Abstract:
An alarm wristwatch including a watch, a strap having an extent, a mechanism for increasing and decreasing the extent of the strap, and a circuitry for controlling the mechanism to intermittently increase and decrease the extent of the strap, thereby increasing and decreasing a pressure of the strap on a user&#39;s wrist, resulting in attracting the user&#39;s attention, while not attracting other persons&#39; attention.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Israel Patent Application No. 230,112, filed Dec. 23, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to the field of wristwatches. More particularly, the invention relates to an alarm wristwatch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Alarm wristwatches have been in use for decades. The common ways to alert a person using a wristwatch include playing sounds, vibration, and even electric pulses. 
     Vibrating the watch is effective for wristwatches as they are in contact with the user&#39;s hand. However, a vibration is not always noticeable, and some people do not like to be waked up by a vibration. 
     As per alarm sound, in order to produce an alarm that wakes up a user is required a sound system that can produce “loud” signals, which creates technical difficulties when implemented in a “small” device such as a wristwatch. Furthermore, using a sound alarm may wake up other people. 
     Vibration as well is noticed by the public around, and as well is regarded as a nuisance or even forbidden at certain environments. 
     All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of alarm wristwatches. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the invention is directed to an alarm wristwatch, including:
         a watch;   a strap having an extent;   a mechanism for increasing and decreasing the extent of the strap; and   a circuitry for controlling the mechanism to intermittently increase and decrease the extent of the strap, thereby increasing and decreasing a pressure of the strap on a user&#39;s wrist, resulting in attracting the user&#39;s attention, while not attracting other persons&#39; attention.       

     The mechanism may include:
         a cogged area of the strap;   a cogwheel, correspondingly with the cogged area; and   an electric motor, controlled by the circuitry, for rotating the cogwheel in one direction, thereby increasing the extent, and rotating the cogwheel in an opposite direction, thereby decreasing the extent.       

     The mechanism may include:
         a conduit disposed along the strap;   a non-elastic wire disposed in the conduit; and   a pulley wherein the wire is wrapped around, the pulley being controlled by the circuitry, for rotating the cogwheel in one direction, thereby increasing the extent, and rotating the cogwheel in an opposite direction, thereby decreasing the extent;   wherein the strap is characterized in allowing increasing and decreasing of the extent thereof.       

     The strap may include a first and a second segment. 
     The first and second segments of the strap are preferably connected one to the other at the overlapping length thereof,
         thereby the increasing and decreasing of the extent of the strap may increase and decrease both of the segments together.       

     The connection of the first and second segments of the strap one to the other at the overlapping length thereof may include:
         a first hook being located at an end of the first segment, for being inserted into a hole of the second segment; and   a second hook being located at an end of the second segment, for being inserted into a hole of the first segment.       

     The connection of the first and second segments of the strap one to the other at the overlapping length thereof may include a hook and loop fastener. 
     The alarm wristwatch may further include an external device, in communication with the watch. 
     The alarm wristwatch may further include an external device, in communication with the watch, for stopping an alarm of the wristwatch. 
     The alarm wristwatch may further include an external device, in communication with the wristwatch, for providing a user interface for setting the wristwatch. 
     The setting may be one or more of: a time, an alarming schedule, a display format of the wristwatch, and so on. 
     The external device may be a smartphone. 
     The external device may be a computer. 
     The external device may be a dedicated device. 
     The circuitry may be adapted to gradually intense a rhythm of the decreasing and increasing. 
     The control circuitry may be electronic. 
     The control circuitry may be computerized. 
     The increasing and decreasing of the extent of the strap may be carried out at one end of the strap. 
     The increasing and decreasing of the extent of the strap may be carried out at both ends of the strap. 
     The mechanism may include:
         two rigid segments of the strap, pivotally connected to the watch;   each segment having a cogged area at the end thereof, in a form of a cogwheel;   each segment having a cogwheel, correspondingly with the cogged areas; and   an electric motor, controlled by the circuitry, for generating an alarm by oppositely rotating the cogwheels in one direction, thereby drawing away the segments from each other, and rotating the cogwheels in an opposite direction, thereby approaching the segments to each other.       

