Time measuring device and method for using the same

An improved clock display consists of a disc hour hand with the indicator being the minute hand which is located at a position remote for the axis of the dial. The minute hand rotates on the hour disk. Time is determined by the relative position of the minute hand about the conventional time display (hour) and the position of the minute hand about its axis (minutes).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a novel clock apparatus, and more particularly, 
to an analog clock whereby the three conventional time indicating hands 
(hours, minutes, and seconds) rotate around three separate axes and 
provide an indication of time. The present invention is intended to 
provide an analog clock for indicating time of day (T.O.D.) in hours, 
minutes, and seconds in such a manner that an aesthetically interesting 
shape which is defined by the novel arrangement of the hands, continually 
changes with time, and provides a kinetic time-indicating sculpture. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Time indicating sculptures exist where different shapes are created as the 
hands of an analog clock rotate and indicate time. U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,500 
issued to Temura discloses such an ornamental time piece. In U.S. Pat. No. 
3,952,500, two hand-like members, identical in length to the hours hand 
and the minutes hand, respectively, are pivotally connected to each other 
and the ends of conventional hours and minutes hands. With this 
arrangement, a parallelogram shape is created and as the clocking hands 
rotate with time, the parallelogram changes shape. The hours and minutes 
clocking hands of U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,500 rotate around the same central 
point as provided by a conventional clocking mechanism. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An analog clock includes a first time indicating member rotatable about a 
first point at a first rate and a second time indicating member which is 
rotatable about a second point at a second rate. The second point is 
located anywhere along the first time indicating member except at the 
first point. 
One object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece for measuring 
elapsed time in an artistic, interesting and aesthetically pleasing 
manner. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a timepiece in 
the form of a clock. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a timepiece in 
the form of a watch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention provides a clock comprising a clock mechanism 10. 
This may be any conventional clock mechanism which provides at least two 
output drive shafts, an hours shaft 12 rotating at an hours rate (1/720 
RPM) and a minutes shaft 14 rotating at a minutes rate (1/60 RPM), but 
preferably also including a seconds shaft 16 rotating at a seconds rate (1 
RPM). Typically, clock mechanisms include their output drive shafts in a 
telescoping arrangement, wherein the seconds shaft 16 rotates 
independently within the minutes shaft 14, which, in turn, rotates 
independently within the hours shaft 12, all three shafts rotating around 
a single central axis 18. The preferred embodiment utilizes a clock 
mechanism having the three output shafts (hours, minutes, and seconds) in 
such a telescoping arrangement. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the three output shafts 
12, 14 and 16 following this telescoping arrangement. 
An hours hand 20 is fixed to the hours shaft 12 such that it rotates with 
the hours shaft 12 as the hours shaft 12 is driven at the hours rate. The 
hours hand 20 rotates in a plane which is perpendicular to the central 
axis 18, in a conventional manner. The preferred hours hand is 10 inches 
long and is made of a rigid, lightweight material such as thermoplastic. 
The length and material of each hand can vary depending on the size and 
appearance of the clock intended and the type of clock mechanism used. 
Other suitable materials for the hands include aluminum, wood, acrylic 
plastics, and brass. It is desirable in this preferred embodiment to keep 
all the hands described as light as structurally possible. The output 
hours shaft 12 must have sufficient torque to rotate such an hours hand 
20, and a minutes and seconds hand as described further below. 
A minutes hand 22 is rotatably attached to the hours hand 20 at any point 
therealong, except at the location of the central axis 18, thereby 
differing from the conventional analog hand arrangement. The minutes hand 
22 rotates around this point in a plane which is both parallel to the 
plane wherein the hours hand 20 rotates and perpendicular to a first 
satellite axis 24. The first satellite axis 24 is located at the point 
along the hours hand 20 where the minutes hand 22 is attached. The first 
satellite axis 24 is therefore parallel to the central axis 18 and is the 
axis about which the minutes hand 22 rotates. 
The minutes hand 22 is longer than the hours hand 20 such that it is 
distinguishably different from the hours hand 20. The preferred length for 
the minutes hand 22 is 12 inches. The minutes hand 22 is also preferably 
made from a light weight thermoplastic to minimize the amount of torque 
required by the hours shaft 12, owing to the added weight of the hours 
hand 20 due to the attached minutes hand 22. 
