Day and night depicting clock device

A day and night depicting clock device for demonstrating daytime and nighttime on a clock. The device includes a clock having a clock face wall and an hour drive shaft rotating once every twelve hours. A first disk is mounted on the hour drive shaft for rotation with the hour drive shaft, has a radially extending first slot, is formed of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk, and has a relatively light color to identify a daytime period. A second disk is positioned behind the first disk, is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall, has a radially-extending second slot, is formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk, and has a relatively dark color to identify a night-time period. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk. A shifting assembly shifts a portion of one of the disks with respect to another of the disks to cause the first disk to move through the second slot of the second disk to shift the first disk either from a position behind the second disk to a position in front of the second disk or from a position in front of the second disk to a position in behind the second disk. An actuating assembly periodically actuates the shifting assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clock or watch which has a face that changes color due to the time of day and more particularly pertains to a new day and night depicting clock device for demonstrating daytime and nighttime on a clock.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of a clock or watch that has a face that changes color due to the time of day is known in the prior art. More specifically, clocks or watches which has a face that changes color due to the time of day are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new day and night depicting clock device. The inventive device includes a clock having a clock face wall and an hour drive shaft rotating once every twelve hours. A first disk is mounted on the hour drive shaft for rotation with the hour drive shaft, has a radially extending first slot, is formed of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk, and has a relatively light color to identify a daytime period. A second disk is positioned behind the first disk, is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall, has a radially-extending second slot, is formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk, and has a relatively dark color to identify a night-time period. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk. A shifting assembly shifts a portion of one of the disks with respect to another of the disks to cause the first disk to move through the second slot of the second disk to shift the first disk either from a position behind the second disk to a position in front of the second disk or from a position in front of the second disk to a position behind the second disk. An actuating assembly periodically actuates the shifting assembly.

In these respects, the day and night depicting clock device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of demonstrating daytime and nighttime on a clock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of a clock or watch which has a face that changes color due to the time of day now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new day and night depicting clock device construction wherein the same can be utilized for demonstrating daytime and night-time on a clock.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device which has many of the advantages of the clock or watch which has a face that changes color due to the time of day mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new day and night depicting clock device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art a clock or watch which has a face that changes color due to the time of day, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a clock having a clock face wall and an hour drive shaft rotating once every twelve hours. A first disk is mounted on the hour drive shaft for rotation with the hour drive shaft, has a radially extending first slot, is formed of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk, and has a relatively light color to identify a daytime period. A second disk is positioned behind the first disk, is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall, has a radially-extending second slot, is formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk, and has a relatively dark color to identify a night-time period. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk. A shifting assembly shifts a portion of one of the disks with respect to another of the disks to cause the first disk to move through the second slot of the second disk to shift the first disk either from a position behind the second disk to a position in front of the second disk or from a position in front of the second disk to a position behind the second disk. An actuating assembly periodically actuates the shifting assembly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new day and night depicting clock device which has many of the advantages of the clock or watch which has a face that changes color due to the time of day mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new day and night depicting clock device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new day and night depicting clock device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new day and night depicting clock device that is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such day and night depicting clock device economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device for demonstrating daytime and nighttime on a clock.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device that includes a clock having a clock face wall and an hour drive shaft rotating once every twelve hours. A first disk is mounted on the hour drive shaft for rotation with the hour drive shaft, has a radially extending first slot, is formed of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk, and has a relatively light color to identify a daytime period. A second disk is positioned behind the first disk, is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall, has a radially-extending second slot, is formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk, and has a relatively dark color to identify a night-time period. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk. A shifting assembly shifts a portion of one of the disks with respect to another of the disks to cause the first disk to move through the second slot of the second disk to shift the first disk either from a position behind the second disk to a position in front of the second disk or from a position in front of the second disk to a position behind the second disk. An actuating assembly periodically actuates the shifting assembly.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device that is an eye-catching way of illustrating the hours of day and night.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new day and night depicting clock device that is a decorative alternative to standard clocks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 11 thereof, a new day and night depicting clock device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

A day and night depicting clock device of the present invention includes a clock 12 having a clock body 13 , and the clock body has a clock face wall 14 . The clock may have a clock movement 16 mounted on the clock body with a plurality of concentric drive shafts 18 extending through the clock face wall and including an hour drive shaft 19 rotating once every twelve hours. A pair of time-displaying hands 20 , 22 are mounted on the drive shafts, and an annular bezel 24 may be mounted on the clock body in front of the clock face wall.

A first disk 30 is positioned in front of the clock face wall and mounted on the hour drive shaft 19 for rotation with the hour drive shaft. The first disk includes a first central hole 32 extending through a center of the first disk. A collar 34 may be mounted on the first disk adjacent to the first central hole and may also be mounted on the hour drive shaft. A first slot 36 extends radially in the first disk from the first central hole to an outer edge of the first disk. The first disk is preferably formed out of a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the first disk out of a plane of a remainder portion of the first disk. The first disk also preferably has a relatively light color to identify a daytime (for example, A.M.) period.

