Abstract:
A wall clock of the analog type with hands for indicating the time includes a battery, a housing, a dial with time indicia disposed in the housing and an illumination module disposed adjacently to the dial. The illumination module has one or more recesses defined in an edge with one or more light sources disposed in the recesses to provide illumination into the module. The illumination module has edges and a back surface with light reflective properties to reflect light in the interior of the module and out the front surface and through the dial to provide night lighting exterior to the clock. Preferably, the module has an ovate shape such that the recesses and light sources are disposed outside of the dial area. A light sensor senses the ambient lighting conditions and activates and deactivates the light source. The starting and ending times for illumination may also be programmed into the clock. A battery icon has a plurality of bars to indicate the remaining battery capacity. A dimmer control adjusts the desired level of illumination.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This patent application is a non-provisional application of prior U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/387,977, filed on Jun. 12, 2002, and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent applications “Clocks Having Diffusion Reflector Lighting”, Ser. No. 10/304,329, filed on Nov. 26, 2002 and Serial No. 60/334,428, filed on Nov. 30, 2001, the rights of priority of which are hereby claimed for this patent application. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention generally relates to clocks having multiple features including unique lighting and time display features. More particularly, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to illumination of the dial of the clock, which may be associated with a night light feature that may activate and deactivate automatically in response to ambient lighting conditions, or that may activate and deactivate in response to user programmed times.  
           [0003]    Typically, wall clocks are mounted on a wall at a higher elevation, usually at eye level or higher. This positioning is usually not near an available electrical outlet, which are frequently located relatively close to the floor. As a result, wall clocks that derive their operating power from conventional AC power systems need an AC power outlet installed near where the clock is to be mounted on the wall. This alternative is often inconvenient, or it is too costly to install a new outlet for the wall clock.  
           [0004]    Another alternative is to have an electrical cord dangling from the wall clock to the lower electrical outlet. However, many persons believe that such exposed power cords are unsightly and interfere with the décor of the home or the office.  
           [0005]    There is therefore a need for an illuminated wall clock with a self-contained power source that avoids the problems associated with an AC-powered wall clock.  
           [0006]    A need also exists for a wall clock with an illumination system that places a small current demand or load on the self-contained power source. Replacement or replenishment of the power source should ideally be as infrequent as possible.  
           [0007]    Also desirable is an illumination system for a wall clock that efficiently converts light from a light source into illumination for the dial of the wall clock for easy viewing of the displayed time, and that also provides dispersed lighting into a room to serve as a night light.  
           [0008]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved wall clock having a self-contained power source with various illumination features.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved wall clock with a light module to efficiently provide illumination of the face of the clock and to provide sufficient light dispersion out of the light module for night lighting of the room in which the clock is located.  
           [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to automatically activate the illumination features when the ambient lighting falls below a predetermined threshold, and to automatically deactivate the illumination when the ambient lighting rises above a predetermined threshold.  
           [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the capability for the user to program the wall clock for his/her desired illumination activation characteristics.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wall clock with an LED light source that is positioned in an edge of the illumination module.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The present invention is directed to various illumination features for a wall clock of the analog type with hands for indicating the time. The wall clock has a self-contained power source, such as one or more batteries. The illumination may be automatically activated in response to low ambient lighting conditions, such as encountered during the evening hours, and that is automatically deactivated when normal ambient lighting conditions return in the morning hours. A light sensor is used to detect the ambient lighting levels. The time and duration of the illumination may be programmed by the user. A dimmer control adjusts the amount of illumination provided by the illumination module.  
           [0014]    A light illumination module, including a light emitting diode (LED), in combination with light reflector, is disposed either in front of, or behind, the clock dial to provide uniform lighting of the dial of the clock and to provide sufficient light dispersion out of the light module for night lighting of the room in which the wall clock is located. The light illumination module is preferably of ovate shape, with an enlarged end that has one or more recesses defined therein to receive one or more light sources, such as LEDs. This enlarged end of the illumination module, with the recesses and light sources, typically extends beyond the normal viewing area of the dial of the clock, and is hidden from view by the frame or housing of the clock.  
