TIME-PIECE COMBINED WITH COMPASS, CALCULATOR OR TELEPHONE NUMBER DIRECTORY

Abstract: A time piece combined with another information device such as a compass (Fig. 2A), calculator (Fig. 2B) or telephone number directory (Fig. 2B). Wherein the time piece and other device are incorporated in a single pivotable device for wearing about the wrist. The device has two faces (10T, 10C) which are alternately visible selectively by reversing the casing (10) of the device. One side or face (10T) has the time display and the other (10C) either a compass, calculator or telephone number directory. The casing (10) is accommodated in a holder (12) which holder comprises a channel having spaced parallel sides (28A, 28B) presenting confronting retention tracks (40) for sliding accommodation of extensions (42) from opposite edges of the case at or near one end. The extensions are pivotable in the tracks either at the ends as in (Fig. 3A) or in the centre as in (Fig. 8A).

Description: Title: Time-Piece combined with Compass, Calculator or Telephone Number Directory DESCRIETIOIT This invention relates to a watch or other ti e- piece that further incorporates one or more of a compass, calculator or a telephone number directory. There have been previous proposals for a combined watch and compass particularly in the form of wrist- watches. Usually such wrist-watches have had conjoint dials, i.e. both compass needle and time indication visible together, or otherwise superposed for alternative viewing, in connection with which we are aware of a proposal in which a watch-housing body is hinged to a compass-housing body. There have also been previous proposals for time¬ pieces, particularly in the form of wrist-watches which incorporate a calculator. Usually such wrist- watches have had conjoint displays, i.e. both calculator display/input buttons or pads and. time indication visible together, or as alternatives relative to the same display perhaps on the basis of defaulting to time indication when not performing calculations. It is an aim of this invention to provide in a single device a relatively advantageous combination of time indication with another information device such as at least one of a compass, calculator and telephone number directory. According to this invention, a combined time-piece and other information device, preferably portable, comprises a single or composite case housing both of a time-keeping system and said other information device, and having time display at one side or face of the case and said other information device on an opposite -side or face of the case, preferably further with hinge means for the case relative to a holder therefor so as selectively to present said one and said other side or face for viewing/use by the user. According to one embodiment said other devices comprises a compass mechanism. Compared with known proposals for combined time-piece-and-compass devices, displays for time and for direction can be designed and implemented σach without reference to the other, thereby avoiding either being smaller than is comfortably consulted, and further avoiding mere association of essentially discrete devices. According to another embodiment said other information device comprises an electronic calculator display/input layout. Compared with known proposals for combined time-piece-and-calculator devices, display for time and calculator display/input means need not be squashed together onto one face, i.e. can be designed and implemented each without reference to the other, thereby avoiding either being smaller than is comfortably consulted. In one embodiment hereof, a portable combined time-piece-and-ot er information device for wearing on the wrist comprises a plate, preferably an open-topped channel or shell attached or attachable to strap means and further having means including a hinge whereby the aforesaid case is connected to the channel or shell with one of said sides or faces of the case visible and with the case capable of being lifted, reversed, and replaced for alternative viewing/use at its said sides or faces. In one embodiment, a said channel or shell has spaced parallel sides presenting confronting retention tracks for sliding accommodation of extensions from opposite side edges of the case at or near one end and pivotting of those extensions at least at or near each end of the tracks. Then, the case with either of its - L*. - display sides or faces uppermost can be flipped up from its other end about its said extensions in one end of the tracks, slid via those side extensions in those tracks to take the former to the other end of the latter, and lowered back into the channel or shell. At least for such preferred embodiment, the channel or shell is readily further associated with a displaceable protective cover over the case then down in the channel or shell, whether of hinged or other connection therewith or with said strap, for which latter, it will be appreciated, such cover may be an extension. As to the case and its time-keeping system, that may be of any known type, for example mechanical or electronic, and the compass may be of the customary bar-magnet and associated pointer type. Then, a Faraday shield can be provided between at least the compass magnet and the time-keeping system, whether as a plate or a further enclosing part of suitable magnetic-isolation material for either. It is expected that a shallow dish of such material over substantially the whole of the compass side or face, say incorporating required direction markings on or at its bottom, will be particularly effective, especially in then being of much greater extent than the size of the bar-magnet. The calculator will be electronic, and there may be any desired or necessary shielding be ween them, say via a plate or a shallow dish for the calculator electronics or for the time-keeping mechanism or electronics. According to a yet further embodiment, the other information device comprises a telephone number directory device with an electronic numeric/alphanumeric display/input layout. By telephone number directory I mean preferably, an electronic telephone number memory device with input and recall facilities-. By providing ' the time display on one side and the telephone directory display and function input means on the other side, the two do not need to be squashed together