US3849978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time indicating means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-09
•
Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-02-09
Abstract
Abstract In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means which includes plurality of generally parallel discs arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an upright standard. The discs are fabricated of translucent material for transmitting light rays therethrough from the center of the discs, at the standard, to the outer marginal edges of the discs which define 360* time indicating reference strips whereby the time indication of the discs may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument. The discs are arranged in four relatively spaced clusters of three discs each in any number of twelve discs along the standard whereby each cluster may represent a three hour increment of time and/or each of the four clusters facilitate representing a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Inventors
- 👤 E Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:09
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/02; G04G9/04; G04B; G04B19/00; G04B19/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, and means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a 3-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters oF three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, and means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a 3-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters oF three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, said indicating means being disc-shaped and fabricated of translucent material for transmitting light rays therethrough from the centers of the discs, at said standard, to their outer peripheries which define said reference strips, and means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a 3-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, said indicating means being disc-shaped and fabricated of translucent material for transmitting light rays therethrough from the centers of the discs, at said standard, to their outer peripheries which define said reference strips, and means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a 3-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time, and a plurality of spaced apart 360* time indicating sub-elements at one end of said standard, said sub-elements being substantially reduced in radial dimensions than said first mentioned indicating elements for representing one-minute increments of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time, and a plurality of spaced apart 360* time indicating sub-elements at one end of said standard, said sub-elements being substantially reduced in radial dimensions than said first mentioned indicating elements for representing one-minute increments of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time, and an opaque tubular member surrounding said indicating elements, said elongated standard being generally on the axis of said tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be moved axially of said indicating elements to progressively expose the elements for time indicating purposes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of indicating elements arranged in spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, each element defining a 360* time indicating reference strip whereby its time indication may be seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument, means arranging said indicating elements in four relatively spaced clusters of three elements in any number of 12 elements along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three elements may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time, and an opaque tubular member surrounding said indicating elements, said elongated standard being generally on the axis of said tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be moved axially of said indicating elements to progressively expose the elements for time indicating purposes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein the peripheries of at least some of said indicating discs are concave substantially continuously about the discs to provide annular concave light indicating bands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein at least some of said indicating discs are formed of generally radially coextensive, axially laminated disc portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein at least some of said indicating discs are polygonal in shape to provide a plurality of straight edge surfaces about the periphery of the discs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein said indicating discs progressively increase in diameter from one endmost disc to a central disc along said standard and then progressively decrease in diameter from the central disc to the opposite endmost disc so as to give a globe effect over all the discs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein said indicating discs progressively increase in diameter from one endmost disc, along said standard to the opposite endmost disc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The time indicating means of claim 2 wherein said indicating discs progressiVely decrease in diameter from one endmost disc to a central disc along said standard and then progressively increase in diameter from the central disc to the opposite endmost disc so as to give an hourglass effect over all the discs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The time indicating means of claim 1 including two sets of 12 indicating elements lengthwise along said standard, each set comprising four of said clusters of three elements, and each set being distinguishable from the other to provide a 24 hour A.M.-P.M. indicating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The time indicating means of claim 11 wherein said sets of indicating elements are made distinguishable from each other by forming two identically tapered sets of 12 indicating elements, with the elements of each set progressively decreasing in diameter from one end thereof to the other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The time indicating means of claim 1 including a spherical transparent enclosure for said indicating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of disc-shaped indicating elements arranged in generally parallel, spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, the discs being fabricated of substantially solid translucent material for transmitting light rays through the bodies of the discs from the centers thereof, at said standard, to the outer peripheries thereof which define 360* time indicating strips which may be illuminated and seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: a plurality of disc-shaped indicating elements arranged in generally parallel, spaced apart relationship lengthwise along an elongated standard, the discs being fabricated of substantially solid translucent material for transmitting light rays through the bodies of the discs from the centers thereof, at said standard, to the outer peripheries thereof which define 360* time indicating strips which may be illuminated and seen from any point of observation laterally of the instrument.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The time indicating means of claim 14 wherein the peripheries of at least some of said indicating discs are concave substantially continuously about the discs to provide annular concave light indicating bands.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The time indicating means of claim 14 wherein at least some of said indicating discs are formed of generally radially coextensive, axially laminated disc portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The time indicating means of claim 14 wherein at least some of said indicating discs are polygonal in shape to provide a plurality of straight edge surfaces about the periphery of the discs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: means defining a plurality of elongated, generally parallel time indicating strips which may be distinguishably set out from each other visually, as by appropriate lighting, means arranging said strips in four generally parallel, relatively spaced clusters of three strips in any number of 12 strips along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three strips may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
In an instrument for indicating time, indicating means, comprising: means defining a plurality of elongated, generally parallel time indicating strips which may be distinguishably set out from each other visually, as by appropriate lighting, means arranging said strips in four generally parallel, relatively spaced clusters of three strips in any number of 12 strips along said standard whereby each cluster may represent a three-hour increment of time and each of the four clusters of three strips may represent a one-quarter hour increment of time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |