Patent ID: 7394725

Claim:
A device for representing the passage of time comprising: a) a static face element having a visible surface; b) a variety of graphic representations for representing each of a plurality of long time periods such that each graphic representation is unique to one of said long time periods, and at least a non-transparent portion of each of said variety of graphic representations is applied to said surface so as to be visible on an area of said surface; c) a mechanism for visually changing at least a portion of only one said graphic representation at a time, such that a plurality of visual changes represents a plurality of short time periods, and said visual change alternates between all graphic representations in sequence, said mechanism including: i) said face element configured as a face panel with a plurality of windows such that at least one of said plurality of windows is associated with only one said graphic representation; and ii) a rotating disc with a surface, said surface substantially hidden from view by said face panel, said surface having a first area and a second area that are identifiable as separate and distinct such that said first area indicates a predetermined short time period through at least one of said plurality of windows such that a duration of visibility of said rotating disk through each of said plurality of windows represents one said predetermined long period of time; and d) a mask deployed between said face panel and said rotating disc, said mask configured to reveal a portion of said surface of said rotating disc for one said long period of time through only that portion of said plurality of windows associated with only one of said plurality of graphic representations while blocking a view of said rotating disc through a remainder of said plurality of windows associated with a remainder of said plurality of graphic representations; wherein a duration of association of said plurality of visual changes with one of said plurality of graphic representations represents a said long period of time.