World clock with synchronous display

• US 6,275,449 B1
• Filed: 08/07/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Wang
• Original Assignee: Richard Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/130,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 368/21, 368/23, 368/25, 368/27, 368/82, 368/240, 368/76, 368/220, 368/223, 368/78, 368/226, D10/10, 434/146
• US Class Current: 368/21
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/228 with linear time graduation

Abstract

A world clock includes a map with markings arranged to indicate time zones for actual geographic locations and a single-row table having 24 columns for correlating the markings with hour markings on a belt. The belt is driven by a controller to move one column every hour, with stoppage of the belt below the next column being controlled by a light sensor arranged to sense blank spaces on the belt between the hour markings.

Claims

1. A world clock capable of synchronously displaying times in all world time zones, comprising:

a map having markings selected from the group consisting of markings, textures, and patterns, said markings being arranged to distinguish different time zones, said marking corresponding to an actual geographic arrangement of time zones on said map;

a reference indicator arranged as a table having one row and 24 regularly spaced columns, each column having one of said markings corresponding to one of said different time zones, whereby a position on the map may be correlated with a column in said table based on said markings;

a belt positioned adjacent said reference indicator, said belt having a set of 24 numbers on each side, the 24 numbers corresponding to 24 hours of day, such that one of said 24 numbers is positioned below each of said columns of said reference indicator;

a motor for driving said belt;

a controller arranged to cause said belt to move once every hour; and

a position sensor arranged to send a position signal to said controller to cause the controller to stop movement of the belt so that each number moves to an adjacent column of said table once every hour, and remains stationary between said movements.

2. A world clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt is connected to said motor via a pulley and a speed reducing gear set.

3. A world clock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a set of sub-time zone indicators to indicate positions of six sub-time zones relative to said table.

4. A world clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt further includes at least three colors corresponding to divisions of a day.

5. A world clock as claimed in claim 4, wherein said belt includes four additional colors to indicate nighttime, morning, daytime, and dusk.

6. A world clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt is transparent and said position sensor senses blank spaces between said numbers.