WO1998013734A1

WO1998013734A1 - Time equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1998013734A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/015459
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eddie Zon Tsu Chen
Original assignee: Eddie Zon Tsu Chen
Priority date: 1996-09-26
Filing date: 1996-09-26
Publication date: 1998-04-02
Also published as: AU7374096A

Abstract

A time equipment includes a 24-hour dial having an hour portion (B43), a minute portion (B44) and a central period portion (B45) which is divided into four sections for indicating a plurality of time conditions in a day, an hour hand and a minute hand (B61) mounted for rotating above said dial, a movement for driving said hour hand and minute hand (B61) to rotate one revolution per 24 hours and sixty minutes respectively, a rotatable time zone disc (B50) coaxially mounted around the dial and being driven to rotate one revolution per 24 hours automatically, so that the current time of other time zone cities provided on the time zone disc (B50) can be read simultaneously coincident with the corresponding hour numerals inscribed on the dial respectively.

Description

Title

Time Equipment

Background of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to a timepiece such as a clock or a watch, and more particularly to a time equipment which can simultaneously provide precise and easy-read indication of tune and its time condition in a day Moreover, the present invention is equipped with a time zone means for simultaneously indicating the time conditions of the 24 time zones and/or equipped with an alarm mechanism for enabling more than one alarm time setting in 24 hours

Since the first timepiece was invented three hundred years ago, the standard design and corresponding construction of the timepieces basically remains in the numeral display stage Besides some alternative design made to the appearance or interior driving mechanism of timepieces, the conventional timepieces simply provided an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand mounted for rotating above a dial to indicate the current time only by numerals of 1 -12 or 1 -24 inscribed on the dial, for example 7 o'clock or 17 o clock Since the dial of the conventional time piece as described above has only numerals 1 -12 inscribed on the periphery thereof, the current local time indicated by the hour, minute and second hands is a numeral data only One can not ascertain whether the indicated time is a da time or a night time simply bv such numeral data provided bv the 12-hour dial of the conventional timepiece For example, if the indicated time is seven-thirty o'clock, one cannot determined that it is 7 30 a m or 7 30 p m without a further observation of the outdoor circumstances Therefore, for people in an indoor area, such as a surgery doctor in a surgical room, a touπst in a casino, an engineer in a subway, a worker in an air conditioning factory or a traveler in an airplane, the conventional timepiece is unable to act as a true time teller It is impossible to determine the day time or night time according to such common timepiece

A specified 24-hour timepiece can partially solve the above problem, which compnses a dial having numerals from 1 to 24 inscribed on the periphery thereof The movement of the 24-hour timepiece is designed to drive the hour hand rotating one revolution per 24 hours People in an indoor surrounding can roughly determine the indicated time of 6 to 18 o^'clock as day tune and 19 to 5 o'clock as night time This kind of 24-hour timepiece is particularly useful in military time indicating purpose because it can tell the exact time within 24 hours Howeλ er, soldiers have to receive special training to accustom to the sense of time representing bv the numerals of 13 to 24 o'clock

The ^" sense of time" is a picture in mind which is respective to accustomed human activities at certain designated time For example one should wake up at 7 00 a m (in early morning), the outdoor weather should be hotter at about 3 00 p m (in the afternoon), one will feel hungry for dinner at 8 00 p in

(in the evening), and one will feel tired and sleepy at 10 00 p m (at night) However what do the 7 00 a m . 3 00 p 8 00 p m . and 10 00 p m represent⁷ They represent different "time conditions" within a The Earth sclf-rotaUng one revolution is one day and we divide one day into 24 hours (but not 12 hours) Time condition of a place actually is the variation of sunlight within a day since the time is a calculation of how does the Earth self-rotating and rotating around the Sun The 7 00 a in represents a morning time condition that the Sun just rises and provides a mild sunlight The 3 00 p m represents an afternoon time condition that the Sun has a shorter distance from the Earth and provides a stronger sunlight The 8 00 p m represents an evening Ume condition that the Sun set already and does not provide sunlight People accustom to have various activities at difference time condiUons that it contributes the

"sense of time"

Since the first timepiece invented it was a 12-hour timepiece People were used to read the time through numerals 1 to 12 for more than three hundred years However, such 24-hour timepiece really bothers most people when one read the time indicated by a numeral larger than 12, such as 15, 17. 19, or 22 o^'clock, because, generally, people cannot picture the ' sense of time' respective to a numeral larger than 12 lmmediateh It is the reason that why the 24-hour timepiece is not popular up to now Nowadays, almost all the timepieces on sale in market are still the 12-hour timepieces Besides, both the conventional 12-hour timepiece and 24-hour timepiece cannot indicate the "time conditions" in one day. such as the foui lime conditions of morning period, afternoon period, evening period, and midnight period

Moreover, half a century ago. most of the people in the earth spent their whole life in one local place People rarely had the chance to travel aboard or even needed to contact with anyone overseas Therefore, those conventional timepieces, which were merely designed for time observation in one place. would fulfill the local need in the past However most of the modern people experience a common troublesome of time observation from the conventional timepieces that we have lo calculate the foreign time b\ adding or deducting the hour difference with the local time observed from the conventional timepieces In fact the most difficult matter is that it is very difficult for most people to learn by heart all t e time difference between the 24 time zones, especially when people need to travel from place to place oftcnly In the coming 21th century , another industry revolution of computer science begins to internationalize the human life The world becomes smaller that people can communicate with other areas or countries in the earth instantly, easily and conveniently through telephone, facsimile, and world wide web Products and people like merchants and professional consultants, arc traveling from place to place ever, moment Time management becomes the major topic nowadays Furthermore, time also becomes internationalized since people have to contact another countries for business or information any Ume Consequenth more and more people need to ascertain the precise times of various countries in different time zones simultaneously

As shown in Fig 1 , a conventional 24-hour timepiece 1 with an exterior time zone πng 1 1 mounted on an outer nm 12 of the timepiece 1 in the usual manner is illustrated When the user needs to observe the ume of another time zone city other than the local time pointing by an hour hand 13, the user has to turn the exterior Ume zone nng 11 until the local city name corresponding to an hour hand point 131 so that the user can read the current time of another city from a dial 14 coincident with the city name on the time zone ring 11 Since the user has to rotate the time zone nng 1 1 every time when the user needs to observe the current time of another city, it is very troublesome and violates the principle of user's friendly

A timepiece with simultaneous time display for at least two time zones is disclosed in U S patent number 5,323.363 It is convenience for travelers who always travel between two cities onl If the user '5 travels to a tlurd city, the user has to reset the timepiece again but the setting procedure is very troublesome Firstly, adjust the time indicated by the hour and minute hands corresponding to a Ume zone cilv in an usual manner Secondly, operate the time zone disc to display the city name corresponding to the local time /one and. dunng this operation, the 24-hour disc is also driven in rotation synchronically with the time /one disc In this stage, the time indicated by the numeral of the 24-hour disc, which is opposite 0 the mark after the rotation of the time zone disc, generally does not correspond to the Ume indicated by the hour hand Therefore, the two indications of time should be made to correspond, which is achieved by a third step of operating solely the 24-hour disc in such manner that the numeral coming opposite the mark corresponds lo the time indicated by the hour hand Furthermore, one has to take into account whether the time indicated on the dial by the hour hand is a day time or a night time *5 Besides, for alarm timepiece in pπor art, it comprises an alarm generating device which can oni\ preset one predetermined time within 12 hours If one presets an alarm clock lo provide an alarm signal at a predetermined time, for example 8 o'clock the alaπn generating device will give out alarm both at 8 00 a and 8 00 p m that is twice a day In other words, one alarm signal is undesirable that may cause vanous incomeniences to the users 0 In mam circumstances, more than one alarm signals for reminding the user of predetermined Ume are required one day It is so troublesome that people have to set the alarm as many time as the number of aiaπn signals needed

After detail analysis of the market existing timepieces an essential common problem of those conventional timepieces is discovered Basically, the conventional timepieces are designed to inainK 5 indicate the current time of a local city where the user resides solely by numeral data only Such time indicating concept violates the nature of time That is why the conventional timepieces cannot fulfill the necessity of the internationalization of human life nowadays

In fact, the feeling of time comes from the mutual relationship between the sun S the earth E and the moon as shown in Fig 2 The earth E self-rotaung one revolution is one day and the earth E rotating around the sun S for one revolution is one year Therefore, we can observe the sunrise and sunset in the day time and we can also observe the moonπse and moonset at night As shown in Fig 2, any place located at an upper half of the globe facing the sunlight projected from the sun S is in the "day" Ume In other words any place located at a lower half of the globe is in the ' night' time and no sunlight is projected there Thus, any place on the earth E travels 12 hours of day time and 12 hours of night time in one 24-hours day for each self-rotation of the earth E

For a resident R in a local city on the earth E he or she will only observe that the sun S rises from the east and sets at the West In other words a day begins from ' midnight" (12 00 a m ) Everyday the resident R experiences the sunrise at about 6 00 a m after a 6 hours "midnight" period of the day The resident R further expenences the midday (12 00 p m at noon) after a 6 hours "morning" period of the day, in which from midnight (12 00 a ) to noon (12 00 p m ) is ante mendian time After 12 00 p in , the resident R experiences an "afternoon" period for another 6 hours until sunset at about 6 00 p m The resident R then experiences an "evening" period of the day for 6 hours before the end of one day at midnight, wherein from noon to midnight is post mendian tune Hence, when the left half side of Ihe globe is in ante mendian time, the nght half side of the globe should be in post mendian tune The local city has a farest distance from the sun S in "midnight" and a shortest distance from the sun S at noon

Accordingly, one day has 24 hours and generally compnses four "Ume conditions", I c the midnight period, morning period, afternoon period, and evening period Generally, we divide a da into two equal half sections according to the observauon of sunlight, wherein from 6 00 a m to 6 00 p m is time section and from 6 00 p m to 6 00 a m is "night" time section

The time modes mentioned above are the natural conditions of time constituting one day In other words, the feeling of time is established through the variation of sunlight within one day Therefore. practicalh . a timepiece should provide the indication of the natural time conditions in one day as the basic lime computing standard Moreover, although the earth E is self-rotating respective to the sun S. people on the earth E cannot feel such rotation Therefore, when people observe the current lime Iro their timepieces on the earth they normally think that they arc in static condition and the sun S is rotating around the earth E Accordingly, the hour hand of a timepiece would actually represent the movement of

As shown in Fig 3, the earth E is \ iewed from the north pole thereof During the self-rotation of the earth E respective to the sun S in a da_\ . the sunlight will be projected onto the cities located at the different longitudes A l lo X24 (as shown in Fig 3) of the earth L one b\ one orderly In fact, when some cities located at some longitudes such as A l to E5 still experience the midnight period, some other cities located at some longitudes such as F6 to R18 are experiencing different intensity of sunlight in the morning period or afternoon period Accordingly, if the earth E is equally divided into 24 sections, there are totally 24 time /ones that each time zone has a time difference of one hour with the adiacent time zone

As illustrated above, the time difference between any two particular time zones is a constant value For example the time difference between Los Angeles located at time /one D4 and New York located at ume zone G7 is 3 hours, I c when the time of New York is at 7 a m . the time of Los Angeles is 3 hours earlier at 4 a in The following chart is a time chart for 24 representing cities in the 24 time ones shown in Fig 3 for illustrating the time difference between those time /ones

A 1 l a m Midway M13 1 p in Pans

B2 2 a m Honolulu N14 2 p Cairo C3 3 a in Alaska 015 p Moscow

D4 4 a m Los Angeles P 16 4 p in Dubai E5 5 a m Denver Q17 5 p m Karachi

F6 6 a m Chicago R18 p m Decca

G7 7 a New York S19 7 p m Bangkok

H8 8 a in Caracas T20 8 p m Hong Kong 19 9 a R Janeiro U21 9 p m Tokyo

J10 10 a in -2 Hours V22 10 p m Sydney

Kl l 11 a Azores W23 11 p m Noumea

L12 12 p m London X24 12 a m Auckland

The natural fact is that one day has 24 hours and the earth has 24 Ume zones, where every time

/one experiences 24 hours everyday and has its own local current time This is the natural time mode of one day on earth Therefore, if we view the earth E from north pole, we can observe that each of the 24 time zones is self-rotating to complete one revolution in one day simultaneously

Accordingly, those conventional timepieces violate the natural time mode as described above They simply provide numeral indication of time and tell notliing about the "time condition" Every intenuon of providing the times of more than one time zone for the conventional timepiece will consequently complicate the timing mechanism and highly increase the cost

Summary of the Present Invention

The above description is the basic conception of the present invention which provides a solution to those shortcomings and problems of the conventional timepieces

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a time equipment which enables the user to observe at one time a precise tune indication including live information of hours minutes, and/or seconds day time or night Ume, and a m or p in in form of indicating numerals from 1 to 12, as well as the information of the time penod in form of morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight Another object of the present invention is to provide a Ume equipment which not only can simultaneously provide clear indication ofthe current times of the 24 time zones around the world, but also can clearly indicate the "time conditions" in a day for the observed current Ume of any time /one

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time equipment equipped with a time zone mechanism which has a Ume zone disc being driven to rotate automatically one revolution per 24 hours so as to enable the user to simultaneously observe all the current time of all the time /one indicators provided

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time equipment equipped with a time zone mechanism, in which all the time /one indicators, such as time zone city names or symbols provided on the time zone disc are capable of maintaining in upnght position dunng the rotation of the time zone disc so as to facilitate the reading of the Ume zone city names or symbols thereon

Another object of this invention is to provide a Ume equipment winch is able to equip with an alarm mechanism for enabling more than one alarm Ume setUng in 24 hours The improved alarm mechanism is simple in construction and is easy to manufacture

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig 1 is a front view of a conventional timepiece with time zone mechanism

Fig 2 is a schematic view showing the relationship the sun. the earth and the moon

Fig 3 is a schematic view illustraUng the distribution of the 24 time zone when the earth positioned between the sun and the moon is viewed from the north pole thereof

Fig 4 a front view of a time equipment having a 24-hour dial incorporated with a time zone disc according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a driving device of the time equipment according to the above first embodiment ofthe present invention Fig 6 is a partial sectional front view illustraUng the driving device incorporated with a setting mechanism of the ume equipment according to the above first embodiment of the present invenuon

Fig 7 is a front view of a time equipment having a 24-hour dial incorporated with a time one disc which has a plurality of rotaUng indicating city discs disposed on a plurality of tune zone openings formed on the time zone disc according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention Fig 8 is a schematic partial sectional

illustrating a maintaining mechamsin incorporated with the driving device of the time zone mechamsin according to the above second embodiment of the present invention

Fig 9 is a geometrical drawing illustrating the relationship between the time /one disc and a transmitting wheel of the above second embodiment according to the present invention Fig 10 is a schematic partial sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the dnving device and the maintaining mechanism

Fig 1 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of an alternative mode of the dnving device incorporated with the maintaining mechanism according to the above third embodiment of the present invention

Fig 12 A is a schematic partial sectional view illustraUng an hour shaft transmitting and setting device according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 12B is a perspective view of a transmitting unit of the hour shaft transmitting and setting device according to the above fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention

SUBSTITUTE SHEET {RULE 26) Fig 13 A is a schematic partial sectional view of a modificauon mode according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invenUon, in which a specific setting mechanism incorporated with the maintaining mechanism in normal stage

Fig 13B is a schematic partial sectional view of the modification mode according to the above third embodiment of the present invenUon, illustraUng the specific setUng mechanism incorporated with the maintaining mechamsin in Ume setting stage

Fig 13C is a schemaUc partial sectional view of the modification mode according to the above third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the specific setting mechanism incorporating with the maintaining mechanism in time zone selling stage Fig 14A is a schematic sectional view of a time equipment according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 14B is a schematic sectional view of an alternative mode of the above fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 15 is a sectional end view of a sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention Fig 16 is an exploded perspective view of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention

Fig 17 is a front view of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention

Fig 18 is a sectional end view, illustrating the construction between the hour hand and the time zone disc, of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention Fig 19 is a front view of an alternative mode of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention

Fig 20 is a sectional end view illustrating the above alternative mode of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention

Fig 21 is a sectional end view, illustrating a modification mode of the construction between the hour hand and the Ume zone disc, of the above sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention

Fig 22 is a front view of a time equipment according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 23 is a sectional end view of Fig 22

Fig 24 is a front view of the dial of the time equipment according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 25 is a front view of the time zone disc of the time equipment according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention Fig 26 is a partial exploded view of the time equipment according to the seventh above preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 27A is a partial exploded view of an alternative mode of the time equipment according to the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention Fig 27B is a partial section view of the alternative mode shown in Fig 27 A

Fig 28 is a front view of the above seventh preferred embodiment of the present invenUon. in which more than one sun marks arc utilized

Fig 29 is a sectional view of a time equipment according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention Fig 30 is a partial exploded perspective view of the time equipment according to the above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the elements of the movement, the time setting device, the alarm time setting assembly, and the first casing

Fig 31 is a partial sectional view of the time equipment according to the above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the elements of the alarm generating mechanism and the alarm tune setting assembly

Fig 32 is plan view of the time equipment according to the above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the second casing removed

Fig 33 is a partial plan view of the time equipment according to Uie above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the switch device Fig 34 is a front view of the time equipment according to the above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the 2-12 dial and the time zone ring

Fig 35 is a back view of the time equipment according to the above eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the time zone means

Fig 36 is a partial sectional view of a time equipment according to a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 37 is a partial exploded perspective \ ιew of the Ume zone nng and the spnng of the above ninth prelerred embodiment of the Ume equipment according to the present invention

Fig 38 is a front view of the above ninth preferred embodiment of the time equipment according to the present invention, showing the 2-12 dial and the time zone ring Fig 39 is a front view of a tenth preferred embodiment of a time equipment according to the present invention, showing the 2-12 dial and the build-in time zone ring

