Abstract: A multi-purpose clock including a known clock movement and a clock body accommodating the clock movement. The clock body has at least twelve hollow compartments disposed at the positions of the hours numerals. Each hollow compartment contains a turnable, block which is pivotally disposed therein by means of a couple of positioning element. Each block has at least one side showing an hour numeral and at least one side showing a list of the days of the corresponding calendar month. The blocks may also display various patterns to provide greater variety.

Abstract: A dynamically changing, multi-color liquid crystal display for electronic watches or other design apparel items is provided. The liquid crystal displays incorporated within the watch or designer apparel item can be adapted to provide various colored images such as geometric images, animation images, customized images, designer labels, logos, etc. on colored backgrounds or alternatively provides a color changing capability that is aesthetically pleasing and fashionable. Moreover, the dynamically changing watch or other designer apparel item allows for the electronic control of the color appearance of the liquid crystal displays as well as electronic control of the liquid crystal display images, such images being generally independent of the time of day.

Abstract: An educational clock assembly includes a clock mechanism, a circular face plate, and a fastening ring. The circular face plate is formed of a plurality of modular pieces and has a central receiving hole into which the clock mechanism is press-fitted, a plurality of first grooves which are spaced angularly and equally on the circumference of the face plate. Each of the first grooves has a hour-piece which engages detachably in the first groove and which bears a hour numeral. The fastening ring engages around the circumference of the face plate in order to bind the modular pieces together. The inner periphery of the fastening ring has a plurality of second grooves. Each of the second grooves is aligned radially with a corresponding one the first grooves of the face plate and has a minute-piece which engages detachably in the second groove and which bears a minute numeral.

Abstract: A watch has a watch case, a module mounted in the watch case, a dial secured to the watch case, and a shield for shielding the dial. The dial has an extending portion outwardly extending from the dial. The dial is secured to the watch case, and the shield is secured to the dial.

Abstract: A watch dial which is made by laminating a cut section of a Tagua nut to a watch dial base plate. The cut section of the Tagua nut has a unique grain pattern which can be enhanced by dying or staining. A wide variety of grain patterns and color combinations can be achieved to provide one-of-a-kind watch dials.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing electroluminescent timepiece dials having three-dimensional indicia and to timepiece dials produced by this method. A subdial having the indicia projecting therefrom is affixed to the bottom of the electroluminescent dial. Three-dimensional effect is created when the projecting indicia are received by apertures in the electroluminescent dial.

Abstract: Provided is a luminous dial plate structure for watches, relatively high in luminance, sufficiently long in visual time and abundant in ornamental effect. The dial plate structure is composed of a lower plate and an upper member. The lower plate is made of a metal such as brass. The upper surface of the lower plate is coated with a phosphorescence-maintaining luminous agent made of a rare-earth element metal oxide. The surface of phosphorescence-maintaining luminous agent is coated with clear lacquer serving as a sealing material. The upper member is made of a thin transparent or translucent material, on which a time indication scale is provided. The upper member is bonded through an adhesive onto the upper surface of clear lacquer.

Abstract: A wrist watch having a removable dial plate formed by four segmental sheets of material. Each segmental sheet can be a distinctly colored paper element having a thin transparent plastic film on it front face. The rear face of each segmental sheet can have a coating of a pressure-sensitive adhesive for bonding the sheet to the front face of the watch case. When it is desired to change the appearance of the watch dial plate the four segmental sheets can be removed and replaced with four other sheets having a different image or message on the sheet front faces.

Abstract: A clock includes two dial pieces laterally openably pivoted to a stationary shaft. The dial pieces in a closed position define a single time display face. When a driving motor is started at any set time, two gears with eccentric cams are rotated in opposite directions; as a result, the dial pieces with cam followers held in contact with the eccentric cams are shifted in laterally opposite directions to take an open position, so that a gimmick normally hidden by the dial pieces in the closed position is exhibited. A spring is attached to the stationary shaft to moderately urge the dial pieces in the direction of opening thereof, or a spring is provided to urge the dial pieces in the direction of opening thereof via two pins provided on the eccentric cams in accord with the center lines thereof, whereby the operation of the dial pieces is attained uniformly irrespective of whether they are opened or closed.

Abstract: A clock having: a casing encasing a timepiece movement; and a decorative cover sheet. The cover sheet covers the casing while being folded along fold lines. A design is depicted on at least a sheet front piece. A cutout corresponding to a dial receiver portion is used as a dial. A continuity in design is provided between the dial and the cover sheet.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass watch dial made of "murrino" glass, said method comprising a phase for the axial drilling of the "murrina" disc, the hole resulting therefrom having a diameter to allow the passage of the watch-hand supporting shaft therethrough, one or more honing phases whereby the two surfaces of the "murrina" disc aare made to become parallel to each other, while the disc itself acquires a thickness which is compatible with its use as a watch dial, a phase for trimming of the outer edge of the "murrina" disc and a phase for polishing at least one of the two visible surfaces of the "murrina". The method achieves the manufacturing of watch dials by using "murrinas", i.e., objects constituted by a plurality of small glass cylinders melted together to form desired patterns.