The minutes hand 22 is driven around the first satellite axis 24 at the 
prescribed minutes rate. This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment 
by a central drive pulley 26, a first satellite follower pulley 28, a 
minutes drive belt 30 and a first satellite axle 32. The first satellite 
axle 32 is fixed to the minutes hand 22 such that it is aligned with the 
first satellite axis 24. The hours hand 20 has a hole 34 disposed 
therethrough at the predetermined point where the minutes hand 22 is meant 
to rotate about the hours hand 20. The hole 34 receives the first 
satellite axle 32 and permits the rotation of the minutes hand 22 around 
this prescribed point. Depending on the material of the hours hand 20, a 
bushing 21 (or a bearing) may be used to create a pivoting surface for the 
first satellite axle 32 to rotate which provides less friction than 
provided by the material of the hours hand alone. The hole may be used 
alone when the hours hand material is brass, aluminum (or other metal) or 
a hard plastic. An indent 33, shown in FIG. 9 is provided at a point along 
the minutes hand 22 (depending on its length and relative position with 
the hours hand 20) so that in operation, the indent aligns with the 
central output drive shafts of the clock mechanism (axis 18) when the 
minutes hand 22 rotates past it. This allows the minutes hand 22 to rotate 
in a plane which is closer to the hours hand 20. Thus, the clock can be 
kept thin without problems relating to the minutes hand 22 hitting the 
output drive shafts. 
The minutes drive belt hereinafter described is preferably a rubber belt 
with engagement teeth to prevent slipping. These toothed belts can be 
purchased from Winfred M. Berg, Inc. of East Rockaway N.Y. as part No. 
TB7EF2-150 for a 1/8th inch wide belt having a pitch length of 12 inches 
long. The corresponding pulleys with matching engagement teeth are Berg's 
Part No. TP7E2U4-10. Alternatives of using the toothed belts are O ring 
type belts, or thread tied into a endless belt and looped around each 
engaging pulley several times to develop a non-slip grip. Also, a link 
chain and corresponding sprockets can be used; Berg's Part Nos. RC14SS-80 
(approximately 12 inches long) and 14EM10A-21, respectively. The seconds 
drive belt is preferably made from thread or string because the seconds 
hand, described below, requires little torque to rotate, relative to the 
other hands. 
The central pulley 26 is fixed to the minutes output shaft 14 of the clock 
mechanism 10 so that it rotates with the output shaft 14 at the prescribed 
minutes rate. The first satellite pulley 28 is attached to the first 
satellite axle 32 so that the first satellite axle 32 and the attached 
minutes hand 22 rotate with the first satellite pulley 28. The first 
satellite pulley 28 and the central pulley 26 follow in a plane which is 
parallel to the hours hand 20. When the minutes drive belt 30 is 
positioned around both the first satellite pulley 28 and the central 
pulley 26, it transmits the rotational torque of the central pulley 26 to 
the first satellite pulley 28 as the central pulley turns. The first 
satellite pulley 28, in turn, rotates the minutes hand 22 around the first 
satellite axis 24. The first satellite pulley 28 and the central pulley 26 
have the same diameter so that they both rotate at the same rate and in 
the same direction. The minutes hand 22 is therefore driven around the 
prescribed point of the hours hand 20 at the independent minutes rate and 
in the conventional clockwise direction while the hours hand 20 rotates 
around the central axis 18 at the hours rate and in a conventional 
clockwise direction. 
Since the minutes hand 22 and the hours hand 20 rotate at conventional 
minutes and hours rate, respectively, then time measured by the relative 
position between the hands is kept conventional. The present clock is read 
keeping in mind that the twelve o'clock position remains in the 
conventional location, the uppermost position of the circle inscribed by 
the pointing end of the hours hand 20. Similarly, the 0 or 60 minutes 
position remains in the conventional location with respect to the point 
around which the minute hand 22 rotates. Although, this minutes hand 22 
rotates around a point which is different from conventional analog clock 
design (where all hands rotate around a common central point), the 0 or 60 
minutes position is still the upper most location of the circle inscribed 
by the pointing end of the rotating minutes hand 22. Comparative examples 
between a conventional analog clock and the present analog clock invention 
are shown in FIGS. 4a-4d. 