           [0015]    For best light transmission and dispersion from the light sources to illuminate the dial of the clock and to provide night lighting in the room, the illumination module is preferably transparent, such as of clear acrylic plastic, with the edges of the module having reflective properties, such as provided by reflective coatings or paint. However, the edges of the recesses, in which the light sources are disposed, are clear for receiving illumination from the light sources into the illumination module.  
           [0016]    The illumination module is typically positioned behind the dial. The dial is clear or translucent except for the time or other indicia on the dial and the back surface of the illumination module may be coated with a generally opaque reflective coating, or have a reflective material disposed behind the illumination module, such as plastic sheet material, foils, or the like. Such sheet material or foils may be embossed, engraved, imprinted by silk screen techniques, or the like, to enhance light dispersion in and out of the illumination module. If the illumination module is disposed in front of the dial, the back surface of the illumination module will be clear to see the indicia on the dial, and the dial will be generally opaque and reflective to reflect and disperse illumination about the dial and out of the illumination module to provide night lighting.  
           [0017]    In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, a programmable timer may be programmed by the user to selectively control the starting time and the ending time of the illumination of the dial of the clock. A battery level indicator may have multiple levels to alert the user to the level of charge remaining in one or more batteries, such as full, medium, medium low, low and no battery capacity. For example, the battery level indicator may be in the form of a display having four bars for full, three bars for medium, two bars for medium low, one bar for low and no bars for no capacity. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wall clock with ambient light sensing for automatic activation and deactivation of the lighting functions in accordance with the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the wall clock illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the wall clock illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wall clock illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3  taken along the sectional line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an illumination module with a single light source for use in the wall clock illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the illumination module illustrated in FIG. 5 and for use in the wall clock illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the illumination module of FIGS. 5 and 6 taken along the sectional line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5.  
         [0026]    FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of an illumination module with two light sources for use in the wall clock illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a wall clock with user programmable activation and deactivation of the illumination functions in accordance with the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the wall clock illustrated in FIG. 9.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of an illumination module for use in the wall clock illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is a pictorial diagram of the steps for programming the activation and deactivation of the illumination functions for the wall clock illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13 is a pictorial diagram of a battery level indicator for indicating the remaining capacity of the battery for the wall clock illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 14 is a dot matrix pattern that may be employed in the reflector of the clocks illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4  and  9 - 10 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 15 is an alternative dot matrix pattern that may be used in the reflector of the clocks illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4  and  9 - 10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    Referring to the Figures, and particularly to FIG. 1, a clock, generally designated  20 , is constructed in accordance with the invention. Clock  20  is of the analog type with hands, such as an hour hand  22 , a minute hand  23  and a second hand  24 , for indicating the time.  
         [0035]    Clock  20  has a housing including a generally annular front frame  21  and a rear housing portion  25  (FIG. 2). In addition to the shape depicted in the drawing figures, frame  21  can be supplied with other ornamental features or be configured into other ornamental shapes, as desired. Frame  21  can also be fabricated from different materials. For example, to satisfy the tastes of consumers, frame  21  could be different colors of plastic, different types of wood or different metals. As one example, in FIGS.  1 - 4 , clock  20  may have a frame  21  formed from a thermoplastic, as by injection molding. Frame  21  and rear housing portion  25  may snap fit together by means of techniques well-known in the plastic molding arts.  
         [0036]    A generally transparent lens  26  may engage the frame  21  to enclose and to protect the time indicating hands  22 - 24  from damage, and to keep dust and contaminants from accumulating in the interior of clock  20 . Lens  26  may be formed, for example, from a transparent plastic material. Lens  26  may be in the form of the continuous curvature shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or any other suitable shape, including ornamental shapes.  
         [0037]    Clock  20  has a dial or face  27  which is provided with a plurality of time-indicating numerals, such as the numeral “ 10 ” at  28 , disposed thereon. The “NIGHT VISION” mark and logo shown on the dial  27  are trademarks of Equity Industries Corp.  
         [0038]    With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, rear housing portion  25  has a raised boss  30  suitable for hanging clock  20  on a wall, as with a fastener, such as a nail or screw.  
         [0039]    Disposed partially inside rear housing portion  25  is a battery compartment  31  for housing one or more batteries  32 . Batteries  32  are a self-contained power source for clock  20 , including for the various illumination features described below. For example, batteries  32  may be batteries of the alkaline type, such as the commonly available C size.  
