GB2338087A

GB2338087A - A watch bezel

Info

Publication number: GB2338087A
Application number: GB9912286A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Winter; Roger Stanley Bates
Original assignee: INTER CITY WATCH Co Ltd
Current assignee: INTER CITY WATCH Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-05
Filing date: 1999-05-27
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: GB9912286D0

Abstract

A bezel 12 for a watch 10 is disclosed having indicia defining a first legion 14 and a second legion 16 visually distinct from the first legion 14, the first legion 14 extending from a first position 18 around at least a part of the bezel 12 to a second position 20 and the second region 16 extending from the second position 20 of the first region 14 at least partly around the remainder of the bezel 12, the second legion 16 having indicating means to represent increments of time. The two regions 14,16 may be used respectively to represent the nominal durations of the periods of events.

Description

1 A Title. A Bezel for a Watch and a Watch Incorporating Same Desefiption

of Invention 2338087 This invention relates to a bezel for a,,,atcli, moi-e pail] cul arly. but not exclusivelv, to a bezel for an analo(we spoils kvatch.

Spoiling events often comprise one or more periods of a given length of time, foi- example a football match comprisinig, two penods, or halves, each half havitic a length of nominally forty five minutes. It is usually, the case that dui-ing, each penod stoppages occur, for example. xs,.ben a playei- is injured. The total amount of time taken tip by the stoppages during the pel-lod is added oil to the iioniinal length of the period, i. e. i-efei-i.in.(", back to the example of the football match, at the end of the forty five minutes, the half continues for a penod of time, often refeiTed to as extra time, stoppage time, or iiljuiN,, time, equal to the total amount of time taken up by the stoppa-,es dui.in(' the half Foi- a pei-son the sporting event, foi- ex.ample a spectaton it is oftCii desli-able to kno,; how much time has passed sHice the b-,""nnin,', of the pei-lod. oi- liok,. much time remains until the end of that pei-lod, and also hoks much time is bein. added on to the end of the penod due to stoppages. Dunno, w the spollillg ex,eilt it may not be convenient foithe pei.son watching, to detennine these time values, for example by us1110 a coil Ventioii al watch.

It is oftCri the case that digital x,atclies compi-ise a stop watch featui.e.

tlils is ---enei-ally not the case with analoctie,,.atclies. Analo(_we atches compi-Ising a i-otatill(y bezel. often known as divei-s watches, ai.e known t> in the 9i.t. they; are usually linilted to a sHigle scale of 0 to 60.

feResenting minutes, and pi.ovide no means foi- i-el)i-esciitiii,, a second time penod such as the stoppage time added on at the end of the first penod.

Accol-dim, to the pi-esent inveimon thei-e is 1)i.(-)\ lided a bezel foia watch iridicia definino a fii.st region and a second i-egion distMict fi-om the first region, the first region extendinL, fi-orn a first position around at least a paii of the bezel to a second position and the second region extending from the second position of the first region at least panly around the remainder of the bezel, the second reuion havim, therein indicatin(l means to represent increments of tinie.

An advanta,,e of the present invention is that the rotatable bezel has two 1'C(Ylolls which may, be used i,espectlY7ely to represent the nominal duration of the perliod of the spoiling event and anv extra oi- stoppage time that may be added on at the end of the nominal period, Referring back to the example of the football match, the first reglon of the bezel nia,'., be used to represent the nominal duration of the period being played, e. g. the first oi- second 'llaIf'. while the second region of the bezel nia, be used to represent an\ stoppage tinie added thereto. Bv virtue of the first and second reolons being visually, distinct the bezel provides the spectator with an indication of how fai. into the period the spoiling event has progressed, or how niuch stoppage time has been Z1 added on be-,lond the end of the nominal period.

The second recion nia, extend fi.oiii the second position of the first region around the entire remainder of the oiit\\,al-dl,,. facine surface of the bezel to the first position of the first reglon.

