Abstract: Apparatus for the display of time, which includes a support frame and a driven gear having external teeth mounted to the support frame. The apparatus further includes a rigid annular member with internal teeth for engagement with the external teeth of the driven gear.

Abstract: A clock display mechanism including circular discs or rings which rotate within a fixed circular plane or ring to indicate minutes and hours by providing that one rotating indicator disc or ring acts as a geometrical link between the indication of minutes and the indication of hours.

Abstract: A clock dial having a minute face, an hour face with a smaller diameter than the minute face, and a minute hand rotatable relative to the minute face. The minute face has a central axis for rotating the minute hand. The hour face is geared relative to the central axis such that one revolution of the minute hand moves the hour face for less than one full revolution. The central axis has a first gear extending therearound. This first gear engages gear teeth formed on an outer edge of the hour face. A motor is connected to the central axis on a side of the minute face opposite the hour face. The hour face is geared to the minute hand such that one revolution of the minute hand moves the hour face approximately 1/12 of a revolution. The minute face has a set of indicia representative of minutes. The hour face has a set of indicia representative of hours.

Abstract: A clock having a motor with a shaft extending outwardly therefrom, a sprocket affixed to the shaft, a clock dial positioned adjacent the sprocket and having minute indica displayed thereon, a plurality of hour members being interconnected together in the form of a continuous band, and a minute hand interconnected to the sprocket such that the minute hand moves in relation to the movement of the sprocket. The continuous band extends over a portion of the sprocket such that the plurality of hour members move relative to a movement of the sprocket. The sprocket is a geared member having a plurality of teeth extending outwardly therefrom for the purpose of engaging a portion of the continuous band. Each of the plurality of hour members is equally spaced from an adjacent hour member. Each of the plurality of hour members is connected by a chain section to an adjacent hour member. The sprocket engages the chain section between the hour members.

Abstract: A timepiece made up of a rotating hour plate and a rotating minute plate, a portion of the minute plate showing through a window formed through a fixed plate separating the two plates. Time of day is indicated by hour indicia on the hour plate adjacent the window with the minute is indicated through the window. An additional rotating seconds plate may be provided. The timepiece may be a twenty-four hour clock. Since both the hour and minute plates rotate, hour and minute indica are strategically positioned so that the timepiece is accurate. Various configurations of timepiece plates are shown.

Abstract: A three-handed clock has a single movement to rotationally drive the second, minute and hour hands. The rotary output of the movement is transmitted directly to the second hand and is transmitted through a transmission belt to the minute and hour hands. The use of the transmission belt eliminates the need for a gear train to drive the minute and hour hands thereby providing greater design flexibility and ease of assembly and maintenance.

Abstract: An all analog timepiece having a face with a center-point and a periphery and a single distinguishable time indicating hand rotatably mounted to the face at a periphery point. The single hand rotates about the periphery point at a first rate while the face rotates about its center-point at a second rate. Time is indicated by the relative direction indicated by the single hand with respect to a first reference point and simultaneously, the relative position of the periphery point about the center-point with respect to a second reference point.

Abstract: An indicating mechanism is described. The mechanism is ideally suited for the indication of time but is also applicable to other indicating functions where changing information must be displayed. The mechanism is composed of a flexible belt bearing indicia and three supportive discs. As the discs are caused to rotate, the belt and any indicia on it will rotate. This rotation will be apparent to users who see or touch the indicia on the belt, thus providing an indicating function. The unique geometry of the belt gives two full circular discoidal surfaces for decoration. Typically only one of these surfaces will be visible to users as the other is disposed directly below it. This arrangement allows times within each 12 hour period in the 24 hour day cycle to be indicated uniquely while maintaining the conventional location of each AM and PM hour's representation of the clock face.

Abstract: A disklike ornamental timepiece dial face (12) is constructed of transparent material forming an enclosed chamber (24) and a central clearance (28). Decorative materials (32) are located within the chamber and provide a kinetic display on movement of the timepiece. A second version, provides a motor (58) which rotates the ornamental dial face (12) to induce a continuous kinetic display.

Abstract: Digital-analog display device for timepiece comprising a cannon pinion (1), consisting of an analog disk (2) mounted on the cannon pinion and having a window (3) through which there appears a digit carried by a digital disk (5) mounted coaxially to the analog disk (2). The digital disk is driven in rotation by the cannon pinion by jumping means and its rotation relative to the analog disk is ensured by an eccentric moveable element (12) provided with a finger (13) which drives, on each revolution, a toothed wheel (6) integral with the digital disk (5).

Abstract: A device featuring an hour hand, a minute hand, and an operation indicating disk which are secured at the end of an hour hand shaft, a minute hand shaft, and a second hand shaft, respectively. The shafts are fitted coaxially and pass through a dial. The operation indicating disk is located at a central concave portion of the minute hand and a transparent cover is provided.

