Illuminated clock construction

Claim 2

In an electric clock, the combination comprising, a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and an integral side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion having a surface chamfered at an angle of 45* for reflection of the light into the front portion, and the edge opposite the junction being formed with angled reflecting surfaces for reflection of the transmitted light back toward the shadow side of the nest of shafts, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial.

Claim 3

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the Same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly at right angles from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a surface chamfered for internal reflection, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with a central cutout for mounting a lamp so that light from the lamp is first reflected at the side edges for equalized distribution to the chamfered surface and again reflected by the chamfered surface for equalized distribution into the front portion of the diffuser, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial.

Claim 4

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the Same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly at right angles from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a surface chamfered for internal reflection, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with a central cutout for mounting a lamp so that light from the lamp is first reflected at the side edges for equalized distribution to the chamfered surface and again reflected by the chamfered surface for equalized distribution into the front portion of the diffuser, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial.

Claim 5

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and an integral side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with side edges angled at substantially 45* and the side portion having a central cutout mounting a lamp so that light from the lamp is first reflected at the side edges for equalized distribution to the chamfered surface and again reflected by the chamfered surface for equalized distribution into the front portion of the diffuser, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial.

Claim 6

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and an integral side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with side edges angled at substantially 45* and the side portion having a central cutout mounting a lamp so that light from the lamp is first reflected at the side edges for equalized distribution to the chamfered surface and again reflected by the chamfered surface for equalized distribution into the front portion of the diffuser, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the lamp is of the gaseous discharge type having a pair or parallel longitudinally extending electrodes.

Claim 8

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the side portion and the front portion being formed integrally with the junction having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* for transmission of light into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light and for transmitting it forwardly into the translucent dial, the remote corners of the front portion being cut off at an angle of substantially 45* to provide corner reflecting surfaces, said front portion having a notch with an included angle of approximately 90* centered between the corner-reflecting surfaces for reflecting the light from such surfaces back toward the shadow side of the nest of shafts.

Claim 9

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the side portion and the front portion being formed integrally with the junction having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* for transmission of light into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light and for transmitting it forwardly into the translucent dial, the remote corners of the front portion being cut off at an angle of substantially 45* to provide corner reflecting surfaces, said front portion having a notch with an included angle of approximately 90* centered between the corner-reflecting surfaces for reflecting the light from such surfaces back toward the shadow side of the nest of shafts.

Claim 10

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and a nest of Shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion being formed with a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* for reflection of the distributed light into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the translucent dial, the edge of the front portion opposite the junction being doubly chamfered to provide closely spaced reflecting surfaces with an included angle of approximately 90* for reflection of the light backwardly toward the junction.

Claim 11

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and a nest of Shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion being formed with a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* for reflection of the distributed light into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the translucent dial, the edge of the front portion opposite the junction being doubly chamfered to provide closely spaced reflecting surfaces with an included angle of approximately 90* for reflection of the light backwardly toward the junction.

Claim 12

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle 45*, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with the side edges angled at 45*, the side portion having a central cutout for accommodating a lamp of longitudinal configuration so that light from the lamp is reflected first at the 45* side edges and again at the junction for equalized distribution into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial, the corners opposite the junction being cut off at an angle to form a reflecting surface and the edge opposite the junction being formed with cooperating reflecting surfaces for reflection of the light back toward the shadow side of the nest of shafts.

Claim 13

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface chamfered at an angle 45*, the side portion having a V-shaped profile with the side edges angled at 45*, the side portion having a central cutout for accommodating a lamp of longitudinal configuration so that light from the lamp is reflected first at the 45* side edges and again at the junction for equalized distribution into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial, the corners opposite the junction being cut off at an angle to form a reflecting surface and the edge opposite the junction being formed with cooperating reflecting surfaces for reflection of the light back toward the shadow side of the nest of shafts.

Claim 14

The combination as claimed in claim 7 in which adhesive tape having a reflective surface is applied on both sides of the side portion for bridging the cutout and maintaining the lamp in position in the cutout.

Claim 15

In an electric clock the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereof, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating a nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, and the edge opposite the junction having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, a lens of transparent plastic material overlying the dial and having side panels spaced close to the dial in the region of the chamfered surfaces for picking up the stray light emitted from the chamfered surfaces, the side panels being formed with a pattern of embossments for breaking up the light to form a decorative pattern when illuminated by incident daylight and when illuminated by the lamp under conditions of darkness.

Claim 16

In an electric clock the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereof, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating a nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, and the edge opposite the junction having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45*, a lens of transparent plastic material overlying the dial and having side panels spaced close to the dial in the region of the chamfered surfaces for picking up the stray light emitted from the chamfered surfaces, the side panels being formed with a pattern of embossments for breaking up the light to form a decorative pattern when illuminated by incident daylight and when illuminated by the lamp under conditions of darkness.

Claim 17

The combination as set forth in claim 8 in which the dial has a light inhibiting surface opposite the junction for equalizing the brilliance of the two side panels.

Claim 18

In an electric clock the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating a nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* and the edge opposite the junction having a chamfered surface, a lens of transparent plastic material overlying the dial and having side panels spaced close to the dial in the region of the chamfered surfaces, the side panels being formed with a two-dimensional pattern of pyramidal embossments for picking up the light escaping from the chamfered surfaces and for multiply reflecting the same to form a decorative pattern.

Claim 19

In an electric clock the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating a nest of shafts, the side portion having a lamp coupled intimately to the edge thereof, the junction between the side portion and the front portion having a surface chamfered at an angle of substantially 45* and the edge opposite the junction having a chamfered surface, a lens of transparent plastic material overlying the dial and having side panels spaced close to the dial in the region of the chamfered surfaces, the side panels being formed with a two-dimensional pattern of pyramidal embossments for picking up the light escaping from the chamfered surfaces and for multiply reflecting the same to form a decorative pattern.

Claim 20

The combination as claimed in claim 11 in which the edge of the diffuser opposite the junction is doubly chamfered to form an included angle of substantially 90* to facilitate internal reflection and containment of light in the diffuser.

Claim 21

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a frame plate and a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion being coupled to a lamp, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface for equalized distribution into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial, a reflector behind the diffuser plate, a boxlike lens in front of the dial, the frame plate and lens having lugs integrally formed on opposite edges, the housing having spaced grooves for mating with the lugs for holding the lens, dial, diffuser plate and reflector in compactly sandwiched relation.

Claim 22

In an electric clock, the combination comprising a housing having a front opening, a movement in the housing having a frame plate and a set of hands and nest of shafts for coupling the same to the movement, a translucent dial covering the opening and having indicia thereon, a diffuser plate of transparent plastic material having a front portion positioned immediately behind the dial and having a side portion extending rearwardly from one edge thereof into the space between the movement and the adjacent wall of the housing, the dial and diffuser plate having aligned openings for accommodating the nest of shafts, the side portion being coupled to a lamp, the junction between the side portion and front portion having a reflecting surface for equalized distribution into the front portion, the front portion of the diffuser having a roughened surface for picking up the light in the diffuser and for transmitting it evenly into the field of the dial, a reflector behind the diffuser plate, a boxlike lens in front of the dial, the frame plate and lens having lugs integrally formed on opposite edges, the housing having spaced grooves for mating with the lugs for holding the lens, dial, diffuser plate and reflector in compactly sandwiched relation.