The -Iiidicatin-1 111.1ails of the second i.e,-,ioii niav region be arraned at anculai. intervals of 6 ' relative to the centre of the bl-zel so as to represent increments of one rninute svhen as indicated b\ the nilmite hand of a,-atell, or of one second,-,,lien used with the second hand of a stop\ateli.

PreferabIv the first regioii is also provided with indicatino ineans,,. hicli represent increments of tinie.

F1.11-therniore the first region preferably, has iiieaiis to represent a period of time corresponding to a peniod of a spoiiiiiii event.

Preferably the se-cond position of the first region represents the end of the period.

The first region may have a start indicator which represents the stall of the period. The start indicator may be co-incident with the first position or spaced therefi.om.

The first region may have a plurallty of spaced start indicators k,lilcli each represent the stall of a different period, stcli that the first region has Z.) means to represent a plurality of periods of time corresponding to periods of a plurality of different sportina events.

Altei-nati,,,el,,,, a set of different bezels, with respective different nominal periods indicated in their first regions. may, be provided for interchangeable assernbly xvith a single watch.

The bezel may,' be formed as a single ring bearing, both regions. but in an alternative arrangement the bezel inay be formed as relatively circumferentially; W adjustable iiiner and outer rings, one of which bears the first region and the 0 c other of which bears the second reolon. In such a case. the first realon mav be ided on the inner ring and the second region on the outel- rillo provi W Accordino to a second aspect of the present flix.entlon there is provided an analogue watch having a rotatable bezel in accordance with the first aspect as abox.e.

The present invention will now be described. by way. of example only. with i.cfei-eiice to the accompanying drawings, wherelil.' FIGURES 1 and 2 provide illustrations of a watell a rotatable bezel according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawitios. there is shown an iiialo,-,iie ateli 10 having, a rotatable bezel 12 according to the present iii"-iitioii. The k\atch ful-ther 111C1Lides at least a minute hand 26.

The bezel 12 is provided with Indicia defining two visually distinct reolons. a first reglon 14, extending fi-orn a first position 18 around the bezel in clockwise direction to a second position 20. and a ccoiid 16. extend1110 fi-om the second reglon 20 around the i.ciiiaiiid,2i. of ffic bczl-i in a clockwise 0 4 direction and to the first position 18. The t,,o regi -c made visualIv bions ai distinct in an.," appropriate manner, for example by means of colour or shading as illustrated.

The first re-lon 14 carries a first scale, includin- a stall indicator 28, increment markers 22 around the bezel and typically representing iiitei-, ,.als of one minute, and numerical indicators 23) stailing frorn zero at the stall indicator 28 and ascending in a clockv,-ise direction in units of 5 minutes in the illustrated example, so that the second position 20, that is the end of the first region, corresponds to forty. five minutes on the scale of the first region 14, which is the nominal duration of a period of a football match.

It,.vill be appreciated that although a football inatch is used as an example of a sporting event for which the illustrated embodiment may be used, the present in-,.eiitioii is not limited to use for football matches. The present invention is suitable for alternative spoilino events, such as i-ucbv union matches, rugby league matches. liockey matches oi- any other sportino event "-1i"cli comprises one or more periods of a set length of tin-le.

At the stall of a period of the football iiiatl-li. thl- bezel 12 rnay be rotated until the stall indicator 28 is substantialIv in all-,iiiiieiit with the minute hand 26 of the atch 10. SubseqLlCntl\'. as the minute hand 26 advances it indicates on the first scale the aniount of tline "lilcii has passed since the stall of the period and thereby provides foi- a ready assessment of tline reinalning until the end of the period. Figure 1 shows by way of example a tline of seventeen minutes into a period that comnienced at 12.3)4, the start indicator 28 heltig in I- CLI"],stel, v"Ith the 34 ininute position on tlile watch face. 111,1 tlIC Minute hand 26 being in re(lister with the 17 ininute inarker of the f-ii- st scale.