Abstract: A device for teaching reading and passage of time which comprises a clock face composed of not less than three planes having two separate numerical scales circumferentially and concentrically disposed therein; the outer minute scale on the highest plane represented by 60 sector shapes, each sharing a common border line set at increments of 6 degrees beginning at zero degrees at the top center of the circular scale; each minute sector shape containing a plurality of minute numerals centrally spaced within each minute sector shape and directly in line with each border line interval; the inner hour scale on the next lower plane represented by 12 sector shapes each sharing a common border line set at increments of 30 degrees beginning at zero degrees at the top center of the circular scale; each hour sector containing numerals 1 to 12 centrally spaced within each hour sector and directly in line with each border line interval; each minute and hour sector shape graphically skewed; and respective hour and minute ha

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating time featuring a face having a stationary helical member positioned about a central point so that the distance between any point upon the helical member and a horizontal base plane increases in a clockwise direction around the circumference of the helical member. The face also includes a step member connecting the ends of the helical member along two radially extending common edges to form a continuous surface. At least one of these edges corresponds to the 12 o'clock position of the face thereby defining an indicia from which elapsed time is measured. Also, the face can include a plurality of members mounted upon a horizontal base plane and positioned about a central point. Each member is made of first and second planes of different areas which are angled with respect to the base plane and which intersect to form a common edge therebetween. The edges of the members extend toward the central point or terminate prior to that point to form a central face opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating time featuring a face having a stationary helical member positioned about a central point so that the distance between any point upon the helical member and a horizontal base plane increases in a clockwise direction around the circumference of the helical member. The face also includes a step member connecting the ends of the helical member along two radially extending common edges to form a continuous surface. At least one of these edges corresponds to the 12 o'clock position of the face thereby defining an indicia from which elapsed time is measured. Also, the face can include a plurality of members mounted upon a horizontal base plane and positioned about a central point. Each member is made of first and second planes of different areas which are angled with respect to the base plane and which intersect to form a common edge therebetween. The edges of the members extend toward the central point or terminate prior to that point to form a central face opening.

Abstract: A clock security device to be hung on a wall of a facility such as, for example, a store. The clock face has a convex mirrored surface which provides reflected panoramic view of the facility. The clock security device also includes a mounting bracket which provides for the mounting of the clock security device on the wall with the concave mirrored surface at different positions from parallel to the wall to tilted downwardly at different selected angles to the wall.

Abstract: A scale indicator used with an electronic setting apparatus, in which at least one of first and second indication sheets has the front surface with a plurality of scale marks and windows, and a third indication sheet rotatable from outside is arranged in 9 space between the first and second indication sheets. At least one of two surfaces of the third indication sheet is printed with characters of a plurality of series of units and numerals representing a plurality of setting scale ranges. The characters of each series of units and numerals are visible from outside through the windows by changing the angle of rotation. A single indicator is thus able to indicate a plurality of scale ranges being available for setting physical quantities and other numerical values.

Abstract: A timepiece with mobile decorations includes a casing incorporating a timepiece movement; a drive motor encased in the casing and functioning at arbitrarily set hours; a dial disposed in front of the casing and bilaterally openable and closable about a fixed shaft; a dial opening/closing mechansim, encased in the casing and operable by the drive motor, for opening and closing the dial; and mobile decorations interposed between the dial and a front face of the casing and functioning while the dial is opened so as to be visually recognizable from outside.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating time featuring a face having members positioned around a central point in five minute time intervals thereby forming a continuous surface, a pair of hands which rotate relative to the members and a means for mounting to a watchband, a wall or other such surface. These members may form a variety of different size and shape perimeters for the face. Also, the members may converge to the central point or terminate prior to that point to form a closed area.

Abstract: A drip-type hot water feeder of a coffee maker incudes an electric heater for heating and boiling water fed from a water reservoir, and a timer for controlling the time for supplying an electric current to the heater to regulate the hot-water supply to a brewer. The timer has a manually movable control member for continuously variably setting the current supply time and a scale indicating the quantity of hot-water supply corresponding to the time set by the control member. Each mark of the scale has a predetermined width in the setting movement direction of the control member and includes a plurality of compensating indexes indicative of the adjustment of the control member necessary to compensate the set current supply time and thus the quantity of hot water to be supplied indicated by each mark for variations in cold water conditions influencing the time required for supplying a desired quantity of a hot water.

Abstract: A clock has a movement with protruding nested drive shafts. A housing member has a wall and a ridge which is forwardly offset from the wall. A planar dial rests against the ridge and is formed with an aperture in register with the aperture of the wall with the nested shafts extending through the apertures. A securing device engages the front of the dial, extends through the aligned apertures and engages a fixed member of the movement thereby holding the dial against the ridge.

Abstract: A clock includes a dial, a transparent cover plate spaced apart from the dial at a certain interval to define a space between the back face of the cover plate and the front face of the dial, and hands disposed in the space and driven to move relative to the dial to indicate time. Spacers are disposed on the visible portion of the front face of the dial and protrude against the back face of the cover plate such that the spacers are contactable with the back face of the cover plate upon deformation of the dial and the cover plate to maintain a sufficient interval of the space to allow face movement of the hands.

