Abstract:
A novel device for displaying the correct time comprises a clock with interchangeable and attachable panels comprising decorative indicia or figures; a second hand with replaceable indicia or figures, minute hand, and hour hand; and means to drive said timing hands. The interchangeable panel is removably attached to the front face of a clock with a viewing window for viewing the normal travel of the second, minute, and hour hands. The movement of the second hand with the replaceable indicia simulates a sports action as it moves from the 9:00 position to the 3:00 position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 561,144 filed on Sep. 20, 2004 and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/670,581 filed on Apr. 12, 2005. There are no previously filed, nor are there currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a time device. More particularly, the invention relates to a time device having a removably attached decorative theme, preferably a sports motif, for timepieces such as clocks and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Modern fashion trends dictate an ever evolving and changing popularity. Clothing and accessories that are considered cutting edge today are considered passe tomorrow. In keeping with these trends, society&#39;s strong desire to be different and its willingness to be judged by the clothes and fashions that one wears, the industry is constantly searching for new and innovative styles that will help to define the next fashion trend. Not limited strictly to clothing, this need for innovation extends to all areas of personal and household fashion, including that of accessories, particularly timepieces. 
   Several attempts have been made in the past to provide a timekeeping device such as a clock with an ornamental and decorative sports theme. U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,642 in the name of Rikkers discloses a clock assembly with an enlarged planar support for receiving a picture and a secondary support surface for receiving a second picture. The Rikkers device does not include interchangeable sports motif characters with a detachable face with corresponding insignia thereon as in the present invention. 
   Other devices particularly concerned with the ornamental design for a clock or other timepiece with a sports motif have been issued, notably U.S. Pat. No. D343,126 issued in the name of McNeely; U.S. Pat. No. D325,349 issued in the name of Perri; U.S. Pat. No. D302,796 issued in the name of Goolsby; U.S. Pat. No. D373,314 issued in the name of Staszak; and, U.S. Pat. No. D411,962 issued in the name of Hewitt. None of these patents, although unique in their own rights, specifically describes the present invention. 
   None of the prior art particularly describes a novel timepiece with removable and interchangeable panels with a sports motif. Accordingly, there is a constant need for new and innovative ideas to create new styles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, an object of the invention is to provide a time device having options for changing the decorative fixtures of the time device. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a time device capable of removably attaching a motif depiction. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide flexibility of choice in order to attach a motif as desired. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a sports motif with detachable figures simulating a playing action of said sports. 
   To achieve above and other objects, the invention provides a device for displaying time comprising: a time piece with interchangeable and attachable panels having decorative indicia or figures, and a set of timing hands having replaceable indicia or figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a clock with a sports motif  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a conventional clock  15  upon which a panel  20  is affixed thereto, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of the panel with the sports motif, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
   
       
       
         
             10  clock with sports motif 
             15  conventional clock 
             20  panel 
             30  clock face 
             40  clock numbers 
             50  second hand 
             60  minute hand 
             70  hour hand 
             80  second hand attachable figure 
             81  attachment point 
             90  9:00 position sports figure 
             95  3:00 position sports figure 
             100  bridge 
             110  indicia 
             120  panel numbers 
             130  retaining clip 
         