In another einbodiinent the fii-st scale ina\ staii froin zero at the second position 20 and aseciid in an anticlockwise dii-ectioii tc),,-%.aids the stall indicator to provide a direct indication of the nominal tinic i-emalimw in the period.

Alternatively, the fii,st regin 14 inay be pi.o\lded txo scales. the first as i'llusti 1 1 c -ated ii the di-aw'ncis and the second scale star-tinfrom zero at the second position 20 and ascending in an anticlockwise direction, providing a direct indication of both the amount of time which has passed since the stall of the period and the tline remaining until the end of the period.

The second re-lon 16 caiTies a second scale consistin- of increment markers 24 a-ain typically representina one minute intervals. After the end of the nominal period represented by the first region 14, the i arkers 24 c IncrellIent m of the second region 16 provide an indication of the amount of stoppage time -,slilch is bein,', added on, and althou-h not sho,,-n numerical indicators W t> ascendino in the clockwise direction from the position 20 inay be provided. Figure 2 sho,rs by, way of example a time of six ininutes into extra time in a period that commenced at 12.00, the start indicator 28 bein- in register with the zero minute position on the watch face, and the minute hand 26 being, ill repister with the 6 ininute marker of region 16.

Due to the fact that the first and second regions 14,16 are visually distinct froin one another, the user, such as a spectator at the sportino ev'ent may, obtain an indication of the amount of time since the stall of the period, the amount of tinie reinaining until the nominal end of the period, or, i-,.-heii the perlod has exceeded its nominal duration. the amount of stoppage tline added on to the end of the period.

Altlioti-,li in the embodiment Illustrated only, one start indicator 28 is provided, several stall indicators may, alternatively be provided. so that the bezel is then suitable for use durina different sportill(2 1 1 0 _ events having periods of different lcii,-,tlis of tline. In such a case a coiijit-(loii nuillel- lcal scale \:ould be preferred In the first region 14 with start lindleators positioned as appropriate to differing periods.

Additionally., or alternatively, the bezel may, be provided with fui-ther distinct re-lions, such that the first regloll represents the period and each subslequent region represents stoppage tliniC added on at the end of a 6 period of a different sporting event in relation to the stailing position 28. In c tills case the varlous periods would preferable be distinguished by, different colours.

Althou h the numerical indicators 23) provided oil the first re-lon 14 9 ascends in increments of 5 minutes, alternative increments, for example of ten minutes, could be provided. Also, the increment inarkers 22 may be of five minutes, rather than one minute. or ally, suitable alternatiVe.

The stall indicator 28 may, be positioned at the first position 18, or alternatively, the first position 18 may, itself function as a stall indicator, such that the second region 16 extends fl-om the second position 20 to the stail indicator.

The bezel 12 may be removable fi-om the,atcli such that several interclian-eable bezels could be provided, each suitable for repre sent i ng periods of different lenotlis of time for different spoiiiii(y eventS, wherebv the chosen bezel attached to the watch corresponds with the spoiling event being -i,,atelied at that time.

Althow,h the bezel 12 illustrated Ill the di-<ix\lii(-,s "s forilled as a sil,,le i-Ing. a split bezel iiia,,.,. alternatively. be provided, haing all linner ring and all outer ring such that the first region is provided oil one of the rings and the second reg-lon is provided oil the second ring. The two rinos mav be frictionaliv. en-a-ed so as to be ad ustable relative to one-another. but preferably a ratchet inechanisin is provided to enable tli.e outer l-lilLY to illove freelv relative to the inner rim, ill oil]\ one direction..-\sstlililil,-, that the second region is oil the outer rino, the latter may be aiListed relative to the inner i-1110 ill the permitted direction to bi-ling the stall point of the slecond region ill to with the markei- oil the first reclon proxidl-d oil the inner rino that w c coii-espoiids to the duration of the p.-i.lod Of tlIC I-CqUired sportino event. and then the combined rimus inav be rotated to,,etlici. ill the opposite direction to 7 brin. the stall indicator of the first i.e-,lon oil the Inner into all,, nment with the minute hand at the stall of the period.

