GLOBE CLOCK

Abstract: A globe clock for indicating the standard times at different places in the world and permitting a user to read the time with ease on the map of the globe. The globe clock comprises: a globe map shell (11), the map of which includes standard meridians (43, 44, 45) and corresponding time zones (46, 47, 48), and inside the globe map shell (11) are mounted two transparent hemispherical shells (10, 13) rotating about the polar axis, the northern hemisphere (10) of said two shells (10, 13) graduated with an hour scale and the southern hemisphere (13) with a minute scale, and a transparent outer globe shell (8) covers said two hemispherical shells (10, 13), and above both poles are located knobs (2, 6, 14) to rotate and adjust said southern hemispherical shell (13), globe map shell (11) and outer globe shell (8).

Description: GLOBE CLOCK TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a globe clock, more particular¬ ly to improvements in a world time clock, where a map of a globe includes world standard time zones and trans- parent hemispherical shells graduated with hour and min¬ ute scales cover the globe, indicating world standard times. BACKGROUND ART Some of the pertinent art relating to this invention may be found in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,527,046, 3,611,704, 3,918,251. However, some improvements can be made with the hitherto known art on world time clocks, where is ' still room for providing means to read world standard times with more precision and ease, particularly it needs more consider¬ ations to be given in relation to the map including stan¬ dard time zones, and in most cases world time clocks have maps on discs or square tables where the configuration of geography is distorted, whereby relevant inconveniences and limitations entail, and further they may be conveni¬ ent for reading world times but.not so to be used as an ordinary clock, which may be one of reasons not to be so popular. And the globe clock of the present disclosure will improve these and those shortcomings concurrently. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is the object and advantage of the present invention to provide a world time clock; be able to read the stan¬ dard time at any desired place in the world with precision and ease; as well as be able to read world standard times on the map of the globe, where the configuration of geo¬ graphy is not distorted; be able to read a local or fre- quently referred time with same convenience as an ordin¬ ary clock; so that the world time clock can be more com¬ monly used. And to attain this object and advantage, the globe clock comprises : as set forth in claim 1, a globe map shell, the map of which includes 24 standard meridians and corresponding time zones; inside said globe map shell is mounted a set of clockworks; over said globe map shell are mounted two transparent hemispherical she¬ lls rotating about the polar axis, the northern hemisph¬ ere of said two shells marked with a 24-hour scale, the southern hemisphere marked with a 60-minute scale, at each of its' equatorial edges respectively; a transparent ou-ter 1 globe shell is mounted over said two hemispherical shells; as set forth in claim 2, above said two hemispherical shells is disposed a second hand of a narrow semicircular strip, extending from the north to the south pole, in spaced relation between said two hemispherical shells and outer globe shell; as set forth in claim 1 and 2, said two hemispherical shells and second hand are secured to and driven by its ' shafts extending along the polar . axis inside said globe map shell; as set forth in claim 3, on said outer globe shell are inscribed two thicker li¬ nes, extending from both poles, coming in collision with each other , ending in the form of a wedge closely to the equator of said outer globe shell, the upper of said two lines pointing the time on said hour scale, the lower pointing the minute on said minute scale; as set forth in claim 4, said globe map shell and outer globe shell are fixed ro- tatably at the polar axis to a supporting bow beside and along the surface of said outer globe shell, which bow is fixed to a base; as set forth in claim 1 and 5, above the north pole are set up vertically an coaxially two knobs, the upper to rotate said globe map shell, the lower to rotate said globe map shell and outer- globe she¬ ll simultaneously; above the south pole a knob to rotate said southern hemispherical shell; as set forth in claim 6, an electric cord, supplying current to and extending from said clockworks, passing through a tube sourrounded by the tubular shaft of said knob above the south pole, is rotatably connected by cylindrical male and female con¬ nectors where one of said connectors is secured to the end of said tube and the other to said bow in order for said cord not to twist at rotation of said globe map she¬ ll, and again connected, through said bow, to a power source in said base. The globe clock arranged and constructed in this way, the world standard times are read where said standard meridians and hour scale are met indicating the hour and approximate minute, and the precise minute is read where said lower line and minute scale are met, and the standard time of a region is read by identifying the standard meridian the time of which is used in the re¬ gion, which will be facilitated by differentiation with colors, and by turning said upper knob, said two lines set in line with the standard meridian of a local or fre- quently referred time, the time is easily identified by said two distinctive lines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the globe clock showing a basic and major part of construction, FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the globe map shell show¬ ing the map thereon, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hemispherical shell with the hour scale, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hemispherical shell with the minute scale, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the semicircular second hand, FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the transparent outer globe shell, FIG. 7 are side and front elevational views of the globe clock, FIG. 8 are elevational and plan views of the lower " knob part above the north pole showing the pinion gear jour- naled on the shaft of the globe map shell, which pinion gear to be engaged with the lower knob, FIG. 9 is a vertical section and a plan view of the cyl¬ indrical male and female connectors. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In FIG. 2, there is shown a globe map shell 11 on the map of which includes 24 standard meridians three 43, 44, 45 of which are referred, corresponding standard time zones 46, 47, 48, longitudes and latitudes by 10 degrees. For an easy identification, it is preferred standard time zones 46, 47, 48 are differentiated from adjacent ones by hues of color, e.g., by red, yellow and blue successive¬ ly and within the same standard zone, sea, land and the standard meridian are differentiated by values of color, e.g., sea lighter than land and so on. And an exception- al region 49, where is used the standard time of a merid¬ ian which falls on the middle of the two adjacent 44, 45 of the 24 standard meridians, are differentiated by the mixed color of the standard time zones 47, 48 of the two adjacent standard meridians 44, 45. The globe map shell 11 in FIG. 1 consists of two halves, the northern and southern hemispheres, joined at the equ¬ ator 18, 36 by a snap lock or other known method and ro- tating about the polar axis, driven by its shafts 1, 22 and knob 2. Inside the globe map shell 11 are mounted a set of clock¬ works 35 in FIG. 1 which is fixed to two bars 19, 37 ex- tending from two opposite equatorial edges inside the ' globe map shell 11, to which equatorial edges two bars 19, 37 are fixed. Over the globe map shell 11 are mounted two transparent shells 10, 13, closely spaced at the equator, the north¬ ern hemisphere 10 graduated, as shown in FIG. 3, at the equatorial edge with a scale of 24 units, one unit repre¬ senting one hour span, designated by 24 numerals in two successive series of 1 to 12 in counterclockwise direc- tion seen from the north pole, and it is preferred im¬ mediately above each of said 24 numerals are added a ser¬ ies of numerals 1 to 24 in a smaller size, and one unit of said 24 units subdivided into 6 units, one unit repre¬ senting 10 minutes, and the southern hemisphere 13 grad- uated, as shown in FIG. 4, at the equatorial edge with a scale of 6 units, one unit representing 10 minutes, des¬ ignated by series of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and one unit of said 6 units subdivided into 10 units, one unit repre¬ senting 1 minute. The two shells 10, 13 are driven by its' shafts 21, 32 in FIG. 1 inside the globe map shell 11 and rotating about the polar axis, the northern πemi- sphere 10 at rate of one revolution per day and the sou¬ thern hemisphere 13 at rate of one revolution per hour. Above the two shells 10, 13 is disposed a second hand 9 in FIG. 1 and FTG. 5 in the form of a narrow semicircular strip, extending from the north to the south pole, rotat¬ ing about the polar axis driven by its shaft 20, in spac¬ ed relation between the two shells 10, 13 and a transpar¬ ent outer globe shell 8. The transparent outer globe shell 8 consists of two halv¬ es joined at the equator 12, 39 in the same way as the globe map shell 11, and -thereon inscribed two thicker lines 40, 41, as shown in FIG: 6, extending from both poles, coming in collision with each other, ending in a wedge form closely to the equator of the outer globe she¬ ll 8, the upper one 40 pointing the time on the hour sca¬ le, the lower one 41 pointing the minute .on the minute scale, and around the equator, graduated, as shown in FIG. 6, with dots into 60 units, one unit representing 1 second, and are indicated the second by the second hand 9 and it is preferred dots in a distinguishable color and those of every ten are differentiated from others in sha¬ pe, e.g., in a diamond indicating 10 seconds while others in a circle and those of every five in a different color. The globe map shell 11 and outer globe shell 8 are fixed rotatably at the polar axis to a supporting bow 38 which is fixed to a base 42. Above both poles are located knobs 2, 6, 14 in FIG. 1, whic 'are journaled on and engage with its' shafts 1, 7, 31 where its' engaging parts are formed in a gear as shown in FIG. 8 and the knobs 2, 6, 14 shuttle vertically along. the shafts 1, 7, 31, to rotate and adjust the globe map shell 11, outer globe shell 8 and minute hand 13. Above the north pole are located vertically and coaxial¬ ly two knobs 2, 6, the upper one 2 to rotate, through