Abstract: An improved clock display consists of a disc hour hand with the indicator being the minute hand which is located at a position remote for the axis of the dial. The minute hand rotates on the hour disk. Time is determined by the relative position of the minute hand about the conventional time display (hour) and the position of the minute hand about its axis (minutes).

Abstract: A timepiece includes an analogue-type display for displaying the minute at a given moment, constituted by a hand rotated at the rate of one revolution per hour by the mechanism of the timepiece, and a digital-type display for displaying the hour at a given moment, comprising a rotating member for displaying the figure indicative of the hour at a given moment and a drive mechanism for driving the display member which is controlled by the timepiece mechanism and is adapted to rotate the rotating member in jerks at intervals of one hour.

Abstract: An analog style electronic watch employing an IC controlled electromagnetic system for driving concentrically mounted second, minute and hour ring indicators. Each ring has a plurality of equidistantly spaced permanent magnetic elements which enable the ring to be incrementally indexed by pulsed electromagnets. No gears or wheels are used. The electromagnets drive mechanism responds to clock pulses from the IC which supplies a core-wound electromagnet having asymmetric north-south poles for developing attractive and repulsive forces with respective to pairs of permanent magnet element on said rings. Asymmetry is achieved by varying the cross-sectional area of the core along the poles. The direction of ring rotation may be reversed by changing the direction of current flow in the winding.

Abstract: An clock has separate rotary dials and separate stationary hands for indicating separate units of time. The dials are rotated at speeds representative of different units of time, such as seconds, minutes and hours, while the hands are maintained stationary. The rotary dials are suspended vertically from one another, and the hands are kept stationary using a counter-balancing weight or the like.

Abstract: A time indicator for a clock or watch that has a watch plate and at least two time-indicating elements that are at least partially superimposed over one another and are driven by centrally and coaxially disposed drive elements. The time-indicating elements are formed by disks or dials that are of the same or different sizes, rotate about centrally disposed shafts, and are disposed in different planes. To indicate time, the dials are provided with openings, indicators, or colors that cover or optically suppress all other information that at any given time is not necessary for reading off that time.

Abstract: The timepiece comprises a movement (1) that rotatably drives at least an hours-hand before a dial (5). The dial (5) is formed with at least one display aperture (g1). Signs (s1, s2), which respectively represents the numbers of the hours shown by the hours-hand when the latter is in the same angular position as the display aperture (g1) a.m. and p.m., are arranged on a disc (6) which is located beneath the dial (5) and which is driven by a mechanism (7) that is connected to the movement (1). This mechanism (7) is so designed that the first and second signs (s1, s2) appear in the display aperture (g1), one a.m. (ante meridiem), the other p.m. (post meridiem). To simplify its construction, the mechanism (7) is so designed that the disc (6) will always be rotated in the same direction.

Abstract: A wrist watch with hour and minute hands in the form of rotatable circular films, having an electrostatic shielding device which grounds a glass of the watch through a back cover of the watch, to eliminate static electricity produced in the glass. Also, because of the use of thin rotatable circular films for the minute and hour hands, the thickness of the watch can be considerably reduced.

Abstract: A timing device is provided for the differential timing of game play, such as chess, employing an easily readable display means and an accurate timing means. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display means further comprises two concentric articulating discs of different color, usually black and white. The display is connected to an electric motor driven by an accompanying electric circuit such that one disc is driven by the motor. The direction of travel of the motor is controlled by player actuated switches which are tripped upon completion of each move. Differential time is displayed by the eclipse of one disc by the other.

Abstract: The face of the watch bears a design and has windows set in it in areas which do not affect the design itself. The disk which, in a normal watch, serves to display the day of the week, bears a design corresponding to the central portion of the design on the face. The ring which, in a normal watch, serves to display the date, bears a design corresponding to the portion of the face design which is not on the disk. Owing to this arrangement the design on the face only appears every 217 days without a parasitic image being present in the windows. The rest of the time the disk and the ring cause portions of the design to appear in the windows which give a confused overall appearance.

Abstract: The rotor of a stepping motor which rotates quickly by 180.degree. after the elapse of every second is provided with an ornamental disc at the end of the rotor spindle that is directed toward the timepiece's face. The disc may be disposed above the face, where it must be arranged in such a manner that it does not interfere with the paths of the hands. Alternatively, the disc may lie below the face, with at least one window being provided in the face so as to expose part of the disc. The design on the disc is such that the portion visible in the window changes suddenly every second. For example the design on the disc may be formed of two halves of contrasting color, one of which may be a luminescent color, a fluorescent color, or a luminous color. The device then has the same effect as a blinking light.