A seconds hand 40 is preferably attached to the minutes hand 22, at any 
point along the minutes hand including the location of the satellite axis 
24, but can also be located along the hours hand without departing from 
the present invention. The seconds hand 40 is made from a very light 
material such as thin aluminum, wood, or plastic and is preferably 14 
inches long so that it is distinguishable from the other two hands. 
However, the seconds hand 40 can also be a much shorter length such as 4 
inches (also being distinguishable from the other hands). Since, the 
seconds hand in this preferred embodiment does not support any additional 
hands, it can and should be very light in weight and delicate looking 
(very thin). A very light seconds hand is desirable so that the amount of 
torque required to rotate it around the second satellite axis 42 is 
minimized. 
The seconds hand 40 rotates around a second satellite axis 42 at a seconds 
rate of rotation, one rotation every minute. The seconds hand 40 is fixed 
to a second satellite axle 44 using a set screw, adhesive or other 
functionally similar methods. In this preferred embodiment, the second 
satellite axle 44 is pivotally attached to the minutes hand 22, aligning 
with the second satellite axis 42 and providing support for the seconds 
hand 40 to rotate. A second satellite pulley 46 is fixed to the second 
satellite axle 44 such that its rotation causes simultaneous rotation of 
the seconds hand 40. The second satellite pulley 46 is rotated by a pulley 
belt 48. This pulley belt 48 is located around the second satellite pulley 
46 and around an elbow pulley 50. The elbow pulley 50 has two grooves (it 
can be made from two separate pulleys secured together), one to accept the 
pulley belt 48 and the other to accept a seconds driving pulley belt 52. 
The two grooves of the elbow pulley 50 are located in two planes that are 
parallel to all three of the clock hands 20, 22, and 40, and align with 
the second satellite pulley 46 and a central seconds drive pulley 54 
(further described below). The elbow pulley 50 sits above the minutes hand 
surface, around the first satellite axle 32 and is free to rotate 
therearound, independent from the rotation of the minutes pulley 22. In 
the preferred embodiment the elbow pulley 50 is attached to an axle sleeve 
51 which creates a bushing around the first satellite axle 32. The central 
seconds drive pulley 54 is fixed to the central seconds output shaft 16 
and rotates with the shaft at the seconds rate. The seconds rate of the 
central drive pulley 54 is transmitted via the seconds driving pulley belt 
52 to rotate the elbow pulley 50. The rotating elbow pulley 50 moves the 
pulley belt 48 so that the second satellite pulley 46 rotates at the 
seconds rate and in the same direction as the central seconds output shaft 
16. 
The preferred clock of the present invention therefore has a conventionally 
located hours hand, a minutes hand which rotates around a point located 
preferably near the end of the hours hand and a seconds hand which rotates 
around a point located near the end of the minutes hand, as shown in FIG. 
3 and FIG. 8. 
The clock mechanism 10 rotates the three output clock shafts; hours 12, 
minutes 14, and seconds 16 at their respective rates with sufficient 
torque to enable the hours hand 20, the minutes hand 22, and the seconds 
hand 40 to rotate about their axes 18, 24, and 42, respectively. 
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. 
In FIG. 11, an hours hand 60 and a minutes hand 62 are shown in a 
conventional manner having a seconds hand 64 which is located at a point 
along the minutes hand 62. FIG. 12 shows a similar conventional hand 
arrangement, but the seconds hand 64 is located at a point along the hours 
hand 60. The seconds hand 64 rotates around either point (hours hand or 
minutes hand) using a similar technique used and described above in the 
preferred embodiment, to rotate the minutes hand 22 around a point along 
the hours hand 20. 
In any arrangement of clock hands using the concept of the present 
invention whereby at least one hand rotates around a point along a second 
hand which is different from the driving point of that second hand 
(usually the center of a conventional clock), the hands will at some point 
during their rotation extend further from the center point then a 
conventional clock. In other words, it is likely that at least one hand 
will extend beyond the face of a conventional clock. This extension of the 
hands should not cause a problem for clocks intended to be hung on a wall. 
However, in the preferred embodiment, the clock is intended to be mounted 
on top of a stand 68 supported by a base 76 resting on a table or the 
floor, as shown in FIG. 5. The height of the stand and base must provide 
sufficient clearance to allow the extended hand or hands to swing past the 
base, as further described below. 