A second disk 40 is positioned in front of the clock face wall and behind the first disk 30 . The second disk is fixed against rotation with respect to the clock face wall. This may be accomplished by one or more pins 46 protruding from the clock face wall 14 , and one or more corresponding holes 48 in the second disk receiving the pins. The second disk 40 includes a second central hole 42 extending through a center of the second disk. A second slot 44 extends radially from the second central hole to an outer edge of the second disk. The second disk is preferably formed from a resiliently flexible material to permit flexing of a portion of the second disk out of a plane of a remainder portion of the second disk. The second disk also preferably has a relatively dark color to identify a nighttime (for example, P.M.) period. The second disk may have a diameter greater than a diameter of a first disk for permitting the shifting means to contact the second disk without contacting (and possibly impeding rotation of) the first disk. Also, the smaller diameter of the first disk allows the first disk to rotate without contacting the pins 46 supporting the second disk. The first disk is movable through the second slot of the second disk as the first disk rotates on the hour drive shaft.

Shifting means is provided for shifting a portion of one of the disks with respect to an other of the disks. The shifting means may selectively move a portion of the disks toward the clock face wall to cause the first disk to move through the second slot of the second disk to shift the first disk either from a position behind the second disk to a position in front of the second disk or from a position in front of the second disk to a position behind the second disk.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shifting means comprises a pair of shifting assemblies 50 , 60 . Each of the shifting assemblies is positioned laterally to a twelve o'clock position on the clock face wall so that the shifting assemblies are laterally spaced from each other. A left one 50 of the shifting assemblies is positioned laterally left of the twelve o'clock position and a right one 60 of the shifting assemblies is positioned laterally right of the twelve o'clock position.

Each of the shifting assemblies may comprise a shifting arm 52 , 62 and a shifting solenoid 54 , 64 . The shifting arm is provided for selectively contacting a location on the second disk for shifting the disks toward the clock face wall. The shifting arm may extend over the clock face wall from a position radially outward from the clock face wall, and press against the disks toward the wall 14 . The shifting arm may also be pivotally mounted on the clock body for moving between an active position 56 and a passive position 58 . The active position 56 is relatively closer to the clock face wall 14 than the passive position 58 . The shifting arm may be biased toward the passive position when the shifting solenoid is not energized.

The shifting solenoid 54 , 64 is provided for moving the shifting arm toward the clock face wall, and from the passive position to the active position. The shifting solenoid may be mounted on the clock body adjacent to the clock face wall.

Actuating means may be provided for periodically actuating the shifting means. The actuating means may comprise an electrical actuating circuit for selectively energizing (or providing power to) the shifting solenoid of one of the shifting assemblies to move the respective shifting arm from the passive position to the active position. Which shifting assembly is activated depends upon whether the first disk is positioned substantially in front of or substantially behind the second disk.

The actuating circuit may comprise a pair of electrical contacts 72 A mounted on one side of the second disk and another pair of electrical contacts 72 B mounted on the opposite side of the second disk. One pair 70 A, 72 A of contacts are electrically connected to one of the shifting assemblies, and the other pair 70 B, 72 B of contacts are electrically connected to the other of the shifting assemblies. The contacts are operatively connected to the respective shifting assemblies and a power source such that electrically connecting one of the pairs of contacts completes or closes the electrical circuit of the respective shifting assembly, and causes the shifting solenoid to be energized and the shifting arm to be moved by the solenoid from the passive position to the active position for as long as the circuit is closed. The pair of electrical contacts may be circumferentially spaced from each other on each side of the second disk. Illustratively, radial axes 74 , 75 pass through the electrical contacts define a contact separation angle 76 . The contact separation angle in one illustrative embodiment of the invention measures approximately 5 degrees. Also, a contact bisecting axis 78 bisects the contact separation angle 76 and defines an offset angle 80 with respect to the second slot 44 of the second disk.

The actuating circuit may also include an electrical connector strip 84 A, 84 B mounted on both faces of the first disk for periodically completing or closing one of the actuating circuits of the shifting assemblies. The connector strip 84 A, 84 B is mounted on a face of the first disk at a location that permit the rotating first disk to periodically electrically connect one of the pairs of electrical contacts during rotation of the first disk with respect to the second disk, with the particular circuit being closed depending upon the position of the first disk with respect to the second disk (e.g., in front of or in back of). The connector strip 84 A, 84 B extends along an arc, and illustratively the arc measures approximately 10 degrees. The arc is bisected by a connector bisecting axis 86 , and the connector bisecting axis is offset from the first slot 36 by an angle 90 that is approximately equal to the offset angle 80 of the pair of electrical contacts.