Abstract: A time piece such as a pocket or wrist watch having a large central opening formed therethrough which causes the watch to assume a toroidal configuration. Various inserts, made complimentary respective to the central opening, are supported within the central opening. The artistic design placed on either face of the insert admits a large selection of unique and personalized material to be readily available to the individual that wears the watch.

Abstract: A toroidal time piece for indicating the time of day. The toroidal time piece comprises a body having opposed faces with there being a relatively large window formed through the body. Each of the opposed faces has a boundary which extends about and defines the configuration of the window and the configuration of a peripheral edge of the body. The body and the window take on various different configurations to impart different artistic appearances into the time piece.

Abstract: The back cover (51) of the watch case carries a middle-bezel and forms a plate. At its center there are superimposed and concentrically pivoted, respectively, a ratchet crown-wheel (1.6) inside which a mainspring is housed, driving a core (1.3) fast with an hour-disc (1.1) comprising a toothing on its periphery, and a transparent minute-disc (1.2) comprising also a toothing on its periphery. These discs mesh on the one hand with a drive train (2, 3, 4) by which the minute-disc is driven by the hour-disc and, on the other hand with a winding and time-setting mechanism both located outside of the discs and at least partially at the same height as these discs.

Abstract: A thin electronic wrist-watch the thickness of which is constituted by the uperposition of a first crystal, at least two time indicating discs and a case back, the latter including a second crystal. The gears are supported on specially designed studs and means are provided to limit axial gear play.

Abstract: An electronic wrist-watch of greatly reduced thickness has extremely thin me indicating discs for which a special driving and guiding system is employed. Further, a single-phase motor is provided with at least two stator windings for reducing the watch's thickness. A watch case comprises an integral case band in order to assure greater rigidity of this thin watch structure.

Abstract: The watch of the invention contains a power cell 46, a quartz crystal 44, a step-by-step motor 42, a gear train 32 and a device for the analog display of the time constituted by two coaxial discs provided with index marks 24, 26 and each having external teeth so that they can be driven by the gear train. These components are all located inside a casing 10, 12 with a transparent window 14 and whose back acts as a bottom plate. All "thick" elements of the watch (cell 46, crystal 44, motor 42, gear train 32) are outside the periphery of the discs without overlapping, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the front plate of the watch, and are partially recessed into the underside of the rim 12 of the casing. The integrated circuit 50 may be hidden by the discs or also outside their periphery.

Abstract: This watch comprises a date crown or date disc (9) pivoted onto a plate (10) and completely independent of a driving gear train (1, 2, 3). A second micro-motor (14) drives this crown (9) in its angular displacements.

Abstract: A quartz analog watch has a disc with a minute hand thereon driven directly at its periphery by the rotor of a stepping motor. A single intermediate gear and pinion assembly performs a gear reduction to drive a conventional hour hand rotatably mounted on a center spindle which also supports the minute disc. The stepping motor watch internal components, including battery, stepping motor, intermediate gear assembly and integrated circuit are all partially hidden beneath the minute disc. A special watch crystal functions also as a top frame member controlling "endshake" of the movement members in conjunction with the caseback. A special metal clip provides a push button contact for electrically setting the watch and also holds the intermediate gear assembly in place.

Abstract: An instantaneous calendar device is disclosed.The instantaneous calendar device comprises a stationary part, for example, a bridge, a date ring, a day disk, a rotary shifter, and an actuator. The rotary shifter operates the date ring and the day disk. The actuator is composed of a spring, a tappet, and a calendar wheel coaxial with a cam. The cam of the actuator is rigidly secured to the stationary part of the device, whereas the tappet and the spring are mounted on the rotary shifter.

Abstract: The invention provides a very thin electronic watch having a casing with a front wall provided with a glass, a rear wall and a side wall connecting the front and rear walls. In the casing there is a spindle substantially perpendicular to the front and rear walls and mounted pivotally with respect to the casing, a toothed transmission wheel secured to the spindle, a "minutes" disc perpendicularly secured to the spindle and provided with a tooth arrangement on its periphery, and an "hours" disc pivotally mounted on the spindle, substantially parallel to the "minutes" disc and provided with a tooth arrangement on its periphery, the "minutes" and "hours" discs being disposed between the glass and the toothed transmission wheel. The casing further has an electric motor, a supply source, a first gear train engaging the rotor of the electric motor and the "minutes" disc and a second gear train engaging the "hours" disc and the transmission wheel.