The clock arrangement using the concept of the present invention can be 
incorporated with any analog clock including a wall clock, a floor clock, 
a clock for indicating elapsed time having addition hands extended from 
the above mentioned seconds hand to indicate tenths of a second, etc, and 
a watch. 
The clock of the preferred embodiment does not have a face. Time is read by 
relative positions of the three hands within each imaginary inscribed 
reference circle. As shown in FIG. 8, the hours reference circle 70 is in 
the conventional location, the minutes reference circle 72 is centered 
around its rotating point along the hours hand 20 and the seconds 
reference circle 74 is centered around its rotating point along the 
minutes hand 22. The preferred clock is fixed to a tubular stand 68 (FIGS. 
5-7) which can be any supportive material such as polished brass or 
aluminum, or wood. A power cord for the clocking mechanism can be hidden 
within the hollow stand if an external power supply is required. The stand 
68 is held upright by the base 76 which is made from a aesthetically 
pleasing material depending on the material used for the other clock parts 
such as wood, brass, steel, aluminum or other. The base 76 is preferably a 
cylindrically shaped piece of heavy steel. A hole 78 for receiving one end 
of the tubular stand 68 is provided through the top of the base and out 
through one side. The power cord can be elbowed through the top of the 
base so that it leaves through the side and does not disturb the level 
standing of the clock. The tubular stand 68 can be secured into the hole 
78 of the base 76 using any convention method such as a force-fit, 
welding, or adhesive. The preferred base also includes a slot 80 
positioned down from the top surface of the base, parallel to the tubular 
stand 68 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 and in line with the seconds hand 40. 
The preferred length of the tubular stand 68 is such that the hand 
arrangement when fully extended downward (at six thirty and thirty 
seconds), the end of the seconds hand will swing into the slot 80 provided 
in the base 76. The purpose for having the seconds hand 40 swing through 
the slot 80 is primarily to provide an interesting clock, but also allows 
the clock have long hands yet remain at a closer and more stable height 
from the base 76. 
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention where the 
reference circles 70, 72, and 74 for the hours hand 20, the minutes hand 
22, and the seconds hand 40, respectively, are provided by three metal 
reference rings 82, 84, and 86, for each respective hand 20, 22, and 40. 
The hours reference ring 82 has a radius which is close (slightly greater) 
to the length of the hours hand 20 (ten inches). The minutes and seconds 
reference rings, 84, and 86, have respective radii which depend on the 
length of the minutes hand 22 and the seconds hand 40, and where each is 
located along the hours hand 20 and the minutes hand, respectively. All 
three reference rings 82, 84, and 86, are preferably made of any light, 
rigid material such as thermoplastic, wood, or aluminum. The minutes and 
seconds reference ring 84, 86 each have a central hub 88 which holds its 
ring by either several thin spokes 90 made of similar light material or a 
taut fine string such as thread, or one sturdy spoke which is gradually 
curved like an "S" so that it is distinguishable from the hands of the 
clock. The hub 88 and spokes 90 are shown in FIG. 13a for the minutes hand 
reference ring 86. The hours reference ring 82 can be attached to the 
tubular stand 68 in the 6 o'clock position. The other two reference rings 
84, 86 are pivotally attached to the first satellite 32 and the second 
satellite 44, respectively. Each satellite axle 32, 44 in this embodiment 
includes a space for the hub 88 of the minutes and seconds reference ring 
84, 86 to rotate. This space is shown for the minutes reference ring 84 
located on the first satellite 32 in FIG. 13b. In this embodiment 
involving reference rings, it is necessary to use a seconds hand which (if 
a seconds reference ring 86 is used) is shorter in length than the minutes 
hand so that the seconds reference ring 86 does not interfere with the 
rotation of the minutes hand 22. 
Each reference ring 82, 84, and 86 includes numerical indicia along its 
circumference which corresponds to unit values typical to each hand. For 
example, the numbers "12", "3", "6", and "9", arranged in the conventional 
manner can be used for the hours reference ring 82; the numbers "60" or 
"0", "15", "30", and "45" conventionally positioned can be used for the 
minutes and seconds reference rings 84, 86. The hours reference ring 82 
will always remain stationary with respect to the tubular stand 68 and is 
similar and analogous to a conventional clock face indicia. However, the 
minutes and seconds reference rings 84, 86 are rotatable and therefore are 
weighted with weight 92 located at the "30" (minute or second) position so 
that they will always keep a consistent reference. Specifically, the 
number indicia will remain in the conventional position regardless of 
where the hours hand 20 is positioning the first satellite 32 or 
similarly, where the minutes hand 22 is positioning the second satellite 
44. This is shown in FIG. 13a. The three clock hands indicate time by 
pointing to an independent relative position along their respective 
reference ring which is always kept in the conventional position. 
FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention where the 
hours hand 20 has a bend 94 located between the first satellite axis 24 
and the central axis 18. The bend 94 is such that an outer plane is 
defined by the flat portion of the hours hand 20 at the location of the 
first satellite axis 24. This outer plane is parallel to an inner plane 
defined by the flat portion of the hours hand 20 at the location of the 
central axis 18. The plane through which the minutes drive belt 30 is 
located is between the inner plane and the outer plane, as shown in FIG. 
9. The first satellite pulley 28 is relocated from the above described 
preferred embodiment from the front (viewing side) of the minutes hand 22 
to behind the minutes hand 22 keeping everything else the same. The 
central pulley 26 used to drive the minutes hand 22 around the first 
satellite axle 3 is kept in the same plane as before and the same plane as 
the repositioned first satellite pulley 28. This arrangement allows the 
minutes drive belt 30 to be kept in alignment with the two pulleys 26, 28 
and allows the first satellite pulley 28 and part of the minutes drive 
belt 30 to be hidden from the viewing side by the hours hand 20. 
Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b. The clock arrangement in 
this embodiment includes a circular face 98. The radius of the face 98 is 
slightly shorter than the distance measured between the central axis 18 
and the first satellite axis 24. An hours hand 100 extends from and 
rotates around the conventional center position of the clock face 98. A 
minutes hand 102 (like the preferred embodiment) extends from and rotates 
around the first satellite axis 24. A seconds hand is not shown for 
reasons of clarity. If a seconds hand is to be used with this clock 
arrangement along the hours hand or minutes hand, it can be driven by 
similar means as described in the preferred embodiment above. 
The circular clock face 98 includes along its circumference a multitude of 
gear teeth 104 (the entire clock face 98 can be a large spur gear). A 
minutes driving spur gear 106 replaces the first satellite pulley 28 of 
the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 and discussed above. The spur 
gear 106 is connected to an axle 108 (axle 108 can be the first satellite 
axle 32). The axle 108 is free to rotate within a hole located at the 
first satellite axis position 24 through the hours hand 100. The minutes 
hand 102 is also attached to the axle 108 so that the spur gear 106 the 
minutes hand 102 and the axle 108 rotate together around the first 
satellite axis position 24 along the hours hand 100. The first satellite 
axis 24 is located so that the teeth of the spur gear 106 engage with the 
gear teeth 104 of the clock face 98, as shown in FIG. 10a. The clocking 
mechanism used in this embodiment requires only one conventional output 
shaft, an hours output shaft 110 rotating at an hours rate. 
In operation, the hours hand 100 is rotated around the conventional center 
axis 24 position by the output shaft 110 at the hours rate of rotation. As 
the hours hand 100 moves (albeit slowly) with respect to the stationary 
clock face 98, the engaged spur gear 106 is forced to rotate. Rotation of 
the spur gear 106 causes the attached minutes hand 102 to rotate around 
the axis 108 in the conventional rotational direction (clock-wise). The 
size of the spur gear 106 is dependent on the size of the clock face 
(gear) 98. The measured circumference of the spur gear 106 must be equal 
to one eleventh the measured circumference of the circular clock face 
(gear) 98 if the minutes hand is to rotate at a rate of one every hour. 
EXAMPLE I 
If a clock face has a circumference of 12 inches, then 1 inch lies between 
each hour indicia (1-12). Since the spur gear 106 must rotate once an hour 
with respect to the minutes hand "0" or "60" minute position (if the 
attached minutes hand 102 is to rotate at the conventional minutes rate), 
then the spur gear 106 must travel exactly 1 inch every hour. The measured 
circumference of the spur gear 106, in this example, must be equal to 1 
and 1/11 inches. For every inch the hours hand 100 moves along the 
circumference of the clock face 98, the minutes hand 102 will rotate once 
with respect to the "0" or "60" minute position. The minutes hand will 
always keep its "0" or "60" minutes position constant relative to the "12" 
hour position of the clock face 98. 
