CH681266B5 - - Google Patents

Description

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description

The present invention relates to a device for determining the time in any geographical location in the world with respect to the time in any selected location according to the preamble of claim 1. The device can be operated automatically with a twenty-four hour clock. Mechanism can be combined.

Many devices and calculation means for determining the time in different time zones of the world have been used in the past. However, all such prior means required some form of calculation or professional manipulation of the user's ropes, or a high degree of knowledge of and familiarity with the subject or geography of the world.

U.S. Patent No. 594,410 to Margolis describes one of these devices which has two overlapping maps rotating together by the action of a twenty-four hour clock mechanism, one map the southern hemisphere and the other spans the northern hemisphere. However, the use of such overlapping maps creates a high degree of visual confusion and it is difficult to determine the location of selected cities or even countries on such a combination of maps. Moreover, the Margolis patent does not provide any visual coding means by means of which land areas falling into different time zones can be easily distinguished. The Margolis patent is also not well suited for marking city and country names on the maps themselves because of the presence of two overlapping maps and therefore of multiple areas with too many names associated with them for marking on the limited space available.

Heath U.S. Patent Application No. 4,502,789 discloses a device in which a disk with a world map is rotated in a south-pole projection by a 24-hour mechanism. Markings are provided on the circumferential ring of the disk for reading the time zones. These markings are at a substantial distance from the associated geographical areas, which makes correct reading very difficult. In the case of small clocks in particular, there is also the fact that the 31 markings (24 for the hour and 7 for the half-hour zones) are crowded and are therefore difficult to tell apart. Furthermore, the device for displaying the minutes uses an additional scale arranged in the center of the world map disc, so that the time has to be read on two different scales and, moreover, the minute scale covers some not unimportant areas, such as part of South America and New Zealand.

Another device for determining time anywhere in the world is shown in U.S. Patent Application No. 2,615,298 to Ferrari. Here, a disc with a world map rotates once every 12 hours and an outer, fixed ring for displaying the local time is correspondingly provided with a 12-hour division. To display the time anywhere in the world, there is an additional disc that rotates once every 24 hours. This arrangement of two rotating disks leads to a somewhat cumbersome reading of any world time, because first the time on the outermost ring must be read and then the desired world time must be determined by combining the two disks rotating at different speeds and thus constantly changing their mutual position .

The presently claimed invention provides a device for determining the time of day anywhere in the world and the above disadvantages of the prior art are not associated with this device. The device can be operated manually or instead automated in the form of a clock. The device essentially comprises a frame, a rotatable map arranged above it, a first time zone which is attached to the frame and is defined by an annular band which is arranged concentrically with it outside the map and is evenly divided into twenty-four segments, and a second time zone defined by a perimeter ring that extends around the perimeter of the map and is evenly divided into twenty-four segments. The map is a South Pole projection of the world and can be rotated manually or by a clock mechanism around the center, which corresponds to the South Pole. An hour hand is preferably also provided for manual execution. For both manual and automated execution, the hour hand rotates clockwise with the map. Each of the segments of the first time zone on the frame corresponds to a particular hour from a period of twenty-four consecutive hours. The hour in question is printed in the middle of the segment. When using a 12-digit scale, the abbreviations «a.m.» and «p.m.» recommended for "morning" and "afternoon" to distinguish the daytime hours from the nighttime hours. Each of the segments of the second time zone on the perimeter of the map is visually different from the others. They are preferably coded by colors. These segments are centered on the length lines, which are 15 ° apart (corresponding to one hour) from each other.

The geographic time ranges consist of rural areas that are characterized by their length and have the same local time. For practical reasons, they are typically delimited from surrounding areas by conventions (e.g. territorial, state, or economic). Land areas of the map are also encoded visually in such a way that they correspond to a segment of the second time zone that is closest to them. So each segment of the second time zone has one

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assigned geographic time range. To set the (known) local time of the selected geographic area, the map should be rotated to align the segment of the second time zone with the segment of the first time zone. The time of all geographic areas can thus be determined with the aid of visual coding by assigning segments of the second and first time zone.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operation of the device is automated by means of a twenty-four hour clock mechanism, the hour hand of the clock mechanism moving forward with the map (that is, the map rotates together with the hour hand).

To (re) set the zone [that is, when (re) setting the device in a selected geographic area], the hour hand should be placed in the middle of the segment of the second time zone, which has the same color coding as the selected geographic area [that means the area in which the device is to be (re) set]. A locking mechanism allows the hour hand to be turned counterclockwise to (re) set it. The map does not turn counterclockwise with the hour hand.

To set the time, the hour, minute and second hands should be moved to a desired position according to the local time, as with any known clock. The map rotates clockwise with the hour hand.

Another preferred embodiment relates to a manually operated device. In this case, only an hour hand is provided. To set the zone, the hour hand is rotated counterclockwise as described above. Then the map is turned clockwise to the position that shows the local time.