Fig 40 is a partial sectional view of Fig 39 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figs 4 to 6 of the drawings, a time equipment according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated The time equipment compnses a 24-hour dial 30. an hour hand 41. a minute hand 42 and a second hand 43 mounted for rotating above the dial 30. a movement 40 for driving the hour hand 41 to rotate one revolution per 24 hours, the minute hand 42 to rotate one revolution per hour and the second hand 43 to rotate one revolution per minute, a time zone mechanism 50 having a time zone disc 51 mounted adjacent to the dial 30 and a driving device 52 for driving the time zone disc 51 to rotate one revolution per 24 hours, and a setting mechanism 60 for the lime zone mechamsin 50 (as shown in Fig 6) The dial 30 has two hour sequences of numerals 31 provided thereon and ordered by increasing value from 1 -12 respectively As shown in Fig 4. the two hour sequences of numerals 31 are arranged circularly and evenly spaced apart angularly, in which the first numeral " 12" is provided in a top position, the second numeral "12" is provided in a bottom position, and the two numerals "6" are provided in a right and a left position A minute portion 32 is positioned in an outer nm of the dial 30 and provided with a sequence of numerals ordered bv increasing value from " 1" to "60" which are arranged circularly and cvenlv spaced apart angularly with the numeral "60" providing in a top position and adjacent to the first numeral " 12' of the hour sequence 3 1

As shown in Fig 4. a period portion 33 is provided on a central area of the dial 30 and is encircled by the hour sequences of numerals 31 The period portion 33 has a central cross inscπption 331 which has a vertical line 3 1a extended from top to bottom and a horizontal line 33 lb extended from left to right, so as to divide the period portion 33 into four sections 332. 333, 334. 335 On the top part of the vertical line 331a a "day mark is inscribed as a day indicator On the bottom part of the vertical line 331a. a "night" mark is inscπbed as a night indicator Also, on the right part of the horizontal line 33 lb. an "a m ' mark is inscribed as an ante meridian indicatoi On the left part of the horizontal line 331b a "p m ' mark is inscribed as a post meridian indicator Furthermore, on the top left and top nght sections 332, 333 of the period portion 33 a "MORNING" mark and an "AFTNOON" mark are inscribed in predetermined positions respectively as a morning indicator and an afternoon indicator Also on the bottom right and bottom left sections 334. 335 of the period portion 33, an "EVENING' mark and a "M1DNITE" mark are inscribed in predetermined positions respectively as an evening indicator and a midnight indicatoi Besides the bottom nght and bottom left sections 334. 335 has a darker background color A circular sun mark 410 is affixed on the hour hand 41

Accordingly, the user can observe the exact and precise time information including the hours, minutes and seconds indicated by the hour minute and second hands 41, 42, 43 respectively Moreover, the user can also easily observe the exact time period information (time conditions) at the same time by determining the location of the hour hand 41 as well as the sun mark 410 thereon Since the dial 30 utilizes the two sequences of numerals from 1 to 12 instead of the common 24-hour dial which inscribed onlv one sequence of numerals from 1 to 24 no matter where is the hour hand 41 located, the user can simply read the numeral less than "12" pointed by the hour hand 41 as the time information If the sun maik 410 is located in the left part, it means the time read is in the "a in " period On the other hand, if the sun mark

410 lies on the right part, it means the Ume read is in the "p m " period Therefore, the user can also deteπmne immediately by intuition the information of day or night lime read by observing the location of the sun mark 410. being on the upper part or lower part of the period portion 33 There is no timepiece now existed can provide such detail observation provided by the present invention The user can easily determine the read time belongs to which period of Ume in a day, such as the "MORNING", "AFTNOON",

"EVENING", and "MIDNITE". by observing the hour hand 41 or the sun mark 410 located in which penod sections 332, 333, 334, 335 of the period portion 33 As shown in Fig 4, one can easily and immediately read the time condition indicating on the dial 30 that, as an example shown in Fig 4. it is

"7 40 p m and 28 seconds in the evening", of which the user being accustomed to picture the corresponding time condition and the sense of time simply bv intuition To the conventional 24-hour dial, the user can only read an information of "19 o'clock 40 minute and 28 second"

It is yyorth to mention that the four sections 332 333. 334, 335 can also be divided by four different colors Moreover, with the present ofthe sun mark 410 attached on the hour indicating hand 41 it just likes the actual sun rising from the East to West while the sun mark 410 rotating from left to right on the upper "day ^' portion in the period portion 33 Thus, when the sun mark 410 travels from nght to left on the lower "night" portion in the period portion 33, it just likes the actual sun sinking below the azimuth So that it is very easy for the users to catch the sense of time of various time periods according to the present invention

Refcrnng to Figs 4 and 5, the time equipment is further equipped with a zone mechanism 50 which is arranged in a receiving chamber Cl of a case C The receiving chamber Cl is defined above the moyeinenl 40 which is installed within a loyver portion of the case C The time zone disc 51 of ihe time zone mechamsin 50 is coaxially supported encircling the dial 30 by a supporting nm C2 provided in an upper periphery portion of the receiving chamber Cl of the case C in rotatable manner A penphery time /one nng portion 511 formed at an outer nm portion of the time zone disc 51 is arranged to dispose around the periphery of the dial 30 The penphery time zone ring portion 511 of the time zone disc 51 has a plurality of time zone indicators 512 thereon which are a plurality of citv name inscπptions arranged in the same order as the time zones according to this first embodiment, as shown in Fig 4 The time zone disc 51 has a central hole 13 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the dial 30 At least two supporting poles 301 302 are extended from the bottom of the dial 30 to Ihe bottom of the receiving chamber Cl in order to support the dial 30 in position

The driving device 52 of this first embodiment comprises a driving gear 521 positioned in the receiving chamber Cl and mounted on an upper position, underneath the dial, of an hour shaft 41 1 The hour shaft 41 1 is extended from the movement 40 upwards into the receiving chamber Cl and drives die dnving gear 521 lo rotate simultaneously y\ ιth the hour hand 41 in one revolution per 24 hours A first outer ratchet nng 53, having a lound sequence of outer ratchets 5 1 formed along an outer nm thereof, is coaxially protruded downwards from an outer peπpherv of the bottom surface of the time zone disc 51 within the receiving chamber Cl A second inner driven gear nng 54 having a sequence of inner gear teeth 541 formed along an inner nm thereof is coaxially protruded downwards from an inner periphery of the bottom surface of the time zone disc 51 yvithin the receiving chamber Cl The driven gear nng 54 is engaged with a driving transmission gear 55 by its inner gear teeth 541 The transmission gear 55 is rotatably mounted in the receiving chamber Cl A driven transmission gear 56 is concentncallv and integrally connected below the dnving transmission gear 55 by an adjusting axle 57 within the receiving chamber Cl so that the dnven transmission gear 56 and the dnving transmission gear 55 are rotated simultaneously along the adjusting axle 57 An idle gear 58 is mounted m a predetermined position in the receiving chamber Cl that it is engaged with the dnving gear 521 and the dnven transmission gear 56 Therefore, the time zone disc 51 is dnven to rotate simultaneously with the dnving gear 521 in one revolution per 24 hours via the idle gear 58. the dnven transmission gear 56, the dnving transmission gear

55 and the dnven gear nng 54

Refernng to Fig 6 the setting mechanism 60 is adapted to drive the time zone disc 51 to rotate independently until one of the time zone indicators 512 representing a desired citv of the time /ones aligned with the hour hand 41 so that the current time of the other time zone indicators 512 provided on the time zone nng portion 511 can be read simultaneously coincident with the corresponding hour numerals 31 inscribed on the dial 30 respectively

The setting mechanism 60 according to the first embodiment comprises a setting member 61 pivotallv mounted in the receiving chamber Cl by means of a mounting axle 62 to enable rotational motion around the mounting axle 62 The setting member 61 compnses a pivoting part 61 1 mounted on the mounting axle 62 a resilient pawl arm 612 extended from the pivoting part 61 1 to the ratchet ring 53 and a resilient clutch arm 613 extended from a loyyer portion of the pivoting part 61 1 in L-shape to the adjusting axle 57 The end of the pawl arm 612 provides a ratchet pawl 614 engaging against one of the ratchets 531 of the ratchet ring 53 The end of the clutch arm 613 is connected yvith the adjusting axle 57 The setting mechanism 60 further comprises a pusher member 63 disposed ad|acent to the setting member 61

The operation of the setting mechanism 60 is ensured bv the application of a pushing pressure in the direction of arrow F, as shown in Fig 6 against the pusher member 63 which then presses the clutch arm 613 of the setting member 61 to rotate in anti-clockwise direction around the mounting axle 62 svnchronously Therefore the clutch arm 613 is pressed to pull the driving transmission gear 55 to disengage with the driven gear nng 54 of the time zone disc 51 temporary, so that the rotation of the time zone disc 51 stops due to the release of transmission At the same tune, the pawl arm 612 is dnven to rotate anti-clockwise simultaneously, so that the ratchet pawl 614 thereof turns the ratchet ring 53 as well as the time zone disc 51 to rotate for one ratchet tooth displacement When the pressure applied to the pusher member 63 releases, the pulling force to the dnving transmission gear 55 is released and the driving transmission gear 55 re-engages with the dm en gear ring 54 of the time zone disc 51, so that the time zone disc 51 is dnven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours bv the driving device 52 again Accordingly, the user can rotate the tune zone disc 51 solely until one of the time /one indicators 512, representing a desired city of the time zones, aligned with the hour hand 41 by repeatedly applying a predetermined number of pushing actions onto the pusher member 63

In accordance with the above disclosure, the setting operation of the present first embodiment to a current local time is simple and convenience Initially, set the time equipment to current local time by setting the positions of the hour hand 41 and minute hand 42, in an usual manner, to indicate the time corresponding to the city In this operation, the time zone disc 51 is also driven in rotation synchronιcall> yvith the hour hand 41 but the time, which is indicated by the hour hand 41 opposite the time zone indicator 512 after the rotation of the time zone disc 51, generally does not correspond to the time of that time zone indicator 512 Thereafter, the time zone disc 51 is operated solely to rotate by means of the pusher member 63 until the desired city name or symbol indicated by the desired time zone indicator 512 is rotated to a position that aligns with the hour hand 41 Therefore, the current time of the desired city is indicated by the hour hand 41 and the current time of other time zone cities provided on the time zone ring portion 511 can also be read simultaneously coincident with the corresponding hour numerals 1 provided on the dial 30 respectively Referring to Figs 7 and 8. a second preferred embodiment yvhich is a modification of the above first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated In this second embodiment, the time equipment of the piesent invention further compnses a maintaining mechanism 70 as shown in Fig 8 incorporated with the time zone mechanism 50 The time zone disc 51 is driven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours by the driving device 52 as in the above first embodiment However, according to this second embodiment, the first outer ratchet ring 53 and the driver gear nng 54 are disposed apart to form a circulai portion therebetween The time zone disc 51 of this second embodiment has a plurality of time /one openings 513 arranged circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly on the circular portion Moreover, in accordance with the second embodiment, each of the time zone indicators 512 of the time zone mechamsin 50 comprises an liidicafing city disc 512 y luch has a corresponding time zone city or symbol inscribed thereon and is supported to dispose on (or above, or underneath) the corresponding time zone opening 513 during the rotation of the time zone disc 51 by means of the maintaining mechanism 70 The maintaining mechanism 70 is adapted to drive the plurality of indicating city discs 512' to rotate independently so as to enable the tune zone city or symbol on each indicating city disc 512^' maintaining in upright position during the rotation of the time zone disc 51 As shown in Fig 9, a geometrical drawing showing the operational theory of the maintaining mechanism 70 is illustrated Two circles D and E having same diameter are disposed with their centers d and e having a horizontal displacement DE A plurality of marks, such as A. A'. A" and B, B^'. 3^" etc . are arranged circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly on the periphery of the two circles D and E respectively wherein the distance lines AB. A'B' and A"B" betyveen the marks A and B. A and B and A' and B" are equal to the displacement DE When the circle D and circle E rotate simultaneously in the same speed, for example one revolution per 24 hours, every distance line AB, A'B' or A"B" betyveen the marks A and B. A' and B', or A" and B^" will be maintained in horizontal position Such that if the circle E is a first rotating disc and the marks B B^' and B" arc pivoting axles rotatably mounted on the periphery of the first rotating disc E The circle D is a second rotating disc and the marks A, A' and A' are indicating discs having predetermined mscπptions inscribed thereon respectively and mounted on the periphery of the second rotating disc D The distance lines AB. A'B' and A"B" arc a plurality of connecting rods connecting between the indicaUng discs A, A' and A" and the pivoting axes B, B' and B" The indicating disc A, A' and A" and the inscriptions thereon can be maintained in upright position dunng the simultaneous rotation ofthe first rotating disc E and the second rotating disc D

The maintaining mechanism 70, as shown in Fig 8, compnses a driving wheel 71 and a plurality of pivoting axles 72 disposed in the receiving chamber Cl The dnving wheel 71 has a central hole 711 and a supporting nng 712 protruded downwardly An inner circular surface of the supporting ring 712 provides a driven ring gear 713 The bottom surface of the receiving chamber Cl provides a circular groove 714 to receive a bottom end of the supporting nng 712 for supporting the dnving wheel 71 in rotatable manner The center of the dnving wheel 71 as well as the center of the circular groove 714 are adjacent to the center of the tune zone disc 51 as well as the hour shaft 41 1 to define a distance L therebetween A first transmission gear 73 disposed in the receiving chamber Cl is engaged with the driven ring gear 713 A second transmission gear 74 is engaged with the driving gear 521 mounted on the hour shaft 41 1 and the first transmission gear 73, so that the driving wheel 71 is dnven by the dnving gear 521 via the first and second transmission gears 73 and 74 to rotate simultaneously with the time zone disc 51. i e one revolution per 24 hours

Each pivoting axle 72 has a first end and a second end The first end bends upwards to form a vertical top end portion 721 to affix to the bottom center of the corresponding city disc 512' The second end bends doyynward to form a vertical bottom end portion 722 to pivotally mounted to a predetermined penphery position of the driving wheel 71 Therefore, the plurality of pivoting axles 72 are iotatablv mounted to the outer periphery of the driving wheel 71 circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to position the plurality of indicating cm discs 512 to the corresponding time zone openings 51 of the ume zone disc 51 respectively

Accordingly y hen the time zone disc 51 and the driving wheel 71 are driven by the driving gear 521 to rotate simultaneously in one revolution per 24 hours, the indicating city discs 512' linked to the driving wheel 71 rotate respectively folloy\ιng the rotation of the time zone disc 51 along the hour shaft 411 Therefore each indicating city disc 512' remains in upright position by self rotating around the bottom end portion 722 of the conesponding pivoting axle 72, following the rotation of the dnving wheel 71 Therefore the inscπption of city name inscribed on the indicating city disc 512' can be maintained in upright position, during the rotation of the time zone disc 51 , for facilitating the reading of the time /one citv name thereon, even the indicating cm disc 512' being driven to a corresponding bottom position, for example the "12 a " position, of the dial 30 Furthermore, since the indicating city discs 512 according to the present second embodiment can be maintained in upright position during the rotation of the time zone disc 51. the city names can be replaced respectively by city symbols, such as the specified drawings representing the cities, so as to further facilitate the distinction of vanous time zone cities and provide an innovating time zone disc appearance

Refernng to Figs 10 and 1 1, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which is a modification mode of the above disclosed second embodiment and can be specified to construct as a clock In this third embodiment, the dial 30 is printed on a transparent disc 300 that the outer periphery portion ol the transparent disc 300 is remained transparent for the observation of the indicating city discs 512' The time zone disc 51 is disposed underneath the transparent disc 300 inside the receiving chamber Cl and integrally mounted on the hour shaft 411 extending from the movement of the time equipment A second chamber C3 is provided below the receiving chamber C 1 The periphery o the time zone disc 51 provides a plurality of tune zone openings 513 arranging circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly Each time zone opening 513 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the top end portion 721 of each pivoting axle 72 The top end portions 72 1 of the pivoting axles 72 are upwardly penetrated therethrough the corresponding time /one openings 13 and affixed to the bottom surfaces of the indicating city discs 512 respectively, so as to support the indicating city discs 512' above the time zone openings 513 respectively

Refernng to Fig 10 of the third embodiment, the driving wheel 71 generally has the same configuration of the above second embodiment and is rotatablv mounted in the receiving chamber C l in the manner as mentioned in the second embodiment However, the driven ring gear 713 is formed on the outer penphery surface of the supporting ring 712 instead of the inner circular surface of the supporting nng 712 Moreover the rotation of the dnving wheel 71 is driven bv means of a transmission device 75 in accordance with this third embodiment

In this thud embodiment, the transmission device 75 of the maintaining mechanism 70 comprises a transmission driving gear 751 integralh mounted on the hour shaft 41 1 and disposed in the second chamber C3, a first idle gear 752 rotatabK mounted in the receiving chamber Cl and engaged with the driven ring gear 713 and a second idle gear 753, a dnven transmission gear 754 rotatably mounted in the second chamber C3 and engaged with the transmission driving gear 751 and a dnving transmission gear 755 which is concentrically mounted above the driven transmission gear 754 by a transmission axle 756 so as to dispose in the receiving chamber Cl for engaging with the second idle gear 753 T herefore, the dnving wheel 71 is adapted to be dnven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours by means of the transmission dnving gear 751 via the first idle gear 752 the second idle gear 753. the dnven transmission gear 754. and the driving transmission gear 755

Refernng to Fig 11, an alternative mode of the tlurd embodiment is illustrated In this mode, the driving ring gear 713 is formed on its outer penphery nm instead of the inner circular surface of the supporting ring 712 The transmission device 75 of this alternative mode also comprises a transmission driving gear 7 1 ' integrally mounted on the hour shaft 411 and disposed in the second chamber C3, a first idle gear 752 engaged with the transmission driving gear 751' and a second idle gear 753". a dnven transmission gear 754^' engaged with the second idle gear 753 and a driving transmission gear 755 which is concentrically mounted above the dnven transmission gear 754' by a transmission axle 756 so as to dispose in the receiving chamber Cl for engaging with the driven nng gear 713' Therefore, the driving wheel 71 is adapted to be dnven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours by means of the transmission driving gear 751' via the first idle gear 752', the second idle gear 753', the dnven transmission gear 754', and the driving transmission gear 755'