The conventional analog clocking mechanism rotates all three output shafts 
(hours, minutes, and seconds) linearly, owing to the common drive means 
within the clocking mechanism. In other words, at twelve fifteen (12:15), 
shown in FIG. 10a, the pointing end of the hours hand 100 will be located 
one quarter the distance between the numbers twelve and one on the clock 
face 98. It is this linear movement of the hours hand 100 which rotates 
the spur gear 106 along the circumference of the clock face 98. The hours 
movement is subdivided into minutes by the spur gear 106. The benefit of 
this clock arrangement shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b is that the minutes 
drive means is "hidden" because it functions as the clock face 98 and only 
an hours output shaft is required to measure time in hours and minutes. 
Another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 10c and 10d, shows a clock arrangement 
which also only requires an hours output shaft. The clock includes two 
rings 124 and 126, one accommodating hour indicia and the other (larger) 
embracing minutes indicia. One clocking hand 122 is used in this clocking 
arrangement. The hand 122 has two pointing arrows 128 and 130, for 
indicating measured hours and minutes, respectively. The hand 122 rotates 
at an hours rate (one revolution/720 minutes). The hours ring 124 has a 
conventional analog hours indicia arrangement. The distance travelled by 
the clocking hand 122 along the minutes ring 126 in hours rate (one 
revolution/720 minutes). The hours ring 124 has a conventional analog 
hours indicia arrangement. The distance travelled by the clocking hand 122 
along the minutes ring 126 in one hour defines a complete minutes range, 
from 0 minutes to 59 minutes (totalling 60 minutes). There are twelve 
separate minutes scales 127 around the outer minutes ring 126, each 
ranging from 0 to 59 minutes in any functional increment (such as 1 minute 
or fifteen minutes). FIG. 10d shows one such scale 127. At three thirty 
two (3:32), for example, the hours pointing arrow 128 points just about 
halfway between the numbers "three" and "four" on the hours ring 124. The 
minutes pointing arrow 130 points almost halfway along its "three" to 
"four" O'clock minutes scale at "thirty-two" minutes, as shown in FIG. 
10c. This clock can be a floor clock (or other) including a base 132. The 
base 132 supports a clock mechanism pole 134 and the outer minutes ring 
126. The pole 134 extends from the base 132 to the center of both 
concentric rings 124, 126 and supports the clocking mechanism 10 (having 
or using only the hours output drive shaft), and the clocking hand 122. 
The inner hours ring 124 is attached to the support pole 134. The 
preferred indicia used with this clock arrangement is "one" through 
"twelve" for the hours and "0", "15", "30", and "45" for each of the 
twelve minutes scales along the minutes ring 126. 
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 yet another embodiment of the present 
invention is shown including a circular hours hand 200, an elongated 
minutes hand 202, a clocking mechanism 204, a stationary spur gear 206 and 
a satellite gear 208. Directional arrow 210 indicates the direction of 
rotation of the hours hand 200. Directional arrow 212 indicates the 
direction of rotation of the minutes hand 202. 
The clocking mechanism 204 used in this embodiment need only include an 
hours output drive shaft (hidden from view in FIG. 15), but of course, may 
also include the conventional telescoping output drive shaft arrangement; 
a seconds shaft rotatable at a seconds rate within a minutes shaft which, 
in turn is rotatable at a minutes rate within an hours shaft. In either 
case, the center point 222 of the hours hand 200 is connected to the hours 
output drive shaft by any convenient method such as a shaft mount 214 
which is adapted to snugly receive hours output drive shaft and also 
provide a convenient flat surface onto which the plate-like hours hand may 
be fixed using bolts, glue or the like. It is preferred that what ever 
method is used to connect the hours hand 200 to the shaft mount 214 that 
the front (viewing) surface of the hours hand 200 be free from contrasting 
bolt heads, for example, in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing and 
interesting viewing surface (the face of the present clock in this 
embodiment is the hours hand 200). 
