| WO2000050963A1 | 2000-08-31 | |||
| WO1996021888A1 | 1996-07-18 |
| US5818165A | 1998-10-06 | |||
| US4130987A | 1978-12-26 | |||
| FR2576430A1 | 1986-07-25 | |||
| DE19825533A1 | 1999-12-09 | |||
| DE9004197U1 | 1990-06-21 |
| 1. | A roll up clock comprising a clock device mounted onto a flexible backing material, which can be rolled up when not in use or when being transported. |
| 2. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 1, where the clock device is an analogue device. |
| 3. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 1, where the clock device is a digital device. |
| 4. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the clock device lies flush with the flexible backing material. |
| 5. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the flexible backing material is provided with solid supports at two opposing ends. |
| 6. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 5, wherein the solid supports are made of proprietary plastic. |
| 7. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 5, wherein the solid supports are made of a metal extrusion. |
| 8. | A roll up clock as described in Claims 5 to 7, wherein the solid supports are embellished with finials. |
| 9. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the flexible backing material is a woven fabric material. |
| 10. | A roll up clock as described in Claims 1 to 8, wherein the flexible backing material is a flexible plastic. |
| 11. | A roll up clock as described in Claims 1 to 8, wherein the flexible backing material is paper. |
| 12. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the clock may be rolled up so that the clock device is on the internal surface. |
| 13. | A roll up clock as described in Claims 1 to 11, wherein the clock may be rolled up so that the clock device is on the external surface. |
| 14. | A roll up clock wherein the clock further comprises a packaging tube for storage and transportation. |
| 15. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, where designs are printed onto the flexible backing material. |
| 16. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the clock comprises a closing means which holds the clock in the closed position. |
| 17. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 16, wherein the closing means is a latch. |
| 18. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 16, wherein the closing means is a tie cord. |
| 19. | A roll up clock as described in any of the previous Claims, wherein the clock comprises a hanging means, which allows the clock to be hung on the wall. |
| 20. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 19, wherein the hanging means is a cord attached to each corner of the top of the clock, which then allows the clock to be suspended from the wall. |
| 21. | A roll up clock as described in Claim 19, wherein the hanging means is an eyed fixing positioned at the top of a clock. |
It is a first object of this-inventionit, o provide a clock zu which has a large surface area suitable for printing a design on.
A further object of this invention is to provide a clock which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a clock which is easily transportable.
According to the present invention, there is provided a clock device mounted onto a flexible backing material, which can be rolled up when not in use or for transportation.
Preferably the clock device is an analogue device.
Alternatively the clock device is a digital device.
Most preferably the clock device lies flush with the flexible backing material.
Preferably the flexible backing material is provided with solid supports at two opposing ends.
Optionally the solid supports may be made of proprietary plastic.
A further option is that the solid supports may be made of a metal extrusion.
Optionally the solid supports may be embellished with finials.
Preferably the flexible backing material is a woven fabric material.
Optionally the flexible backing material is a flexible plastic.
A further option is that the flexible backing material is paper.
Preferably the clock may be rolled up so that the clock device is on the internal surface.
Alternatively the clock may be rolled up so that the clock device is on the external surface.
Preferably the clock is packaged in a tube for storage and transportation.
Preferably designs may be printed onto the flexible backing material.
Preferably there is a closing means to hold the clock in the closed position.
Optionally the closing means is a latch.
A further option is that the-closing means is a tie cord.
Preferably the clock may be hung on the wall using hanging means.
Optionally the hanging means is a cord attached to each corner of the top of the clock, which allows the clock to be suspended from the wall.
A further option is that the hanging means is an eyed fixing positioned at the top of the clock.
In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roll up clock in the open position according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention ; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a roll up clock in the closed position according to one embodiment to the present invention ; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a roll up clock in the closed position according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In the preferred embodiment, the roll up clock 1 takes the form of a scroll. A flexible material 2 of the required size is printed with a design on one surface. A clock mechanism 4 is affixed to the flexible material 2, so that the time can be read on the side of the flexible material 2 which is printed with the design.
In one embodiment, the clock mechanism is provided by a compact unit containing a power supply such as a battery.
The clock mechanism is not necessarily an integral part of the flexible material. Rather, the compact unit may be fitted to the flexible material once it has been unrolled. For example, the mechanism may comprise a unit that is snap fitted to the back of the flexible material in its unrolled state. The hands may also be fitted to the flexible material at this time. Alternatively, the
hand may already be attached to the flexible material, as they would not be an impediment to the rolling up of the material.
In order to provide support to the flexible material, solid supports 3 are provided at the top and bottom edges of the flexible material 2. The solid supports 3 simplify the rolling of the roll up clock 1.
There is provided on the clock 1 a means for hanging the clock 1 on a wall, which may take the form of an eyed fixing attached to the top support or a string attached to the two top corners of the clock 1.
In order to roll up the clock 1, the two solid supports 3 can each be rolled towards the centre (as shown in Figure 2), or alternatively one of the solid supports 3 could be rolled to meet the other (Figure 3). The clock can be held in the closed position by a latch 5 (Figure 2) or a material tie cord 6 (Figure 3).
It can be seen that this type of clock has a number of advantages over the clocks that are already known. The use of a flexible material, such as fabric, means that it becomes commercially viable to produce large decorative clocks. Due to the flexible nature of the clocks, storage and transportation are also greatly facilitated.
The embodiment disclosed above is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in different forms.
Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the Claims and for teaching one skilled in the art as to the
various uses of the present invention in any appropriately designed structure.
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