Refernng to Figs 12A and 12B. a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which is a modification mode of the above first, second or third embodiment by further incorporating with an hour shaft transmitting and setting device 90 for enabling the hour shaft 411 to be transmitted lo rotate one revolution per 24 hours by a minute shaft 421 which is connected with the minute hand 42 above the dial 30 and is dnven to rotate one revolution per hour by means of the movement 40 The fourth prefened embodiment further permits the hour shaft 411 to be driven to rotate independently so as to facilitate the setting procedure of the time equipment of the present invention as disclosed above when the user travels from the local city to another city

As shown in Fig 12A. the hour shaft transmitting and setting device 90 is installed in a transmitting chamber C4 provided in an upper portion of the movement 40 when it is incorporated with the above first, second or third embodiment as shown in Figs 5, 8. 10 or 11 The transmitting chamber C4 of the movement 40 has a bottom surface C41 which central portion has a hollow mounting shaft C42 The minute shaft 421, which is extended from the movement 40 through the transmitting chamber C4 by rotatably penetrating the mounting shaft C42. has a base gear 422 provided at a position above the mounting shaft C42 in the transmitting chamber C4 The hour shaft transmitting and setting device 90 compnses a transmitting unit 91 , an hour shaft driven wheel 92 integrally connected to the base bottom of the hour shaft 411 and a setting unit 93

As shown in Fig 12B, the transmitting unit 91 comprises a main gear 91 1 which has a central hole 12 and C-shaped connecting shaft 913 extending upwards from a circumferential boundary of the central hole 912 The main gear 911 is rotatably mounted on the mounting shaft C42 in the transmitting chamber C4, as shown in Fig 12 A The transmitting unit 91 further compnses a gear unit 914 which comprises a bottom gear 15 and a top gear 916 concentπcally and integrally formed on the bottom gear 915 As shown in Figs 12A and 12B, the gear unit 914 is rotatably mounted on the main gear 911 in a position opposing to an opened side 9131 of the C-shaped connecting shaft 91 , so that the bottom gear 915 of the gear unit 914 is adapted to engage with the base gear 422 of the minute shaft 421

As shown in Fig 12 A, the hour shaft driven wheel 92 has an hour gear 921 connected to the bottom of the hour shaft 411 and a circular connecting recess 922 formed thereunder for concentrically and rotatably mounted on the C-shaped connecting shaft 913 in such a manner that, the hour gear 921 of the hour shaft driven wheel 92 is engaged with the top gear 916 of the gear unit 914 of the transmitting unit 91 Moreover, the gear number of the base gear 422. the bottom gear 915. the top gear 916, and the hour gear 921 are predetermined in a specific proportion for enabling the minute shaft 421 to rotate one levolution while the hour shaft 41 1 rotates )ust 1/24 revolution Therefore, the hour shaft 411 is driven to rotate one revolution per 24 hours by the top gear 916 of the gear unit 914 The bottom gear 915 of the gear unit 914 is dnven to rotate by the base gear 422 of the rotating minute shaft 421 which is driven to rotate one revolution per hour by the movement 40 At that stage, the main gear 911 is remained still

As shown in Fig 12A, the setting unit 93, which is rotatably mounted on the bottom surface C41 of the transmitting chamber C4, comprises a setUng gear 931 engaged with the main gear 91 1 of the transmitting unit 91 and a setting wheel 932 coaxially and integrally connected on the setting geai 931 for dnving the setting gear 931 to rotate At least a portion ofthe setting wheel 932 is exposed to outside of the time equipment Therefore, by turning the setting wheel 932 can dnve the setting gear 931 to rotate and so does the main gear 91 1, so that the hour shaft 411, as well as the hour hand 41 connected with the hour shaft 41 1. are driven to rotate simultaneously and independently

Since the current time difference between any two time zone cities is constant, the time setting operation becomes more convemence by incorporating with the hour shaft transmitting and setting device 90 as disclosed above Once the time equipment of the present invention is set to the current time of the local city, the user can alternatively observe the current time of another citv inscribed on the time one disc 51 bv turning the setting wheel 932 to rotate the hour hand 41 independently lo coincident with the desired city Thus the time indicating by the hour hand 41 minute hand 42 and second hand 43 tells the exact and precise cunent time of that desired city In other words, when the user travels from a home city to another city listed on the time zone disc 51, the user can simply turn the setting wheel 932 to drive the hour hand 41 independently to coincident with that desired city so as to reset the time indicating by the hour, minute and second hands 41, 42, 43 on the dial 30 to the current time of that city from the home city time

As shown in Figs 13A 13B and 13C a modification mode of the above third embodiment is illustrated The dial 30 is printed on a transparent disc 300 that an outer periphery portion of the transparent disc 300 is remained transparent for the observation of the indicating citv discs 512' The time zone disc 51 is disposed underneath the transparent disc 300 inside Ihe receiving chamber C l and integrally mounted on a hollow driving axle 500 to which the hour shaft 41 1 extending from the movement 40 of the time equipment is concentrically penetrated through lo connected with the hour hand 41 above the dial 30 An upper end of the driving axle 500 is upwardly extended into the receiving chambei Cl and a bottom end of the driving axle 500 is downwardly extended into a second chamber C3 which is provided below the receiving chamber C 1 and above the movement 40 The driving device 52 of tins modification further comprises a clutch means 59 and a spnng 590

The clutch means 59 is mounted on the hour shaft 41 1 inside the second receiving chamber C3 in permitting axial displacement manner The spring 590 is disposed between the bottom surface of the clutch means 59 and the bottom surface C31 of the second chamber C3 The spnng 590 presses the clutch means 59 upwards for engaging the hour shaft 41 1 with the driving axle 500 so that the dnving axle 500 is dnven to rotate simultaneously by the hour shaft 41 1 so as to drive the time one disc 1 to rotate simultaneously for one revolution in 24 hours On a top of the clutch means 59, a central engaging tube 591 is provided, which has a thickness equal to the clearance formed between the hour shaft 411 and the driving axle 500 Therefore, when the engaging tube 591 is pressed upwards to insert into the bottom end of the driving axle 500 by the spnng

590, an outer and inner coarse surfaces of the engaging tube 591 are engaged with an outer surface of the hour shaft 41 1 and an inner surface of the bottom end of the driving axle 500 so as to couple the hour shaft

411 and the dnving axle 500 integrally for dnving the driving axle 500 to rotate simultaneously by the hour shaft 41 1

The time equipment further comprises a setting mechanism 80 The clutch means 59 further comprises a periphery clutch gear 592 and a stop run 593 protruded at the bottom end of the clutch means 59 The setting mechanism 80 comprises a setting pole 81 having a top portion 811 extended into the receiving chamber Cl, a middle portion 812 extended through the second chamber C3, and a bottom portion 813 extended outside o the time equipment to affix a setting button 82 A first setting gear 83 is affixed to the top end ofthe top portion 811 A second setting gear 84 is affixed to a predetermined position of the middle portion 812 Normally, the spnng 590 supports and presses the clutch means 59 in normal position as shown in Fig 13 A In this normal position, the first setting gear 83 and the second setting gear 84 do not engaged with the driven ring gear 713 nor the clutch gear 592 respectively

As shown in Fig 13B. when the time indicating by the hour hand 41 and the mmute hand 42 is required to re-adjust, pull the setting pole 81 outward until the second setting gear 84 is engaged with the clutch gear 592 and stopped by the stop nm 593 At this stage, the first setting gear 83 is still remained not to engaged with the dnven ring gear 713 of the driving wheel 71 Therefore turning of the button 82 to rotate the setting pole 81 can drive the clutch gear 592, as well as the driving axle 500 and the hour shaft 41 1 to rotate simultaneously by means of the second setting gear 84. so as to rotate the hour hand 41 and the m ute hand 42 to the current time

As show n in Fig 13C, the time zone disc 51 can be operated solely to rotate until the desired city name or symbol indicated by the desired indicating city disc 512^' is rotated to a position that aligns with the hour hand 41 Such time zone adjustment can be operated by further pulling the setting pole 81 further outward so as to pull the clutch means 59 to move downward and press against the spring 590 until the engaging tube 591 of the clutch means 59 is withdrawn from the driving axle 500 and the first setting gear

83 is engaged with the driving ring gear 713 At that stage, the engaging tube 591 is also disengaged with the hour shaft 411 so that the dnving axle 500 is disengaged with the hour shaft 411 The dnving of time

/one disc 51 and the dnving wheel 71 bv the hour shaft 41 1 is then released and the time zone disc 51 becomes free of rotation Turning of the button 82 at this moment can drive the dnving wheel 71 to rotate by means of the first setting gear 83, so that the time zone disc 51 can also be driven to rotate simultaneously bv means of the plurality of pivoting axles 72 Therefore, the current time of the desired city is indicated bv the hour hand 41 and the current time of other time zone cities provided on the time zone disc 51 can be read simultaneously coincident with the corresponding hour numerals provided on the dial

30 respcctiveh Refernng to Fig 14 A, a fifth embodiment of a time equipment of the present invention is illustrated The time zone mechanism 50' of the time equipment, wluch is a clock, compnses a tune zone disc 51 ' disposed in a receiving chamber Cl ' below a dial 30' The dial 30^' is printed on the central portion of a transparent disc 300' The time zone disc 51 ' is integrally mounted on an hour shaft 411 ' below the dial 30^' in the receiving chamber C 1 ' The time zone disc 51 ' has an outer driven gear 51 1 ' provided at an outer circumference thereof On the outer penphery portion of the time /one disc 51 ', a plurality of time one indicators 512" are provided circularly and unifoπnly spaced apart angularly The plurality of time

/one indicators 512" are a plurality of inscnptions of city name or symbol arranged in the same order as the time zones The hour shaft 41 1 ' is extended from a movement 40 upwards through a second chamber C3 ^" which is positioned between the receiving chamber Cl ' and the movement 40', and the receiving chamber Cl ' for connecting with an hour hand 41 ' above the dial 30' and driving the hour hand 41 ' to rotate for one revolution per 24 hours

The time zone mechanism 50' further comprises a driving device 52' The dnving device 52' comprises a driver gear 53' which is integrally mounted on the hour shaft 41 1 ' in the second receiving chamber C3 ' having the same diameter of the time zone disc 51 ' The driving device 52 ' further comprises a transmission means 54' which has a hollow pole body 541 ' a top transmission gear 542' engaged with the driven gear 51 1 ' of the time zone disc 51 ' and a bottom transmission gear 543 ' engaged with the driver gear 53 '

On an outer periphery portion of the tune /one disc 51 ^' a plurality of time /one openings 52 is provided and disposed corresponding to the location of the plurality of time /one indicators respectively The tune /one indicators are a plurality of indicating city discs 512" mounted above the tune /one openings 52 respectively in accordance with this fifth embodiment

The time equipment of this fifth embodiment further comprises a maintaining mechanism 70' rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber C l ^" The maintaining mechanism 70' comprises a driving wheel 71 ' and a plurahtv of pivoting axles 72' The dnving wheel 71 ' has a central hole 71 1 and a supporting nng 712' protruded downwards from Us bottom surface A bottom surface of the receiving chamber Cl' provides a circular groove 714' to receive the bottom end of the supporting ring 712' for supporting the driving wheel 71 ' in rotatable manner The center of the dnving wheel 71 ' as well as the center of the circular groove 714' are adjacent to the center of the time zone disc 51 ' as well as the hour shaft 411 ' to define a distance L' therebetween

Each pivoting axle 72' has a first end and a second end The first end bends upward to fonn a vertical top end portion 721 ' which is rotatably penetrated through the time zone openings 52' respectively and affixed to the bottom center of the corresponding indicating city disc 512" The second end bends downward to fonn a vertical bottom end portion 722' to pivotally mounted to a predetermined penphery position of tlie dnving wheel 71 ' Therefore the plurality of pivoting axles 72' are rotatably mounted to an outer pcπpheπ of the driving wheel 71 ' circularlv and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to position

SUBSTI U1E Sι £l (RULE 26) the plurality of indicating city discs 512" corresponding to the time zone openings 52' of the time zone disc 51 ' respectively

Accordingly, when tlie time zone disc 51 ' and the dnving wheel 71 ' are dnven by the driver gear 53' to rotate simultaneously in one revolution per 24 hours, the indicating city discs 512" linked to the driving wheel 71 ' rotate respectively following the rotation of the time zone disc 51 ' around the hour shaft 41 1 ' However, each indicating city disc 512' remains in upnght position by self rotation around tlie bottom end portion 722' of the corresponding pivoting axle 72' following the rotaϋon of the dnving disc 71 ', so that the inscnption of city name inscπbed on each indicating city disc 512" can be maintained in upnght position during the rotation of the time zone disc 51 '. so as to facilitate the reading of the time zone city name thereon even the indicating city disc 512" is rotated to a corresponding bottom position of the dial 30'. for example the "12 a m " posiϋon

The time equipment of this fifth embodiment further compnses a setting mechanism 80' The setting mechamsin 80' compnses a setting pole 81 ' rotatably penetrating through the hollow pole bod\ 541 of the transmission means 54' The setting pole 81 ' has a top portion 81 1 ' extended into the receiving chamber Cl ' a middle portion 812' extended through the second chamber C3'. and a bottom portion 813 extended outside of the time equipment to affix a setting button 82' A first setting gear 83^' is affixed to the top end of the top portion 81 1 ' A second setting gear 84' is affixed to a predetermined position of the middle portion 812' The bottom portion 813' of the setting pole 81 ' further provides three step grooves 814'. 815 and 816' The setting mechanism 80' further compnses a holding means 85' adapted to selectively engage with one of he step grooves 814' 815'. 816'

In noπnal stage, the holding means 85 is engaged with the middle step groove 815' and. at that moment, the first setting gear 83' and the second setting gear 84' do not engaged with the driven gear 511 ' of the time zone disc 51 ^' nor the driver gear 53 ' lespectively Therefore, the tune zone disc 51 ' is dnven lo rotate simultaneously by the driver gear 53 v ιa the driving device 54' When the setting pole 81 ^" of the setting mechamsin 80' is pushed inwards by pressing the setting button 82' the holding means 85' engages with the lower step groove 816' In this stage, the top and bottom transmission gears 542', 543 ' are disengaged with the driven gear 51 1 ' and the dnver gear 53' respectively, and that the second setting gear 84' is engaged with the driver gear 53 while the firsl setting gear 8 ' remains disengaged with dnven gear 51 1 ' of the Ume zone disc 51 ' Therefore, the user can rotate the hour shaft 41 1 ' by turning tlie setϋng button 82' so as to adjust the current time indicating by the hour hand 41 '

When the setting pole 81 ' of the setting mechanism 80' is pulled outward by pulling the setting button 82', the holding means 85' engages with the upper step groove 814' In this stage, the top and bottom transmission gears 542', 543' are disengaged with the driven gear 51 1 ' and the dnver gear 53' respectively, and that the first setting gear 83 ' is engaged with the driven gear 51 1 ' of the time zone disc

51 while the second setting gear 84' remains disengaged with the dnver gear 53^' Therefore, the user can rotate the time zone disc 51 ' by turning the setting button 82' to adjust the desired indicating city disc 512" coincident with the hour hand 41 '

In accordance with the embodiments described above, the time equipment of the present invenUon provides a Ume zone disc rotating automatically one revolution per 24 hours so that one of the time /one indicators, which represents a predetermined city, is able to rotate simultaneously to follow tlie rotation of an hour hand of the time equipment Therefore, the user may simultaneously observe all the current time of all the time zone indicators provided on the time zone disc Moreover, in the second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, all the time zone city names or symbols of the time /one disc are capable of maintaining in upright position during the rotation of the time zone disc so as to facilitate the reading of the time zone city names or symbols thereon

As shown in Fig 14B, an alternative mode of the above fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated which has a similar structure and operation theory as the fifth embodiment 1 he modification of the fifth embodiment in this alternative mode is that a clutch means 90 is incorporated with a poyver source PS of the movement 40' for detaching the connection between the poyver source PS and the movement 40' during the operation of the setting mechanism 80', so that the rotation of the setting pole 81 ' will be more lighter and easier

Referring to Figs 15 and 21 of the drawings, a time equipment according to a sixth prefened embodiment of the present invenUon is illustrated This sixth embodiment disclosed a simplified construction for driving a rotatable Ume zone disc to rotate simultaneously with the hour hand for one revolution within 24 hours

The time equipment, as shown in Figs 15 and 16, such as a watch or a clock, compnses a 24-hour movement A10 in usual manner, installed in a time equipment housing A100 and adapted to dnve an hour shaft A 1 1 lo rotate one revolution per 24 hours, a minute shaft A 12 to rotate one revolution per hour and a second shaft A13 to rotate one revolution per nunute. a 24-hour dial A30 mounted above the movement A10. an hour hand A21. a minute hand A22 and a second hand A23 mounted on the hour shaft Al l the minute shaft A12 and the second shaft A13 respectively for rotating above the dial A30, and a time zone disc A40 rotatably mounted above the dial A30

As shown in Fig 16. the hour hand A21 , the minute hand A22 and the second hand A23 each has a tip end A211. A221, A231 and a round end A212, A222. A232 for firmly engaging with those circular top ends of the hour shaft Al 1. the nunute shaft A12 and the second shaft A13 respectively in such an order that, Uie shortest hour hand A21 is positioned above the dial A30, the longest second hand A23 is positioned on Uie top. and the minute hand A22 is positioned between the hour hand A21 and the second hand A2 independently Therefore, the hour hand A21 is driven by the hour shaft Al l to rotate one revolution per 24 hours, the minute hand A22 is driven by the nunute shaft A12 to rotate one revolution per 60 minutes, and the second hand A2 is driven by the second shaft A13 to rotate one revolution per 60 seconds The Ume equipment housing A100 has a circular receiving chamber A101 foπned above a movement chamber A 102 which installs the movement A 10 The periphery of a bottom surface A 103 of the receiving chamber A 101 has four receiving recesses A104 provided thereon The dial A30, as shown in

Figs 15 and 16. has a central hole A301 for the hour, minute and second shafts Al l, A12, A13 to penetrate through and four penphery protrusions A302 for engaging into the four receiving recesses A104 of the receiving chamber A101 so as to firmly mount the dial A30 above the movement A10

As shown in Fig 17, the dial A30 has the same configuration as the above first preferred embodiment