Abstract: Instead of conventional hands, an hour disc and a minute disc are provided. The hands are represented by markers vaporized upon the undersides of the discs. The discs are pivoted on an arbor anchored in the watch glass. This arbor is hollow, and inserted in the free end thereof is a rivet-shaped retaining part which keeps the discs from slipping off the arbor. Each disc is toothed at its circumference. The teeth of the minute disc engage a gear wheel having a pinion which meshes with the teeth of the hour disc. This wheel and pinion are mounted on an arbor, one end of which is anchored in the watch glass. A retaining ring prevents the wheel from becoming detached from the arbor. This gear wheel likewise engages a pinion of another gear wheel mounted on an arbor. One end of this arbor is also anchored in the watch glass. A pinion of a stepping motor meshes with the teeth of the further gear wheel.

Abstract: A system and method for timing the play of golfers on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes. A timer is positioned at selected intervals on the golf course. Each timer is set back in time relative to its preceding timer in an amount equal to a predetermined playing time between each timer and its preceding timer. Each timer includes an assigned mark for each group of golfers which moves relative to a timing indicator for indicating the speed of play of each group of golfers between each timer and the preceding timer. Preferably the timers are positioned at each tee of the golf course. The timing indicator shows whether the golfers play the preceding interval faster, slower, or equal to the predetermined playing time.

Abstract: The segments of several 7-segment character displays are defined by elongated light distributors in the form of slots or a series of holes which are in a panel. A large area light source is located on the rear side of the panel. Rotatable opaque disks are interposed between the light source and characters. Each disk has an array of holes for transmitting light to predetermined ones of light pipes which lead to slot segments in one embodiment and which lead to the holes that define segments in another embodiment. When a disk is rotated, different groups of holes in the disks become aligned consecutively with the light pipes where they are used or with the panel holes to thereby illuminate selected character segments so they define a sequence of characters such as the numbers zero to nine. In a digital clock application, a synchronous motor drives a first disk in angular steps to define minutes at their rate of occurrence.

Abstract: A day disk cooperates with a storage of mechanical energy via a seven-position Maltese mechanism. A Maltese cross of said mechanism is rigidly coupled to and coaxial with the day disk. A transfer pin of the Maltese cross is set on an intermediate gear of the storage. A driven disk includes a projection for the transfer of a toothed date ring. The locking surfaces of the Maltese cross lock on the driven disk. Provision is made of a free unloaded lever with one arm locking in position the date ring and the other arm of said lever resting against the projections of the Maltese cross, thereby relieving the moment of load of the calendar device on the gear train and improving the reliability of the timepiece.

Abstract: A display device for calendar timepieces having a month display for the purpose of displaying the date indication in large size. To this end the device comprises a date dial and month dial, in which the month indication is displayed only at beginning of the month for informing the change of month. The month display may be performed by disclosing the month indication through an opening provided in the date dial through which the month indication is revealed or by utilizing a month indicating projection radially projected over the date dial.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a timepiece for indicating time by distinguishable colors, each corresponding to a standard unit of a time period. The units of the time period are represented by a plurality of uniform sections each differentiated by a distinguishable color and carried in a display area of a substantially flat annular member, preferably having a thickness or depth not more than 1/4 its diameter. The proper unit of the time period is indicated by reference means which may be a separate indicator or which may be carried on a separate cover member positioned above the display portion or area so as to indicate each of the distinguishable colors of the time period successively upon uniform, incremental and rotational movement between the reference means and the display portion carried by the annular member. The successive uniform rotational movement between each section and the point of reference is effected by a standard timepiece driving means.

Abstract: An analogue electronic alarm timepiece has a dial on which time is displayed by the usual hour, minute and second hands. The time for which the alarm is set is displayed digitally in an aperture provided in the dial. The digital display of the alarm time is effected by means of a rotatable hour wheel having hour indicia thereon and a rotatable minute wheel having minute indicia. The hour wheel and minute wheel are selectively rotatable by manual operation of an external stem. The hour wheel and minute wheel are magnetically and electronically coupled with alarm time memory means. Time counting means is electronically connected with a dividing circuit which divides a standard signal produced by an oscillator and to which a motor for driving the hands is also connected. The alarm is activated by a coincidence circuit when the time of the time counting means coincides with the time for which the alarm time memory means is set. Means is provided for synchronizing the time counting circuit with the hands.

Abstract: Various digit display units and digit shift means disposed between adjacent digit display units are mounted on two parallel supporting shafts extending between opposing side walls of a frame. A motor for driving the least significant digit is mounted on the outside of one side wall, and a time switch mechanism comprising a timer setting wheel, a cam gear and a timer lever is disposed between the other side wall and a sub-plate spaced therefrom. Cams are secured on the opposite ends of a shaft which supports the digit shift means, one of the cams engaging the timer lever, while the other cam engaging a buzzer operating member vibrated by the leakage flux of the motor. The operation of the timer lever is transmitted to the buzzer operating member through the digit shift means supporting shaft.