Abstract: The invention provides microstructured time dependent indicators including timers, time/temperature indicators, etc. The indicators are preferably highly accurate and easy to read. The invention also includes indicators which are game pieces, calendars, greeting cards, etc. The indicators function by flow of a material through channels of a microstructured substrate.

Abstract: The wristwatch of substantially rectangular shape includes two sliding shutter-type covers (6, 7) sliding over a case (1) to show or to conceal said case via manual action exerted on said shutters. The shutters are secured to the case by holding means (9) distinct from the guide means (8), said means being implemented to exert a vertical force (F) under each of the shutters tending to apply said shutters (6, 7) against the holding means (9) to reduce the shutter friction surface on the case.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a reference wheel and a target wheel each having one or more reflective members for reflecting a light generated from a light emitting device. The position of the reference wheel may be positively determined when receiving a starting code which includes one or more “off” signals and one or more “on” signals reflected by the reflective member of the reference wheel. The reference wheel may be quickly rotated to align an orifice with the light emitting device, for allowing the light to be reflected by the reflective member of the target wheel.

Abstract: A mechanism having at least a function of measuring an arbitrary elapsed time is provided, which disables the function from being reset after the function is started, and enables the function to be reset after the function is stopped. The function is continuously held in an electrical ON state after being started, except when being normally stopped. This provides a time measurement device and method in which an electrical operating state and a mechanical operating state can coincide.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a wrist watch containing an RFID tag which maintains a sense of luxury and has comparatively high sensitivity. The wrist watch containing tag of this invention comprises a watch case having a ring-shaped frame, a glass lid, and a bottom lid; a drive section which is accommodated inside the watch case; a display section for displaying time which is driven by the drive section; and an RFID tag which is accommodated inside the watch case and comprises an antenna and an IC chip; the ring-shaped frame and/or the bottom lid having at least one slit therein, and the antenna comprising a wound coil which runs along the inner face of the ring-shaped frame so as to surround the drive section. The slit is filled with a nonconductive resin, affixing the opposing cutaway planes together.

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.

Abstract: Several watches (1.1-1.4) are placed in an arrangement and interconnected by connecting means (2.1-2.3). The watches (1.1-1.4) have cover glasses (11.1-11.4), dials (12.1-12.4), cases (13.1-13.4), winders (14.1-14.4) and time indicating means (15.1-15.4). The connecting means (2.1-2.3) are e.g. located on a carrier element (20) containing the dials (12.1-12.4) of all the watches (1.1-1.4). The carrier element (20) has preset breaking lines (3.1-3.3) in the form of perforations and cross-sectional reductions between the watches (1.1-1.4), so that said watches (1.1-1.4) can be separated from one another. The arrangement or watches (1.1-1.4) separated therefrom can be used as fashion accessories jewellery, pendants, etc. There are no practical limits to the design of the arrangement and its watches (1.1-1.4). The arrangement can be manufactured in a simple, advantageous manner, so that it is in particular possible to take account of rapidly changing fashions.

Abstract: There is provided a cigarette case having a compartment for the storage of cigarettes and a second compartment of for the storage of a removable lighter or, alternatively, a lighter as an integral element of the case. An access door allows the removal of a cigarette from the case and the use of the lighter, while a separate installation door allows a pack of cigarettes to introduced into the cigarette compartment. An integral clock allows a user to set an alarm to sound at either a desired time or after a desired period of time, a feature beneficial to one desiring to limit the frequency of smoking. An adjustable spacer plate within the cigarette compartment accommodates either “regular” or “king” cigarettes. A clip on the back of the case allows for clipping the case to a user's belt, a automobile's sun visor or other similar object.

Abstract: A clutch wheel for a timepiece includes a cylindrical portion having an inner peripheral surface for slidably receiving an indicator hand setting stem of the timepiece, an outer peripheral surface, and a flanged base surface. A plurality of teeth are formed on an upper surface of the flanged base surface surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The teeth may be in contact with or spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and the clutch wheel may be forged of metal.

Abstract: A calendar timepiece has a main plate having a guide portion and a date indicator driving wheel mounted on the main plate to undergo rotation. A date feed finger is connected to the date indicator driving wheel for rotation therewith to engage the guide portion of the main plate so that the date feed finger is displaced in a generally thickness direction of the main plate. A date indicator has a tooth portion for meshing engagement with the date feed finger when the date feed finger engages the guide portion of the main plate and is displaced in the thickness direction of the main plate so that the date indicator undergoes rotation relative to the main plate to indicate date information during rotation of the date feed finger. A day feed finger is connected to the date indicator driving wheel for rotation therewith. A day indicator is connected to the day feed finger for rotation therewith to indicate a day of the week.