         [0040]    There are, of course, other alternatives to alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries could be used in place of the alkaline batteries. The front of clock  20  could also incorporate one or more solar cells to provide operating current for the clock during the daylight hours, with the batteries  23  acting as back-up power during the evening hours. Such solar cells could also use any excess power capacity to recharge the rechargeable batteries during the day.  
         [0041]    An elongated battery compartment cover  33  retains the batteries  32  within the compartment  31 . Cover  33  protrudes from the rear of housing portion  25  by about the same distance as mounting boss  30 . Thus, when clock  20  is mounted on a wall, boss  30  and battery cover  33  cooperate to orient clock  20  in a vertical plane that is generally parallel to the wall.  
         [0042]    As seen in FIG. 4, clock  20  has a movement  34  adapted to move the time indicating hands  22 - 24 . Movement  34  is preferably of the quartz type for excellent time accuracy. Shafts of the movement  34  extend through apertures, such as an aperture  36  in a reflector  38 . A knob  35  can be rotated, as indicated in FIG. 2, to initially set the time for clock  20 .  
         [0043]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an illumination module illustrated in FIG. 5, consisting of a light emitting diode (LED)  37  in combination with a light reflector  38 , provides lighting for the dial  27  of the clock  20  under dim lighting conditions typically found in homes or offices after sunset. LED  37  and reflector  38  also provide sufficient light radiation to function as a night light in unlit or dimly lit rooms. Disposed near the bottom edge of reflector  38  is a light sensor  39 , such as a photoelectric cell. Light sensor  39  continually senses the light level of the room in which clock  20  is located. When the ambient light level falls below a predetermined threshold, light sensor  39  causes LED  37  to be electrically energized by batteries  32  to activate illumination from LED  37  for clock  20 . Similarly, if the ambient light level rises above a predetermined threshold, light sensor  39  causes LED  37  to be electrically disconnected from batteries  32  to deactivate any illumination. The light sensor  39  can be disposed in the aperture  40  defined near the bottom edge of reflector  38  (FIG. 7). A dimmer knob  43  can be rotated to set the dial illumination to any desired level between low and high positions.  
         [0044]    Dial  27  is in front of, and generally overlies the reflector  38 . For good light transmission therethrough, dial  27  is generally transparent, except for the generally opaque time-indicating numerals  28  and other indicia, such as the trademark Night Vision.  
         [0045]    The light illumination module including LED  37  and reflector  38  is better seen in FIGS.  5 - 7 . With reference to FIG. 5 first, when the dial  27  is of generally circular configuration, as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the reflector  38  is preferably of generally ovate shape. That is, a portion of reflector  38  extends above the circular dial  27  for enclosing LED  37  in a recess  41  formed in the reflector  38 . Thus, recess  41  and LED  37  are not visible when viewing the face of the clock. In this example, recess  41  is of generally U-shape in the top edge of reflector  38 , and LED  37  is disposed therein.  
         [0046]    The optical properties of reflector  38  contribute significantly to the efficiency of the light module to illuminate the dial  27  and to provide sufficient illumination from clock  29  for night light capability. Reflector  38  is ideally transparent and may be formed from a clear acrylic plastic material. As seen in FIG. 6, the edge periphery of the reflector  38  is coated with an optically reflective and opaque coating such that light from LED  37  is reflected back into the interior of the reflector from all angles. This optically reflective coating may be, for example, a white paint.  
         [0047]    The front side of reflector  38  that abuts the dial  27  in FIG. 4 is uncoated and transparent for light transmission therethrough. The U-shaped recess  41  is also uncoated to facilitate maximum light transmission from the LED  37  into the reflector  38 . However, portions of the front side of reflector  38  that are not visible from the front of the clock, such as those portions designated  42  on either side of LED  37  are also optically coated for maximum light reflectivity from LED  37  into the central area of reflector  38 .  
         [0048]    The back side of reflector  38  is also preferably coated to provide a light reflective surface. Light dispersion from the reflector  38  through the dial  27  and into the room in which the clock  20  is located is also desired to provide a night light function.  
         [0049]    LED  37  is preferably disposed within a recess or notch, such as in the U-shaped recess  41  defined in the periphery of reflector  38  such that virtually all of the light emitted by LED  37  is gathered and transmitted by the reflector  38 .  