shafts 1, 22 and intermediate gears 33, 34, the globe map shell 11, is fixed not to turn by a spring means 3 , 4 at both sides or other known method, and while pulled up loose, drives the shaft 1. The lower one 6 is fixed in the same way as the upper one 2 and when pulled up loose, engages with a pinion gear 5 together, which pinion 5 is journaled on the shaft 1 of the globe map shell 11, and rotates the globe map shell 11 and the outer globe shell 8 simultaneously. The teeth of the pinion gear 5 is, as shown in FIG. 8, beveled at its bottom edge to be engaged with -the lower knob at any position not crisscrossing. In this construction, to turn the lower knob 6 needs the upper knob 2 to be pulled up loose. The pair of gears 21, 26 secured to the shafts 1, 22 of the globe map shell 11 and pair of gears 33, 34 engaged therewith are of the same size in each pair so that the globe map shell 11 and outer globe shell 8 rotate at same rate of revolution and simultaneously. Above the south pole is located a knob 14 to rotate and adjust the minute hand 13 which knob 14 connected, throu¬ gh its shaft 31, to the clockworks 35 by a known method in the clock mechanism. The knob 14 is fixed in the same way as the knobs 2, 6 above the north pole and pulled up, drives the shaft 31. Through a tube 30 surrounded by the tubular shaft 31 of the knob 14, an electric cord 27, supplying current to and extending from the clockworks 35, passes and is con¬ nected to a power source in the base 42 and at the out¬ side end of the tube 30, the cord 27 is rotatably con¬ nected by a known method, e.g., with cylindrical male and female connectors 16, 17, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, where the male 16 is secured to the end of the tube 30 and the female 17 secured to the bow 38 so that the cord 27 does not twist at rotation of the globe map shell. In case of a mechanical clock, the tube 30 is replaced with a winding shaft. Finally the globe clock will usually be used, as shown in FIG. 7, the two lines 40, 41 on the middle of the front and the bow 38 to the back and the time of any desired place can be referred on the globe by turning the lower knob 6. And smaller sizes of the clock may be used, with or without the bow 38 or base 42, as a pocket watch, ac¬ cessory for cars, etc. and larger sizes in libraries, hotels, parks, etc.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A globe clock comprising: a globe map shell (11) , the map of which includes stan- dard meridians (43, 44, 45) and corresponding time zo¬ nes (46, 47, 48); a set of clockworks (35) is mounted inside said globe map shell (11) ; two transparent hemispherical shells (10, 13) are mounted over said globe map shell (11) , each covering one hemi¬ sphere of said globe map shell (11) respectively, one (10) of said two shells (10, 13) graduated with an hour scale and the other (13) with a minute scale, ro¬ tating about the polar axis being driven by its' shafts (21, 32) extending along the polar axis; a transparent outer globe shell (8) is mounted over said hemispherical shells (10, 13) ; knobs (2, 6, 14) are located above both poles to rotate said hemispherical shell (13) with said minute scale, globe map shell (11) and outer globe shell (8) . 2. A globe clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a second hand (9) of a narrow semicircular strip extend¬ ing from the north to the south pole in spaced relation between said hemispherical shells (10, 13) and outer globe shell (8) , rotating about the polar axis being driven by its shaft (20) extending along the polar ax¬ is. 3. A globe clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein: two lines (40, 41) are inscribed on said outer globe she¬ ll (8) , extending from both poles, coming in collision with each other, ending closely to the equator of said outer globe shell (8), one (40) of said two lines (40, 41) pointing the time on said hour scale and the other (41) pointing the minute on said minute scale. 4. A globe clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said globe map shell (11) and outer globe shell (8) are fixed rotatably at the polar axis to a supporting bow (38) located beside and along the surface of said outer globe shell (8) . 5. A globe clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein: two knobs (2, 6) are located vertically and coaxially above one of both poles where said hemispherical she¬ ll (10) with said hour scale is located, the upper (2) of said two knobs (2, 6) to rotate said globe map shell (11) and the lower (14) to rotate .said globe map shell (11) and outer globe shell (8) simultaneously, a knbb (14) above the other " po " le to rotate said hemisphe¬ rical shell (13) with said minute scale. 6. A globe clock as set forth in claim 4 wherein: an electric cord (27) , supplying current to and extending from said clockworks (35) , passing through a tube (30) surrounded by a tubular one (31) of shafts extending along the polar axis, rotatably connected by cylindri- cal male and female connectors (16, 17) where one (16) of said connectors (16, 17) is secured to the outside end of said tube (30) and the other (17) secured to said supporting bow (38) , again connected to an outside power source.

Inventors: KIM JUNG SAHM, KIM, JUNG, SAHM
Applicants: SAHM KIM JUNG, KIM, JUNG, SAHM
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G04B19
IPC codes: G04B19