The clocking mechanism 204, via the hours output drive shaft and the shaft 
mount 214 provides the hours hand 200 with a rate of rotation of one 
rotation every twelve hours. The conventional clocking mechanism generally 
includes a mounting shaft 216 which is normally used to hold a face plate 
of a conventional clock stationary with respect to the clock mechanism 
during rotation of the individual hands. The mounting shaft 216 is used in 
the immediate embodiment of the present invention to additionally (or 
only, as shown in FIGS. 14-15) provide stationary support for the spur 
gear 206. The spur gear ring gear 206 is fixed with respect to the 
clocking mechanism 204 and a perimeter clock face, if used, as discussed 
below. 
The minutes hand 202 is pivotally attached to a satellite point 220 other 
than the center of the circular hours hand 200, and preferably 
substantially distant from the hours hand center point 222, depending on 
the particular application of the present invention as a time piece. For 
example, with a watch application, due to the protective casing generally 
used with the clock movements, the minutes hand 202 would preferably not 
be so close to the perimeter of the hours hand 200 so as to make contact 
with the inner wall of the casing. It is contemplated that the watch 
casing could in another embodiment of the present invention include a 
channel along its inner wall thereby accommodating a predetermined amount 
of minute hand extension from the hours hand periphery without making 
contact. This particular contemplated embodiment would allow for a further 
interesting application of the present invention because the remote end of 
the rotating minutes hand 202 would appear to disappear into the watch 
casing (into the channel) during certain degree locations and reappear, 
seemingly too long on the watch "face" which is actually the hours hand 
200. With a clock application, a periphery clock face 224 (the term "face" 
used hereinafter indicates a timepiece related surface for supporting 
numerical indicia or reference marks to assist in the "reading" of 
measured time) which is supported by the mounting shaft 216 can be used, 
as shown in FIG. 15. The face 224 is a flat ring-like surface located 
immediately adjacent to the hours hand 200, along its periphery. The face 
224 is preferably coplanar with the hours hand 200 so that an extra long 
minutes hand 202 would creep off (extend) off the face of the clock, and 
appear interesting. In any case, the minutes hand 202 is pivotally 
attached to any non-center satellite point 220 of the hours hand 200. A 
shaft 218 is used to connect the minutes hand 202 through the hours hand 
200 to the satellite gear 208. An appropriate bushing, such as a brass 
bushing may be used to ensure that the minutes hand 202 will retain a 
plane of rotation which is parallel to the plate-like hours hand 200 
during operation and further provide support to the satellite gear 208. 
The stationary gear 206 and the satellite gear 208 are sized and arranged 
such that their teeth engage during clock operation. Therefore, the sum of 
the magnitude of the radii of the two gears, 206 and 208 equals the 
magnitude of the distance measured between the center point 222 of the 
hours hand 202 and the satellite point 220 about which the minutes hand 
202 rotates. This distance between the center point 222 and the satellite 
point 220 is labelled 226 in FIG. 14. It is noted that although gears are 
used in this preferred embodiment, alternative drive means such as rubber 
wheels in frictional engagement could just as easily be implemented. The 
term "gear" is used in this application to include all types of engagement 
wheels (frictional or tooth). 
During operation, as the hours hand 200 rotates at an hours rate, the 
satellite point 220 also rotates about an imaginary circle having a radius 
equal to distance 226 and the satellite gear 208 is forced to "roll" along 
the periphery of the stationary spur gear 206. As the satellite gear 208 
rotates (at a minutes rate, as discussed below) the attached shaft 218 and 
the attached minutes hand 202 also rotates (at a minutes rate). 
The conventional indicia of a clock is such that the numeral 12 is located 
at the top of the clock "face", followed by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . 
spaced at 30 arc degree intervals therearound in a clockwise direction. 
The relative locations of these standard hour indicia about a clock face 
or a watch face are known regardless if the actual numerals exist. To 
provide a "cleaner" and perhaps a more interesting timepiece, often only a 
non-numeral mark is provided to indicate the 12 o'clock reference 
position. The reader of the timepiece will then be able to instinctively 
determine the relative positions of the 3, 6 and 9 hour indicators, for 
example, sequentially separated 90 arc degrees from the mark. The 
preferred embodiment of the present timepiece includes only a 12 o'clock 
reference mark, unless a periphery face 224 is used. The location of the 
satellite point 220 about the imaginary circle with respect to either 
numerical hour indicia (if used) or the 12 o'clock reference mark 
indicates displaced time measured in hour intervals. The satellite point 
220 acts like the very tip of a conventional hours hand of a standard 
analog clock by pointing at the appropriate hour indicia or hour indicia 
location to indicate the passage of time (hours). 