         [0050]    Clock  20  may, of course, be provided with more than one LED. Shown in FIG. 8 is a reflector  48  with a larger U-shaped recess  45  suitable accommodating two LEDs  46  and  47 . LEDs  46  and  47  preferably provide different color light for enhanced lighting effects in clock  20 . LEDs  46  and  47  may also indicate different clock conditions. For example, LED  46  may be of a yellow color to indicate normal functioning of clock  20 , and LED  47  may be of a red color to indicate low battery capacity, to indicate that batteries  32  need replacement.  
         [0051]    Of course, it will be apparent that many alternatives exist to the described structure for clock  20 . For example, instead of a separate dial  27  with the time indicia  28  disposed in front of the reflector  38 , these two elements could be combined by printing the time indicia  28  on the back side of reflector  38  prior to coating the back side of reflector  38  with the reflective coating. Yet another example is that separate recesses could be provided for each LED  46  and  47  in the reflector design of FIG. 8 instead of the single enlarged recess  45  for containing both LEDs  46  and  47 .  
         [0052]    Shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a second embodiment of a clock, generally designated  50 , constructed in accordance with the invention. In many respects, clock  50  is similar in structure to clock  20 . However, it will be noticed that clock  50  does not have a light sensor  39  disposed near the bottom of the dial  27 . Clock  50  is intended to be programmable by the user to set the times at which the clock  50  activates dial illumination and the time at which dial illumination is deactivated. To this end, a digital timer module  51 , a set button  52  and a reset button  53  are disposed on the rear of clock  50 , as can be seen in FIG. 10.  
         [0053]    The steps of programming clock  50  are shown in FIG. 12. As will be appreciated hereinafter, the timer module  51  operates independently of the analog clock movement  34 , i.e., clock  50  and timer module  51  are not normally synchronized. However, if the time of activation is selected as midnight, it will be appreciated that timer module  51  will display “01:00” at 1 AM as it counts up from “00:00” at midnight. In this instance, timer module  51  will display “13:00” at 1 PM. Also, the timer module  51  has different modes in which it may be counting up or counting down. Timer module  51  may be a display of the liquid crystal display (LCD) type.  
         [0054]    In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the current time is 3:00 PM, as shown in the top depiction  55 . At this same time, timer module  51  indicates “00:00”, as at depiction  56 . If it is desired to start the night illumination in seven hours at 10:00 PM, set button  52  is pressed seven times. Each pressing of set button  52  increments the time displayed by timer module  51  by one hour. Thus, after seven pressings, timer module  51  indicates the time as “07:00”, as shown in the depiction  58 . If set button  52  is not again pressed within a predetermined time, such as about 10 seconds, timer module  52  begins counting down to zero time as shown in depiction  59  in FIG. 12. When timer module  51  reaches the zero count, as shown in depiction  61 , the time will be 10 PM as shown in corresponding depiction  60 . Upon reaching zero time, timer module causes one or more LEDs to illuminate the face  27  of the clock  50 .  
         [0055]    Upon reaching a zero count and activating the illumination feature for the clock  50 , timer module  51  begins to count up, as shown in depiction  62 . Upon the timer module reaching a preset count, such as seven hours in this example and as shown in depiction  63 , timer module  51  causes the illumination of the face of clock  50  to be deactivated. In this example, the illumination started at 10 PM, so seven hours later when the illumination is deactivated, the time is 5 AM as shown in depiction  64 . Thereafter, timer module  51  continues to count up until it reaches “24:00”, as shown in depiction  65 . At this 24:00 count, it will again be 10 PM as shown in depiction  66 . Thus, the illumination is again activated, and the count of the timer module  51  is reset to zero. Timer module  51  will continue to cycle thereby activating and deactivating the illumination for the face of the clock every day at the previously programmed times.  
         [0056]    In the foregoing example, the set button  52  was pressed seven times because of the seven hour difference between the present time of 3 PM and the desired 10 PM illumination activation time. If the illumination is to be activated at 11 PM, and the present time is also 3 PM, set button  52  will need to be pressed eight times to start the down counter from “08:00”. The foregoing example also assumes a fixed seven hour illumination period. Under this assumption, if illumination is activated at 11 PM, then deactivation of the illumination occurs at 6 AM.  
