MIRROR-REFLECTED WATCH DIAL TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mirror-reflected watch dial that can be used in all analogue or digital wall clocks and wrist watches as well as all dial- and digital- indicator devices other than watches.

KNOWN STATUS OF TECHNIQUE

Today, watch designs have become rather ordinary. Although current designs feature some mechanical or electronic innovations, no exceptional development is apparent in terms of appearance.

The hour hand, minute hand, figures and digital indicators are directly visible in watches found on the market. There has not been much development in current watch dials.

Up to now, many different methods have been tried in order to indicate the time on the dial. As a result of inventions, watches were divided into two groups, namely analogue and digital watches, and certain recent models have featured both analogue and digital watch functions on the same watch. There are many developments in digital watches in terms of technology. Analogue watches, however, have not demonstrated a significant development. The watch industry has visually stopped at the point it has reached and has always come to make continual use of similar mechanisms or designs. Analogue watches have been able to virtually monopolize the target due to their stability, appearance and user-friendliness characteristics. The improvement according to the invention is believed also to increase the aesthetic appearance of analogue watches. The improvement according to the invention will also greatly affect the aesthetic appearance of digital watches. The improvement provides watches with a new stance and point of view.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The greatest difference between the watch according to the invention and current watches is that the former is able to hide the watch mechanism and functioning completely and show the time only through reflection, thus impressing the user. The dial of the watch according to the invention is formed as a mirror and can be created in a great variety of designs. The special mirror apparatus used in the invention can be used in a variety of watches ranging from the simplest watches to complicated watches with calendars, power-saving features and even tourbillon mechanisms.

Due to the reflection, the reflected watch according to the invention can be read only by the user himself/herself. Reading the watch requires looking at it at a right angle due to the reflection mirror. Thus, those looking at the watch from the sides and at different angles see nothing but aesthetic reflections and cannot read the time.

In the product according to the invention the reflection principle is used to hide the hour hand, minute hand and the figures. In accordance with the reflection rules, the user is able to see only the reflection of the hour hand, minute hand and figures. Thus, an optical illusion is created on the watch. This illusion causes the watch to attract attention, increasing its marketability potential. The effect in question can also be used in displaying digital watches.

A luxury wristwatch technically aims at impressing its user. Through the use of the product according to the invention, it will be possible to add a dial based on the reflection principles to the mechanical or digital functionality of a luxury watch, which in turn will win the watch an aesthetically improved appearance. Such a dial indication style will have a significant and strong impact on the watch market. The product according to the invention may feature a double mirror/dial bed instead of a single mirror/dial bed. The mirror-reflected dial according to the invention can also be used in square and rectangular watches. Similarly, the hour hand and minute hand or digital indicator instead of the dial bed may be designed as comprising a mirror.

The mirror reflection according to the invention may be adapted to not only watches, but any analogue/indicator type apparatus having a dial. It can be easily adapted to barometers or digital clocks.

Many different designs may be created for all kinds of watches using the reflection principle employed in the product according to the invention.

NUMBERING THE PARTS

1. Mirror

2. Hour hand

3. Minute hand

4. Hour disc,

5. Minute disc

6. Watch casing

7. Centre lid

8. Watch crystal SHORT DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1. Top and side sectional views of the watch dial and upper casing of the mirror-reflected watch according to the invention

Fig. 2. Perspective sectional view of the watch dial and upper casing of the mirror- reflected watch according to the invention.

Fig. 3. Disassembled and sectioned disassembled views of the watch dial and upper casing of the mirror-reflected watch according to the invention DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The invention comprises a mirror (1), an hour hand (2), a minute hand (3), an hour disc (4), a minute disc (5), the watch casing (6), the centre lid (7) and the watch crystal (8).

The assembly of the dial of the mirror-reflected watch according to the present invention is as follows: In the reflected watch dial according to the invention, all the parts are mounted on the watch casing (6). The mirror (1) used as the reflector is mounted on the lower floor of the upper surface of the watch casing (6). On the inner part of the mirror

(1) the minute disc (5), the minute hand (3), the hour disc (4) and the hour hand

(2) are placed in this order from bottom to top. Then the watch crystal (8) is mounted in a way that makes the time visible, and the centre lid (7) is mounted on the top. The middle lid (7) is used to fix the watch mechanism located in the centre of the watch as well as the sapphire watch crystal (8).

The figures and the hour-minute hands (2,3) duo located in the centre on the hour disc (4) and the minute disc (5) are reflected towards the user from over the mirror/dial (1).

The hour disc (4) contains the 12 figures indicating the hour. The minute disc (5) contains the figures representing the 60 minutes in multiples of 5. Short lines enabling more accurate reading can be placed between the figures on the hour disc (4) and the minute disc (5).

The information on the hour disc (4) and the minute disc (5) are provided as antisymmetric in order that they appear in the correct manner after being reflected by the mirror (1). Thus, the image is shown to the user in the correct manner after the reflection. The number of the hour and minute indicator discs (4,5) may be increased in order to indicate the day, power reserve and similar watch features. That is, a disc each for the day, power indicator and other features may be placed above and below the discs (4,5) in the mirror-reflected watch in order to increase the functions of the watch.

The mirrored (1) dial of the product according to the invention may be produced in a variety of shapes. It may have a flat, concave or convex cross section. The main concern is to form a smooth reflecting mirror (1) surface.

The hour (2) hand is vertically bent down in order that the mirror (1) reflects its image to the user correctly. The minute (3) hand is also vertically bent down as is the case with the hour (2) hand and for the same reason.

The watch casing (6) may be designed in various forms and shapes.

The innovation according to the invention may also apply to digital watches in the same manner. In applying the reflection principle to digital watches the mirror (1) may be chosen as rectangular rather than circular. Or the digital indicator may be designed as circular. The same invention is applicable to digital watches in the same manner.