Abstract: A clock apparatus comprises a clock case made of either an opaque material or a translucent material, the clock case enclosing an electronic circuit comprising electronic circuit elements including: a clock timer, a source of electrical current, a power switch, a switching device, and a means for illumination. The clock case comprises a pair of cubes, with an upper one of the cubes mounted at one corner, on a face of a lower one of the cubes. The cubes provide apertures having a distribution on the clock case in correspondence with the dots of a pair of dice. Windows made of either an opaque or a translucent material, cover the apertures so that light from the illumination means of the electrical circuit is visible through either the clock case or the windows as a light show in accordance with the switching device. A clock face is engaged with the clock timer and is mounted on one of the faces of the upper one of the cubes so as to be visible to a viewer of the light show.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced structure of a time display device includes a circle with 60 display units on the circumference of the clock face, among which 12 display units are made larger for displaying hour of time (hour display units) and the rest (smaller ones) displaying minute of time (minute display units). The display units are made with materials that shine or flicker to indicate time in the dark. To indicate hour of time, a given hour display unit and the two minute display units right next to this hour display unit would be switched on. To indicate minute of time, one of the minute display units would be switched on. While a given display unit has to indicate hour and minute at the same time, it flickers.

Abstract: A day and night depicting clock device for demonstrating daytime and nighttime on a clock. The device includes a clock having a clock face wall and an hour drive shaft rotating once every twelve hours. A first disk is mounted on the hour drive shaft for rotation with the hour drive shaft, has a radially extending first slot, is formed of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk, and has a relatively light color to identify a daytime period. A second disk is positioned behind the first disk, is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall, has a radially-extending second slot, is formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk, and has a relatively dark color to identify a night-time period. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk.

Abstract: When using wristwatches for diving or action sports, it is desirable to be able to prevent the winding button from being pulled out inadvertently and the time unintentionally altered. To avoid this, the button (3) has the overall shape of an H and a lever (2) engages in the groove (10) in said button (3) to prevent this button from being pulled out in error.

Abstract: A timing device utilized for determining overall response of a vehicle to initial starting activities. The vehicle is comprised of an engine, a transbrake, a transbrake button and delay box for engaging and disengaging the transbrake, a drive shaft, a throttle stop mechanism, and an acceleration pedal. The timing device is in an operative relationship with the vehicle and produces electrical signals in response to various events that occur prior to and during a drag race. The timing device calculates an elapsed time between various pairs of the electrical signals produced. The device displays the elapsed times to the driver or user in an alphanumeric format.

Abstract: The assembly includes a first display device (22) in front of which is arranged a second active liquid crystal display device including, starting from the exterior, a front polarizer (11) selective of a first color “V”, a liquid crystal display cell (26) which is switchable ON/OFF, an intermediate polarizer (13) selective of a second color “R”, an ON/OFF switchable optical liquid crystal valve (28) and a rear polarizer (15), which is reflective when the first display device (22) has a dark background and absorbent when it has a light background. A control unit (23) allows two switching states to be selected allowing the color of the information displayed, or that of the background on which said information is displayed to be reversed. Application to the display of information in a timepiece.

Abstract: The telephone watch (1) includes a back cover (2) in which is arranged a housing (3) arranged to accommodate a SIM card (4). A cover (5) provided with a hinge (6) closes the back cover (2). Means are implemented to assure the sealing (8) of the cover (5) and to assure the locking thereof (7). The hinge (6) is arranged so as to be entirely confined within the back cover (2).

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises power generation means for generating electricity by using external energy, storage means for storing electric energy received from the power generation means, time-indicating means powered by electric energy supplied from the power generation means or the storage means for indicating time, a switch circuit including a plurality of switching devices and adapted to transfer or intercept electric energy between the power generation means and the storage means and between the power generation means and the time-indicating means, voltage measuring means for measuring voltage across the time-indicating means, and control means that selects one of predetermined power ratios based on the results of measurement by the voltage measuring means and controls the switch circuit according to the selected ratio when the power generation means charges the storage means and the time-indicating means.

Abstract: When a time keeping apparatus is in a power saving mode, performing time display is stopped, and the apparatus periodically receives external time data and sets the data into a second time counter and an hour-and-minute time counter. When the operation mode of the time keeping apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the display mode, the apparatus resumes display of the current time based on the counted values in the second time counter and the hour and minute time counter.

Abstract: The wristwatch (1) provided with a telephone device (3) able to receive and transmit messages broadcast by an antenna (4). The antenna (4) is integrated in a tongue (5) one (7) of the ends of which is attached to the wristband. The tongue can be arranged in a first position in which it runs alongside the wristband at least partly and is merged with it or a second position in which it is moved away from the wristband and stands upright in a plane containing the circle defined by the wristband when it is worn.