       
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of the timepiece, and in this embodiment a clock, with a sports motif  10  (herein described as the clock) is disclosed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, specifically a soccer motif. The clock  15  generally comprises a clock face  30  with numbers  40  representing the hours of the day located around the outer circumference of the clock face  30 ; a second hand  50  located closest to the clock face  30 ; a minute hand  60  above the second hand  50 ; and an hour hand  70  above the minute hand  60 . A timing means drives said second  50 , minute  60 , and hour hands  70 . A panel  20  is removably secured to the bottom half of the clock  15  with specific sports indicia affixed at approximately the 9:00 position  90  and 3:00 position  95 . 
   The clock face  30  is circular in shape and may be manufactured out of any solid material, such as plastic, paper, or metallic material. It has numbers  40  representing the hours of the day located circumferentially about its front surface. A motor connected to a series of clockwork gears provides movement to the second  50 , minute  60 , and hour hands  70  has power supplied to it via an electrical cord carrying electricity from a conventional wall socket or replaceable batteries. Alternatively, power can be supplied by kinetic energy by moving the timepiece. The second hand  50  is closest to the clock face  30  and has a removable FIG. 80 on the end of it, representing a “driven” object relative to the specific sports motif of the clock  10 . The removable FIG. 80 is attached to the second hand  50  by fastening means on an attachment point  81  located at the distal end of the second hand  80 . The minute hand  60  follows next with the hour hand  70  on top. Each hand  50 ,  60 ,  70  is driven by separate gears and is manufactured out of suitable material. 
   The bottom portion of the clock comprises a removable panel  20  that is semi-circular in shape with a bridge  100  spanning the diameter of the of the panel  20  and a depth that maintains a distance away from the clock face  30  so as to not interfere with the movements of the hands  50 ,  60 ,  70 . The bridge  100  and semi-circular shape of the panel  20  defines a viewing port wherein the second  50 , minute  60 , and hour hands  70  are visible as they travel downward toward the bottom of the clock  10 . About the outer surface of the panel  20  there are a series of numbers  120  of a similar ornamental design as the numbers  40  on the clock face  30  to represent the hours of the day, ranging from 4:00 to 8:00. At the 9:00 position on the panel, in place of a number, a specific sports FIG. 90 based on the prevailing motif is affixed thereto. In particular, the sports FIG. 90 here consists of a player or object simulating the driving of the related sports FIG. 80 attached to the second hand  50 . At the 3:00 position on the panel, in place of a number, another sports-related FIG. 95 relative to the prevailing sports motif is affixed in thereto. In particular, the figure at the 3:00 position  95  “receives” the FIG. 80 located on the second hand  50 . Indicia  110  or a logo describing the sports motif is printed across the bridge  100  portion of the panel  20 . Clips  130  on the outer side wall of the panel  20  retain the entire panel  20  to the clock  15 . Alternatively, the panel  20  can be removably secured to the clock  15  by magnetic means. 
   The entire clock with sports motif  10  may be manufactured and sold in kit form, including different sports motifs as desired by the final user. 
   The invention matrix is a line of time devices/timepieces with various motifs and the preferred embodiment of the present invention focuses on depiction of soccer as the earmarked theme. Upon initial observation of the invention, it appears like a conventional analog type wrist watch or clock  10  with an hour  70 , minute  60 , and second hand  50 . However, after closer examination, it can be seen that all of the clocks  10  feature a ball  80  on the end of the second hand  50  which appears to have been thrown or kicked by a player  90  located at the 9:00 position. The player  90  or ball  80  would vary depending on the sport theme being depicted, but is envisioned to include such models as a soccer ball being kicked into a goal, a baseball being thrown to a batter, or a football being kicked through a goal post. The target area  95  would be located approximately at the 3:00 position, the ball  80  would then disappear behind a shield  20 , but the second hand  50  would remain visible. The ball  80  would then reappear by the player  90  at the 9:00 position giving the appearance of being thrown or kicked once again. The minute  60  and hour hands  70  also travel behind the shield  20  with a portion of each hand being visible through the portal in much the same way the second hand  50  remains visible. 
   The present invention, after being procured by the user, is basic, simple, and ornamental in nature. The user supplies power to the clock  15  and mounts the clock  15  in the desired location. The indicia  110  and FIGS. 80, 90, 95 based on a specific sports motif on the clock  10  will dictate what movements of the clock&#39;s hands  50 ,  60 ,  70  will follow. In the case of the preferred embodiment,  FIG. 1  shows a soccer player on the left side of the clock (at approximately the 9:00 position)  90  and a soccer goal on the opposite (3:00) side  95 . The second hand  50  of the clock  15  has a FIG. 80 on the end of it in the general shape of a soccer ball and is physically closest to the clock face  30 . During movement, the second hand  50  travels in a clockwise manner from the soccer player&#39;s position  90  until it reaches the general area of the soccer goal  95 , whereby it will travel behind the panel  30  until it reaches the position of the player  90 . The minute  60  and hour  70  hands travel behind the panel  30  as well and function in a similar fashion to those of a conventional analog clock. 
   The simulation of the soccer player  90  “kicking” the soccer ball  80  on the end of the second hand  50  into the soccer goal  95  provides a pleasing and entertaining means of displaying time. This ornamental design of a sports motif may be interchanged with other indicia  110  and FIGS. 80, 90, 95 located on removable panels  30  including, but not limited to: basketball, hockey, and football. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and/or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance, may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.