For both of the above-described embodiments, the local time of any geographic area can be read continuously after the (new) setting of the zone and the time using the visual coding in comparison with the ring-shaped band from the first time zone.

The possibility of creating a computer database containing the south pole projection of the world map in the form of a dial, the first and second time zones (using an appropriate visual coding), hour, minute and second hands is also envisaged. The image of the clock can then be found again in the memory of the computer and, under the control of a program which can also (newly) set the zone and the time as described above, be made visible.

The manually operated embodiment can be used as an example in schools for didactic purposes (that is, to explain to the students changes in the date and hour around the world). The automatic embodiment can be used by aviation and shipping lines, in armed forces and in commercial buildings.

Preferably, the device, regardless of whether it is manually operable or in the form of a clock, comprises additional visual coding means which are assigned to land areas of the map which lie in half-hour time zones.

1 explains an embodiment of the world clock device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view explaining the locking mechanism for (re) setting the hour hand with respect to the map [(re) setting the zone];

Fig. 3 is a side view explaining the locking mechanism for (re) setting the hour hand with respect to the map.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Each part of the device is also designated by the same reference number in all drawings. The embodiments of the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 3 are chosen only for the purpose of explanation; the reader will appreciate that other embodiments could be chosen instead, e.g. an embodiment that can be operated manually.

1 shows a world clock device 10 which has a frame 15, a rotatable map 50 arranged above it and an annular band 85 from the first time zone. The ring-shaped band 85 is evenly divided into twenty-four segments 20, 45 of the first time zone, fastened to the frame 15 and partially arranged beyond the outer edge of the map 50. A circumferential ring 40 from the second time zone, which is arranged on the circumference of the map 50 and around its circumference, is divided into twenty-four equally spaced segments 30, 35 of the second time zone.

Map 50 is a south pole projection of the world and, in a preferred embodiment, rotates clockwise around center 150, which corresponds to the south pole. A conventional twenty-four hour clock mechanism 25 is installed below the map 50 and within the frame 15. The clock mechanism includes an hour hand 60, a minute hand 70, and a second hand 80. The hour hand 60, along with the rotatable map 50, is mounted on an hour hand shaft 55 so that together they are supported by the conventional (e.g., battery operated) twenty-four hour clock mechanism. nism 25 are rotated. A complete circular rotation of the hour hand 60 and therefore the map 50 occurs once every twenty-four hour period. (A map representing a north pole projection is not suitable since the device would then not be able to use a conventional clock mechanism that works clockwise; instead, the map would need to be rotated counterclockwise. Another with a north pole projection

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depicting a map would be a high concentration of land around the middle of the map.)

The twenty-four segments 20 of the first time zone are marked to be every hour of a twenty-four hour period of "12 a.m." (Midnight or midnight) to "11 p.m." (11 p.m.). For the sake of clarity and improved readability, these hourly markings can also include the “noon” markings in conjunction with the “12 p.m.” (12 o'clock) marked segment of the first time zone and "midnight" in connection with the "12 a.m." Include the marked segment of the first time zone (midnight or midnight). Hour hand 60 crosses segment 20 of the first time zone in one hour. The minute hand 70 circles once an hour (same as in conventional twelve-hour clocks) and therefore crosses each segment 20 of the first time zone in two and a half minutes. Similar to the minute hand 70, the second hand 80 crosses each segment of the first time zone in two and a half seconds. Accordingly, the time of day indicated by clock hands 60, 70, 80 in FIG. 1 is approximately “4: 26: 58.5 p.m.” for all land areas that correspond to segment 30 of the second time zone. (4:26 pm 58.5 seconds). This is the time e.g. in Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles.

All land areas in the world are shown on the map 50 in a single plane with respect to the South Pole. The segments of the time zones which correspond to the geographical time areas of the map 50 differ visually from one another by color coding. E.g. 1, the color coding selected for the geographical time range 180, which comprises the Canadian province of Manitoba, the state of Minnesota from the USA down to Louisiana, Mexico and Central America, is red (represented by dark shading in FIG. 1), and as can be seen from the map 50, this area crosses the longitudinal lines 175 and 185. The segment 35 of the second time zone is also color-coded with the color red, so that all geographic time areas 180 which are color-coded with the color red are color-coded with the red Correspond to segment 35 of the second time zone. The middle of segment 35 of the second time zone shows approximately «6: 26: 58.5 p.m.» (6:26 p.m. 58.5 seconds) because it lies between segment 45 of the first time zone, which in FIG. 1 is "6 p.m." (6 p.m.) and a segment of the first time zone, which is «7 p.m.» (7 p.m.) indicates lies. The time can be read in a similar manner for any geographic area.

