Patent Publication Number: US-6707765-B2

Title: Plate structure for a timer

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a timer, more particularly to a mechanical structure of a timer. This is a displaying window on the plate of the timer, and below the window, a fixed plate with indicia is provided. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People usually use timers to control electrical output circuits. In other words, in order to have the circuit turned on or off, we can set a time by using the timer, and have the timer turn the circuit on or off. Most likely, these timers are used in a daily or a weekly mode. 
     The known timers are typically of two types: mechanical or digital. This case is only about mechanical timers, especially the setting key mode timers which are used by pressing a key up/down or inward/outward to achieve the goal of controlling the on and off functions of the timer. 
     A lot of information is usually printed on the limited area on the face plate of a timer. Some required information is: the numbers of the time setting key, which includes the day and time intervals, or even the hour or minute, and so on. These numbers are provided for users to observe and to control the timer setting. However, to print all these numbers and letters in a limited space often makes the numbers or letters too small to see, especially for those who do not have good eyesight, or from a farther distance, or for those timers that are under dim light conditions. 
     The information provided on the plate rotates with the plate as the time goes. However, by using the known structure, it is hard to specify the numbers or letters the timer needs to show. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a plate structure for a timer having an information plate and a displaying window, such that larger letters and numbers can be seen through the window. 
     Another object of this invention is to separate the plate structure into two plates. The upper plate will rotate with the setting keys as the timer operates, and the inner plate will always be fixed and have enlarged indicia printed on it. Due to the rotation of the upper plate, which contains the window, various indicia can be seen through the window, for example: MON, TUE, WED . . . ; or, 1, 2, 3 . . . 11, 12, twelve numbers with white background representing daytime and black background representing night time. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide the current time, similar to a clock. The time may be displayed through the displaying window and could show either the day of the week or the current time. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art timer. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the upper plate. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the upper plate and the inner plate. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As best seen in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, the structure of the present invention includes an upper plate  10 , an inner plate  20  and a time setting device  30 . 
     The upper plate  10  is a circular flat board having a displaying window  11 , information indicia  12 , and an arrow  13 . A plurality of snap-in hooks  14  are also provided on a bottom of the upper plate  10 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The information indicia, which may include numbers, letters or words, is printed adjacent the circumference of the upper plate, similar to other mechanical timers. 
     The inner plate  20  is located under the upper plate  10 . It has a circular flat top surface with indicia  21  printed thereon adjacent to the circumference. A plurality of snap-in hooks extend from the bottom of the inner plate  20  adjacent to the circumference thereof. 
     The time setting device  30  in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3 is similar to the structure of the prior art timer and is used to set the desired time. It contains a movable circular base  31 , and at the circumference of the base  31 , setting keys are provided. Fixed base  33  is provided at the bottom of the base  31 . The fixed base  33  is placed on the fixed support base  34 , which makes the structure fixed. The structure of the movable circular base  31  and the setting keys  32  is for running in a clockwise direction. 
     The snap-in hooks  14  of the upper plate  10  are snapped into engagement with notches  311  on the base  31 . Therefore, the upper plate  10  will move simultaneously with the movable circular base  31  and the setting keys  32 . At the same time, the displaying window  11  will also move with the base  31  in a clockwise direction. 
     The snap-in hooks  22  of the inner plate  20  are engaged with notches  331  on the fixed base  33 . As a result, the inner plate is fixed like the fixed base  33 . 
     The displaying window  11  of the upper plate  10  is placed inwardly of the information indicia  12  and has the same radius as the inner side of the information indicia  12 , as they share the same center point. The length of the displaying window  11  is sufficient to show the specific indicia  21 , and the width of the displaying window  11  is sufficient to show the height of the specific indicia  21 . 
     The indicia  21  on the inner plate  20  is located so as to be viewed through the displaying window  11 . As the displaying window is running clockwise, indicia  21  can be seen through the displaying window  11 . Indicia  21  is printed in a large format that is easy to recognize. In addition, arrow  13  points at the indicia  21 , enabling the user to easily determine the approximate current time through the displaying window  11 . 
     The upper plate  10  covers and runs on the top of the inner plate  20 . Therefore, some indicia  21  printed on the inner plate  20  can be seen through the displaying window  11  on the upper plate  10 . By using this kind of structure, the timer gains a new way of displaying the current time. Also, the indicia  21  can be printed larger and made more obvious, so that even if the user is under a dim-light condition, or observing from a farther distance, the user can still determine the current time. The indicia  21  can be made to glow in the dark, allowing the user to determine the time during nighttime. 
     According to FIG. 5, for daily use timers, the information indicia  12 ′ and  13 ′ can be numbers provided on the upper plate  10 ′, and the indicia  21 ′ provided on the inner plate  20 ′ can be seen through the displaying window  11 ′. 
     The foregoing description is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting this invention, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims.