GB2135083A

GB2135083A - Travelling clock

Info

Publication number: GB2135083A
Application number: GB08402663A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lynford Stephan Pepall
Original assignee: Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 1983-02-05
Filing date: 1984-02-01
Publication date: 1984-08-22
Also published as: FR2540645B3; ES277291U; GB8402663D0; DE8303120U1; FR2540645A1; ES277291Y; GB2135083B; HK76786A

Abstract

In a travelling clock having a hinged lid (3) the dial (4) is illuminated by a lamp (7) via a light- conducting element (8) which extends around the edge of the dial and which has a light-transmitting edge portion (12) projecting towards the lid to illuminate the inside of the lid when the lid is open. The inside of the lid may carry graphic or verbal information, such as an international time chart or a calendar. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Travelling clock having a lid which can be illuminated The invention relates to a traveling clock comprising a housing and a pivotably connected lid, the housing comprising a clockwork, a dial and an electric lamp.

Such a traveling clock is generally known.

The known traveling clock has a lid which is connected to a sidewall of the housing so as to be pivotable. The inside of the lid is often provided with a picture or an information plate. A battery which provides the energy for the clockwork and the lamp is present in the housing. The lamp is accommodated so as to illuminate the dial.

A disadvantage of the known traveling clock is that in the operating condition the inside of the lid is not illuminated so that available information, if any, is not visible in the dark.

It is the object of the invention to modify the traveling clock mentioned in the opening paragraph in such manner that the said disadvantage does not occur.

For that purpose, the traveling clock according to the invention is characterized in that parallel to the dial a light conductor is provided which can be irradiated by the lamp and on the side adjoining the opened lid comprises a light-transmitting edge portion for illuminating the inside of the lid when the lid is open.

In the operating condition of the traveling clock according to the invention the lid, starting from the closed position, is rotated at an angle from approximately 90 to 180 as a result of which the inside of the lid is visible simultaneously with the dial. When the lamp operates the light conductor is irradiated and light enters the light conductor. In the light conductor the light is guided and scattered in such manner that one part emanates from the light conductor and irradiates the dial, whereas another part is guided to the lighttransmitting edge portiqn, emanates there and illuminates the inside of the lid.

A variety of flat articles, for example, a picture, a drawing or an information chart, for example, a universal time chart, a year calender, and so on, may be provided on the inside of the lid. An advantage of the traveling clock according to the invention is that the article present on the inside of the lid is also visible in the dark.

For completeness' sake it is to be noted that a clock without a lid is known from German Utility Model 7206176 which comprises an annular light conductor. Said light conductor is suitable only to illuminate the dial when irradiated.

A favourable embodiment of the traveling clock according to the invention is characterized in that the edge portion has a lenticular cross-section. This embodiment presents the advantage that the inside of the lid can be illuminated accurately.

A special embodiment of the traveling clock in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the edge portion projects over the sidewall of the housing adjoining the opened lid. The advantage of this is that the inside of the lid can be illuminated extremely uniformly.

Another embodiment of the traveling clock in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the edge portion has an aperture on each short side in which the projections present on the lid engage. This construction provides a simple and inexpensive pivotable connection of the lid.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the light conductor comprises a recess in which the lamp extends. With the light conductor constructed in this manner the light irradiated by the lamp may be used optimally for illuminating the dial as well as the lid.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and will be explained in detail hereinafter. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an embodiment partly in the assembled condition.

Figure 2 shows a detail of another embodiment.

The traveling clock according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 and referenced 1 comprises a housing 2 and a lid 3 which are both formed from a synthetic resin. On the top side of the housing 2 a dial 4 is present. A clockwork of which only the hourhand 5 and the minute hand 6 are visible is provided in the housing. Also present in the housing 1 is a battery, not shown, which is electrically connected to a lamp 7 projecting from the housing 2. In the assembled condition a light conductor 8 which is manufactured from a transparent synthetic resin plate and comprises a central aperture 9 bears on the dial 4.

The aperture 9 is proportioned so that the hands 5 and 6 can move freely over the dial 4. The conductor 8 furthermore comprises a recess 10 in which the lamp 7 extends. On one side 11 the light conductor 8 comprises a light-transmitting edge portion 1 2 which has a lenticular cross-section and projects over a flat sidewall 1 3 of the housing 2. In this embodiment the edge portion 1 2 and the conductor 8 form one assembly. The edge portion 12 and the conductor 8 are formed from the transparent synthetic resin polymethylmethacrylate. Examples of other suitable transparent synthetic resins are polyvinylchloride, polyacrylate, polycarbonate and polyethylene.

The edge portion 12 comprises an aperture 1 5 on its two short sides 14. The lid 3 comprises two projections 1 6 which in the assembled condition engage in the apertures 1 5 in the edge portion 1 2 and form a pivotable connection therewith. The clock 1 further more comprises a face plate 17, which is connected to the housing 2 and keeps the light conductor 8 in its place. The face plate 1 7 comprises a glass plate 1 8 for protecting the dial 4 and the hands 5 and 6.

In the operating condition, with opened lid 3 and operating lamp 7, the light irradiated by the lamp 7 enters the light conductor 8. In the conductor 8 the light is partly applied to the aperture 9 so as to illuminate the dial 4 and partly to the edge portion 12 in which the light rays are directed on the inside 19 of the opened lid 3.

In the detail shown in Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the traveling clock in accordance with the invention a light-transmitting edge portion is formed from two parts 20 and 21. The light-transmitting part 20 forms one assembly with the light conductor plate 22 and the light-transmitting part 21 is present on a face plate 23. On the short sides 24 and 25, respectively, the two parts 20 and 21 comprise grooves 26 and 27, respectively. In the assembled condition the parts 20 and 21 engage each other, the grooves 26 and 27 forming two apertures in the edge portion in which the lid of the traveling clock can beconnected in the manner already described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A traveling clock comprising a housing and a pivotably connected lid, the housing comprising a clockwork, a dial and an electric lamp, characterized in the parallel to the dial a light conductor is provided which can be irradiated by the lamp and on its side adjoining the opened lid comprises a light-transmitting edge portion for illuminating the inside of the lid when the lid is open.

2. A traveling clock as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the edge portion has a lenticular cross-section.

3. A traveling clock as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge portion projects over the sidewall of the housing adjoining the opened lid.

4. A traveling clock as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the edge portion comprises on its two short sides an aperture in which the projections present on the lid extend.

5. A traveling clock as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the edge portion is formed from two parts in which the separating surface extends in the longitudinal direction of the edgeportion.

6. A traveling clock as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the light conductor comprises a recess in which the lamp extends.

7. A traveling clock substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.