Timepiece having central opening

• US 4,525,077 A
• Filed: 09/19/1984
• Issued: 06/25/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HUI, DAVID
• Original Assignee: Eugene N. Ketner
• Inventors: Ketner, Eugene N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US06/652,746
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 368/77, 368/88, 368/221, 368/223, 368/220, 368/232, 368/233, 368/276, 368/281, 368/284, 368/297, 368/298, 368/299, 368/300-302
• US Class Current: 368/77
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/046 Indicating by means of a disc with a mark or window for simultaneous indicating G04B19/048
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 45/00 Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects ornamental shaping of dials G04B19/10 lubrication of clockwork bearings G04B31/008; special effects and pictures in general B44F

Abstract

A time piece such as a pocket or wrist watch having a large central opening formed therethrough which causes the watch to assume a toroidal configuration. Various inserts, made complimentary respective to the central opening, are supported within the central opening. The artistic design placed on either face of the insert admits a large selection of unique and personalized material to be readily available to the individual that wears the watch.

Claims

1. A timepiece comprising a body having opposed faces, a central opening formed through said body which results in each of said opposed faces assuming an inner boundary which extends about and defines the configuration of said opening and an outer boundary which defines the configuration of the peripheral edge of said body;

indicator means on one of said faces related to time keeping;

means housed within said body by which said indicator means provides data related to the time of day, and an insert member having an outer wall surface made into a configuration which enables said insert member to be mounted within the opening.

2. The timepiece of claim 1 wherein said indicator means includes indicia related to the minutes and hours of the day;

and further including means associated with said indicia for indicating the time of day;

said insert member including means by which it is removably received within the opening.

3. The timepiece of claim 2 wherein said indicator means includes two spaced, co-axial members freely movable respective to one another with one of said co-axial members being related to minutes and the other of said co-axial members being related to hours;

and, means for imparting relative movement to said co-axial members;

said insert member includes at least one face, means forming an artistic design on said at least one face.

4. The timepiece of claim 1 wherein said insert member includes opposed faces described by said outer wall surface, one of the last said opposed faces includes means forming an artistic design thereon.

5. The timepiece of claim 4 and further comprising means by which said insert member is removably received within the central opening.

6. The timepiece of claim 1 and further comprising opposed faces formed within said outer wall surface, means forming a personalized insignia mounted on one of the said opposed faces.

7. The timepiece of claim 1 wherein the central opening formed through said body defines a cylindrical surface which results in said body assuming an annular configuration, and further including opposed faces formed within said outer wall surface, means forming a personalized insignia mounted on one of the last said opposed faces.

8. The timepiece of claim 7 wherein said body is cylindrical in form;

said indicator means includes indicia related to the minutes and hours of the day; and

further including means associated with said indicia for indicating the time of day.

9. The timepiece of claim 8 wherein said indicator means includes two spaced, co-axial members freely movable respective to one another with one of said co-axial members being related to minutes and the other of said co-axial members being related to hours;

and means for imparting relative movement into said co-axial members.

10. The timepiece of claim 7 wherein said indicator means is concentric circles of electrochromic display means electrically connected to an electric current flow means to cause said display means to change color in a continually advancing manner as a function of the said current flow so as to indicate accumulated electric current flow.

11. The timepiece of claim 10 wherein said concentric circles of electrochromic display means comprises a plurality of radially positioned spaced elements arranged to indicate elapsed time.

12. A toroidal timepiece comprising a body having opposed faces, means forming an aperture through each of said opposed faces to thereby provide a window through the timepiece, said aperture results in each of said opposed faces assuming a boundary which extends about and defines the configuration of said window and the configuration of said opposed faces determines the configuration of the peripheral edge of said body;

said window has a mean diameter which is at least one-fourth the mean overall diameter of the main body;

indicator means on one of said faces related to time keeping, means housed within the interior of said body by which said indicator means provides data related to the time of day;

an insert member having an outer edge made into a configuration which enables said insert member to be mounted respective to the aperture.

13. The timepiece of claim 12 wherein said window is a cylindrical surface which results in said body assuming an annular configuration, and further including lugs formed on said body by which the timepiece can be attached to one'"'"'s wrist.

14. A timepiece comprising a main body having opposed faces;

means forming indicia on one of said opposed faces;

said indicia is related to time keeping;

indicator means associated with said indicia for indicating the time of day;

a passageway extending through said main body, said passageway has an inner wall surface which defines a window, said passageway extends through each of said opposed faces, thereby causing said main body to assume the form of a toroid, said window has a mean inside diameter which is at least 25% of the mean outside diameter of said main body;

means contained within the main body for actuating said indicator means and thereby providing the time of day;

an insert member having an outer edge made into a configuration which enables said insert member to be supported in mounted relationship respective to the inner wall surface of said passageway.