# US 4,392,750 A · Clock with rotatable ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,750 A - Document ID: US4392750A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/228,390 - Filed: 1981-01-26 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-04-23 - Assignees: Revue Thommen AG - Inventors: Eduard Mettler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392750A ## CPC - G04B 37/08: Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits {(covers or protecting devices which can be directly removed, or by sliding or turning G04B37/005; hermetic sealing of watch or crystal with special pieces G04B39/02; hermetically-sealed electrical switches H01H23/06)} - G04B 19/283: {on rotatable rings, i.e. bezel (for graduations on the bezels G04B19/18)} - G04B 19/30: Illumination of dials or hands {(dials in general G04B19/06; moving indicating means with numbers or hands, in general G04B19/20; arrangements for indicating different local apparent times by means of a globe illuminated from inside G04B19/22; continuous indication of the time by non-electric light sources G04B25/00, e.g. by electric lamps G04C17/02; illumination by electric lamps which function at fixed times or periodically G04C19/02; illuminated panels G09F13/00)} - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) ## Abstract A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork in the case having a plurality of pointers, a dial face in the case over which the pointers sweep about a common axis, a glass covering the dial and pointers, at least one illuminator for illuminating the dial and pointers and a ring having a face with spaced markings thereon which is mounted between the dial and glass and which can be manually rotated. The ring face is illuminated by the same illuminator which sheds light on the dial since the ring face faces the glass which receives light from the illuminator and illuminates both the dial and the ring face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork mounted in said case having at least one rotatable pointer, a dial face in the case over which said at least one pointer sweeps about an axis, a glass connected to said case and covering said dial face and at least one pointer, at least one illuminator in the case for illuminating the dial face and at least one pointer, and a ring with a face carrying at least one marking rotatably mounted about the axis of said at least one pointer under said glass, said ring face facing said glass to be illuminated by said illuminator along with said dial face and at least one pointer, said ring face being conically inclined toward the axis and away from said glass. ### Claim 2 A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork mounted in said case having at least one rotatable pointer, a dial face in the case over which said at least one pointer sweeps about an axis, a glass connected to said case and covering said dial face and at least one pointer, at least one illuminator in the case for illuminating the dial face and at least one pointer, and a ring with a face carrying at least one marking rotatably mounted about the axis of said at least one pointer under said glass, said ring face facing said glass to be illuminated by said illuminator along with said dial face and at least one pointer, said glass having a conical edge with said at least one illuminator arranged laterally of said conical edge of said glass, said conical edge inclined toward the axis and toward said dial face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, wherein said glass has a roughened peripheral edge and flat surfaces, said illuminator positioned adjacent said peripheral edge to illuminate said surfaces to shed light on said dial face, at least one pointer and ring face. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, including a dial carrying said dial face having an annular border portion, said ring rotatably mounted between said annular border portion of said dial and said glass. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A clock according to claim 4, wherein said dial border portion is offset toward said glass relative to a plane containing said dial face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, including setting means engaged with said ring for rotating said ring in said case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A clock according to claim 6, wherein said setting means comprises a setting member rotatably mounted in said said case, a gear defined on a periphery of said ring and a gear connected to said setting member and meshed with said ring gear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A clock according to claim 7, including one additional gear meshed between said ring gear and setting member gear so that manual rotation of said setting member rotates said ring in the same direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, wherein said illuminator is provided at a lateral edge of said glass. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A clock according to claim 9, wherein said lateral edge of said glass is conically inclined toward said axis and toward an interior of said case. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A clock according to claim 7, including a sealing member around said setting member and a sealing ring between said case and a cover covering said case and supporting said glass, said sealing ring providing a space between said glass and said dial face for rotatably accommodating said ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, wherein said case includes an outwardly projecting flange portion having at least one hole therethrough for mounting said clock. ### Claim 13 A clock comprising, a case, a clockwork mounted in said case having at least one rotatable pointer, a dial face in the case over which said at least one pointer sweeps about an axis, a glass connected to said case and covering said dial face and at least one pointer, at least one illuminator in the case for illuminating the dial face and at least one pointer, a ring with a face carrying at least one marking rotatably mounted about the axis of said at least one pointer under said glass, said ring face facing said glass to be illuminated by said illuminator along with said dial face and at least one pointer, a setting member rotatably mounted in said case connected by gear means with said ring for rotating said ring in said case, and sealing means for sealing a space containing said ring and at least part of said gear means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A clock according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said glass diminishes from one side of said case to an opposite side thereof, said at least one illuminator arranged adjacent a thickest portion of said glass. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) A clock according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of said glass diminishes from one side of said case to an opposite side thereof, said at least one illuminator arranged adjacent a thickest portion of said glass. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A clock according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of said glass diminishes from one side of said case to an opposite side thereof, said at least one illuminator arranged adjacent a thickest portion of said glass. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A clock according to claim 13, wherein said setting member is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to said axis of said at least one pointer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A clock according to claim 13, wherein said gear means comprises a gear defined on a periphery of said ring and a gear connected to said setting member and meshed with said gear ring, said sealing means comprising a sealing member around said setting member and a sealing ring between said case and a cover covering said case and supporting said glass, said sealing ring providing a space between said glass and said dial face for rotatably accommodating said ring.