Refernng to Figs 15 to 18. the time zone disc A40 is made of a thin and light transparent plastic sheet A plurality of time zone indicators A401 arranged in the same order as the time zones are pnnted on an outer ring portion of the time zone disc A40 to form an outer time zone ring portion A41 A central part of the time /one disc A40 remains transparent to form a transparent central portion A42 for observing the dial A30 therebclov. In other words, the outer time zone ring portion A41 is disposed around the transparent central portion A42 and the periphery of the dial A30 The transparent central portion A42 of the time zone disc A40 has a center hole A43 which has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the tip end of the hour shaft Al l. so that the time zone disc A40 is able to mounted on the dial

A30 by engaging with the tip end of the hour shaft Al l For ensuring the time zone disc A40 to rotate simultaneously with the hour hand A21, the hour hand A21 is affixed on the transparent central portion

A42 of the time zone disc A40 in such a manner that, tlie tip end A21 1 of the hour hand A21 is pointed to a predetermined time zone indicator of the plurality of time zone indicators A401 on the time /one nng portion A4 I of the time zone disc A40 In other words, the Ume one disc A40 is integrally connected with the hour hand A21 so that the time zone disc A40 is ensured to be driven by the hour hand A21 to rotate simultaneousK in the same speed

As shown in Figs 16 and 18, the hour hand A21 comprises at least a protruding pin A213 attached the bottom side of the Up end A211 of the hour hand A21 respectively Correspondingly, the time zone disc A40 has a plurality of mounting holes A44 formed on the transparent central portion A42 and arranged circularly and evenly spaced apart angularly The total number of the mounung holes A44 is equal to the total number of the time zone indicators A401 provided on tlie time zone ring portion A41 of the time zone disc A40 The protruding pin A213 ofthe hour hand A21 is pressed to firmly insert into the corresponding mounung hole A44 of the time zone disc A40 in order to fiπnly affix the hour hand A21 on

In accordance with the present sixth preferred embodiment, below the ring end A212 of U e hour hand A21, an additional affixing pin A214 is protruded therefrom downwardly A second sequence of mounting pin holes A45, having a total number equal to the total number of the time zone indicators A401, is provided on the transparent central portion A42 of the time zone disc A40 around the center hole A43 Therefore, by inserting both the protruding pin A213 and the affixing pin A214 of the hour hand A21 to the corresponding mounting hole A44 and the mounting pin hole A45 of the time zone disc A40. the time zone disc A40 is integrally affixed with the hour hand A21, so that it is able to be dnven to rotate simultaneously by the hour hand A21 for one revolution per 24 hour By means of the firmly attachment of the protruding pin A213 and the affixing pin A214 of the hour hand A21 with the mounting hole A44 and the mounting pin hole A45 of the time zone disc A40, the center hole A43 ofthe time zone disc A40 can be made to has a diameter larger than the diameter of the top end of the hour shaft Al l for easier assembling

Normally, tlie hour hand A21 is affixed on the central portion A42 of the time zone disc A40 and is pointed to the predetermined time zone indicator A401 wluch represents the local city of the user on the time zone ring portion A41 Thereby, the local time of the local city of the user is indicated by the hour hand A21, the minute hand A22 and the second hand A23 Since the current time difference between any two time zone cities is constant, the current time of the other Ume /one cities provided on the Ume zone nng portion A41 can simply be simultaneously observed by the corresponding hour numerals 31 on the dial A30 which are coincident with such time zone indicators A401 at that moment, as well as the minute and second hands A22. A23

As shown in Fig 17. for example, the local city is Los Angeles where the time equipment located. the local time of Los Angeles is read from the hour minute and second hands A21, A22, A23 on the dial A30 as 10 40 p in and 28 seconds in the evening of the night time Please note that the exact local time, including the hour data, day or night time data and the period section data of the current time is very easily read from the specified dial A3 of the present invention Simultaneously, the current times of the outer time zone cities printed on the Ume /one disc A40 can easily be read from the dial A30 For example, the current time of the city Hong Kong is 2 40 p and 28 seconds in the afternoon of the day time, the current time of the citv Pans is 7 40 a m and 28 seconds in the morning of the day time, and the current lime of the cιt\ New York is 1 40 a m and 28 seconds in the mid-night of the night time, etc

As shown in Figs 15 and 16. the time equipment of the present sixth embodiment is illustrated as a clock, in which a transparent plastic cover A50 is iurthcr secured to the receiving chamber A101 of the time equipment housing AlOO for protection Such cover A50 is removable for changing the relative position of e hour hand A21 and the time /one disc A40 when the user travels to another time zone city from the local city The user can simply detach the Ume zone disc A40 from the hour hand A21 and re- affix the time zone disc A40 to the hour hand A21 by inserting the protruding pin A21 and the affixing pin A214 thereof to the corresponding mounting hole A44 and mounting pin hole A45 of the time /one disc A40 respectively for aligning the hour hand A21 with the corresponding time zone indicator 401 representing the arrival city Afterward, adjust the hour, nunute and second hands A21 , A22. A23 m the usual manner to the current time of the arrival city Finally, reassemble the cover A50 to the time /one housing AlOO

The time equipment housing AlOO of the clock further compnses a battery cover A51 for covenng a battery chamber A105 provided on tl e back of the housing AlOO A bottom end of the battery cover A51 further extends perpendicularly to fonn a supporting stand A52 for supporting the clock to stand lnchnedly on a desk surface, as shown in Fig 15 Such battery cover A51 can be detached to reduce the packing size for lessening the transportation cost

As shown in Figs 19 and 20. to those Ume equipments for desk top use solely in a desired local city, the time zone disc 40 may merely provide one mounung hole A44 and one mounUng pm hole A45 which are coincident with the corresponding time zone indicator A401 which represents the desired local city, as shown in Fig 19 Thus, the hour hand A21 is permanently affixed to the time zone disc A40 by gluing the protruding pin A213 and the affixing pm A214 of the hour hand A21 to the mounung hole A44 and the mounting pin hole A45 of the time zone disc A40 respecUvely, as shown in Fig 20

As shown in Fig 21, a modification mode of the present sixth preferred embodimenl is illustrated, in which an indention A213 ' is formed on the bottom surface of the hour hand A21 Therefore, a mounung pin A24 is inserted through a mounting hole A44' provided on the central portion A42 of the time zone disc A40 and inserted into the indention A213' of the hour hand A21 for firmly affixing the time zone disc

A40 with the hour hand A21

It should be notified that, for those persons skilled in art. it is an obvious modification of tlie present invention that the hour hand A21 is able to affix with the time zone disc A40 without the providing of such protruding pin A213 or affixing pin A214 by simply permanently adhenng the time zone disc A40 with the bottom surface of the hour hand A21 It is also another equivalent alternative mode of the present sixth embodiment that one can directly pnnt an hour hand on a predetermined position, for example coincident with the time zone city of Los Angeles, of the time zone disc A40 in order to achieve the similar functions of the present invention

Accordingly, a time equipment of the present invention provides an extremely simple construction for incorporating a clock or a watch with a time zone disc Such time zone disc construction not only has an lnexpensπ e manufacturing cost but also enables the time zone disc to rotate simultaneously with the hour hand for one revolution per 24 hours so that the user is able to read all the current times of all the time zone ciues at the same time without am additional adjustment

Refernng to Figs 22 to 28, a time equipment according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invenUon is illustrated The seventh embodiment is an alternative mode of the above sixth embodiment

The Ume equipment of this seventh embodiment, as shown in Figs 22 lo 26, comprises a case B20 for installing a 24-hour movement B30 therein in an usual manner The 24-hour movement B30. as shown in Fig 23. couples and drives at least an hour shaft B31 to rotate one revolution per 24 hours, a minute shaft B32 to rotate one revolution per hour, and a second shaft B33 to rotate one revolution per minute The case further has a chamber B21 for receiung a stationary dial B50 (as shown in Fig 24). a transparent rotatable time zone disc B50 (as shown in Fig 25), a minute hand B61, and a second hand B62 As shown in Figs 23 and 24, the dial B40 has a plurality of penpheral protruding lips B41 for inserting into a plurality of corresponding grooves B22 provided on the bottom periphery of the chamber B2J so as to mount the dial B4 above the movement B30 (as illustrated in Fig 23) On a front surface of the dial B40. as shown in Figs 22 and 24, has an outeπnost blank circular portion B42, an outer hour indicating nng portion B43, an inner minute indicating ring portion B44 arranged radically adjacent an inner periphery of the outer hour indicating nng portion B43. and a period portion B45 which is a central circular time condition indicating portion encircled by the inner minute indicating nng portion B44

As shown in Figs 22 and 24, the period portion B45. similar to the above first embodiment illustrated in Fig 4, is positioned on a central circular portion of the dial B40 The peπod portion B45 has a central hole B451, permitting the hour, minute and second shafts B31, B32, B33 to pass through, and a central cross inscription B452 The central cross inscnption B452 has a vertical line B453 extending from a top to a bottom of the period portion B45 and a horizontal line 454 extending from a left to a right of the pcnod portion B45, so as to divide the period portion B45 into a top-left, a top-right, a bottom-right, and a bottom-left quarter sections B455. B456. B457. B458 for constituting four time condiUons of dav A day indicator B461 and a night indicator B462 are provided on the upper and lower portions of the period portion B45 respectively A antemeridian indicator B471 and a postmeridian indicator B472 are provided on the left and the right portions of the period portion B45 respectively A morning indicator B481. an afternoon indicator B482. an evening indicator B483, and a midnight indicator B484 are provided on the top-left, top-πght, bottom-right, and bottom-left quarter section B455, B456, B457, B458. so as to designated the four Ume conditions respectively on the time zone indicating portion B45 of the dial B40 In addition, the four quarter sections B455. B456, B457, B458 have different colors to further distinctly designate the four time conditions for easy observation, in which the bottom-right and bottom-left quarter sections B457 B458 have a darker color than the color of the top-left and top-right quarter sections B455, B456 for distinguishing the top-left and top-right quarter sections B455. B456 as the day time and the bottom-right and bottom-left quarter sections as the night time B457. B458

In accordance with the present prefened embodiment, the day indicator B461 is a "da\ mark inscribed on an upper part of the vertical line B453 The night indicator B462 is a "night" mark inscribed on a lower part of the vertical line B453 The antemeridian indicator B471 is an "a in " mark inscribed on a left part of the horizontal line B454 The postmeridian indicator B472 is a "p m " mark insenbed on a nght part of the hoπ/ontal line B454 The morning indicator B481 is a "MORNING" mark insenbed on a predetermined position of the top-left quarter section B455 in an arc fonn extending from the left part of the horizontal line B454 to the upper pan of the vertical line B453 The afternoon indicator 482 is an "AFI'NOON^" mark inscribed on a predetermined position of the top-right quarter section B456 in an arc form extending from the upper part of the yertical line B453 to the right part o the horizontal line B454 The evening indicator B462 is a "EVENING" mark insenbed on a predetermined posiUon of the bottom- right quarter section B457 in an arc form extending from the right part of the hon/ontal line B454 to the loyvcr part of the vertical line B453 The midnight indicator B484 is a "MIDNITE" mark inscribed on a predetermined position of the bottom-left quarter section B458 in an arc form extending from the lower part of the vertical line B453 to the left part ofthe hon/ontal line B454 Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 22 and 24, the central period portion B45 of the dial B40 is designed to indicate the various natural "time conditions" of day, night, a m , p m . morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight in a day as if it is a stationary globe The minute indicating ring portion B44 winch encircles the period portion B45 is evenly divided into 60 annular scales B441 providing a visual indication of 60 minutes in one hour The hour indicating ring portion B43 peripherally encircling the minute indicating nng portion B44 provides 24 hour scales B431 inscribed thereon, which are two sequences of numerals ordered by increasing value from 1 to 12 and arranged circularly spaced apart angulaily, wherein a first numeral "12" is provided in a top position, a second numeral "12" is provided in a bottom position, a first numeral "6" is provided in a left posiuon, and a second numeral "6" is provided in a right position Moreovei, according to the present seventh embodiment, only the even numerals (including 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,

12) are provided and the odd numerals such as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 are replaced by a plurality of dots

The time zone disc B50, as shown in Fig. 25. has a center hole B51, a Ume zone nng portion B52 provided on an outer periphery of the Ume zone disc B50 to encircle a transparent central portion B53 which has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the hour indicating nng portion B43 of the dial B40 for revealing the hour indicating ring portion B43. the minute indicating ring portion B44 and the period portion B45 The time zone ring portion B52 provides 24 time zone indicators B521 arranged circularly spaced apart angularly to represent the 24 tune zone ciUes There are 24 hour pointers B522 radicalh extended from the 24 time zone indicators B521 to the inner penphery of the time zone nng portion B52 respectively to align with the 24 hour scales B431 of the hour indicating nng portion B43 respectively

The 24 ume zone indicators B521. according to the present seventh embodiment, are 24 inscriptions of the 24 time zone city names as illustrated in the time chart disclosed in the background of the present invention Moreover, since some particular time zones, such as time zone cities Alaska. Los Angeles. Denver. Chicago. New York. Azores. London, Pans Cairo. Moscow , and Sydney utilize "Summer Time" The time zone ring portion of B52 of the Ume zone disc B50 provides a plurality ol projection lines B523 Each of the projection lines B523 is positioned between two hour pointers B522. wherein each projection line B523 is extended clockwise from an outer end of the hour pointer B522 of the corresponding time zone indicator B521 which utilizes summer time to an inner end of another hour pointer B522 adjacent thereto, so as to provide an easy-read indication for tlie user to read the respective hour scale B441 aligned with the projecting adjacent hour pointer B522 dunng "Summer Time" of that

The transparent rotatable lime zone disc B50. as shown in Figs 22 and 23 is affixed to the hour shaft B31 for being driven by the hour shaft B31 to rotate above the dial B40 to complete one revoluUon every 24 hours The minute hand B61 is secured to the minute shaft B32 for rotaung above the time zone disc B50 to complete one revolution every one hour The second hand B62 is secured to the second shaft B for rotating above the time zone disc B50 to complete one revolution every one minute A lop portion of the hour shaft B31 reduces the outer diameter thereof to form an engaging head B31 1 The engaging head B31 1 has a height al least equal to the thickness of the time zone disc B50 and a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the center hole of the time zone disc B50, so that the time 2.one disc

B50 can be firmly secured to the hour shaft B31 by inserting tlie engaging head B311 of the hour shaft B31 through the center hole B51 ofthe time zone disc B50

In order to clearly indicate the local time of the user, the time zone disc further prints or attaches a sun mark B54 thereon in a predeteπnmed position adjacent to the inner penphery of the hour indicating nng portion B43 of the dial B40 and radically aligned with the corresponding time zone indicator B521 representing the local city of the user, so that the hour scales B431 will be just positioned between the particular local time zone indicator B521 and the sun mark B54 Furthermore, the sun mark B54 further provides a sun mark pointer B55 radically extending therefrom and pointing to the local time /one indicator B52 I Therefore, the user can easily distinguish his or her local time zone indicator E>521 and hour anytime

For ensuring the time zone disc B50 being dnven by the hour shaft B31 to rotate simultaneously, as shown in Figs 24 and 25, a securing means B56 is used to affix the time zone disc B50 to the engaging head B31 1 of the hour shaft B31 The securing means B56 comprises a predetermined numbei of axial driving ribs B561 spacedly protruded on an outer periphery surface of the engaging head B311 of the houi shaft B31 and extended along an axis of the hour shaft B31 The periphery of the center hole B51 of the time zone disc B50 also provides a predetermined number of indents B511 adapted to match and engage with the three driving ribs B561 respectivel)

When a very thin transparent plastic material is used to make the tune /one disc B50, an alternative mode of a securing means B56 as illustrated in Figs 27A and 27B is prelerrcd to use for ensuπng the engagement of the center hole B51 of the time zone disc B50 and the engaging head B31 1 of the hour shaft B31 The alternative form of the securing means B56 comprises a metal or plastic secunng ring B561 ' which has a central engaging hole B562' a top run B563 and a ring body B564' coaxially extending from the top run B563 ' The nng body B564' has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the center hole B51 of the Ume zone disc B50 an inner diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the engaging head B311 of the hour shaft B31. and a height longer than the thickness of the Ume zone disc B50 To assemble, penetrate the nng body B563' of the secunng ring B56T thiough the center hole B51 of the Ume zone disc B50 and then press and bend a bottom end B565' of the ring body B563' outwardly to press against tlie bottom surface of the ume zone disc B50 so as to firmly affixed the secunng ring B561 ' to tlie time zone disc B50 Therefore, the time zone disc B50 is capable of secunng to the hour shaft B31 by forcing the engaging head B3 1 1 of the hour shaft B31 to insert through the engaging hole B562' of the securing ring B561 ' For better engagement, the inner surface of the ring body B564' and the outer surface of the engaging head B31 1 arc coarse surfaces to increase the fnction therebetween It is worth to mention that the secunng ring B561 ' can also be engaged with the center hole B51 ol the time zone disc B50 in upside down position to achieve the same feature

As shown in Fig 22, as mentioned above the user of the time equipment docs not feeJ the self- rotation of the earth In fact human being on earth can only feel the sun rotating around the earth for one revolution per 24 hours, so that we observe dawn in the east in tlie early morning and sunset in the west before evening It is an important feature of the present invention that the present of the sun mark B54 which is aligned with the local time zone city B521 of the user, e g Hong Kong, and rotates around the earth like dial B40 in the present embodiment exactly likes the natural sun as the user observed in Hong Kong rotating around the earth Moreover, since the time zone disc B50 of the present embodiment is driven to rotate one revolution per 24 hours also, all the 24 time zone indicators B521 just like the actual

24 time zones on earth being rotated one revoluUon per day In other words, the user can ascertain the position of the sun and the "time condition" of a day anytime and anywhere simply by viewing the lime equipment of the present invenUon As shown in Fig 28, it should be understood that more than one sun mark B54 can be provided on the time zone disc B50 to selectively align with the corresponding time zone indicators B521 so as to facilitate the user to observe the times of those cities he or she traveling or communicating the most, in which these sun marks B54 can be pnnted with different colors or pnnted as the national flag diagrams of those aligning time zone cities respectively The time equipment according to the above seventh embodiment of the present invention can substantial!) achieve the following specific features

