Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1886)
Complete Left, 6th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887
I, FRITZ BARON VON WECHMAR of Hannover in the Empire of Germany do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my said invention is to indicate or tell approximately the time,
or the exact time in the dark, and this I do, or carry out by the sense of touch,
through or by means of the fingers or thumb, or by thumb and fingers alone.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a watch.
I take an ordinary watch or a watch provided with the usual time mechanism and
dial, but with the figures or indications on the dial raised or embossed, and which
said embossed letters, are preferably disposed about midway between the middle of
the watch, and its outer circumference; and between the said onter circumference of
the dial and the figures or markings aforesaid, knobs or raised points are disposed,
and which said knobs or points come immediately opposite the figures, and serve as
guides to indicate the figures; and I propose that the four corners, or the horizontal
and vertical ones, should be different from the others, so as to discriminate and more
readily determine the top, bottom and sides.
The centre or middle part of this dial, is pierced with a circular opening, through
which, the hands of the watch are felt, and which lie at a little lower level than the
face or top of the opening. The inside boundary edge of the said opening is in
juxta position, or in close proximity to the hand, in order that a person in
determining the time, can feel the hands and figures pointed at by the hands at the
same time.
The hands of the watch which are presented through the opening aforesaid, have
knobs or protuberances upon their top surfaces, in order to determine the minute
from the hour hand; thus the former is provided with one, while the latter has two,
one of which is arched or channelled on its underside, for the raised part on the other
hand to pass thereunder, or to pass therethrough, as the two hands lie flat and work
one upon another.
The top of the arbor or finger axis, is provided with a flat plate at its top, so that
the axis end shall not confuse itself with the hand protuberances.

page_text: The central opening may be provided with a lid or cover, for protecting the
hands, and preventing dust or dirt entering the watch, or getting to the
movements.
Or the well wherein the hands work, may be made or formed in one piece with
the dial plate, which may be made of glass or metal, with either a pierced or a
sunken middle. In the case of the latter, the hands axis passes therethrough, and
with the hands turning within the well or sunken part.
Instead of employing hands, I arrange raised or embossed figures upon inde-
pendent revolving discs or rings, which are made to rotate in front of a gapped,
or cut away part in the face or outer covering, which may be of glass or metal.
These rings or discs are respectively carried by the minute and hour axis of
the watch.
I so arrange the said rings or discs with respect to each other, that the hour figures
are nearest the middle part, while the minute or five minute figures or indications are
near the outer circumference.
Thus the raised or embossed figures constituting the dial, are moved in front of or
opposite to the gap or opening in the watch glass or covering plate, and when a
person requires to determine the time in the dark, the tips of the fingers are simply
inserted through the opening aforesaid, and the time ascertained by touch.
The small graduations or minutes may be indicated by raised points or the like, in
order to read off with greater facility the lesser periods of time.
Sunken letters may if necessary be substituted for raised letters.

page_text: I, FRITZ BARON VON WECHMAR of Hannover in the Empire of Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention has for its object, to indicate or to tell approximately, the time
of day, or the exact time in the dark; and this I do, or carry out by the sense
of touch.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a watch.
I take an ordinary watch, or a watch provided with the usual time mechanism,
and dial, but with the figures or indications, on the said dial, raised or embossed ;
and which said embossed figures, or other indications, are preferably disposed about
midway between the middle of the watch, and its outer circumference; and between
the said outer circumference of the dial, and the raised figures or markings aforesaid,
studs or raised points are disposed, which serve as guides or position marks, to the
figures; and which said studs or guide marks, are dissimilarly shaped at the four
quarters to the others.
The centre or middle part of the dial, is pierced with a circular opening, or mado
in the form of a well, and through the open top of which, the positions of the hands
of the watch are felt, and which said hands lie below the level of the top of the
face, or the top of the opening in the face. The figures are also in juxta position
to the boundary edges of the opening or well, (wherein the bands work.)
It is necessary that the hands and figures should be in close proximity to each
other, in order to admit of the hands, and the figures pointed at by the hands, to be
felt at one and the same time.
The hands of the watch are provided with knobs, or protuberances upon their top
surfaces, in order to determine, the minute hand from the hour hand. Thus, the
former is provided with one raised part, while the latter has two, and with one of
them arched, or channelled on its underside, for the raised part on the other hand, to
pass thereunder, or therethrough, in order to pass one another, on the hands crossing
or working upon each other.
The top of the arbor or hands axis, or axes, is or are provided with a flat plate at
its top, to prevent the axis end, or the axis ends, confusing itself, or themselves with
the hand protuberances.
The central opening, may be provided with a lid or cover, for protecting the
hands, and preventing dust, or dirt, entering the watch, or getting into the
movements.
The pierced or well part, wherein the hands work, and the dial plate, with raised
letters, may be made in one piece.
Or the dial may be simply provided with a middle piercing.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
manner in which the same is, to be performed,