onto one face, i.e. can be designed and implemented each without reference to the other, thereby avoiding either being smaller than is comfortably consulted. The telephone number memory device conveniently comprises an alpha/numeric display, preferably of liquid crystal type, and a key pad (touch sensitive or otherwise) preferably using a minimum number of keys and conveniently a standard sixteen key pad for the input and recall of telephone numbers. The use of only sixteen keys calls for function/shift key facilities to be able to input all the letters of the alphabet plus numbers. • The number of keys employed is largely determined by the size of the case and the minimum size of key which can easily be operated. Thus, the invention is not limited to a key pad using sixteen keys. In an alternative embodiment, a said channel or shell has spaced parallel sides presenting confronting retention tracks for sliding accommodation of extensions from opposite side edges of the case at or near one end and pivotting of those extensions at a location displaced from each end of the tracks and preferably at or near the centre of said tracks. Said extensions being slid from the ends of. said tracks to said locations where the case with one of its display sides or faces uppermost can be flipped up from its other end about its said extensions in said location, then turned over relative to the channel or shell withits other face uppermost and then slid via those side extensions in those tracks to take the former to the other end of the latter. The provision of a projection in the tracks, or at least one of the tracks, at said location prevents the extensions from sliding past the projection unless the extensions are rotated so that an indentation in the extension cooperates with said projection to thereby allow the extension therepast. The tracks and extensions define the hinge means. The telephone number memory and recall will be electronic, and there may be any desired or necessary shielding between them, say via a plate or a shallow dish for the directory electronics or for the time-keeping mechanism or electronics. The other information device may even be an alternative form of time display, e.g. digital. The present invention will now be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyin -drawings; in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view for time display of device according to the present invention having a case 10 and a channel shaped shell 12; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are plan views for the other information displays for the respective devicesof compass, calculator and telephone memory and recall device Figures 3* * - and 3B axe detailed elevation and section (A-A) of one side of the shell 12 according to a first embodiment; Figure is a diagrammatic view of the change¬ over action for the first embodiment of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an elevation of a time-piece combined with other information device further showing a cover 14; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one embodiment of combined display and sixteen key input layout for the telephone memory directory device; Figure 7 is another embodiment of ' telephone memory directory showing an alternative key designation layout; Figures 8A and 8B are detail elevation and section A-A of Figure 8 of one side of the shell 12 according to a second embodiment; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the change-over action for the second embodiment of Figure 8. Referring further to the drawings, the case 10 has two opposite sides or faces 10T and 10C for time display (Figure 1), shown as hour/minute hands on a marked disc (markings not shown and it could be digital if ' preferred), and direction display (Figure 2A), shown as a needle, actually on a bar-magnet 20 that could be above or below a marked disc (markings not shown), but is shown visible. A time-keeping mechanism is indicated by dashed box 22 and is magnetically isolated from the bar-magnet 20 by a shield plate of suitable material, actually shown as a shallow dish substantially coextensive with the face 10T and in all directions greatly exceeding the maximum dimension of the bar magnet 20. Both opposite sides or faces of the case 10 are shown with covering glasses, see 26T and 26G (dotted in Figure 5). According to a first embodiment of shell construction, the shell 12 has upstanding sides 28A, 28B from a base plate 30. The sides 28A, 28B can be connected in any suitable way to strap means 32, but shown for a strap of leather or like material type looped at 32A, 32B over telescopically latching bars 3 A, 3 B in yokes 36A, 36B in the distal edge faces of the sides 28A, 28B. The proximal, confronting, edge-faces 38A, 38B of the sides 28A, 28B are essentially parallel and spaced to take the width of the case 10, and are shown with grooved tracks 40 to take spigot-like extensions 42 from sides of the case 10 at or near one of its ends. It is preferred for those extensions 42 to be flatted, and for the grooves or tracks 40 to be of dumb-bell shape, see diagra matically in Figure 4 showing a change-over sequence in steps A and E thereofo That sequence comprises lifting, sliding and replacing the case 10 relative to the open-sided shell 12 in'a manner believed to be self-explanatory. In the case of the embodiment of the combined time piece and calculator, the calculator display/input layout is shown as a full conventional set of.keys (Figure 2B), though touch-sensitive pads could equally well be used. Time-keeping electronics are as previously described and are isolated from the calculator electronics by a shield plate 24 of suitable material, actually shown as a shallow dish substantially coextensive with the face 10T. Such shielding may not be necessary. The calculator side or face of the case 10 is shown with raised ends above the height of its keys. The shell 12 may correspond in construction to that already described with a corresponding method of operation. In the case of the embodiment of the combined time piece and telephone number directory, the telephone alpha/numeric display/input layout is shown as a set of keys Figures 2C, 6 and 7» though touch- sensitive pads could equally well be used. Time-keeping electronics are as previously described and isolated from the telephone number memory and display electronics by a shield plate 24 of suitable material, say as shown previously as a shallow dish substantially coextensive with the face 10T. Such shielding may not be necessary. The time display or face of the case 10 is shown with a covering glass 26T. The telephone number display and input side or face of the case 10 may have raised ends above the height of its keys. The shell 12 may correspond in construction to that already described with reference to the preceding embodiments. An alternative construction is illustrated, which may also be employed with the previously described embodiments. The same reference numerals are used to denote equivalent parts. The shell differs from that described previously (see Figures 8A and 8B), in that the sides of the shell 12 have grooved tracks 40 to take spigot-like extensions 42 from sides of the case 10 at or near one of its. ends, wherein those extensions 42 are preferably circular as shown with an indent 43. The grooves or tracks 40 are elongate with a central projection 45 in one side and an oppositely located relief 47 see Figure 8A. Figure 9 shows diagrammatically a change-over sequence in steps A, B and C. That sequence comprises sliding the* case 10 relative to the open-sided shell 12 towards the pro&ection 45 whereat the case can be turned over on itself and slid further to the other end. To turn the case back again, the procedure is reversed. Attention is also drawn to the cover 14 of Figure 5 » applicable to. all embodiments as an alternative feature, which is shown as an addition or extension to the strap 30 and with a snap-button fastening at 44A, 44B. Other types of cover could be used, for example hinged to one of the sides 28. As mentioned the described hinge means may be used in other dual function devices such as combined time-piece and compass and combined time-piece and calculator. Other shapes of extension 42 and tracks 40 may be employed, which utilise the basic principles applicable to the described embodiment. A latch may be provided to locate the case 10 in the selected one of its two positions. For example, this may take the form of a spring loaded ball 60, remote from the extension 42, which locates in the end of track 40. The telephone number memory and input/recall directory comprises a display and a key pad. The display is an alpha/numeric display - such as a liquid crystal unit and the key pad conveniently has sixteen keys set out in 4 rows and 4 columns, which are allotted approp- riate numerical or alphabetical, or functional designat¬ ions to perform the tasksof (a) storing desired telephone numbers, (b) recalling the numbers and displaying same when required. The input of numbers may be of a simple form - for example each number to be stored may be designated a certain code number. This number being pressed in the key pad to recall the telephone number." Of course, the code number would be simple i.e. less digits than the actual telephone number. Input and recall tabs being provided. More preferably, the unit is such as to store the numbers using an alphabetic code or an alphanumeric code related to the name of the person or company to whom the number belongs, or indeed any other related fact which is convenient for the user to remember. For example, if the telephone number of a company called Abracadabra were to be stored then this could be done using say the first n, say eight numbers Abracada, followed by the telephone number to be entered in the memory. Recall of that number would be done by keying in the above eight letters and a recall key - whereupon the telephone number would be displayed. The display is conveniently of a size to give the full number including the appropriate international or STD dialling codes. To embrace all the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9 would require 36 keys if only single key functions were required. Accordingly, it is envisaged that multi-function keys will be employed. Attention is directed to Figure 6 which shows, in more detail, one embodiment of display 50 and key pad 52 in which two letters are allotted to each of 13 keys and a function key (54) is provided to select which of the two letters is to be operative. Ten of these 13 keys can also have number designations, with the circuitry then such as to automatically revert to number selection after a predetermined number of code characters have been input - say 8. This defines a set field size and avoids the use of a further function key. An additional key 58 with dual function for enter and recall is provided as is a dual function key 56 for cancel entry and cancel memory functions. The operational mode of the keys 56 and 58 is conveniently selected by the function key 54. It will be appreciated that many options exist for achieving the desired functional result with regard to the organisation of the keys and the above scheme is quoted by way of an example the importance being that the number of keys required can be reduced by using multi- functions. Another alternative is to dedicate the consonants to a first function level and the vowels to a second function level with say two consonants to each key to reduce the number of keys required. The above described default to numbers could also be employed. , One such embodiment is described in greater detail with reference to Figure 7. Conveniently, as illustrated, a sixteen key board is used with the keys set out in four rows and four columns. Ten of the keys are marked with the consonants BC, DF . ... V , XYZ which operate as a first default level. By providing two consonants to each key as illustrated, and with XYZ on one key, the number of keys required can be kept to a minimum. Thus if the letter B is to be entered the appropriately designated key is pressed. The same key would be pressed for the letter C but this need not be detrimental in relation to the advantage of reduced keys. The vowels are provided as a second function to five of the consonant keys and are selected by pressing a function-key 62 which reverts to consonants when pressed again. Thus, a series of letters, typically the first n of a name can be entered as a code to a following telephone number which is also to be input into memory and thus enable it to be recalled to display subsequently on input of the same code. A maximum of eight (or other suitable number) characters may conveniently be used for the code, but preferably organised so that, in the event that the first six or seven letter characters are .identical to a letter code already in store, the circuitry will indicate this on the display and then to admit one or two further characters, perhaps initials. In either case (6 or 7 letters unique, or 7th/8th letter needed) the keyboard will revert to its second default state in which numbers are keyed in when the designated number keys are pressed. If desired, any first letter code, clash could be indicated at this stage and digits used as further identifiers, say in two reserved field positions By allowing two characters of an eight string code to be numbers, up to 99 additional numbers could be stored under the same six letter code. Of course, the total number of coded names which can be stored will depend on the capacity of the memory unit. After keying in acceptable identifier characters, the keyboard default to its second state allows actual telephone numbers to be input. An enter key (64) is then pressed to put the keyed information into memory. The entry button may be keyed at the end and/or between letter and number fields of the keying sequence,according to the specific programming sequence of the unit. To recall and display any number in the memory, the letter code is keyed in, and a recall key 66 pressed. The number is then displayed. ' In addition to entry and recall keys - it is preferred to have a cancel entry "key 68 for cancelling an incorrectly input number or letter, and a cancel memory key 70 to cancel a particular number and code already in the memory. Using this system, the sixteen keys are more than sufficient to provide the above outlined functions, in fact showing an ON-OFF key 72 at least relative to the display. Protection against loss of memory contents could be provided via a dual-battery provision so that either may be replaced on appropriate indication, i.e. each alone being enough to power the device. The electronic circuitry might even utilize an EPROM for storing the required numbers and allow the unit to be turned off, entirely, or its normal battery removed for changing when- run down. To "blow" into an EPROM may require additional voltage to that required for normal operation, and an external connection may be provided for a suitable power supply. If the EPROM will not hold data temporarily with normal power on, pending "blowing-in", the unit may also incorporate a small RAM to provide a short term memory facility, which will be operative whenever the unit is switched on, to retain an input number until it can be programmed into the EPROM. ,

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A combined time-piece and other information device comprises a single or composite case housing both of a time-keeping system and said other information device, and having time display at one side or face of the case and said other information device on an opposite side or face of the case, with hinge means for the case relative to a holder therefor so as selectively to present said one and said other side or face for viewing/use by the user. ' 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 which is portable for wearing on the wrist, the holder comprising a plate in the form of an open top channel attached or attachable to strap means, and wherein the case is hingedly connected to the holder by said hinge means with one of said sides or faces of the case visible and with the case capable of being lifted, reversed and replaced for alternative viewing/use at its said sides or faces. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said channel has spaaed parallel sides presenting confronting retention tracks for sliding accommodation of extensions from opposite side edges of the case at or near one end and pivoting of those extensions at least at or near each end of the tracks. 4 0 A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the case is flipped up about its said extensions in one end of the tracks, slid via those side extensions in those tracks to take the former to the other end of the latter, and lowered back into the channel. 5. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 in which the extensions take the form of flatted pins, pivotal at the ends and slidable in the track therebetween when the plane of the casing is substantially parallel with the track. • 6. " A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said channel has spaced parallel sides presenting confronting retention tracks for sliding accommodation of extensions from opposite side edges of the case at or near one end thereof, and pivoting of those extensions at least at or near a location intermediate the ends of the tracks. 7« device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the case is slid along the track via the extensions from the end to the said location, and then flipped up and over on itself, and the extensions slid further along the tracks to the opposite end. 8. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which a projection is provided in at least one of the tracks at said location, which projection prevents the extensions from sliding past the projection when the extensions are rotated so that an indentation in the extension ) cooperates with said projection to thereby allow the extension past. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the other information device is selected from a time-piece, a compass, a calculator or a telephone number directory. 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the calculator device is electronic and comprises a key board for input of data and a display. 11. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the telephone number directory comprises an electronic number memory device with input and recall facilities provided by a key pad, and a visual display. 12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a cover displaceably associated with the casing. 13. A device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with re ernce to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: MCARDLE ANTHONY DANIEL, MCARDLE, ANTHONY, DANIEL
Applicants: MCARDLE ANTHONY DANIEL, MCARDLE, ANTHONY, DANIEL
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G04B47
IPC codes: G04B37, G04B47, G04G9