Touch, Especially Applicable for Use by the Blind.
Year: 1885

page_text: by Touch, Especially Applicable for Use by the Blind.
I, JAMES WILKIN RATTRAY of Bloom Street, Salford, in the county of Lancaster
Secretary to Henshaw's blind Asylum do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND CLOCKS FOR ASCERTAINING TIME BY
TOUCH, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the formation of the dials, bands, and
cases of watches and clocks, and is for the purpose of ascertaining the time by
touch, in the absence of light, and is especially applicable for use by the blind.
To the dial or face of any watch or clock whether of the pattern at present in
use, or especially constructed I attach studs or projections: These projections may
vary in number, but in order more readily to indicate the time by touch, I prefer
to place in a line, radiating from the centre, two of the said studs or projections, at
the quarter hours, namely, at the numerals three, six, nine and twelve: and one
projection only at each of the remaining numerals: Or in lieu of projections,
I form the dials or faces of watches and clocks with indentations in the positions,
and for the purpose as herein above described: Similar projections or indentations
may also be formed on, or in, the minute bands. When it is preferred in lieu of
any alteration in the usual form of the dial or face of watches and clocks, for the
purpose of ascertaining time by touch, I make the edge or rim of the case outside
the numerals with either projections or indentations placed in suitable positions.
For indicating the time by touch without requiring to open the case of a watch
or clock 1 form the said case with an opening, or openings, in the centre of the
cover, through which access may be had by the fingers to the said projection or
indentations on the dial or face.

page_text: by Touch, Especially Applicable for Use by the Blind.
I, JAMES WILKIN RATTRAY, of Bloom Street, Salford' in the county of
Lancaster, Secretary to Henshaw's Blind Asylum, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND CLOCKS, FOR ASCERTAINING
TIME BY TOUCH ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR USE BY THE BLIND, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to improvements in the formation of the dials, hands, and
cases of watches and clocks, and is for the purpose of ascertaining the time by
touch, in the absence of light, and is especially applicable for use by the blind.
To the dial or face of any watch or clock, whether of the pattern at present in
use, or especially constructed I attach studs or projections: These projections may
vary in number, but in order more readily to indicate the time by touch, I prefer
to place in a line radiating from the centre, two of the said studs or projections at
the quarter hours, namely at the numerals three, six, nine and, twelve, and one
projection only at each of the remaining numerals: or in lieu of projections,
I form the dials or faces of watches and clocks with indentations in the positions,
and for the purpose as herein above described: Similar projections or indentations
may also be formed on, or in the minute hands.
When it is preferred in lieu of any alteration in the usual form of the dial or
face of watches and clocks,: for the purpose of ascertaining the time by touch,
I make the edge of the rim or case, outside the numerals, with either projections,
or indentations placed in suitable positions.
For indicating the time by touch without requiring to open the case of a watch
or clock, I form the said case with an opening or openings in the cover, through
which access may be had by the fingers to the said projections or indentations on
the dial or face: I also form the cover so as to swivel in order to obtain access to
the said projections or indentations.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I now describe the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, reference being made to the figures and letters marked
thereon similar letters refer to similar parts through the several views.
Figs. 1. 2. 3. and 4 represent the dial a or face of a clock: In Fig. 1 are shown
studs or projections b in lieu of the ordinary numerals: the quarter hours being
preferably indicated by two of the said studs or projections b¹: Fig. 2 represents
the studs b placed in addition to the ordinary numerals: In Figs. 3 and 4
indentations b are made in the dial or face of the clock in similar positions and
serve the same purpose as the studs represented in Figs. 1 and 2: The minute
hands e may have similar studs or indentations to distinguish them: Figs. 5 and 6
represent the application of the same principle to the faces or dials of watches.
Fig. 7 represents a watch with indentations or projections b formed on the rim
or edge.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st To the dial or face of any watch or clock, whether of the pattern at present
in use, or of a pattern especially constructed, the attachment of studs or projections,
in suitable positions to indicate the hours, or parts of an hour, by means of touch,
or without the aid of light, in the manner and for the purpose as herein before
described.
°
2nd On the dial or face of any watch or clock, whether of the pattern now in
use, or of a pattern especially constructed, the formation of indentations, in suitablo
positions, to indicate the hour, or parts of an hour, by means of touch, or without
the aid of light, in the manner and for the purpose as herein before described.
3rd The formation of the rims or edges of watches and clocks, with projections
or indentations, in suitable positions, to indicate the hours, or parts of an hour, by
means of touch, in the manner as herein before described.
1000
JAB WILKIN RATTRAY.