1 The time equipment not only can simultaneously provide clear indication of the current times of the 24 time zones around the world, but also can clearly indicate the "time condition" in a day for the observed current time of any time zone 2 It indicates the time in each time zone without the present of the hour hand

3 It is able to drive the time zone disc to complete one revolution every 24 hours st like the self-rotation of the earth everyday) w ithout incorporating with any additional driving mechanism Therefore, the seventh embodiment minimizes its constructive parts and is easy to assemble in inexpensive cost 4 It enables the user to read the hour, minute and second of the time in each time zone

(city) around the world easily, in which the 24 hour pointers are radically extended from the 24 ume zone indicators to the inner periphery of the time zone ring portion respectively for aligning with the 24 hour scales of the hour indicating nng portion respectively Besides, the minute indicating ring portion is adjacent to Uie inner penphery of the hour indicating ring portion, so that the user can simply and effectivelv read the time of any particular time zone city as indicated in the time zone disc by simply and effectively observing the particular time zone city on the time zone disc and reading the hour scale adjacent the corresponding hour pointer and, at the same time, reading the exact minute and second of time off the minute and second hands that sweeps the adjacent minute indicating nng portion

5 It incorporates with at least a sun mark to particularly distinguish the local Ume from the times ol other time zones Refernng to Figs 29 to 40. a Ume equipment according to a eighth preferred embodiment of the present invenUon is lllusUated The time equipment of the eighth embodiment is constructed in fonn of an alarm clock CIO which comprises a case Cl l, an hour hand C12, a minute hand C13. a second hand C14, a movement C20, a dial C30 which is same as the dial 30 disclosed in the above first embodiment as shown in Fig 4, a time setUng device C40, an alarm generating mechanism C50. an alarm time setting assembly

C60, and a switch device C70

The case Cl l has a first casing CH I and a second casing Cl 12 for receiving the movement C20, the time setting device C40. the alarm generating mechanism C50. the alarm time setting assembh C60, and the alarm switch device C70 therein in the usual manner The first casing C l 1 1 , as shown in Fig 30, is divided to form a battery receiving socket Cl 14 and a main socket Cl 13 for mounting Uie movement C20 and the time setUng device C40 therein The main socket C113 has a bottom opening Cl 15. a bracket C116 protruded at one side, a circular wheel recess C117 formed coaxially with the bottom opening Cl 15, and three setting recesses Cl 18, Cl 19. C120 spaced apart irom one other, formed along the penphery of the wheel recess Cl 17 The hour hand C12. the minute hand C13, and the second hand C 14 are driven b\ the movement

C20 installed in the main socket Cl 13 of the case Cl l. and mounted for rotating above the dial C30 The dial C30 is mounted on the case Cl 1 in the usual manner, for indicating the time in form of hour, minute and second The movement C20 comprises a power generating device C21. an hour indicating wheel C22, a mute indicating wheel C23, a second indicating wheel C24. and a driving device C25, in a manner known per se As shown in Fig 29, 30 and 32. the power generating device C21 has a power source C211 such as a battery, a main dπvmg wheel C212 and a rotation generating means C213 which enables the main driving wheel C222 to rotate m a predetermined speed

The driving device C2 comprises a plurality of driving wheels for connecUng the main driving wheel C212 with the hour, minute and second indicating wheels C22. C23 C24 which are driven to rotate in a predetermined speed respectively, in a known manner per se Therefore, the hour indicating wheel C22 as well as the hour hand C12 are driven to rotate one revolution in 24 hours The nunute indicating wheel C23 and the minute hand C13 are both driven to rotate one revolution in 60 minutes The second indicaUng wheel C24 and the second hand C14 are driven to rotate one revolution in one minute

The alarm generating mechanism C50, which provides an alarm signal at a predetermined time. compnses an alarm generating circuit C51 an alarm signal generator C52, and a conductive plate C53 electrically connected, as shown in Fig 32

The time setting device C40, as shown in Figs 29 and 30 comprises a Ume setting wheel C41 which is arranged for rotating above a protrusion C121 foπned in a predetermined position on the first casing Cl 11 of the case Cl 1, so as to engage with the hour indicating wheel C22 A time setting rod C42 is coaxially and perpendicularly extended from a center of the tune setting wheel C41 to penetrate the second casing Cl 12. in order to enable the user to rotate the time setting wheel C41 by rotating the time setting rod C42 to manually dπve the hour, minute and second indicating wheels C22, C23. C24 to rotate, for setting the hour, minute and second indicating hands C12, C13. C14 at predetermined time respectively

The alarm time setting assembly C60, as shown in Fig 29, 30 and 31, compnses at least two alaπn setting wheels There are totally three alaπn setting wheels C61, C62, C63 according to the present embodiment Each of Uie alarm setUng wheels C61, C62. C63 has a shoulder nm recess C611, C621, C631 with a predeteπmned width formed along the penphery thereof and a top smooth flat wheel surface C610, C620 C630 respectively Each of the shoulder nm recesses C61 1, C621, C631 of the three alaπn setting wheels C61, C62. C63 has a step protrusion C612, C622. C632. with two inclined sides protruded thereon respectively The three step protrusions C612. C622, C632 each has a height at least equal to the depth of the shoulder nm recesses C611 , C621. C6 1 respectively

The first alarm setting wheel C61 has a diameter, slightly smaller than that of the wheel recess Cl 17 on the first casing Cl l l. and a first central hollow shaft C613 extended from a bottom side thereof which has an angular protrusion C614 extended circumstantially and outwardly therefrom Therefore, the first alarm setting wheel C61 is sat on the wheel recess Cl 17 bv inserting the first hollow shaft C613 to squeeze through into the bottom opeiung Cl 15 of the first casing Cl l l , wherein the annular protrusion C614 is lip-fit therein thus preventing the first hollow shaft C613 from disengaging with said first casing Cl l l A first alarm indicating hand C64 is sheathed to a free end of the first hollow shaft C61

The second alarm setting wheel C62 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the top smooth flat surface C610 of the first alarm setting wheel C61 and a second central hollow shaft C623 extended from a bottom side thereof The second hollow shaft C623 has a length longer than that of the first central hollow shaft C61 A free end of the second hollow shaft C623 has an edge recess C624 The second alarm setting wheel C62 is positioned on the top flat surface C610 of the first alarm setting wheel C61 b\ rotatablv inserting the second hollow shaft C623 through the first hollow shaft C 1 of the first alarm setting wheel C61 A second alarm indicating hand C65 is firmh affixed to the edge recess C624 of the free end of the second hollow shaft C623

The third alaπn setting wheel C63 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the top smooth flat surface C620 of the second alarm setting wheel C62 and a third central hollow shaft C633 extended from a bottom side thereof The tlurd hollow shaft C6 has a length longer than that of the second central hollow shaft 623 A free end of the third hollow shaft C63 has an edge recess C634 The tlurd alarm setUng wheel C63 is posiUoned on the top flat surface C620 of the second alarm setting wheel C62 by rotatably inserting the third hollow shaft C633 through the second hollow shaft C623 of the second alaπn setting wheel C62 A third alaπn indicating hand C66 is firmlv affixed to the edge recess C634 of the free end of the third hollow shaft C633

The alarm time setting assembly C60 further compnses a motion plate C67, a pressing plate C68, and three setUng gears C691, C692, C693 of different diameters The first setting gear C691 having Uie smallest diameter is positioned on the first setting recess Cl 18 on the first casing Cl l l for engaging with the first alaπn setting wheel C61 The second setting gear C692 having a larger diameter is positioned on the second setting recess C119 for engaging with the second alarm setting wheel C62 The thud setting gear C693 having a largest diameter is positioned on the third setting recess C120 for engaging with the third alarm setting wheel C63 The three setting gears C691, C692, C693 each has a central driving rod

C694. C695. C696 extended therefrom to penetrate the case Cl 1 respectively, so that the user can rotate the three driving rods C694, C695, C696 for driving the three setting gears C691. C692, C693 to rotate respectively, so as to dnve the three alarm setting wheel C61 , C62, C63 and Uie three alaπn setUng indicating hands C64, C65, C66 to rotate and preset their predetermined alarm times respectively

The hour indicating wheel C22 has uiree grooves C221, C222. C223 formed therethrough and an hour hollow shaft C224, including a first end C225 and a second end C226 centrally passing through the hour indicating wheel C22 The second end C226 peneUates through the three alarm setting wheels C61, C62. C63 for affixing the hour hand C12 Each of the three grooves C221, C222, C223 has a predetermined arc length and a different radius, that is the radius between the first, second and third grooves C221 C222, C223 The radius of Uie hour indicating wheel C22 is substantially larger lhan the radius of the first alarm setting wheel C61 The motion plate C67 has a through hole C671 which penphery forms a top nm C675, three arched projections C672, C673, C674. correspondinglv and respectively aligned with the grooves C221 C222. C223 of the hour indicating wheel C22. and extending downward from a bottom side of the motion plate C67 Each of the three arched projections C672, C673. C674 has a different height and a slope side The motion plate C67 is coaxially positioned on the hour indicating wheel 22 with the three arched projections C671 C672, C673 inserting through the three grooves C221 C222, C223 of the hour indicating wheel C22 respectively, in which the first arched projection C671 falls on the first shoulder nm recess C61 1. the second arched projection C672 falls on the second shoulder nm recess C621 and the third arched projection C673 falls on the third shoulder nm recess C6 1 as shown in Fig 29 The diameter of the motion plate C67 is larger than that of the first alarm setUng wheel C61

The pressing plate C68, disposed on the motion plate C67. has a central opening C681 and two pivot arms C682 C683 pivoted lo the bracket Cl io of the first casing C l l l for pressing the motion plate

C67 The top nm C675 is inserted into the central opening C681 tor holding the pressing plate C68 in position The pressing plate C68 further has a projecting rod C684 extended upwardlv and perpendicularly therefrom to a position abutting upon the conductive plate C5

Normally, referring to Figs 29 to 32, the pressing plate 68 is held parallelly with respect to the bottom of the first casing Cl l l in the manner that the projecting rod C684 hasn't contacted with the conductive plate C53 When the hour indicating wheel C22 rotates, the motion plate C67 is also rotated simultaneousK It is so arranged that in one circulation, the three arched projecUons C671. C672. C673 will be aligned only once with the corresponding step protrusions C 12, C622, C632 of the thr.e alarm setting wheels C61, C62, C63 respective!) During rotating procedure if any one of the three arched projections C671, C672, C673 is aligned with the corresponding step protrusion C612. C622 or C632. the respective projection C671, C672, or CC73 may climb up the corresponding step protrusion C612 C622 or C632 that will cause the motion plate C67 to incline upwardly The inclined motion plate C67 w ill press the pressing plate C68 to incline concurrenth 'I hus, the projecUng rod C684 of the pressing plate C68 will move up to push the conductive plate C53 of the alarm generaung mechamsin C50 to in touch with a terminal contact C54 of the alarm generaung circuit C51, for electrically connecung the circuit C51 to generate an alaπn. as shown in Fig 31 Since each of the step protrusions C612, C622, C632 has a predeteπnmed width, the respective arched projections C672, C673, C674 of the motion plate C67 may climb back from the corresponding step protrusions C612, C622, C632 and the alarm will stop automatically

Accordingly, one can preset totally three alarm times at one time, for example, presetting the first indicaUng hand C64 at 8 30 a m by rotaung the first alarm setUng wheel C61 , presetting the second indicating hand C65 at 12 00 p m by rotating the second alarm setting wheel C62, and presetting the third indicating hand C66 at 5 00 p m by rotating the third alarm setting wheel C63 When the hour indicating wheel C22 rotates, the motion plate C67 is also rotated concurrently When the first arched projection C672 of the motion plate C67 climbs up the first step protrusion C612 of the first alarm setting wheel C61. an alarm will be generated at 8 30 a m Afterward, when the hour indicating wheel C22 and the motion plate C67 continue to rotate concuπently until the second arched projection C673 climbing up the second step protrusion C622 of the second alarm setting wheel C62 another alarm will be generated at 12 00 p m Moreover the hour indicating wheel C22 and the motion plate will continue to rotate simultaneously until the third projection C674 climbing up the third step protrusion C632 of the third alaπn setting wheel C63, so that another alarm will be generated at 5 00 p m

Therefore the user can preset three alarm ume or more when more than three alarm indicaUng wheels and hands are incorporated, according to the user's need This function is very practical and useful for the user such as a person who has more than one regular appointments, and the workers in a factory for reminding the time to start to work, prepare for lunch and stop the work

The switch device C70, as shown in Fig 33. comprises a switch button device C71 and a snooze device C72 The operation of the switch button device C71 can stop the alarm permanentlj and the operation of the snoo/e device can stop the alarm temporarily for a predetermined period of time that the alarm generating mechanism C50, as shown in Fig 32, is able to generate alarm again

The switch button device C71 compnses a button C711 mounted on a rail means Cl 121 of the second casing C112 that the button C711 can be guided by the rail means Cl 121 to move in linear direction up and down The bottom side of the button C71 1 provides a stopping lever C712 extending downward to a position adjacent to the conductive plate C53 The inner side of the lever C712 forms a sloping surface C713 When the button is in an upper position, as shown in Fig 33, the lever C712 is apart from the conductive plate C53 of the alarm generating mechanism C50 If the user press the button C71 1 downward to a lower position, the stopping lever C712 will move downwardly to press the conductive plate C53 apart from the terminal contact C54 and thus disconnecting the circuit C51 peπnanentl) The snoo/e device C72 compnses a contact switch C721 a delay circuit or a Umer circuit incorporating with the alarm generating circuit C51 and an electromagnetic means C722 which has a lever C723 extending downward and is electncally connected with the alarm generating circuit C51 When an alarm is generated, the user can press the contact switch C721 once to actuate the electromagnetic means

C722 to push its lever C723 thereof downward to press the conductive plate C53 away from the teπninal contact 54C for a predetermined interval of time The predetermined time interval should be longer than the time penod of the alarm generated After the predetermined time interval, Uie electromagnetic means C722 will be actuated to pull back the lever C723 by means of the delay circuit to leave the conductive plate

C53 automatically Thus, the alarm clock CIO is ready to generate alarm again at the next preset alarm time The snooze device C72 can be controlled by a conventional remote assembly ( not shown in the

Figures) It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various existed mechanical or elecuical snooze mechanism can be made instead of the switch device C70 disclosed above Moreover, the above descnbed first embodiment can be easily modified to a alarm watch configuration Thus those skilled in the art will readily recognize that modifications can be made on the above description without departing from the spint of the invenUon

Therefore, one can preset at least two alarm times in one day according lo their need It is very useful and convenience for reminding a person who has various regular appointments everyday and utilizing in a company or school by presetting Uie time of starting to work and stopping to work as die various alaπn lime On the other hand, the user can also preset the three alarm indicating hands C64, C65 and C6f> aligned in a same alarm time position in order to achieve just one alaπn in one day

The best performance and features of the above descnbed alarm clock C IO which may preset at least two alarm times, can be achieved by equipping with a 2-12 dial 30 according to the present invention The 2-12 dial C30. as shown in Fig 34, has the same configuration as the dial 30 shown in Fig 4 in the above first embodiment By utilizing the 2-12 dial C30 the alarm clock CIO can preset more than one alarm time very easily and without anv confusion Besides, each of the preset alarm times will onl\ generate one alarm signal respectively within one day The troublesome of the conventional alarm clock that will automatically provide two alarms at one preset time both in the day time and the night time can thus be avoided

Please refernng to Fig 34, the alarm clock CIO further comprises a time one means C80 which includes a Ume zone nng C81 coaxially mounted for rotaUng around the penphery of the 2-12 dial C30 A front surface of the time zone nng C81 bears a series of 24 time zone indicators C812 which are the name of 24 represenung cities of the predetermined time zones These time zone indicators C812 are arranged in the same order as the time zones and each one is located in one of the 24 parts of the front surface of Uie nng C81 Thus, the time equipment can simultaneously indicate the cunent times of the 24 tune zones respectively when Uie Ume zone disc C81 is driven to rotate automatically for one revolution in 24 hours by means of am one of the above driving means as disclosed in the above first lo seventh embodiments

In addition, the time zone disc C81 can also be designed to operate manuall> Accordingly when the user would like to know the time right now in other time zone cities, the user can simply rotate the time zone nng C81 manually until the time zone indicator representing the local city, that is the city the user resided, aligned with the hour hand C12 Then the user can simply read the indicated time which is pointed by an indicating mark C813 extended inwardly from the Ume zone indicator C812 represenUng the other desired city

The time zone means C80 according to the present eighth embodiment mav further compnses a tune zone mechanism C82 for rotating the time zone nng automatically in one revolution in 24 hours, as shown in Fig 35 so that the time zone indicator C812 which represents the city the user resided will rotate simultaneously following the rotation of the hour hand 12

The inner side of the time zone nng C81 further provides a series of inner gear teeth C814 The time zone mechanism C82 comprises a time zone movement C821 and a dnving device C822 dnven by the time zone movement C821 The driving device C822 comprises a driving gear C823 engaged with the inner gear teeth C814 of the time zone nng C81 for driving the Ume zone nng C 1 to rotate one revolution in 24 hours

Please referring to Figs 36 to 37. a ninth preferred embodiment of the time equipment according to the present invention is illustrated It is constructed in form of a watch C 1 which compnses a watch case C2 for receiving an hour hand C3. a minute hand C4. a second hand C5, a movement C6, a dial Cl. a time setting device C8, and a time zone means C9

The dial Cl is a 2-12 dial same as the dial 30 descnbed in the above first embodiment, on which the hands C3 C4. C5 are mounted thereabove and driven by the movement C6 in the usual manner so as to indicate, respectively, hour, minute and second The movement C6 of the ninth embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, is able to drive the hour hand C3 to rotate one revolution in 24 hours Therefore, Uie watch Cl also enables the user to observe at one time an exact time including the information of hour, minute and second of day time or night time (a in or p m ) in form of indicating numerals 1 to 12 as well as the Ume peπods in fonn of morning, afternoon evening, and night