The color chosen for the visual coding of land areas within a geographical time range does not occur twice in any quadrant of the map 50, in order to avoid confusion in the identification of land areas. However, the same colors can be used in the opposite quadrants without the risk of confusion. It was therefore decided in the embodiment of FIG. 1 that the color red also for a segment of the second time zone and the land areas assigned to it, which belong to segment 35

diametrically opposed to the second time zone and the geographical time range 180. The time for this geographical time range is approximately «6: 26: 58.5 a.m.» 5 (6:26 minutes 58.5 seconds).

To set the device 10 for use in the particular geographic area in which the user is located, two types of settings are required.

10 A first stage consists of setting the zone. To do this, the hour hand should be turned counterclockwise to a position where the hour hand is in the middle of a segment of interest in the second time zone (that is, a 15 segment with the same color as the geographic area of the new location) while the card is held immovably. The hour hand should align with the appropriate length line. This is accomplished using a locking mechanism as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. An hour hand shaft 55 is of such a length that it can hold the disk with the map 50 and the hour hand 60. On the back 25 of the map, a disc 65 is attached. Their diameter is smaller than the diameter of the map. The structure consisting of the map 50 and the disk 65 is mounted in such a way that it can slide over the hour hand shaft. The disc 65 has a flexible tongue 75. The disk is rotated clockwise with the map 50 and with the hour hand 60 by the hour hand shaft 55 of the clock mechanism 25. A circular row of switching teeth 95 is arranged on the base of the frame along the circumference of a central lower recess 200. When the map moves clockwise with the hour hand shaft 55, the tongue 75 slides over the shift teeth of the 40 circular row of shift teeth 95. If a (new) setting of the zone is required, the hour hand 60 should be carefully moved counterclockwise to the new desired position be rotated in the middle of the corresponding segment of the second time zone, which is aligned with the central longitudinal line of the new zone. The tongue 75 would counteract the rotation of the map 50 because it is blocked between two switching teeth.

The second stage consists of setting the 50 time and this takes place after the first stage has been carried out. To this end, the use of a classic twenty-four hour clock mechanism allows the hour and minute hands to be rotated clockwise and to position them so that they indicate the correct time. The hour hand 60, minute hand 70, and second hand 80 are positioned to display the hour, minutes, and seconds 60 of this area in the first time zone (taking into account the fact that each segment of the first time zone is only two and a half Corresponds to minutes or seconds).

In Fig. 1, device 10 is set for use in the selected geographic area

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Area, which includes Los Angeles, USA, and the hour hand 60 moves towards the segment of the first time zone, which with «5 p.m.» (5 p.m.) is marked. The device gives the time in Los Angeles, USA when “4: 26: 58.5 p.m.” (4:26 pm 58,5 seconds). The same time applies to all other geographic areas with the same color coding as segment 30 of the second time zone, e.g. Seattle, USA, or Vancouver, Canada. In order to determine the time in any other selected geographical area at this particular point in time, the color assigned to this geographical area and the segment of the second time zone which is closest to the area which corresponds to this color are determined and the time is read the ring-shaped band from the first time zone, which corresponds to that segment of the second time zone. E.g. 1 that when the time in Alberta, Canada indicated by segment 100 of the second time zone is "5: 26: 58.5 p.m." (17:26 minutes 58.5 seconds), the time in Los Angeles, USA, is one hour earlier, that is, «4: 26: 58.5 p.m.» (4:26 pm 58.5 seconds). Similarly, the time in all other areas of the map can be determined according to the above procedure.

In order to take into account land areas that lie in half-hour time zones, a different or an additional visual coding means is used to identify such areas. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, vertical lines are used to indicate an area for which the time is half an hour earlier than in the adjacent areas with the same color code. Therefore, the color coding for India is the same color as that for Pakistan, and India is also coded with vertical lines to indicate that the time in India is half an hour earlier than in Pakistan. It can be assumed that embodiments are also conceivable in which the basic color of the half-hour time zones is chosen in such a way that its time is read by adding half an hour to the time of the adjacent areas with the same color.

The international date border 90 marks which date applies to the geographical areas of the map 50. To explain this with reference to FIG. 1, it is shown that one of Alaska's segments of the second time zone on the first time zone is “3: 26: 58.5 p.m.” (3:26 pm 58.5 seconds) and that the segment of the second time zone of the «Eastem State» of Australia on the first time zone «10: 26: 58.5 a.m.» (10 a.m. 26 minutes 58.5 seconds). If the date in Ottawa, Canada is January 1, the date in Alaska is January 1, but January 2 in New Zealand. Because New Zealand's morning hour falls on the opposite side of the international date line from Alaska, the time of this geographic area belongs to the date following that of Ottawa, Canada.

