Spatial displacement time display

• US 5,526,327 A
• Filed: 03/15/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J. Cordova Jr
• Original Assignee: David J. Cordova Jr
• Inventors: Cordova, David J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/212,968
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 368/76, 368/82-84, 368/223, 368/228, 368/239-242
• US Class Current: 368/82
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/02 by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques G04G9/0082 takes precedence

Abstract

A display and method for depicting the passage of time by selectively and progressively filling predetermined areas, each area representing hours, minutes, seconds and tenths of seconds respectively. The areas may be of any shape or combination of shapes. The portion of the area that is filled represents that portion of an hour, minute, second or tenth of second that has passed. The areas may be normally dark in which case filling illuminates the area. Areas may be normally light in which case filling darkens the area. The areas may be any visually perceptible medium capable of changing light intensity or color including discharge tubes, light emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays, fiber optic bundles, or hologram images. The areas may be arranged in unconventional and discontinuous patterns and incorporated into a wide variety of objects.

Claims

1. A display for depicting time comprising:

a. a first fillable area, said first area being circular having a diameter and, within said first area, a plurality of lightable chord segments positioned perpendicular to said diameter, said first area being linearly lightable by activating said chord segments progressively across said diameter;

b. a second fillable area; and

c. a timing circuit and a power circuit electrically connected to progressively fill and clear said first fillable area and said second fillable area during a first time interval and a second time interval so that said second fillable area, during the passage of said first time interval progressively fills and then clears and said first fillable area, during the passage of said second time interval, progressively fills and then clears.

2. The display of claim 1 having a fillable seconds area electrically connected to the timing and power circuits so that during the passage of one minute said seconds area becomes filled and then clears.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein said timing and power circuits are electrically connected to progressively fill and clear said first and second fillable areas so that said first time interval is one hour and said second time interval is twelve hours.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein said timing and power circuits are electrically connected to progressively fill and clear said first and second fillable areas so that said first time interval is twelve hours and said second time interval is one hour.

5. The display of claim 3 wherein said timing and power circuits are electrically connected to progressively fill and clear said first and second fillable areas so that said first time interval is one hour and said second time interval is twenty four hours.

6. The display of claim 1 wherein said first and second fillable areas comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

7. The display of claim 1 wherein said first and second fillable areas are liquid crystal displays.

8. The display of claim 3 wherein said first and second fillable areas comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

9. A time display for depicting the passage of time comprising:

a. a first fillable area, said first area being circular and having a radius, said first area being lightable by progressive radial activation;

b. a second fillable area; and

c. a timing and power circuit electrically connected to illuminate said first and second areas during a first time interval and a second time interval so that said second area, during the passage of said first time interval progressively becomes fully light actuated and then clears and said first area, during the passage of said second time interval, progressively, in a radial direction, becomes fully light actuated and then clears.

10. The time display of claim 9 further comprising a fillable seconds area, said seconds area permitting incremental and progressive light activation of said seconds area.

11. The display of claim 9 wherein said timing and power circuits are electrically connected to progressively fill and clear said first and second fillable areas so that said first time interval is one hour and said second time interval is twelve hours.

12. The display of claim 9 wherein said first and second fillable areas comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

13. The display of claim 11 wherein first and second fillable areas comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

14. The display of claim 9 wherein said first and second fillable areas are fiber optic bundles.

15. The display of claim 9 wherein said first and second fillable areas are discharge tubes.

16. The display of claim 9 wherein said first and second fillable areas are incandescent lights.

17. A simulated truck time display comprising:

a. a circular front wheel hours timing area, said front wheel timing area being progressively circumferentially lightable;

b. a body panel rectangular minutes timing area, said minutes timing area being linearly light actuable;

c. a rear tire ring seconds timing area, said seconds timing area having an outside circumference, and an inside circumference, said seconds timing area being positioned between said outside circumference and said inside circumference and being progressively horizontally linearly light actuated.

18. The time display of claim 17 further comprising a timing circuit and a power circuit electrically connected to said hours, minutes, and seconds timing areas so that during the passage of one minute, said seconds area progressively becomes light actuated and clears, and that during the passage of one hour, said minutes area progressively becomes light actuated and clears, and that during the passage of twelve hours, said hours area progressively becomes light actuated and clears.

19. The time display of claim 18 wherein said hours, minutes, and seconds timing areas comprise arrays of light emitting diodes.

20. The time display of claim 18 wherein said hours, minutes, and seconds timing areas comprise liquid crystal displays.

21. The time display of claim 18 wherein said hours, minutes, and seconds timing areas comprise bundles of fiber optic elements.