US2290811A - Projector for time indications - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1942.

H. B. NAsso l'r 2,290,811

PROJECTOR FOR TIME INDICATIONS Filed Feb. 5, 1942 INVENTOR. HARRY B. /VA.5$0/T A TTORNE X Patented .Fniy 21, 1942? warren STATES eTENT FFiCE- 2 Claims.

The invention relates to time-indicating mechanism and more especially to means in association therewith whereby a visual time indication maybe momentarily displayed on the ceiling of an unlighted roomin which the time mechanism or clock is located, for example, on the portion of the ceiling immediately above a bed, the display being under control of the occupant thereof or it may be found useful during blackouts either for continuous or momentarydisplay of the time indication.

The invention has for an object to provide the exhibiting element and its advancing mechanism as a cooperative but separate and distinct unit for association with time mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this unit that it may readily be disengaged from the associated driving time mechanism, as in case of repair or replacement of any parts thereof; or for removing, except during the periods of darkness, from the time mechanism the load introduced by the unit; also to allow of proper setting of the projected individual indicia with reference to the timemechanism.

Still another object is to maintain the displayed individual time indications stationary for a sufilciently long period by eflecting intermittently the advance of a film bearing the same.

In carrying out the invention, a suitable casing is provided to conceal the time mechanism, which may be a clock of either the spring-actuated or synchronous-motor type, the mechanism being enclosed by the casing and only the dial with hands thereof being exposed, for example at the front. Within this casing and mounted preferably upon a swingable door member or the like, which may constitute-the back is located in such a' manner that, when the door is closed, said mechanism is juxtaposed to the time mechanism for actuation thereby and also aperture therein. An electric lamp, also, is provided in the optical axis of the lens system, and

between the same, and said system is designed to be advanced an endless strip of film bearing a succession of indicia conforming to the time bar driven by the clock mechanism. The arbor is designed for engagement with the driving means for the endless film strip,,said engagement being eil'ected periodically from the arbor so that an intermittent advance will be imparted to the film strip in its travel between the lens system and the lamp. The said electric lamp is designed to be momentarily energized, as through the provision of a suitable switch or button conveniently located on the casing, so as to project the'indicia on the film strip upon the celling whenever the circuit is closed to the lamp. Provision is also made to disengage readily the driving connection between the arbor and the drive mechanism for the film strip; and there is provided in connection with the driving connection a knob or like member located exteriorly of the casing whereby-the film strip may be set manually, when the disengagement has been affected, to conform its indicia to the time indicated by the time mechanism;

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the novel device in isometric projection.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the casing, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, with the interior parts shown in end elevation; and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2 of the drawing, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detail, fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating the film advance disengagof the casing, is the display mechanism which'g ing and film setting arrangements.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates a suitable casing or box for housing the clock mechanism as well as the means for projecting the time shown by said mechanism. This time mechanism is of any well-known form of clock,

either spring-actuated or driven by a synchronous motor, the latter type being indicated in the embodiment shown. The said clock mechanism is indicated as a container ll mounted within the casing Ill and has outwardly-directed 'arbors for the minute hand I2 and hour hand l3, as well as a second hand ll, all movable over the dial l5 at the front of the casing.

In this embodiment, the casing I0 is extended backwardly to accommodate the projecting timeindication unit, the casing being provided to this end also with an aperture 20 in the top through which the indications may be projected,

' as hereinafter set forth. A switch element 2| is units as represented by the rotations of an armo at the p f he casing vi a finger portion 22 projecting thr ough a slot 23 in said top whereby energization of an electric lamp unit 24 is controlled tor the purpose hereinafter set forth. A vertically disposed optical system 25, adjustable for focussing, is carried by the top in line with the aperture and dependsirom the top into the interior or the casing; and the lamp unit 24 is optically aligned with said system but displaced therefrom to allow of a dim strip 26 passing therebetween. This strip bears suitable indicia 21 along its length corresponding to the time units to be displayed and as determined by an arbor of example the seconds arbor 28 which is rearw-ardly extended from the container H and carries one or the elements 29 of a Geneva movement or other suitable means for imparting intermittent motion from the time mechanism to the film strip. The latter is constituted as an endless band 01. film or like transparent material having the indicia 21 thereon, plurality of sprocket wheels or rollers 30 secured to the back 3| of the casing III which is hinged at the bottom as at 32. The film is engaged, also, by a further sprocket 33 which serves to advance the film intermittently in equal increments, said film being maintained under suitable tension by a tensionin'g roller. 34 also carried by the back 3i.

n the spindle 35 for said sprocket 33 and at its irmer end is mounted for rotating the spindle the cooperatnig element 36 of the Geneva movement, whereby said film strip is advanced from the arbor 28 between the lamp unit '24 and the optical system 25, for example-once every minute. The extent of this advance is made to conform. to the time indications on the dial so that the respective indicia of the film strip will be positioned successively for projection by the light rays of lamp unit 24 through the optical system 25 and upon the ceiling of a room in which the device is located, provided the switch 2| has been actuated to close the circuit to the lamp unit 24.

All of the elements for mounting and advancing said film, as well as the lamp unit 24, being secured to the movable back 3|, these become readily accessible when the back is swung outwardly for repair or replacement. The separation of the cooperating Geneva movement elements' may be effected byso mounting the spindle 35 that it may be manually withdrawn axially outwardly, as by means of a knob 40 secured thereto externally of the casing Ill. The spindle to this end is mounted in a sleeve 4| which is keyed to the spindle and over which sleeve the sprocket 33 is secured. The sleeve 4| is preferably of the split type at one end, with end prongs 42 designed to fit a notched portion correspondingend of the spindle, whenthe latter is drawn outwardly, to definitely limit thereof movement. A similar notch 44 the spindle at thecooperating end by the extent is provided in the time mechanism, for

43' at the engaged, so

to limit, when engaged by the prongs, its movement inwardly for positioning element 33 with respect to element 29 or the Geneva movement. The foregoing arrangement, furthermore, admits or movement or the film 23 independently or the time mechanism when the spindle 35 hasbeen drawn outwardly and the Geneva element disthat the said film may be manually set, by'turning knob 40, to conform the indicia and it is carried by a to be projected to the time indications or the time mechanism.

I claim:

1. Projector for a casing with aperture in disposed optical system for juxtaposition to said aperture in projecting an image therethrough, anelectric lamp in the optical axis or said system and means accessible exterlorly of the casing for controlling manually energization of said lamp, time mechanism locatedwithin the casing including a dial casing having hands movable thereover and an arbor extending into the interior of the casing making a complete rotation in a predetermined unitor time, an endless fllmcstrip mounted for movement between the lamp and the optical system, said film bearing spaced indicia conforming to the time unit or said arbondriving means for the strip adapted for engagement with the arbor, and manually operable means accessible exte riorly or the casing to effect engagement between the driving means and said arbor for advance of the former and to effect disengagement therewith in setting the film strip to conform the same to a time indication on the dial. 2. Projector for time indications, comprising a casing with aperture in the top and a movable backior the casing, a vertically disposed optical system for juxtaposition to said aperture in projecting an image therethrough, an electric lamp carried'by the back in the optical axis of said time indications, comprising the top, a vertically system and means accessible exteriorly of the casing tor-controlling manually energization of said lamp, time mechanism located within the casing including a dial visible through the front or the casing having hands movable thereover and an arbor extending into the interior or the cessible exteriorly oi the casing-through the back thereof to eflect engagement between the driving means and said arbonfor advance or the former and to effect disengagement therewith in setting the illm strip-to'conform' the sam to dial.

a time indication on the HARRY B. -'NASSOIT.

visible through the front of the

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