page_text: Figure 1 represents in front elevation, a watch, provided with improvements made
according to my invention. Figure 2 is a part vertical section of the same, and
figure 3 is the hour hand, and figure 4 is the minute hand. Figure 5 is an edge
view of figure 3, and figure 6 is an edge view of figure 4.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 6 both
inclusive of the drawings.
a is the dial or front part of the watch, provided with raised figures or time
indicators and position studs, raised or embossed upon its surface, the centre or
middle part of which said dial with figures b raised or embossed thereon, is pierced
with a circular opening c; and which said opening may be in the form of a well with
a closed bottom, or it may be simply pierced as represented; and through which
said piercings, the axes f, g, of the hands d, e, pass, and through the open top of the
piercing, or the sunken middle part, the positions of the hands with respect to the
figures and studs, as hereinafter marked, are felt, and which said hands lie below
the level of the top of the dial face a.
Between the said outer circumference of the dial, and the raised figures b aforesaid,
the studs or raised points 62, 63, are disposed, which serve as guides or position marks
to the figures, and with the marks 63, which are situated at the four quarters, of a
dissimilar shape to the others.
It is also necessary that the hands and figures should be in close proximity to each
other, as represented, in order to admit of the hands, and the figures pointed at by
the hands, to be felt at the same time.
The hour and minute hands are provided with protuberances or raised points, in
order to determine one from the other, and in order to assist the sense of touch.
The hour hand d, has one point or protuberance, and is marked h, while the
minute hande has two points or protuberances, and are marked i, . is concaved
or V upon its underside, for the passage thereunder of the point on the top of the
other hand.
The top of the arbor or hands axis or axes, is or are provided with a flat plate jat
its top, to prevent the axis end or ends being confused, or being mistaken for the
points or protuberances on the hands.
The lid for covering up the opening c, is not shown.
Figure 7 represents a front elevation of figure 8, (a part section) of a watch made
in accordance with another form of my invention, in which raised or embossed figures
are employed upon independent revolving discs or rings, which are made to rotate in
front of a gapped or cut away part in the face or outer covering, which may be of glass
or metal. These rings or discs are carried respectively by the minute and hour hands
of the watch.
a is the top face of the watch, with a gap or opening c, wherethrough the
embossed figures of the hour and minute discs or rings d, e, which are carried upon
the respective hour and minute axes are felt; that is to say, d is the hour ring,
with raised figures thereon, while e is the minute ring also, with raised figures; and
which said rings, are mounted and carried by the respective, hour and minute axes
of the watch.
Thus, on the embossed figures being moved in front of, or opposite the gap cas
aforesaid, a person can by touch, determine the time in the dark, by simply placing
the fingers through the opening.
It will be seen that the hour and minute fingers are reversed in direction, in order
to better discriminate them.
The small graduations or minutes may if necessary be indicated by raised points
or the like, in order to read off with greater facility, the lesser periods of time.
Sunken letters may if necessary, be substituted for raised ones.
Figure 9 represents a modification of the former arrangements, while figure 10
represents the said figure 9, with the outer removable disc removed. The other
figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 represent separately, details of the parts.
a is a front disc or front face of a watch, which is movable, and 6 is a fixed dial
plate thereunder, which has embossed figures c upon its surface, and which figures,

page_text: are mounted, or carried at the free ends of springs d, secured to the underside of the
said dial plate. These figures are by this means made slightly yielding, which renders
their identification more certain.
The inner and fixed movable dial plate, has within its inner edge, a a cut out
part e, while the outer dial plate a, carries, and has passing through it, a stop f,
which is secured to the said plate, by the spring f¹; and when in the position
as in figure 9, the said stop lies within the said notch, or cut away part e
aforesaid.
as
In order to determine the time, the stop fis removed from the hole or cut away
part el, and made to stand upon the surface of the dial plate d, as in figure 14; and
when in this position, the outer dial a, can be moved round, until the stop f, comes
opposite one or other of the hands or fingers d, e, like those in figures 1 and 2, when
the figures c, can readily be felt through the hole or opening a¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A watch or time-keeper, in which time is determined by touch or feel.
The combination of a plain dial or front a with figures and other time markings b, b², b³,
embossed or raised thereon, and which said dial or front is pierced with a central
opening, or provided with a sunken depression c, wherein the hands d, e, work, and
are exposed, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
Secondly. The combination of raised figuros b, with raised studs 62, 63, in front of
them, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The combination with the hands d, e, and axis f, g, and plate j, of
points h, i, as set forth.
Fourthly. The combination with the exposed hands d, e, of a watch, the studs or
points h, i, i, and plate j, substantially as and for the purpose as set forth.
Fifthly. The improvements in the construction of time-keepers, whereby the
time of day is determined by touch, consisting of dial or front a, piercing c
and movable rings d, e, respectively carrying embossed letters or figures, which
are felt through the said piercing, substantially as described and set forth in
figures 7 and 8.
Sixthly. The improvements in the construction of watches as herein described
and set forth in figures 9 and 10, whereby time is determined by touch, and the parts
of which said watch or time keeper, and the means employed therein, are constructed,
arranged and combined, substantially as described and set forth in figures 10 to 15
both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
111