The time setting device C8. as the known art manner, is incorporated with the movement C6 and has a button C8a posiUoned at "6 00 p in " making it possible to rotate the hands C3 C4. C5 in a conventional manner, for setting the watch Cl on time and also for rewinding the watch movement C6 in the case of the latter being mechanical

The Ume zone means C9 compnses a C-shape spring C91 and a time zone nng C92 rotatably mounted on an outer time zone recess C2a foπned in the outer nm of the case C2 The time zone recess C2a has a circular nm protrusion C2b protruded, outwardly and circumferentially along a vertical outer penphery side C2c thereof and a hole C2d on a predetermined position on a horizontal periphery surface C2e thereof One end of the spring C91 is perpendicularly bent to fonn a tail C 1 1 which is inserted into the hole C2d so as to hold the spnng C91 in the time zone recess C2a The time zone ring C92 has a curved outer surface C921 and an inner surface C922 The curved outer surface C921 bears a series of 24 time zone indicators C923 which are the name of 24 representing cities of the predetermined time zones These time zone indicators C923 are arranged in the same order as the Ume zones and each one is located in one of the 24 parts of the outer surface C921 of the ring C92 The inner surface C922 of the nng C92 foπns a circular groove C924 so that the nng C92 can be rotatably mounted firmly in position on the recess C2a by means of the clipped-fit locking between the groove C924 and the circular nm protrusion C2b The lower portion of the inner surface further provides a ring of ratchet teeth C925 The other free end of the spring C91 is engaged with Uie ratchet teeth C925 so as to hold the nng C92 firmly by the spnng pressing force and to enable the ring C92 to rotate in anti-clockwise direcUon only, and that the ratchet teeth C925 acts as a stopping means to prevent the nng C92 to rotate clockwise Thus, when the user would like to know the time right now in other time zone city, the user can simply rotate the time /.one ring C92 anticlockwise until the time zone inscπpUon representing the local city, that is the city the user resided Then the user can simply read the indicated time which is pointed by an indicating mark C926 extended inwardly from the Ume zone inscπption C923 representing the other desired city Please refernng to Fig 39 and 40, a tenth prefeπed embodiment is illustrate It is constructed in fonn of a watch CV having configuration similar to the above ninth embodiment, in which the time zone means C9' compnses a build-in time zone nng C92 T and a time zone dnving mechanism C93' for rotating the time zone ring C92 T automatically in one revolution in 24 hours The time zone ring C921 ^' is coaxially mounted around the periphery of a 2-12 dial C7' and bears a series of time zone indicators C923 ' The inner bottom side of the time zone nng C921 ' provides a series of gear teeth C927' The time zone driving mechanism C93 ^' comprises a pluralitv of transmitting wheels C94' for connecung by means of engagement with an hour indicating wheel C61 ' of the movement C6' and the gear teeth C927' of the nng C921 ' so as to transmit the ring C921 ' to rotate one revoluUon in 24 hours as long as the rotation of the hour indicating wheel C6T Thus, the time zone indicator C923^' which represents the city the user resided will rotate simultaneously following the rotation of the hour indicating wheel C6 T Thus the user can observe the time of other cities indicating on the time zone nng C921 ' any ume through the indicaUng marks C926 inscribed adjacent to the time zone indicators C923 respectively

In accordance with the above disclosure, the tune equipment of the present invention enables the user to observe at one time an exact time indicating hour, nunute second, day or night, a m or p m . and various time conditions in form of morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight Moreover, the time equipment is able to equip with a tune zone means for simultaneously indicating the time for a plurality of time zones, which is simple m construction and is easy to manufacture Besides The time equipment is further able to equip with an alarm cchamsni for enabling more than one alarm time setting in 24 hours The improved alarm mechanism is simple in construction and is easy to manufacture

Claims

I Claim:

1 A time equipment, compnsmg a case, a stauonary 2-12 dial mounted in said case having an hour portion, a minute portion and a peπod portion, in winch said hour portion has two hour sequences of numerals which are ordered by increasing value from 1-12 provided thereon respectively and arranged circularly and evenly spaced apart angularly, wherein said first numeral "12" is provided in a top position, said second numeral "12" is provided in a bottom posiUon. and said two numerals "6" are provided in a nght and a left position, said minute portion which is positioned adjacent to said hour portion, providing with a sequence of numerals ordered by increasing value from "1" to "60" which are arranged circularly and evenly spaced apart angularly with said numeral "60" providing adjacent to said first numeral "12" of said hour portion, said period portion being provided on a central area of said dial and encircled by said hour portion, wherein said period portion has a central cross inscription having a vertical line extended from a top position to a bottom position of said period portion and a horizontal line extended from a left position to a right position of said peπod portion so as to divide said period portion into four secUons. a day indicator being provided on a top part of said vertical line, a night indicator being provided on a bottom part of said vertical line, an ante mendian indicator being provided on a nght part of said hoπzontal line, a post mendian indicator being provided on a left part of said horizontal line, a morning indicator and an afternoon indicator being provided in predetermined positions on a top-left and nght-sections of said peπod portion respecUvely. an evening indicator and a midnight indicator being provided in predetermined positions on a bottom-right and left- sections of said peπod portion respective!) furthermore, said bottom nght and left sections having a dark background color. an hour hand and a minute hand mounted for rotating above said dial, and a 24-hour movement, which is installed in said case, for coupling and dnving said hour hand to rotate one revoluUon per 24 hours and said minute hand to rotate one revolution per hour

2 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a circle sun mark affixed on

3 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1, in which said day indicator is a "day" mark, said night indicator being a "night" mark, said morning indicator being a "MORNING" mark, said afternoon indicator being a "AFTNOON" mark, said evening indicator being an "EVENING" mark, said midnight indicator being a "MIDNITE" mark

4 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a time zone mechanism which compnses a time zone disc rotatabh and coaxially mounted adjacent to said dial, said time zone mechanism further comprising a driving device for driving said time zone disc to rotate one revoluUon per 24 hours, said time zone disc of said time zone mechanism having an outer time zone ring portion which is disposed around a periphery of said dial and provided with a plurality of time zone indicators aπanging in a predetermined order

5 A lime equipment, as recited in claim 4, further compnsmg a setUng mechanism for said time zone mechanism, wherein said setUng mechanism is adapted to drive said ume zone disc to rotate mdependenUy until one of said time zone indicators is aligned wiUi said hour hand, so that a current time of said other time zone indicators are capable of being read simultaneously coincident with said plurality of corresponding hour numerals provided in said hour portion of said dial respectively

6 A time equipment, as recited in claim 6. in which said time zone mechanism is ananged in a receiving chamber defined between said movement and said dial, said time zone disc of said time zone mechanism being coaxially supported underneath said dial in rotatable manner, said plurality of time zone indicators being a plurality of city name inscriptions arranged .in the same order as the Ume zones, circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly on said time zone nng portion of said lime zone disc said time zone disc having a central hole, and that at least two supporting poles are extended from a bottom suriace of said dial to a bottom surface of said receiving chamber in order to support said dial in position 7 A time equipment, as recited in claim 6, in which said time zone disc is supported in rotatable position by a supporting nm provided in an upper periphery portion of said receiving chamber

8 A tune equipment, as recited in claim 6, in which said driving device comprises a dnving gear disposed in said receiving chamber and integrally mounted on an hour shaft said hour shaft being extended from said movement upwards into said receiving chamber and connected with said hour hand above said dial so as to dnve said driving gear to rotate simultaneously with said hour hand in one revolution per 24 hours, a first outer ratchet nng having a sequence of outer ratchets formed along an outer run thereof, which is coaxially protruded downwards from an outer penphery of a bottom surface of said lime zone disc, a second inner driven gear nng having a round sequence of inner gear leeth formed along an inner nm thereof, which is coaxially protruded downwards from an inner penphery of said bottom surface of said time zone disc, wherein said driven gear ring is dnven to rotate by means of said dnving gear via a transmission means, so as to dnve said time zone disc to rotate simultaneously with said hour shaft and said hour hand for one revolution per 24 hours

9 A time equipment, as recited in claim 8. in which said transmission means cempnses a driving transmission gear which is rotatably mounted in said receiving chamber and engaged with said inner gear teeth of said dnven gear nng, a dnven transmission gear which is concentrically and integrally connected below said driving transmission gear within said receiving chamber by an adjusting axle so that said dnven transmission gear and said dnving transmission gear are rotated simultaneously along said adjusting axle, and an idle gear which is mounted in a predetermined position in said receiving chamber and engaged with said dnving gear and said driven transmission gear, wherein said time zone disc is driven to rotate simultaneously with said dnving gear in one revolution per 24 hours via said idle gear said driven transmission gear, said driving transmission gear, and said driven gear nng 10 A time equipment, as recited in claim 9, in which said setting mechamsm comprises a setting member pivotally mounted in said receiving chamber by means of a mounung axle to enable rotational motion around said mounting axle, a pusher member disposed adjacent to said setUng member, wherein said setting member compnses a pivoting part mounted on said mounung axle, a resilient pawl arm extended from said pivoUng part to said ratchet nng, and a resilient clutch aπn extended from a lower portion of said pivoting part to said adjusting axle, and that an end of said pawl arm provides a ratchet pawl engaging against one of said ratchets of said ratchet nng, an end of said clutch aπn being connected with said adjusting axle, in which when a pushing pressure is applied against said pusher member, which then presses said clutch arm of said setting member to rotate around said mounting axle synchronously, said clutch arm is pressed to pull said dnving transmission gear to disengage with said dnven gear ring of said time zone disc temporary, so that the rotation of said time zone disc stops due to the release of transmission at the same time, said pawl arm being driven to rotate simultaneously so that said ratchet pawl thereof turns said ratchet ring as well as said time zone disc to rotate for one ratchet tooth displacement, and that when said pressure applied to said pusher member is released, said pulling force to said driving transmission gear is released and said dnving transmission gear is re-engaged with said driven gear ring of said time zone disc

1 1 A time equipment, as recited in claim 5. further comprising a maintaining mechamsm incorporated with the Ume zone mechamsm, in which said time zone disc has a plurality of time zone openings arranged circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly, each of said Ume zone indicators comprises an indicating city disc which has a conesponding time zone city inscribed thereon and is supported to dispose on said corresponding time /one opening by means of said maintaining mechanism, and that said maintaining mechanism is adapted to dnve said plurality of indicating city discs to rotate independently so as to enable said indicating city discs maintaining in upright position respectiveh dunng the rotation of said time zone disc 12 A tune equipment, as recited in claim 11, in which said maintaining mechanism comprises a dnving wheel, which is driven to rotate in one revoluUon per 24 hours, having a central hole and a supporting ring protruded from a bottom surface of said driving wheel for mounting said dπvmg wheel in said receiving chamber in rotatable manner, and that a center of said driving wheel is adjacent to a center of said time zone disc to define a predeteπruned distance therebetween, moreover, said maintaining mechamsm further compnsmg a plurality of pivoting axles, each of said pivoting axles having a first end affixed to said corresponding indicating city disc and a second end pivotally mounted to a predetermined periphery position of said dnving wheel, so that said plurality of pivoting axles are rotatably mounted to said outer periphery of said driving wheel circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to position said plurality of city discs conesponding to said time /one openings of said Ume /one disc respectively, wherein a distance between said first end and said second end of each said pivoting axle is equal to said predetermined distance between said driving wheel's center and said time zone disc s center

13 A time equipment as recited in claim 12, in which said first end of each said pivoUng a\lc is bent upwards to form a vertical top end portion to affix to a center of said bottom surface of said corresponding city disc and said second end of each said pivoUng axle is bent downwards to form a vertical bottom end portion to pivotally mount to said predetermined periphery position of said driving wheel

14 A time equipment, as recited in claim 13. in which a bottom surface of said receiving chamber provides a circular groove to receive a bottom end of said supporting nng for supporting said

5 driving wheel in rotatable manner

15 A Ume equipment as recited in claim 13, in which said dnving wheel provides a dnven ring gear thereunder, said maintaining mechamsm further compnsmg a first transmission gear which is disposed in said receiving chamber and engaged with said dnven ring gear and a second transmission gear, a driving gear which is engaged with said second transmission gear and mounted on an hour shaft extending from said movement through said receiving chamber and connecting with said hour hand above said dial so that said dnving wheel is dnven by said dnving gear via said first and second transmission gears to rotate simultaneously with said time /one disc in one revolution per 24 hours

16 A time equipment, as recited in claim 10 further comprising a maintaining mechanism incorporated with the time zone mechanism, in which said tune /one disc has a plurality of time /one ^ openings arranged circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly each of said Ume zone indicators comprises an indicating city disc which has a corresponding time zone city insenbed thereon and is supported to dispose on said conesponding time zone opening by means of said maintaining mechamsm, and that said maintaining mechanism is adapted to dnve said plurality of indicating city discs to rotate independently so as to enable said indicating citv discs maintaining in upright position respectively dunng 0 the rotation of said Ume zone disc

17 A time equipment, as recited in claim 16, in which said maintaining mechanism compnses a dnving wheel, which is driven to rotate in one revoluUon per 24 hours, having a central hole and a supporting nng protruded from a bottom surlace of said driving wheel for mounting said driving wheel in said receiving chamber in rotatable manner, and a center of said dnving wheel is adjacent to a 5 center of said Ume zone disc to define a predetermined distance therebetween, and that said maintaining mechanism further comprises a plurality of pivoting axles, each of said pivoting axles having a first end affixed to said corresponding indicaUng citv disc and a second end rotatably mounted lo a predetermined penphery position of said dnving wheel, so that said plurality of pivoting axles are rotatably mounted to said outer penphery of said driving wheel circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to posiUon 0 said plurality of city discs conesponding to said time /one openings of said time /one disc respectively, wherein a distance betyveen said first end and said second end of each said pivoting axle is equal to said predetermined distance between said dnving wheel's center and said time zone disc's center

18 A ume equipment, as recited in claim 17, in which said first end of each said pivottng axle is bent upwards to form a vertical top end portion to affix to a center of said bottom surface of said ^ conesponding indicating city disc and said second end of each said pivoting axle is bent doyvnyy ards to fonn a vertical bottom end portion to piyotally mount to said predetermined periphery position of said dnving wheel 19 A time equipment, as recited in claim 18, in which a bottom surface of said receiving chamber provides a circular groove to receive a bottom end of said supporting nng for supporting said driving wheel in rotatable manner

20 A ume equipment, as recited in claim 18, in which an inner surface of said supporting ring of said dnving wheel is provided with a driven ring gear thereon and said maintaining mechanism further comprises a first transmission gear which is disposed in said receiving chamber and engaged with said dnven nng gear, a second transmission gear which is engaged with said dnving gear and said first transmission gear, so that said dnving wheel is driven by said driving gear via said first and second transmission gears to rotate simultaneously with said time zone disc in one revolution per 24 hours 21 A time equipment, as recited in claim 11. in which said maintaining mechamsm comprises a driving wheel which is dnven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours, having a central hole and a supporting ring protruded from a bottom surface of said driving wheel for mounting said dπvmg wheel in said receiving chamber in rotatable manner and that the center of said dnving yvhecl is adjacent to said time zone disc's center to define a predetermined distance therebetween, moreover said maintaining mechanism further comprising a plurality of pivoting axles, and that said plurality of time /one openings has a diameter slightly larger than said diameter of said pivoUng axles, wherein each of said pivoting axles has a first end upwardly extended to penetrate through said corresponding time zone opening to affix with said corresponding indicating city disc so as to support said corresponding indicating city disc above said time zone disc, each of said pivoting axles further having a second end pivotally mounted to a predetermined periphery position of said driving wheel wherein a distance between said first end and said second end of each said pivoting axle is equal to said predetermined distance between said driving wheel s center and said time zone disc's center

22 A time equipment, as recited in claim 21. in which said first end of each said pivoting axle is bent upyvards to form a vertical top end portion to affix to a center of said bottom surface of said corresponding city disc and said second end of each said pivoting axle is bent downwards to form a vertical bottom end portion to pivotally mount to said predetermined periphery position of said driving wheel, so that said plurality of pivoting axles are rotatably mounted to said outer penphery of said dnving wheel circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to position said plurality of city discs above said time zone openings of said time zone disc respectively 23 A time equipment, as recited in claim 21, in which a bottom surface of said receiving chamber provides a circular groove to receive a bottom end of said supporting nng for supporting said dnving yvheel in rotatable manner

24 A time equipment, as recited in claim 23, in which said dial has a transparent outer periphery portion for observation of said indicating city discs, said time zone disc being disposed underneath said dial inside said receiving chamber and integrally mounted on an hour shaft extending from said movement through said receiving chamber and connecting with said hour hand above said dial 25 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 24, in which said driving wheel has a driven nng gear wluch is formed on an outer penphery surface of said supporting ring and driven to rotate by means ol a transmission device

26 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 25, in which said transmission device of said maintaining mechanism comprises a transmission dnving gear integrally mounted on said hour shaft and disposed in a second chamber posiUoned between said receiving chamber and said movement, a first idle gear rotatably mounted in said receiving chamber and engaged with said dnven nng gear and a second idle gear, a dnven transmission gear rotatably mounted in said second chamber and engaged with said transmission dnving gear, a dnving transmission gear which is concentncally mounted above said dnven transmission gear by a transmission axle to dispose in said receiving chamber and engaged with said second idle gear, so that said dnving wheel is adapted to be driven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours bv means of said transmission driving gear via said first idle gear, said second idle gear said dnven transmission gear, and said dπvmg transmission gear

27 A time equipment, as recited in claim 24 in which said driving wheel has a driving ring gear which is formed on an outer periphery nm thereof and driven to rotate by means of a transnussion device

28 A time equipment, as recited in claim 27. in which said transmission device comprises a transmission driving gear integrally mounted on said hour shaft and disposed in a second chamber posiUoned between said receiving chamber and said movement, a first idle gear engaged with said transmission dnving gear and a second idle gear, a driven transmission gear engaged with said second idle gear and a d ing transmission gear which is concentrically mounted above said driven transmission gear by a transmission axle to dispose in said receiving chamber and engaged with said driven ring geai , so that said driving wheel is adapted to be driven lo rotate in one revolution per 24 hours by means of said transmission dπvmg gear via said first idle gear said second idle gear said driven transmission gear and said driving tfansmission gear