Abstract: Digits of a multi digit alphanumeric display have eight segments, viz a conventional seven segment arrangement plus an eighth. The attitude/position of the eighth segment differs from digit to digit, the pattern of variation being selected so that a limited repertoire of words and phrases can be displayed without the provision of full alphanumeric capability on all digits.

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: A watch dial is provided comprising a plastic or metal base plate. The base plate has thereon an uneven portion embodying a surface design, letter, window, symbol or mark. The uneven portion is formed by exposing photosensitive resin to ultraviolet light. The surface of the photosensitive resin portion of the base plate is metal-plated.

Abstract: A clock has a face comprising a rigid base layer, an overlaying layer of resilient padding and an enveloping film layer. The clock movement may be conveniently supported from the face, the sounding board effect of the base layer being diminished by the foam layer. The base may formed of hardboard or the like, the film layer providing both a decorative and protective function therefor.

Abstract: The present invention includes an optical system with a first composite image viewable through a lenticular lens sheet. The first composite image is formed of a multiplicity of spaced apart parallel stripes with transparent stripes or voids therebetween. A second composite image or indicia can be positioned beneath the first composite image in a second plane. When viewed along one angle, the first composite image is visible. When viewed along a second angle, the second composite image is viewed through the transparent stripes or voids in the first composite image. A watch utilizing this optical system is also described.

Abstract: A foldable clock dial comprises a plurality of foldable plates, the volume of which can be diminished when being folded up so as to facilitate packaging, and which can form a complete clock dial when being restored. The plates can be made by sheets of metal, cardboard, plastic or other materials. A clock including such a foldable dial can be used as an ideal item of free gift for sales promotion or as a seasonal ornament.

Abstract: A timepiece (1) contains a movement (2), topped by a dial (3) and housed in a casing (4) of a watch case. A crystal (5) is located over at least a portion of its periphery against the upper edge (6) of the casing. The edge (6) has a surface inclined (7) toward the inside of the case and defines with the opposite surface of the periphery of the crystal and with the outer edge of a riser (8) placed on the circumference of the dial (3) a housing in which a gasket (9) is deformably held.

Abstract: A dial plate or masking plate for a timepiece, having a pattern formed on a surface of the dial plate by embossing with a mold formed of a hard metal by an electroforming process.

Abstract: A switch structure for an analog quartz crystal timepiece having a watchglass plate, a time dial to display time in an analog mode, and a digital display device, which switch structure comprises a plurality of transparent electrically conductive electrode films provided on the watchglass plate at positions corresponding to numerical display indicia on the time dial to permit generation of input signals corresponding to the numerical display indicia, respectively.

Abstract: A display device for a timepiece comprises an apertured dial and an electro-optical display element affixed to said dial so that said display element can be viewed through said aperture. The display device also includes an insulation layer and electrodes on said insulation layer.

Abstract: A calendar display apparatus comprising a calendar display panel device indicating the 1st to 31st days constituting at least one month which are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns in conformity to the serial order of the seven days of the week, wherein the calendar display panel device is supplied according to a referential clock pulse signal with at least "day" data and "month" data. A column data producing device is provided for specifying that column of the calendar on which there falls a particular day of the week in the month indicated by the "month" data. A column-specifying device receives column data delivered from the column data producing device for designating that column of the calendar in which there falls a particular day of the week. A "month"-shifting instruction generating device shifts month data forward or backward, and a data-shifting device varies the "month" data and also changes the column data supplied to the column-specifying device from the column data producing device.

Abstract: A digital display for an electronic timepiece having first visual indication display segments peripherally disposed around numerical display digits for selectively indicating predetermined integral time zones corresponding to the time displayed by the numerical display digits and further visual indication display segments for discriminating time zones that are not integrally related to the time zones indicated by the first indication display segments is provided. The display is characterized by a bezel surrounding the plurality of visual indication display segments, the bezel having a plurality of first distinct indicia disposed therearound. Each of the first indicia are disposed proximate to the position of the first visual indication display segments to identify the predetermined global time zone selectively indicated thereby. At least one second indicia is disposed on the bezel intermediate a pair of first indicia.

Abstract: Electronic circuits especially adapted for driving an electro-optic representation of a conventional mechanical analog watch, such circuits providing improved signal multiplexing for activating the display.

Abstract: For reminding a viewer that a predetermined action should be effected at a particular time, means such as a pill bucket, medication spoon, or the like, is adapted to be removeably supported at a fixed time indicator with respect to which time indexing means are regularly moveable relative to the indicator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrist watch and thermometer arrangement. The thermometer is carried in a channel which surrounds the dial face of the watch, and the channel is formed by a platform, surrounding the dial face and disposed on one side of the thermometer, and a removable member, disposed on the other side of the thermometer. Hold down means, consisting of thin strips of a material having spring-like characteristic, extend over the thermometer from the removable means towards the platform. To remove the thermometer, it is merely necessary to lift the removable means off the platform. The removable means may be attached to the platform by a plurality of screws. The thermometer is carried in the channel by a plurality of y-shaped stands, at least the top portions of which are made of an insulating material.