     The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a user, wearing an alarm wristwatch, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the alarm wristwatch of  FIG. 2 , which demonstrates the mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14 . 
         FIG. 4  is a broken view of the wristwatch of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts the shrunk state of the alarm wristwatch of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14  of the wristwatch of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7A  depicts connection between the segments of  FIG. 7 , according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a wristwatch  10  and an external device  28  communicating via a communication channel  30 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional side-view of the alarm wristwatch. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of various embodiments thereof, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a user, wearing an alarm wristwatch, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The alarm wristwatch is marked by reference numeral  10 . As illustrated, the dimensions of wristwatch  10  are common in this field. 
     The wristwatch  10  comprises an alarming mechanism which attracts the user&#39;s attention by intermittently increasing and decreasing the extent of the strap of the wristwatch. 
     In contrast to vibration, the increasing and decreasing of the extent of the strap of the wristwatch is noticed only by the person wearing the wristwatch, and is not at all noticed by any other person, thus it cannot be regarded as a nuisance or forbidden at any environment. 
     The rhythm of increasing and decreasing the extent of the strap can be increased gradually, thereby waking a user in a less annoying form than other ways for this purpose, such as vibrations and sound. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The wristwatch of this embodiment of the invention is marked herein by reference numeral  10   a.    
     The wrist watch comprises a watch (mechanism and user interface)  12 , and a strap  14  and a mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14 . In order to wake up a user, this mechanism decreases and increases intermittently the extent of strap  14 . As the extent of the strap decreases, it fastens the user&#39;s wrist, thereby waking him up. 
     Preferably, the rhythm of decreasing/increasing the extent of the strap and the applied fastening force are controllable by the control system of the watch. The control system may be electronic, computerized (i.e., employs a CPU and memory), and so on. 
     In the zoomed view it can be seen that strap  14  comprises a cogged area  16 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the alarm wristwatch of  FIG. 2 , which demonstrates the mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14 . 
     As mentioned, strap  14  comprises a cogged area  16 , at least at a certain portion at one end thereof. Correspondingly, watch  12  comprises a cogwheel  18  (better seen in the zoomed view). Thus, by rotating cogwheel  18  in one direction, the extent of strap  14  increases, and by rotating the cogwheel in the opposite direction, the extent of the strap decreases. 
       FIG. 4  is a broken view of the wristwatch of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The broken view shows a control circuitry  22 , which controls the operation of changing the extent of strap  14 . Motor  24  rotates a cogwheel (not seen in this figure). The control circuitry and motor are operated by electric power provided by chargeable battery  20 . In the zoomed view is seen a plug for providing electric power for charging the chargeable battery  20 . 
     Reference numeral  26  denotes a USB connector. 
       FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     The wristwatch according to this embodiment of the invention is marked herein by reference numeral  10   b.    
       FIG. 5  schematically illustrates the mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14  of the wristwatch of  FIG. 5 . 
     The mechanism for increasing and decreasing the extent of strap  14  may be applied to the common strap  14  consisting of two strap segments  14 A and  14 B, connected one to the other by a hook  44  of segment  14 A inserted into a hole  46  of segment  14 B. 
       FIG. 6  depicts the shrunk state of the alarm wristwatch of  FIG. 5 . 
     Once the mechanism decreases the extent of strap  14 , strap  14  preferably shrinks evenly across the entire length thereof. In particular, the overlapping length of segments  14 A and  14 B shrink together, such that they are yet disposed attached one to the other. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the mechanism for changing the extent of strap  14  of the wristwatch of  FIG. 5 . 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, strap  14  is in a bellows form, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     According to another embodiment, each of segments  14 A and  14 B is shrinkable. A conduit  36 A passes along strap  14 A. A longitudinally non-elastic wire  32 A passes in conduit  36 A therealong. A conduit  36 B passes along strap  14 B. A longitudinally non-elastic wire  32 B passes in conduit  36 B therealong. 
     Each of wires  32 A and  32 B is wrapped around a pulley  38 . Thus, the extent of each of segments  14 A and  14 B increases as pulley  38  rotates in one direction, and decreases as the pulley rotates in the opposite direction. 
     According to another embodiment, only one of the segments  14 A or  14 B includes the wire. 
     Segments  14 A and  14 B are connected one to the other by hook  44  located at the end of segment  14 A, being inserted into hole  46  of segment  14 B. 
     Segments  14 A and  14 B may further be connected one to the other by a hook  42  located at the end of segment  14 B and inserted into a hole  40  of segment  14 A. Hook  42  disallows drawing away of segment  14 B from segment  14 A, as depicted by the arrow. 
     The connection of segments  14 A and  14 B one to the other by hook  44  located at the end of segment  14 A, and as well by hook  42  located at the end of segment  14 B provides that the range between hook  44  and hook  42  forms a single band. Thus, segments  14 A and  14 B function as a single strap, for increasing and decreasing the extent thereof. 
       FIG. 7A  depicts connection between the segments of  FIG. 7 , according to another embodiment. 
     The term “overlapping length of the segments” refers herein to the length between the end  50 A of segments  14 A and end  50 BB of  14 B. 
     The connection of segments  14 A and  14 B one to the other between the end of segment  14 A and the end of segment  14 B may be obtained by other connection means, rather than by hooks  42  and  44 , such as by hook and loop (Velcro) fastener  48 , for connecting the significant overlapping length of the segments  14 A and  14 B. 
     The limitation may be against expanding the extent; however, the same mechanism can be applied for the opposite case, i.e., limiting the extent of the strap to a certain size. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a wristwatch  10  and an external device  28  communicating via a communication channel  30 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The communication channel may be wired (such as a USB communication) or wireless (such as Bluetooth communication). 
     The external device may be a computer, a smartphone, and so on, which provides a convenient user interface for setting the watch. For example, using these means, it is more convenient to set up the time of the watch, the alarming schedule, the format of the display of the watch, and so on, than the user interface that can be provided in a wristwatch, due to its “small” size. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the external device  28  is used for stopping an alarm. For example, assuming external device  28  is disposed distantly from wristwatch  10 , when the alarm starts, the user has to reach the external device and press button  42 , in order to stop the alarm. This may help to wake him better than pressing a corresponding button of the wristwatch. 
       FIG. 9  schematically illustrates an alarm wristwatch, according to another embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 10  is a sectional side-view thereof. The wristwatch of this embodiment of the invention is marked herein by reference numeral  10   c.    
     According to this embodiment of the invention, the strap is divided into two rigid segments  14   a  and  14   b . Each segment  14   a  and  14   b  is pivotally connected to watch  12  thereof. At the end of each segment  14   a  and  14   b  of the strap is disposed a cogged area  16   a  and  16   b  correspondingly, each in a form of a cogwheel. Two cogwheels  18   a  and  18   b  interlace with the cogged areas  16   a  and  16   b  correspondingly. The cogwheels are oppositely rotatable by a motor  24   a ,  24   b  correspondingly according to a command from a control circuitry (not seen in this figure) of the watch. 
     As cogwheels  18   a  and  18   b  rotate, segments  14   a  and  14   b  of the strap draw away each other, and as cogwheels  18   a  and  18   b  rotate in the opposite direction, segments  14   a  and  14   b  approach each other. 
     According to this embodiment of the invention, the alarming act is carried by repeatable drawing away/approaching the segments  14   a  and  14   b  each other. 
     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:
         each of numerals  10 ,  10   a  and  10   b  denotes a wristwatch, according to one embodiment of the invention;   numeral  12  denotes a watch (mechanism and user interface);   numeral  14  denotes a strap;   numerals  14 A and  14 B denote two segments of a strap; according to one embodiment the segments are connected one to the other; according to another embodiment, the segments are rigid and are not connected one to the other;   numeral  16  denotes a cogged area;   numeral  18  denotes a cogwheel, in which the cogs thereof correspond to the cogged area  16  of strap  14 ;   numeral  20  denotes a battery;   numeral  22  denotes a control circuitry which controls the act of changing the extent of strap  14 ;   numeral  24  denotes an electric motor;   numeral  26  denotes a USB connector;   numeral  28  denotes an external device to watch  12 ;   numeral  30  denotes a communication channel between external device  28  and watch  12 ;   numerals  32 A and  32 B denote longitudinally non-elastic wires passing through conduits  36 A and  36 B respectively;   numeral  34  denotes a bellows surface;   numerals  36 A and  36 B denote conduits disposed along strap  14 ;   numeral  38  denotes a pulley around which wire  32 A is wrapped;   numeral  40  denotes a hole in strap  14 ;   numeral  42  denotes a hook;   numeral  44  denotes a hook;   numeral  46  denotes a hole;   numeral  48  denotes a hoop and loop fastener; and   numerals  50 A and  50 B denote ends of the segments of the strap.       

     In the description herein, the following terms have been used:
         USB, the acronym of Universal Serial Bus;   Bluetooth, a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances;   CPU, the acronym of Central Processing Unit       

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
     The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.