Mechanical clock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10990065-B2
Application number	US-201615749776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical clock having a winding mechanism and a means to automatically wind the winding mechanism of the clock; wherein the automatic winding means is directly or indirectly powered or actuated by an electrical system of a motor vehicle, in use.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle comprising a mechanical clock rotatably mounted in a holder which is mounted in the motor vehicle, the mechanical clock having a winding mechanism automatically wound through rotational movement of the clock relative to the holder; the vehicle having an automatic winding system including a clock moving mechanism powered by an electrical system of the motor vehicle for rotating the clock in the holder, the automatic winding system configured to operate the clock moving mechanism in accordance with a set of predetermined instructions stored within the electrical system of the motor vehicle for controlling winding operations of the clock, the automatic winding system being operable in use such that subsequent to rotation of the clock for a set period of time, the clock is returned to a first set position, the automatic winding system having a user interface switch selectively operable in use to override the predetermined, stored instructions and cause the rotating mechanism to initiate rotation of the clock in the holder on demand in response to actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the clock comprises a rotational mechanism operable in use to rotate one or more hands of the clock to indicate the time to a user, the clock comprises a crown wheel operable in use to act upon the rotational mechanism to move the hand(s) of the clock and the user interface switch is operable to cause the clock moving mechanism to move the clock itself to a second set position, different from the first set position, so as to present the crown wheel to a user for altering the time displayed by the clock whilst the clock is retained in the holder.

2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic winding system is operable in use to continuously wind the winding mechanism.

3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic winding system is operable in use to wind the winding mechanism in a periodic manner.

4. A motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein a face of the clock comprises one or more indicators thereon.

5. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first set position to which the clock is returned subsequent to winding comprises a position whereby an indicator for 12 o'clock is centred at a top of the clock.

6. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising a positional sensor operable to determine the rotational position of the clock relative to the holder.

7. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the positional sensor is operable to determine whether the clock has been returned to its first set position subsequent to movement of the clock itself.

8. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the positional sensor is operable to detect unwanted rotation of the clock from the first set positon and, on doing so, instruct the clock moving mechanism to move the clock to the first set position.

9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the positional sensor comprises an optical sensor.

10. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic winding system is operable in use to automatically wind the winding mechanism of the clock irrespective of whether the engine of the vehicle is operational or is turned off.

11. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder comprises the user interface switch.

12. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface switch is operable in use so that, when switched, the automatic winding mechanism is wound for a given length of time.

13. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface switch is operable in use so that, when switched, the clock moving mechanism is operative to alter the position of the clock in the holder.

14. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface switch is operable in use to cause the clock to rotate in the holder to a position at which it can be disconnected from the vehicle for removal from the vehicle.

15. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface switch comprises a push button or a flick switch.

16. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanical clock is positioned on or within a dashboard of the vehicle.

17. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanical clock is positioned on or within a centre console of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Bentley Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Rook David Alan
• Hartley Richard

Classifications

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• G04C1/006 Primary

  for clocksystems (G04C1/02 - G04C1/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• G04B5/20

  by movements of other objects, e.g. by opening a hand-bag, by opening a case, by opening a door; Winding up by wind power · CPC title

• G04D7/009

  with regard to the functioning of the automatic winding-up device · CPC title

• G04C1/00 Primary

  Winding mechanical clocks electrically · CPC title