in the world. A south polar projected world map superimposed onto a manually rotatable map disk (14) is divided with twenty-four time zone indicator lines (20) representing the time zones of universal time, the map disk (14) being positioned such that the user's geographic location is vertically oriented to represent map north, and the map disk (14) being further positioned so that the time zone indicator lines (20) are aligned with time zone pointers (22) located on a separate zone pointer disk (16) which is fixed in position over the map disk (14). A time disk (18) having hour indicators differentiated by a.m. and p.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: James B. Wright
  • Patent number: 5107468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a world time clock, which has an hour plate designed to rotate at a constant speed of 24 hours for one turn. The hour plate is printed with the official name of world important countries according to world time zone classification so that every local time is shown while the hour plate is carried to rotate on a fixed plate which has graduations for indication of hour, minute and second. As an alternate form of the present invention, an hour plate is printed or engraved with graduations to match with a face plate, which is printed with the official name of world important countries according to world time zone classification, for world time indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Jem D. Lu
  • Patent number: 5098101
    Abstract: A recorder of multiple events and durations of time, using one or more rotatably mounted dials graduated in a clockwise direction, with a means for displaying temporary memoranda which describe events associated with the said graduations, and used for directly recording and reading the actual or simulated times of one or more events either in absolute time or relative to the current time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Benjamin B. Jones