29 A time equipment, as recited in claim 23, in which said dial has a transparent outer periphery portion for observation of said indicating city discs, said time zone disc being disposed underneath said dial inside said receiving chamber and integrally mounted on a hollow driving axle, to wluch an hour shaft extending from said movement being concentncally penetrated through, wherein an upper end of said driving axle is upwardly extended into said receiving chamber and a bottom end of said driving axle is downwardly extended into a second chamber which is provided below said receiving chamber and above said movement, and that said dπying device further comprises a clutch means mounting on said hour shaft inside said second receiving chamber in peπnitling axial displacement manner, a spnng disposed between a bottom surface of said clutch means and a bottom surface of said second receiving chamber, wherein said spnng presses said clutch means upwards for engaging said hour shaft with said dnving axle so that said dnving axle is dnven to rotate simultaneously by said hour shaft so as to drive said time /one disc to rotate simultaneously for one revolution in 24 hours 30 A time equipment, as recited in claim 29, in wluch said clutch means provided on its top a central engaging tube which has a thickness equal to a clearance formed between said hour shaft and said driving axle, so that when said engaging tube is pressed upwards to insert into said bottom end of said dnving axle by said spnng, an outer and an inner coarse surfaces of said engaging tube are engaged with an outer surface of said hour shaft and an inner surface of said bottom end of said dnving axle, so as to couple said hour shaft and said dnving axle integrally and drive said driving axle to rotate simultaneously by said hour shaft

31 A ume equipment, as recited in claim 30, in which said dnving wheel has a driven nng gear which is formed on an outer penphery surface of said supporUng nng and driven to rotate by means of a transmission device

32 A time equipment, as recited in claim 31, in which said clutch means further comprises a penphery clutch gear and a stop nm protruded at said bottom end of said clutch means, and that said setting mechamsm comprises a setting pole having a top portion extended into said receiving chamber a middle portion extended through said second receiving chamber and a bottom portion extended outside of said time equipment to affix a setting button wherein a first setting gear is affixed to a top end of said top portion and a second setting gear is affixed to a predetermined position of said middle portion, wherein, noπnally, said spring supports and presses said clutch means in normal position, so that said first setting gear and said second setUng gear do not engaged with said driven nng gear and said clutch gear respectively wherein when said setUng pole is pulled outward until said second setting gear is engaged with said clutch gear and stopped by said stop nm, said first setting gear is still remained disengaged with said driven nng gear of said dnving wheel so that turning of said button to rotate said setting pole can dnve said clutch gear, said dnving axle and said hour shaft to rotate simultaneously by means of said second setting gear so as to rotate said hour hand and said minute hand wherein when said setting pole is pulled further outward to pull said clutch means to move downward and press against said spnng until said engaging tube of said clutch means is withdrawn from said dnving a\lc and said first setting gear is engaged with said driving ring gear, said engaging tube is disengaged yvith said hour shaft and said dnving axle is disengaged with said hour shaft, so that the driving of time zone disc and said driving wheel bv said hour shaft is Uien released and said time zone disc becomes free of rotation, thereby turning of said button can dnve said driving wheel to rotate by means of said first setting gear for driving said time zone disc to rotate simultaneously by means of said plurality of pivoting axles

33 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 32, in which said ansmission device of said maintaining mechanism comprises a transmission driving gear integrally mounted on said hour shaft and disposed in a second chamber positioned between said receiving chamber and said movement, a first idle gear rotatabh mounted in said receiving chamber and engaged with said dnven nng gear and a second idle gear a driven uansmission gear rotatably mounted in said second receiving chamber and engaged with said transmission driving gear a dnving uansmission gear which is concentrically mounted above said dnven transmission gear by a transmission axle to dispose in said receiving chamber and engaged with said second idle gear so Uiat said dnving wheel is adapted to be driven to rotate in one revolution per 24 hours by means of said transmission dnving gear via said first idle gear, said second idle gear, said dnven transnussion gear, and said driving transmission gear

34 A time equipment, as recited in claim 5, in which said Ume zone disc of said time zone mechanism is disposed in a receiving chamber below said dial which is printed on a central portion of a transparent disc, and that said Ume zone disc is integrally mounted on an hour shaft in said receiving chamber and has an outer driven gear provided at an outer circumference of said time zone disc, wherein on an outer periphery portion of said time zone disc, a plurality of time zone indicators are provided circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly, and that said hour shaft is extended from said movement upwards through a second chamber positioned between said receiving chamber and said movement and said receiving chamber for connecting with said hour hand above said dial

35 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 34, in wluch said dnving device of said time zone mechanism comprises a driver gear and a transmission means, wherein said driver gear is integrally mounted on said hour shaft in said second chamber and has a diameter equal to that of said time zone disc, and that said transmission means has a hollow pole body, a top transmission gear engaged with said dnven gear of said time /one disc, and a bottom transmission gear engaged with said driver gear

36 A time equipment, as recited in claim 35. in which on an outer penphery portion of sa d time zone disc, a plurality of time zone opemngs is provided and disposed corresponding to the locaUon of said plurality of time zone indicators respectively, and that said time zone indicators comprises a plurality of indicating city discs mounted above said time zone openings respectively 37 A time equipment, as recited in claim 36, further comprising a maintaining mechanism rotatably disposed in said receiving chamber yvhich comprises a driving wheel and a plurality of pivoting axles, and that said driving wheel has a central hole and a supporting ring protruded downwards from its bottom surface a bottom surface of said receiving chamber providing a circular groove to receive a bottom end of said supporting ring for supporting said driving wheel in rotatable manner, wherein a center of said driving wheel is adjacent to a center of said time zone disc to define a predeteπnined distance therebetween

38 A time equipment, as recited in claim 37, in which each pivoUng axle has a first end and a second end said first end being bent upward to form a vertical top end portion which is rotatably penetrated through said conesponding time zone opening and affixed to a bottom center of said conesponding indicating city disc, said second end being bent downward to form a vertical bottom end portion to piy otally mounted to a predetermined periphery position of said driving wheel, wherein a distance bctyyeen said first end and said second end of each said pivoting axle is equal to said predetermined distance between said driving wheel's center and said time zone disc^'s center, and that said plurality of pnoting axles are rotatably mounted lo an outei periphery of said dnving wheel circularly and uniformly spaced apart angularly so as to position said plurality of indicating city discs conesponding to said time /one openings of said time /one disc respectively, thereby yvhen said time zone disc and said dnving wheel are driven by said driver gear to rotate simultaneously in one revolution per 24 hours, said indicating city discs linked to said driving wheel rotate respectively following said rotation of said ume

/one disc around said hour shaft, in order to maintain each indicaUng city disc in upnght position by self rotation around said bottom end porUon of said corresponding pivoUng axle following said rotation of said dπvmg disc 39 A time equipment, as recited in claim 38, in which said setUng mechanism comprises a setting pole rotatably pene ating through said hollow pole body of said transmission means, said setUng pole having a top portion extended into said receiving chamber, a middle portion extended through said second receiving chamber, and a bottom porUon extended outside of said time equipment to affix a setUng button, and that a first setUng gear is affixed to a top end of said top portion and a second setUng gear is affixed to a predetermined position of said middle portion, moreover, a bottom portion of said setting pole further providing three step grooves, and that said setting mechamsm further compnses a holding means adapted to selectively engage with one of said step grooves, wherein in normal stage when said holding means is engaged with said middle step groove and said first setting gear, said second setting gear do not engaged with said driven gear of said time one disc and said driver gear respectively, so Uiat said time one disc is dnven to rotate simultaneously by said dnver gear via said driving device, wherein when said setting pole of said setUng mechanism is pushed inwards by pressing said setUng button, said holding means engages yvith said lower step groove and said top and bottom ansmission gears are disengaged with said driven gear and said dnver gear respectively, and that said second setUng gear is engaged with said dnver gear while said first setUng gear remains disengaged with dnven gear of said time zone disc, so that said hour shaft is capable of rotaUng by turning said setting button to adjust a cunent Ume indicaUng by said hour hand wherein when said setting pole of said setting mechamsm is pulled outwards by pulling said setting button, said holding means engages with said upper step groove, and that said top and bottom transmission gears are disengaged with said dnven gear and said driver gear respectivel) . and that said first setting gear is engaged with said driven gear of said time /one disc while said second setting gear remains disengaged with said dnver gear so that said time /one disc is capable of rotating rotated by turning said setting button to adjust one of said indicating city disc coincident with said hour hand

40 A time equipment, as recited in claim 5. further compnsmg an hour shaft transmitting and setting device for enabling an hour shaft, which is extended from said movement upwards to connect with said hour hand above said dial, to be transmitted to rotate one revolution per 24 hours by a minute shaft wherein said mmute shaft is driven to rotate one revolution per hour by means of said movement and extended from said movement upwards to connect with said minute hand above said dial, said hour shaft transmitting and setting device also for permitting said hour shaft to be dnven to rotate independently

41 A time equipment, as recited in claim 40, in wluch said hour shaft transmitting and setting device is installed in a transmitting chamber provided in an upper porUon of said movement, wherein said transmitting chamber of said movement has a bottom surface which central portion has a holloyv mounung shaft, said minute shaft being extended through said transmitting chamber by rotatably penetraUng through said mounting shaft said minute shaft further having a base gear provided at a position aboye said mounting shaft in said transmitting chamber 42 A time equipment, as recited in claim 41, in which said hour shaft transmitting and setUng device compnses a transmitting unit, an hour shaft dnven wheel integrally connected to a bottom of said hour shaft, and a setting unit, wherein said transmitting unit compnses a mam gear which has a central hole and a C-shaped connecting shaft extending upwards from a circumferenUal boundary of said central hole, said mam gear being rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft in said Uansnuttmg cnambεr, said transmitting unit fiirther comprising a gear unit which comprises a bottom gear and a top gear concentrically and integrally formed on said bottom gear, said gear unit being rotatably mounted on said main gear in a posiUon opposing to an opened side of said C-shaped connecung shaft, so that said bottom gear of said gear unit is adapted to engage with said base gear of said minute shaft, said hour shaft driven wheel having an hour gear connected to said bottom of said hour shaft and a circular connecung recess formed thereunder for concentrically and rotatably mounted on said C-shaped connecting shaft in such a manner that said hour gear of said hour shaft driven wheel is engaged with said top gear of said gear unit ol said transmitting unit, said setUng unit being rotatably mounted on said bottom surface of said transmitting chamber and comprising a setting gear engaged with said main gear of said transmitting unit and a setting wheel coaxially and integrally connected on said setting gear for driving said setting gear to rotate

43 A time equipment, as recited in claim 42. in wluch at least a portion of said setting wheel is exposed to outside of said time equipment, therefore, by turning said setting wheel can dnve said setting gear to rotate and so does said main gear, so mat said hour shaft, as well as said hour hand arc dnven to rotate simultaneously and independenUy

44 A time equipment, as recited in claim 10, 15. 20 24 or 28. further comprising in hour shaft transmitting and setting device for enabling said hour shaft to be transmitted to rotate one revolution per 24 hours by a minute shaft, which is dnven lo rotate one revolution per hour by means of said movement and extended from said movement upwards to connect with said minute hand above said dial said hour shaft transmitting and setting device also for permitting said hour shaft to be driven to rotate independently wherein said hour shaft transmitting and setting device is installed in a transmitting chamber provided in an upper portion of said movement wherein said transmitting chamber of said movement has a bottom surface which central portion has a hollow mounting shaft, said minute shaft being extended through said transmitting chamber by rotatably penetrating through said mounting shaft, said minute shaft further having a base gear provided at a position above said mounting shaft in said transmitting chamber

45 A time equipment, as recited in claim 44 in wluch said hour shaft transmitting and setting device comprises a transmitting unit, an hour shaft dnven wheel integrally connected to a bottom of said hour shaft, and a setting unit, wherein said transmitting unit compnses a mam gear which has a central hole and a C-shaped connecting shaft extending upwards from a circumferential boundary of said central hole, said main gear being rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft in said transmitting chamber. said transmitting unit further compnsmg a gear unit which compnses a bottom gear and a top gear concentrically and integrally formed on said bottom gear, said gear unit being rotatably mounted on said main gear in a posiUon opposing to an opened side of said C-shaped connecting shaft, so that said bottom gear of said gear unit is adapted to engage with said base gear of said minute shaft, said hour shaft dnven wheel having an hour gear connected to said bottom of said hour shaft and a circular connecting recess formed thereunder for concentrically and rotatably mounted on said C-shaped connecting shaft in such a manner that said hour gear of said hour shaft dnven wheel is engaged with said top gear of said gear unit of said transmitting unit, said setting unit being rotatably mounted on said bottom surface of said transmitting chamber and comprising a setting gear engaged with said main gear of said transmitting unit and a setUng wheel coaxially and integrally connected on said setting gear for driving said setting gear to rotate and that at least a portion of said setting wheel is exposed to outside of said time equipment therefore by turning said setting wheel can dnve said setting gear to rotate and so does said main gear, so that said hour shaft, as well as said hour hand, are dnven to rotate simultaneously and independently

46 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1. further comprising a Ume zone disc, which is rotatably mounted above said dial, having a Uansparent central portion for observing said dial and an outer time zone ring portion disposed around said central portion, in which said time zone ring portion has a plurality of time zone indicators provided thereon and arranged in the same order as Uie time zones, and that said hour hand is affixed to said time zone disc in such a manner that a tip end of said hour hand is pointed to a predetermined time zone indicator of said plurality of time zone indicators provided on said time zone ring portion of said Ume zone disc, whereby said time zone disc is dnven by said hour hand to rotate simultaneously 47 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46 in which said hour hand further comprises at least a protruding pin attached to a bottom side of said hour hand said time zone disc having at least a mounting hole on a predetermined position on said central portion wherein said protruding pin of said hour hand is fιrml inserted into said mounting hole of said time zone disc in order to firmly affι\ said hour hand on said time zone disc 48 A time equipment, as recited in claim 47 in which said hour hand further has a ring end for engaging with a top end of said hour shaft, wherein a bottom side of said nng end of said hour hand further protrudes at least an affixing pin U erefrom downwardly, and that said cenUal portion of said time zone disc further has at least a mounting pin holes adapted to engage with said affixing pin of said hour hand 49 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which said hour hand further compnses at least a protruding pin attached to a bottom side of said hour hand, said time zone disc having a plurality of mounting holes formed on said central portion and arranged circularly and evenly spaced apart angularly wherein a total number of said mounting holes is equal to the total number of said Ume zone indicators provided on said time zone ring portion of said Ume zone disc, wherein said protruding pin of said hour hand is firmh inserted into one predetermined mounting hole of said plurality of mounting holes of said time zone disc in order to firmly affix said hour hand on said time zone disc 50 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 49, in which said hour hand further has a ring end for engaging with a top end of said hour shaft, wherein a bottom side of said nng end of said hour hand further protrudes an affixing pin therefrom downwardly, and that a sequence of mounting pin holes having a total number equal to the total number of said time zone indicators, is provide on said central porUon of said time zone disc, so that said affixing pm is adapted to insert into the conesponding mounting pm hole for integrally affixing sa d Ume zone disc with said hour hand

51 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46. in wluch said time zone disc is adhered with said hour hand

52 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which a circular sun mark is affixed on said hour hand

53 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which said hour hand further compnses at least a protruding pin attached to a bottom side of said hour hand and that said time zone disc has at least a mounting hole on a predetermined position on said central portion, wherein said protruding pin of said hour hand is fiπnly inserted into said mounung hole of said Ume /one disc in order to firmly affix said hour hand on said time zone disc

54 A time equipment, as recited in claim 53 in which said hour hand further has a ring end for engaging with a top end of said hour shaft, wherein a bottom side of said ring end of said hour hand further protrudes at least an affixing pin therefrom downwardly, and that said central portion of said Ume /one disc further has at least a mounting pin holes adapted to engage with said affixing pin of said hour hand

55 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which said hour hand further comprises at least a protruding pin attached to a bottom side of said hour hand, and that said time zone disc has a pluralitv of mounting holes formed on said central portion and arranged circularlv and evenly spaced apart angularly, wherein a total number of said mounting holes is equal to the total number of said time zone indicators provided on said time /one ring portion of said time /one disc, wherein said protruding pin of said hour hand is firmly inserted into one predetermined mounting hole of said pluralitv of mounting holes of said time zone disc in order lo fiπnly affix said hour hand on said time /one disc

56 A time equipment, as recited in claim 55, in which said hour hand further has a nng end for engaging with a top end of said hour shaft, wherein a bottom side of said nng end of said hour hand further protrudes an affixing pin therefrom downwardly, and that a sequence of mounting pin holes having a total number equal to the total number of said time zone indicators, is provide on said central portion of said time zone disc, so that said affixing pin is adapted to insert into the corresponding mounting pm hole for integrallv affixing said Ume zone disc with said hour hand

57 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which said time zone disc is adheied with 58 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46, in which said time zone disc is adhered with

59 A time equipment, as recited in claim 48, in wluch said time zone disc is further adhered

60 A time equipment, as recited in claim 54, in which said time zone disc is further adhered

61 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 55, in which said time zone disc is further adhered

62 A time equipment, as recited in claim 56, in which said Ume zone disc is further adhered with said hour hand

63 A time equipment, as recited in claim 46. further compnsmg a time piece housing winch has a movement chamber for receiving said movement, a receiving chamber for receiving said dial, said time zone disc said hour and minute hands, a removable transparent cover for coveπng said receiving chamber for protection 64 A time equipment, as recited in claim 63. in wluch said time piece housing further compnses a battery chamber provided on a back of said time piece housing and a detachable battery cover for closing said battery chamber, wherein a bottom end of said battery cover further extends perpendicularly to fonn a supporting stand for supporting said time piece to stand inclinedly

65 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1. further comprises a time zone means which includes a Ume zone ring coaxially mounted for rotaUng around the periphery of said dial, said time zone ring having a front surface bears 24 time zone indicators wluch are arranged in the same order as the time zones.

said time zone ring has to rotate unUl one of the time zone indicators representing a local city aligned with said hour hand, then the time of another city inscribed by said respective time zone indicator on said time zone ring is able to be read according to the alignment of the corresponding hour numeral inscribed on said hour portion of said dial

66 A time equipment, as recited in claim 65, in wluch said Ume zone means further compnses a C-shape spnng which one end being bent to form a tail, the outer nm of said case forming an outer tune zone recess which has a circular nm protrusion protruded outwardly from a vertical outer penphery side of said time zone recess and a hole on a predctcπnmed position on a horizontal penphery surface of said time zone recess, said tail of said spnng being insert into said hole so as to be held on said time zone recess, an inner surface of said time zone nng foπning a circular groove so that said time zone ring can be rotatably mounted in position on said Ume zone recess b> means of the clipped-fit locking between said circular groove and said circular nm protrusion, the lower portion of said inner surface of said time zone nng further providing a ring of ratchet teeth, on which the other free end of said spnng being engaged thereto, so that said Ume zone ring enables to rotate in anti-clockwise direction while said ratchet teeth acting as a stopping means to prevent said Ume zone nng to rotate clockwise 67 A time equipment, as recited in claim 65. in which said time zone means further comprises a time zone mechanism for rotating said time zone ring automatically one revoluUon in 24 hours, so that one of said Ume zone indicators which represents the local city rotates simultaneously following the rotation of said hour indicating hand 68 A time equipment, as recited in claim 67, in which an inner side of the time zone nng further provides a series of gear teeth, and said time zone mechanism compnses a time zone movement and a dnving device dnven by said time zone movement, said dnving device compnsmg at least a driving gear engaged with said inner gear teeth of said time zone ring for dnving said time zone nng to rotate one revoluUon in 24 hours automaUcally 69 A time equipment, as recited in claim 67, in which said time zone ring is a build-in time zone ring Uiat said time zone nng is mounted within said case, an inner bottom side of said time zone nng providing a seπes of gear teeth said time zone mechanism being a driving mechanism comprising said gear teeth of said time zone ring and a plurality of transmitting wheels for connecting by means of engagement with an hour indicating wheel of said movement, which drives said hour hand to rotate so as to transmit said time zone ring to rotate one revolution in 24 hours as long as the rotation of said hour indicating wheel

70 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 1. further compnses an alarm generaung mechanism for providing more than one alann signals at vanous predetermined time, an alarm time setting assembly for setUng said predetermined alarm time, and a switch device for stopping said alaπn signal when said alaπn signal is generated

71 A time equipment, as recited in claim 70. in which said alarm time setting assemblv compnses at least two alaπn setting wheels coaxially disposing lavcr upon layer on the bottom side oi said case, each of said setting wheels having a shoulder nm recess, with a predetermined width formed along the peπphe thereof respectively, said shoulder nm recesses each having a step protrusion with two inclined sides protruded thereon and having a height at least equal to a depth of said shoulder nm recesses respectivel) . each of said alaπn setting wheels having a different diameter that the lower located wheel having a larger diameter so that said shoulder nm recesses of said alarm setting wheels are all disclosed. at least two alarm setting hands which are mounted to said respective alarm setting wheels for rotating aboλ e said dial, said movement compnsmg an hour indicaUng wheel coaxially placed above said alarm setUng wheels for driving said hour hand to rotate, which has at least two grooves foπned therethrough and a diameter larger than that of said alarm setting wheels. said alarm generating mechanism compnsmg an alarm generating circuit having a terminal contact and a conductive plate electrically disconnected with said teπrunal contact, said alarm tune setting assembly further comprising a motion plate, a pressing plate, and at least two setting gears of different diameter engaged with said corresponding alarm setting wheels respectiveh for dnving said alarm setting wheels to rotate by rotating said setting gears, so as lo drive said alarm setting wheels and said alarm setting hands to rotate and preset the predetermined alarm time respectively, said motton plate, coaxially placed on said hour indicating wheel, having at least two projections, coπespondingly and respectively aligned with said grooves of said hour indicaUng wheel, and extending downward from Uie bottom side of said motion plate, each of said projections having a different height and a slope side for inserting respectively through said grooves of said hour indicaUng wheel and falling on said shoulder nm recesses of said alarm setting wheels respectively, and said pressing plate, disposed on said motion plate, having a projecting rod extended upwardly therefrom to a position abutUng upon said conductive plate of said alarm generaung mechanism, whereby said pressing plate being held in the manner that said projecting rod hasn't contacted with said conducUve plate, and thus when said hour indicating wheel rotates, said motion plate is also rotated concurrently, said alarm ume setting assembly being so arranged that in one circulation, said projections of said motion plate are aligned only once with said corresponding step protrusions of said alarm setting wheels respectively, so that during rotating procedure, when one of said projections is aligned with said conesponding step protrusion, said respective projection may climb up said corresponding step protrusion, and thus said motion plate and said pressing plate being pressed to an incline position, so as to move said projection rod to press said conductive plate to in touch with said teπninal contact, and thus being electrically connected to give out an alarm

72 A time equipment, as recited in claim 71. in which said switch device comprises a switch button device for stopping the alarm permanently, which comprises a button mounted on a rail means provided in said case for guiding said button to move in linear direction, furthermore, the bottom side of said button having a stopping lever extending downward to a position adjacent to said conductive plate, whereby when said button is in an upper position, said lever is apart from said conductive plate of said alarm generating mechams . and that if said button is pressed downwardly to a lower position said stopping lever is move downwardly to press said conductive plate apart from said terminal contact and thus disconnecting the said alarm generaung circuit peπnanentlv

73 A time equipment, as recited in claim 72. in which said switch device further compnses a snooze device for stopping the alaπn signal temporarily for a predetermined interval of time, after said predetermined time interval, said alarm generating mechanism being able to give out another alarm signal again automatically, said snooze device comprising a contact switch a delay circuit incorporating with said alarm generating circuit, and an electromagnetic means wluch has a lever extending downward and is electπcallv connected with said alarm generating circuit, whereby when said contact switch is press once during the alarm signal for actuating said electromagnetic means, said lever is pushed downward to press said conductive plate away from said terminal contact for a predetermined interval of ume which is longer than the time penod of said alarm signal generated, and that after said predetermined Ume interval, said electromagnetic means is actuated to pull back said lever to leave said conductive plate automatical and thus said alaπn generating mechamsm is ready for generating another alarm signal again at the next preset alarm time

74 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 73, further compnses a time zone means which includes a time zone nng coaxially mounted for rotating around the penphery of said dial, said time zone nng having a front surface bears 24 Ume zone indicators wluch are arranged in the same order as the time zones, whereby said time zone nng has to rotate until one of said ume one indicators representing U e local city being aligned with said hour hand, the time of another city inscribed by another said respective ume zone indicator on said time zone nng can be read according to the conesponding aligned hour numeral insenbed on said hour portion of said dial 75 A time equipment, as recited in claim 74. in which said time zone means further comprises a time zone mechamsm for rotaUng said time zone nng automaUcally in on revoluUon in 24 hours, so that said Ume zone indicator which represents the local city can rotate simultaneously following the rotation of said hour hand automatically

76 A time equipment, as recited in claim 75 in which said time zone ring is a build-in time zone nng that said time /one ring is mounted within said case, an inner bottom side of said time zone nng providing a senes of gear teeth, said time zone mechanism being a driving mechanism compnsmg a plurality of transmitting wheels for connecting bv means of engagement with said hour indicating wheel of said movement and said gear teeth of said time zone ring, so as to transmit said time /one nng to rotate one revolution in 24 hours as long as Uie rotation of said hour indicating wheel 77 A time equipment, as recited in claim 71 in wluch said first alaπn setting wheel with a largest diameter is posiUoned at a bottom layer and has a first central hollow shaft extended from a bottom side thereof for inserting to squeezed through the bottom of said case and connecting with one of said alarm setting hands

78 A time equipment, as recited in claim 77, in which said first hollow shaft has an angular protrusion extended circumstantially and outwardly therefrom, which provides a lip-fit locking with said case tor preventing said first hollow shaft from disengaging with said case

79 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 78. in which said second alaπn setUng wheel, located on said first alarm setting wheel, has a diameter smaller than that of said first alarm setting wheel and a second central hollow shaft which is longer than said first hollow shaft, said second hollow shaft being rotatabh inserted through said first hollow shaft and connected with another said alarm setting hands

80 A time equipment, as recited in claim 79, in which each of said alarm setUng wheels has an edge recess formed at a free end thereof for fiπnly fixing said respective alarm setting hand

81 A time equipment, as recited in claim 79, in which said motion plate has a through hole which penphen forms a top run, and said pressing plate has a central opening wherein said top nm is inserted into said central opening for holding said pressing plate in position, and two pivot arms pivoted to a bracket formed in said case

82 A time equipment, as recited in claim 1, in which a circular sun mark is attached on said hour hand 83 "A Ume equipment, comprising a 24-hour movement, which is installed in a case, coupling and dnving at least an hour shaft to rotate one revolution per 24 hours and a minute shaft to rotate one revolution per one hour, a stationary dial mounted above said movement in said case, in which a front surface of said dial provides an outer hour indicating ring porUon, an inner minute indicaUng nng porUon arranged radically adjacent an inner penphery of said outer hour indicating ring portion, and a circular central time condition indicating portion encircled by said inner minute indicaUng ring portion, said time condition indicating portion which is positioned on a central circular porUon of said dial having a central cross inscπption and a central hole for permitting said hour and mmute shafts to pass through, said central cross inscription having a vertical line extending from a top position to a bottom posiUon of said time condition indicaUng portion and a hoπzontal line extending from a left position to a nght position of said time condition indicating portion, so as to divide said time condiUon indicaUng portion into a top-left quarter section, a top-πght quarter secUon, a bottom-nght quarter secUon, and a bottom-left quarter section, a day indicator and a night indicator being provided on said upper and lower portions of said Ume condition indicaUng portion respectiveh, a antemendian indicator and a postmeπdian indicator being provided on said left and said right portions of said time condition indicating portion respectivel} , a morning indicator, an afternoon indicator, an evemng indicator, and a midnight indicator being provided on said top-left, top-right, bottom- right, and bottom-left quarter sections respectively, said minute indicating ring portion being evenl divided into 60 annular scales providing a visual indication of 60 minutes in one hour, said hour indicaUng ring portion peπpherally encircling said minute indicating ring portion provides 24 hour scales inscribed thereon which are two sequences of numerals ordered by increasing value from 1 to 12 and arranged circularly spaced apart angularly, wherein a first numeral "12" is provided in a top position of said hour indicating ring portion, a second numeral "12" is provided in a bottom position of said hour indicating nng portion a first numeral "6" is provided in a left position of said hour indicating ring portion, and a second numeral "6" is provided in a nght position of said hour indicating nng portion, a transparent rotatable Ume zone disc having a center hole for secunng to said hour shaft for being driven b\ said hour shaft to rotate above said dial underneath to complete one revolution per 24 hours, said time zone disc further having a time zone ring portion provided on an outer penphery thereof to encircle a transparent central porUon which has a diameter at least equal to an outer diameter of said hour indicaung nng portion of said dial for revealing said hour indicaUng ring portion, said minute indicaUng ring portion and said time condition indicating portion of said dial underneath, said time zone nng portion providing 24 time zone indicators arranged circularly spaced apart angularly to represent 24 time /one cities. 24 hour pointers being radically' extended from said 24 ume zone indicators to an inner periphery of said time zone nng portion respectively to align with said 24 hour scales of said hour indicaUng ring portion respectively, said time zone disc further providing at least a sun mark thereon, said sun mark being positioned in a predetermined position adjacent to said inner penphery of said hour indicating ring portion of said dial and radically aligned with one of said time zone indicators, so as to enable said hour scales being revealed between said sun mark and said time /one indicator aligned with said sun mark, and a minute hand secunng to said minute shaft for being driven to rotate above said Ume zone disc to complete one revolution per one hour

84 A time equipment, as recited in claim 83, in which said four quarter sections have more than one different colors, wherein said bottom-πght and bottom-left quarter sections have a darker color than the color of said top-left and top-right quarter secUons for visually distinguishing said top-left and top- right quarter sections from said botto -nght and bottom-left quarter sections

85 A time equipment, as recited in claim 84, in wluch a predetermined number of said time /one indicators which represent a pluralitv of time /one cities utilizing summer time, further provide a pluralin of projection lines respectively, each of said projection lines being positioned between two of said hour pointers wherem each projection line being extended clockwise from an outer end of said hour pointer of said conesponding time zone indicator which utilizes summer time to an inner end of another said hour pointer adjacent thereto

86 A time equipment, as recited in claim 85 in which said 24 time zone indicators are 24 inscriptions of 24 tune /one city names 87 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 83 in which said sun mark further provides a sun mark pointer radically extending therefrom and pointing to said aligning time zone indicator

88 A time equipment, as recited in claim 86, in which said sun mark further provides a sun mark pointer radically extending therefrom and pointing lo said aligning time /one indicator

89 A time equipment as recited in claim 83. in which said dav indicator is a "dav mark insenbed on an upper part of said vertical line said night indicator being a "night' mark inscribed on a lower part of said vertical line, said antemeπdian being an "a m mark inscribed on a left part of said hoπzontal line said postmendian being a "p m " mark inscribed on a right part of said horizontal line said morning indicator is a "MORNING" mark insenbed on a predetermined position of said top-left quarter section in an arc form extending from said left part of said horizontal line to said upper part of said vertical line, said afternoon indicator being an ^^7^00^' mark insenbed on a predetermined position of said top-πght quarter section in an arc form extending from said upper part of said vertical line to said nght part of said honzontal line, said evening indicator is a "EVENING mark inscribed on a predetermined position of said bottom-πght quarter section in an arc form extending from said nght part of said horizontal line to said lower part of said vertical line, said midnight indicator being a "MTDNITE ' mark inscribed on a predeteπnmed position of said bottom-left quarter section in an arc form extending from said lower part of said vertical line to said left part of said hon/ontal line 90 A ume equipment, as recited in claim 88, in wluch said day indicator is a "day" mark insenbed on an upper part of said vertical line, said night indicator being a "night" mark inscribed on a lower part of said vertical line, said antemeridian being an "a m " mark inscribed on a left part of said hoπzontal line, said postmeπdian being a "p m " mark insenbed on a right part of said honzontal line, said morning indicator is a "MORNING" mark insenbed on a predetermined position of said top-left quarter secuon in an arc form extending from said left part of said horizontal line to said upper part of said vertical line, said afternoon indicator being an "AFTNOON" mark insenbed on a predetermined posiUon of said top-right quarter section in an arc form extending from said upper part of said vertical line to said nght part of said honzontal line, said evening indicator is a "EVENING" mark insenbed on a predetermined position of said bottom-right quarter section in an arc form extending from said nght part of said horizontal line to said lower part of said vertical line, said midnight indicator being a "MIDNITE" mark inscribed on a predetermined position of said bottom-left quarter secuon in an arc form extending from said lower part of said vertical line to said left part of said hoπzontal line

91 A ume equipment, as recited in claim 83. in which a top portion of said hour shaft reduces an outer diameter thereof to form an engaging head wluch has a height at least equal to a thickness of said time zone disc and an outer diameter at least equal to a diameter of said center hole of said time zone disc so that said time zone disc is firmly secured to said hour shaft by inserting said engaging head of said hour shaft through said center hole of said time zone disc

92 A time equipment as recited in claim 91 in which a securing means is used to affix said time zone disc to said engaging head of said hour shaft so as to ensure said tune /one disc being dnven b> said hour shaft to rotate simultaneously

93 A time equipment as recited in claim 92. in which said securing means comprises at least an dming rib protruded on an outer periphery surface of said engaging head of said hour shaft and extended along an axis of said hour shaft and that a penphery of said center hole of said tune one disc also provides at least an indent to match and engage with said driving rib

94 A time equipment, as recited in claim 92 in wluch said securing means compnses a securing ring which has a central engaging hole, a top nm. and a ring body coaxially extending from said top nm said ring body having an outer diameter slightly smaller than said center hole of said time zone disc an inner diameter at least equal to said outer diameter of said engaging head of said hour shaft and a height longer than said thickness of said time zone disc, wherein said ring body of said securing ring is penetrated through said center hole of said time zone disc, a bottom end of said nng body being pressed and bent outwardlv to press against a bottom surface of said time zone disc so as to firmly affix said secunng nng to said time zone disc, so that said time zone disc is secured to said hour shaft by forcing said engaging head of said hour shaft to insert through said engaging hole of said secunng ring 95 A time equipment, as recited in claim 94, in which said inner surface of said ring bod> and said outer surface of said engaging head are coarse surfaces to increase the friction therebetween 96 A Ume equipment, as recited in claim 90, in which a top portion of said hour shaft reduces an outer diameter thereof to form an engaging head which has a height at least equal to a thickness of said time zone disc and an outer diameter at least equal to a diameter of said center hole of said time zone disc, so that said Ume zone disc is firmly secured to said hour shaft by inserting said engaging head of said hour shaft through said center hole of said Ume zone disc

97 A time equipment, as recited in claim 96, in which a secunng means is used to affix said time zone disc to said engaging head of said hour shaft so as to ensure said Ume zone disc being driven by said hour shaft to rotate simultaneously

98 A time equipment, as recited in claim 97, in which said secunng means compnses at least an axial dnung nb protruded on an outer penphery surface of said engaging head of said hour shaft and extended along an axis of said hour shaft and that a periphery of said center hole of said time zone disc also provides at least an indent to match and engage with said dnving πb

99 A time equipment, as recited in claim 97 in which said securing means compnses a securing nng wluch has a central engaging hole a top run, and a ring body coaxially extending from said top run said nng body having an outer diameter slightly smaller than said center hole of said tune zone disc, an inner diameter at least equal to said outer diameter of said engaging head of said hour shaft, and a height longer than said thickness of said Ume zone disc wherein said ring body of said secunng ring is penetrated through said center hole of said time zone disc, a bottom end of said ring body being pressed and bent outwardlv to press against a bottom surface of said time zone disc so as to firmly affix said securing ring to said time zone disc, so that said time /one disc is secured to said hour shaft by forcing said engaging head of said hour shaft to insert through said engaging hole of said securing nng

100 A time equipment, as recited in claim 99 in which said inner surface of said πne; bod\ and said outer surface of said engaging head are coarse surfaces to increase the friction therebetween