A more precise indicator of displaced time, such as minutes is provided by 
the minutes hand 202 rotating at a minutes rate about the satellite point 
220. The rate of rotation of the minutes hand 220 is dependent on the 
relative sizing of the satellite gear 208 and the meshing stationary gear 
206. The size of each gear 206, 208 is dependent on the intended 
application and design of the timepiece. In any case, however, the ratio 
between the larger stationary ring gear 206 and the smaller satellite gear 
should be such that the satellite gear 208 rotates exactly twelve times 
with respect to the conventional "0" or "60" minutes position of the 
minutes hand as it travels exactly around the periphery of the stationary 
spur gear 26 once. In other words, the magnitude of the circumference of 
the stationary ring gear 206 must be exactly eleven times the magnitude of 
the circumference of the satellite gear 208. 
As the minutes hand 202 rotates, it will inscribe an imaginary circle of 
rotation about the satellite point 220. The relative location of the 
minutes hand 202 within this imaginary circle will provide an indicator of 
displaced time in minutes in a similar manner that a conventional minutes 
hand indicates displaced minutes within the circle of a clock face. In 
other words, if the minutes hand 202 is directed towards the top portion 
of the imaginary circle, then either 0 or 60 minutes is being indicated. 
Similarly, if the minutes hand is directed down towards the bottom portion 
of the imaginary circle, then 30 minutes is being indicated. 
To read the measured time from the present timepiece, one first determines 
the relative location of the satellite point 220 (this point will usually 
be apparent by the shape of the minutes hand 202) with respect to the 12 
o'clock reference mark to indicate displaced hours. The user then refers 
to the smaller imaginary circle (minutes circle). By "reading" the 
relative position of the minutes hand 202 with respect to known locations 
of minutes indicia about the imaginary circle, the user can determine the 
minutes portion of displaced time. 
FIGS. 16a-16c represent three comparative examples of both the present 
timepiece and a conventional timepiece indicating three respective times, 
as further indicated in a digital format below the conventional timepiece 
(to the right) in each figure. In FIG. 16a, the time of 3 o'clock and 30 
minutes is indicated. The conventional timepiece indicated this time in 
the conventional analog method. The present invention indicates the 3 
o'clock portion by having located the satellite point 220 and the 
imaginary circle of the minutes hand 202 at the third hour position 
(actually halfway between the third and forth hour position), being 
located in a similar position to that of the tip of the conventional hours 
hand. The present invention further indicates the displacement of 30 
minutes by having directed the minutes hand 202 downward (parallel to the 
adjacent minutes hand of the conventional timepiece). 
The timepieces of FIG. 16b indicate 25 minutes after the 7th hour. The 
present invention indicates this time by locating the satellite point 220 
and the imaginary circle of the minutes hand 202 between the 7th and 8th 
hour positions. The minutes are indicated by directing the minutes hand 
202 towards the numeral 25 position along the imaginary circle (again 
parallel to the conventional minutes hand indicating 25 minutes). 
Quarter after twelve, as indicated by the timepieces of FIG. 16c is 
indicated by the present invention by again positioning the satellite 
point and the imaginary circle of the minutes hand towards the appropriate 
hour, twelve in this case. The displacement of 15 minutes is indicated by 
having the minutes hand 202 pointing to the numeral 15 indicia position 
along the imaginary circle. 
Other variations of this particular embodiment include any shape hours hand 
such as triangular, square, etc. and the inclusion of a centrally located 
seconds hand (not shown). The seconds hand and the minutes hand can also 
be any shape, depending on the application and the desired design. 
Another embodiment provides at least one other minutes hand 230, pivotally 
fixed through the hours hand 200. The second minutes hand 230 is used for 
indicating the time within a different time zone throughout the world. As 
shown in FIG. 17, the time in New York, U.S.A. as indicated by the minutes 
hand 202, appropriately labeled "NY" is, for example 3:15. The time in 
London, England is indicated by the same timepiece by the second minutes 
hand 230, labeled "LON" as being six hours ahead, or exactly 9:15. Other 
city times throughout the world can similarly be indicted by the single 
timepiece of the present invention.