         [0057]    The above examples assume the clock  50  is programmed on the hour. However, if the present time is 3:30 PM and “07:00” is entered into timer module by set button  52 , illumination will be activated seven hours later at 10:30 PM and the illumination will be deactivated at 5:30 AM.  
         [0058]    Rather than this fixed seven hour illumination period, provision could easily be made for programming in the duration of the illumination. That is, the duration of the illumination could be varied in accordance with the user&#39;s desires. For example, as the length of the evening varies with seasonal changes, the user may also wish to vary the duration of the illumination provided by the clock  50 . Furthermore, rather than activating and deactivating the illumination on an hourly basis, another set button (comparable to set button  52 ) could be provided for entering minutes into the timer module  51 , if so desired.  
         [0059]    At any time, the user may press the reset button  53  to terminate the previously programmed illumination schedule. The user may then begin programming a different illumination schedule by pressing the set button, as described above.  
         [0060]    Illustrated in FIG. 11 is a reflector  78  for the clock  50  which utilizes two LEDs  76  and  77  disposed in a U-shaped recess  75 . Reflector  78  may be similar to the two-LED reflector  48  for clock  20  that is shown in FIG. 8. Note, however, that reflector  78  does not have an aperture  40  for a light sensor  39 . Thus, LEDs  76  and  77  may be disposed along a bottom edge of reflector  78  since there is no aperture  40  or light sensor  39  adjacently disposed to the LEDs  76  and  77  that could interfere with some paths of light transmission from the LEDs  76  and  77 .  
         [0061]    Other variations may be made to the design of the various reflectors  38 ,  48  and  78  of FIGS. 5, 8 and  11 , respectively. For example, instead of the previously described reflective coating on the back sides of these reflectors, a reflective surface could be disposed along the back side of these reflectors  38 ,  48  or  78 , such as metal foil, colored plastic sheet materials, or the like.  
         [0062]    The back side of reflectors  38 ,  48  or  78  could alternatively be engraved to provide multiple raised surfaces, such as points, bumps, protuberances, or the like. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate surfaces  86  and  87 , respectively, created by dot engraving techniques. Such rough surfaces result in increased dispersion of light from the dial  27  of the clocks  20  and  50  to provide more efficient night light capability. Use of engraving techniques can also provide more interesting backgrounds as seen through the dial  27  of the clocks  20  and  50 , including textures, decorative designs, decorative patterns, or the like. If a plastic sheet material or a metal foil is used on the back side of reflectors  38 ,  48  or  78 , as described above, such sheet materials or foils may also be embossed with textures, designs or patterns. Silk screen techniques may also be employed to imprint patterns, textures or designs on the back sides of reflectors  38 ,  48  or  78 , or upon any sheet materials or foils disposed on or against the back sides of the reflectors.  
         [0063]    Illumination modules, such as reflectors  38 ,  48  and  78 , also have utility in providing lighting in other applications. For example, these illumination modules may also be used to provide illumination of street numbers for homes, businesses and apartments. Similarly, these illumination modules can provide illumination for mailboxes, light posts and the like. They can also provide background illumination for advertisements, signs, information panels and the like. For example, signs that are typically illuminated include emergency, exit and entrance signs in public buildings.  
         [0064]    As previously seen in FIG. 12, the timer module  51  may include a battery indicator  54  to provide useful information about the remaining battery capacity. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, battery indicator  54  may have four separately operable segments. As shown in depiction  80 , when battery indicator  54  has all four segments activated or illuminated, the batteries  32  have full capacity. As further shown in depiction  81 , activation of three segments may indicate medium remaining battery capacity. Depiction  82  illustrates two segments, which may indicate medium-low remaining capacity. Depiction  83  illustrates one segment, which may indicate low remaining capacity. The absence of any activated segments, as in depiction  84 , may indicate that no batteries  32  are installed in battery compartment  31 , or that the batteries  32  are too low in capacity to be useful.  
         [0065]    Of course, the timer module  51  could be located on the front of the clock  50 , as on the frame  21  or on the back side of the reflector  78 , rather than on the back side of clock  50  as shown in FIG. 10. Also, the timer  56  and battery indicator  54  of the timer module  51  could be physically separate displays disposed at different locations on clock  50 , rather than combined together as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12.  
         [0066]    It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.