Furthermore, three circular concentric recesses,

that is, a lower, a middle and an upper depression. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the circular row of shift teeth 95 are secured in the lower recess 200 along the circumference, as described above for the locking mechanism. The central depression 210 contains the circular map 50 so that it can rotate freely (that is, without touching the walls of the depression). The upper recess 220 is designed to attach the annular band 85 from the first time zone. Preferably, the annular band 85 partially covers the circumferential ring of the second time zone on the map 50 to form a guide for the map in the frame 15. For the automated embodiments of the device, the clock mechanism is located under the front of the frame 15. The hour, minute, and second hand waves pass through the front of the frame to engage the hour hand and map, minute hand, or second hand, respectively. A lid can be provided as the back and front of the frame to protect the clock mechanism.

Although the foregoing special description is directed to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described therein. Many modifications to the specific features described above are possible and still fall within the scope of the invention. E.g. As stated above, the clock mechanism need not be present if instead a manually operated pocket device according to the invention would be desired instead. In the case of a hand-held device, the user may prefer to rotate the frame counterclockwise with respect to the map to set the time zone segments for a selected geographic area, rather than rotating the map, the two approaches being equivalent.

Furthermore, the conventional classification of a specific geographical area into a time zone segment can be changed for political or economic reasons.

Claims (6)

Claims A device (10) for determining the time in any place in the world in relation to a selected geographical area, comprising a frame (15); a circular world map (50) disposed over the frame (15) and rotatable with respect to the frame (15), the wide map (50), which represents a modified south pole projection of the world, around the center (150) of the map (50), which corresponds to the South Pole, rotates; and a first time zone defined by an annular band (85) arranged on the frame (15) and concentric with the card (50), the first time zone being equally divided into twenty-four segments (20, 45), which are marked with hour indications as for a calibrated twenty-four hour dial; characterized in that the world map (50) corresponds to the local time in 5 10th 15 20th 25th 30th 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 9 CH 681 266G A3 10th twenty-four geographic time areas (180) is divided, the geographic time areas (180) being coded in such a way that the colors of adjacent areas are different; and that a second time zone defined by a circumferential ring (40) is arranged on the circumference of the rotatable circular card (50) and around its circumference, the second time zone being evenly divided into twenty-four segments (30, 35, 100 ) is divided, which differ in the different colors of adjacent segments, in such a way that each segment of the second time zone is assigned to an immediately adjacent geographic time range (180) with the same color; whereby when aligning a segment of the second time zone assigned to the selected geographical area to a segment of the first time zone in accordance with the known local time of the selected geographical area, the local time of the said arbitrary place in the world can be determined simply by specifying the hour on the segment of the first Reads the time zone that is adjacent to a segment of the second time zone that is assigned to the named random location in the world. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a twenty-four hour mechanism (25), each having an hour hand (60), minute hand (70) and second hand (80) for reading the time indicated in the first time zone , characterized in that the hour hand (60) is attached to the card (50) such that the card (50) rotates through and with the hour hand (60). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the map (50) further comprises coding means for geographical areas lying in half-hour time zones, the coding means comprising additional dashed lines which indicate that the time of the half-hour time zones is around half an hour from the time specified in the first time zone. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further characterized by a central hour hand (60) and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising: on the back of the circular world map (50) attached and consequently rotating therewith, switching means arranged so that they interact with a circular row of shift teeth (95); and the circular row of shift teeth (95) mounted on the frame (15) and cooperating with the shifting means; whereby upon manual rotation of the hour hand (60) counterclockwise for (new) adjustment of the device (10) the movement of the circular world map (50) by the switching means enclosed between two switching teeth (95) of the circular row of switching teeth (95) , is inhibited and when the hour hand (60) is turned clockwise, the circular world map (50) rotates with the hour hand (60), the switching means sliding over the row of switching teeth (95). 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the switching means concentrically on the back of the circular world map (50) fixed disc (65), which passes through an hour hand shaft (55) of a twenty-four hour mechanism (25) centrally and 5 is arranged on the exposed side of a flexible tongue (75), whereby when the hour hand (60) is rotated counterclockwise to (re) set the device (10) the movement of the circular world map (50) 10 through the flexible tongue (75), which is held between two switching teeth (95) of the circular row of switching teeth (95), is inhibited and when the hour hand (60) is turned clockwise by the clock mechanism (25) the 15 circular world map (50) rotates with the hour hand shaft (55), the flexible tongue (75) sliding over the row of shift teeth (95). 6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame (15) is provided with central 20 concentric recesses (200, 210, 220) in order to spatially relate the circular row of switching teeth (95) in a lower recess (200 ) to receive the circular world map (50) in a central recess (210) and the ring-25-shaped band (85) of the first time zone in an upper recess (220); wherein the annular band (85) of the first time zone is arranged in the upper recess (220) such that it partially covers the circumferential ring (40) of the second time zone to provide a guide for the circular world map (50) in the frame (15) to form. 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 7