The bezel in accordance with the invention is not limited to use in connection with events of fixed duration, as any of the markers 22 may. be used as a stall point to indicate a period of corresponding duration counted fi-om the selected marker to the end of the first re-ion Thus the bezel may also be used for a stopwatch, for example to indicate a qualifin,, time, by,' setting the stall point 20 of the second i. eLyioii a(-yainst all appropriate marker oil the watch face, for exarnple against a ten-second marker for an event where there is a ten-second qualif,1n,, time.

Similarly, the use of the present invention is not limited to timino, 1 1 but rnay be used for any si assoc ated with spoiling events, ituation requiring periods of time to be represented, for example as a reminder for the time remaining oil a parking rneter, or as a reminder of how]oil,, a person has been ill the sun ill order to prevent that person fi-oni becoiiiiii,, sun burnt, and ill pai---ticular the amount of tirne remaining or the amount by, which such a time has been exceeded.

The features disclosed in the foregolil- descriptIon. or the follo,,\, 11111

C> Z claims. or the accompanying dravvings.

0 c, expi.essed in tlieli. sf)l-clfic fornis or]'I] ternis of a means for performing the disclosed function. 01, a ill,-tliod or process for attafflin- the disclosed result, as appropriate. iiia\, separately, oi- in anv combination of such features, be utilised for reallsing, the invention in diverse foillls tlici-cof 8 CLAPAS..

1 A bezel for a k,,.liei.eln the bezel has thereon indicia defining, a first region and a second re-lon visualIv distinct fl-om the first region, the first recylon extending fl.om a first position around at least a part of the bezel to a second position and the second region extending fi- orn the second position of the first region at least partly around the reinainder of the bezel, the second realon havino therein indicatino means to represent increments of time.

A bezel accordini, to claim 1 wherein the second region extends fl-om the second positioii of the first region around the entire remainder of the outwardh., facin- surface of the bezel to the first position of the first region.

me means o A bezel accordino to claini lor claim 2 the indicat f C> - the second retIpon ai,e arraneyed at an(nilar intervals of 6 ' relative to the centre of the bezel.

4. A bezel accordin to am, One of the pi ding clainis n the first region is pi,oided with indicatnio ineans represent iiici,eiiieiits of time.

lie of the preceding, claiiiis \,,,herein the first 5. bezel accordiii to amr 0 [lie con-espo ill(, to a period of a region has irleans to represent a period of ti lid sportilw' evelit.

6. A bCzel to claill) 5 \llei-cl'll the Second position of the first Fel-11011 represents the ciid of the perlod.

A bezel accoAing to cla'in 5 or claiin 6 the first region has a stai-t Midleator which represents the start of the perlo(l.

9 8. A bezel accordin- to any one of cla'nis 5 to 7 the first rem c 1 1. on has a plurality of spaced stail indicators,lilch each represent the stail of a different period, such that the first region has means to represent a plui-allh,, of periods of time coii-esponding to periods of a plurality of different spoiiine events.

9. A bezel accordina to any one of the preceding claims formed as a single Z ring caii),liiQ both of said regions.

10. A bezel according to any, one of claims 1 to 8 formed as relatively circumferentially ajustable inner and outer rings, wherein one of said rings c - c bears the first region and the other of said rings bears the second region.

c c 11. A bezel accordin. to claim 10 wherein the first region is provided on the innei. and the second region is provided on the outer c - 12. A bezel according to claim 9 or claim 10 a ratchet mechanism i 1 is provided to enable the outer i.iii(y to move freely relative to the Inner ring, in only. one direction- 13. An analogue atch havim, a rotatable bezel as clalined in any one of the Precedin, claims.

14. A bezel substantially as hereinbefore describeel \itli reference to the accompativing drawillos.

1 -- - 1. A watch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 16. Anv novel feature oi- iio,,,,el combination of features dl-sci.ibed herein l and/or in the accompanying drawillCls.

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