AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER TIME-KEEPERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark of the firm of A M and W Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents for an
Invention of AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
TIME-KEEPERS Communicated to him from abroad by John Wethered Bell,
of the town of Conowingo, in the County of Cecil, State of Maryland,
United States of America, Civil Engineer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1882.
WILLIAM CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex-Patent Agents, "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER TIME-KEEPERS,' [Communicated to him from abroad
by John Wethered Bell, of the town of Conowingo, in the County of Cecil, State
of Maryland, United States of America, Civil Engineer]
This Invention relates to an improvement in watch hands designed to enable
the wearer to see at a glance the different times of the place he is leaving and the
place which constitutes his destination, or to enable him with one watch to keep
both standard and local time.
Some efforts to provide such a device have been made heretofore, as shown
for instance in the expired United States Patent to Hall No 47,065 granted
March 28th 1865, and others of a later date, in which Patent two hands were
coupled so as to move together in the normal action of the watch, but still have au
independent adjustment with respect to each other to point to different figures on
the dial indicating the different times of different places.
This Invention has for its object to provide a more simple and practical
construction for uniting the two hands, and it consists in turning a groove upon
the hub of one hand and providing the other hand with a split spring ring which
is sprung onto said groove, and which by its elasticity preserves a constant and
uniform frictional contact with the other hand that always maintains its proper

page_text: relation during the normal movement of the hands but still permits an adjustment
between them to adapt them to point to different times when it becomes necessary
to adjust them to the longitude of different places.
In carrying out this Invention I take the ordinary hour hand as provided with
a hub fitting the hour hand sleeve in which I cut a groove, and into this groove I
spring by means of the split or opening, the ring portion of the supplemental hand.
The ordinary minute hand having a square perforated boss. I groove in a similar
way and spring into this groove the split ring of the supplemental minute hand.
It will thus be seen that the supplemental minute hand and the supplemental hour
hand will be held to the ordinary hands by a frictional contact, and when placed
upon the arbors of the watch, the two hands of each pair will move together and
maintain the same relative angular positions, one hand of each pair indicating one
time, and the other another.
If the times are to be changed, the pairs are set to a new angular adjustment.
In fastening on the supplemental hand may make the groove either round or
angular, the latter being preferred for the reason that the frictional contact is
more perfect. If desired the hands of the same division of time may be turned
into exact registration so as to show but two hands on the face of the watch.
Though having greatest value for watches or portable time-pieces, this Invention
is also applicable to clock and all kinds of time piecos.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd April
1883.
"
WILLIAM CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53. Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents 'AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER TIME KEEPERS." A communication to me from
abroad by John Wethered Bell of the town of Conowingo in the County of
Cecil, State of Maryland, United States of America, Civil Engineer.
This Invention relates to an improvement in watch hands designed to enable
the wearer to see at a glance the different times of the place he is leaving, and the
place which constitutes his destination, or to enable him with one watch to keep
both standard and local time. The value to the travelling public of such a device
is apparent in the facility which it affords for making connection between trains
run by different time, as well as in keeping appointments between different cities.
Some efforts to provide such a device have been made heretofore, as shown
for instance in the expired United States Patent to Hall; No 47,065, granted
March 28th 1865 and others of a later date, in which Patent two hands were
coupled so as to move together in the normal action of the watch, but still have an
independent adjustment with respect to each other to point to different figures on
the dial indicating the different times of different places.
This Invention while looking to substantially the same result, provides a more
simple and practical construction for uniting the two hands, and it consists in
turning a groove upon the hub of one hand and providing the other hand with a
split spring ring which is sprung into said groove, and which by its elasticity
preserves a constant and uniform frictional contact with the other hand that
always preserves its proper relation during the normal movement of the hands,
but still permits an adjustment between them to adapt them to point to different
times when it becomes necessary to adjust them to the longitude of different
places.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is
a view of the supplemental hour hand. Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the
two hour hands coupled together. Figure 3 a sectional side view of the two
minute hands coupled together. Figure 4 is a top view of the two hour hands
coupled together. Figure 5 a top view of the two minute hands coupled.
Figures 6 and 7 are sectional side views of the coupled hour and minute hands
showing a modified or angular form of groove for coupling said hands. Figure 8
is a face view of a watch provided with the improvement.
In carrying out this Invention I take the ordinary hour hand A as provided
with a hub b fitting the hour hand sleeve, and cut in it a groove o, and into this
groove I spring by means of the split or opening a¹ the ring portion of the
supplemental hand A¹. The ordinary minute hand B having square perforated
boss d I groove in a similar way and spring into this groove the split ring of the
supplemental minute band B' by virtue of its spring b. It will thus be seen that
the supplemental minute hand B' and the supplemental hour hand A' will be held
to the ordinary hands A and B by a frictional contact and when placed upon the
arbors of the watch, the two hands of each pair will move together and maintain
the same relative angular positions, one hand of each pair indicating one time, and
the other another. If the times are to be changed, the pairs are set to a new
angular adjustment. In fastening on the supplemental band, I may make the
groove c either a round groove as in Figures 2 and 3, or an angular groove as in

page_text: Figures 6 and 7, the latter being preferred for the reason that the frictional contact
is more perfect.
If desired, the hands of the same division of time may be turned into exact
registration so as to show but two hands on the face of the watch.
Though having the greatest value for watches or portable time pieces, the
Invention is also applicable to clock and all kinds of time pieces
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would observe that I am aware that a split spring ring is not broadly
new in its application to other uses, and I do not claim it separately, but what I
claim as the Invention to be protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is.
The combination of a pair of coupled hands, one of which has a peripheral
groove with inclined sides cut around its hub, and the other a split ring sprung.
into the groove and around the hub for the purpose of preserving a constant
frictional contact between the two and maintaining a definite angular relation
between the hands for correctly indicating the differences in time, as set forth.
In Witness whereof I. the said William Clark have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty third day of April, A.D. 1883.
TUM