US3593515A

US3593515A - Peg clock

Info

Publication number: US3593515A
Application number: US9476A
Authority: US
Inventors: Janet R Schockner; Leo A Rosetta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-09
Filing date: 1970-02-09
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20

Abstract

A hollow wood block houses a clock motor which drives a drum cam one turn in 12 hours. The drum cam sequentially lifts the pegs of a circular array of 12 pegs, representing the hours of the day, to project them upwardly from the upper surface of the block, each peg rising for 1 hour and being held in its upper position. When all 12 pegs have been lifted they are all dropped back into the block and the cycle is repeated.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventors Janet R. Schoekner [56] References Cited 818 N. Alta Vista Blvd., Hollywood, Calii. UNlTED STATES PATENTS 90046; Leo A Rosetta, 9806 E Bum" Drive, 3,501,9l l 2/ i970 S ostrom 58/2 Kensington, Md. 20795 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson [2 l] Appl. No. 9,476 Assistant ExaminerEdith C. Simmons [22] Filed Feb. 9, 1970 AltarneyBacon & Thomas [45 Patented July 20, 1971 ABSTRACT: A hollow wood block houses a clock motor [54] Drawi n which drives a drum cam one turn in 12 hours. The drum cam sequentially lifts the pegs of a circular array of 12 pegs, [52] U.S.Cl. 58/2, representing the hours of the day, to project them upwardly 581127 from the upper surface of the block, each peg rising for 1 hour [51] Int.Cl ..G04b 45/00 and being held in its upper position. When all 12 pegs have [50] Field of Search 58/1, 2, been lifted they are all dropped back into the block and the 127, 23, 153 cycle is repeated.

PATHHHIJULPOIQFI 3,593.51 5

SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTORS Jan/7 SHaCKNER m L50 4. P055770 ATTORNEYS rise CLOCK BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION numerical display is periodically changed to indicate'the'tiine I of day, commonly referred to as digital clocks. Such clocks require the recognition of numerical or equivalent symbols andusually require that the user be positioned directly in front thereof to be able to read the time correctly.

SUMMARY OF-THEINVENTION The present invention comprises a clock device for indicating the time by only a visible change in external -volume,'the extent of which can be observed and quite accurately read from a multitude of different and opposed directions.

In the preferred embodiments the change in volume is produced by projecting one or more pegs or the like outwardly from a reference surface of a base body. The pegs are sequentially moved by a suitable clock motor at a uniform rate so that the extent of projection indicates a corresponding fraction of the time required for full projection of each and the number of pegs fully extended indicates the hour of the day.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment;

F lG.'2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the

line

2,2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. I;

' FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. I, in the same plane as FIG. 3 but looking in the opposite direction; 1

FIG. 5' is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; i l

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the clock of FIG. I on an enlarged scale and with a portion of the cover broken away and certain parts shown in section; Y

' FIG. 7 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 6 but showing, certain parts in different positions; and

FIGS. 8,9. and. 10 are. schematic illustrations of'modified: formsof the invention.

DESCRIPTION or THE. PREFERRED EMBQDI-MENTS' FIG. l shows, a clock. embodying the. present invention: as. it appears externally and; comprises essentially av block 23', preferably of wood, although it' may be. made of? anysuitable material. The. block or body 2 is. holliow, as. will. be described, and its. upper surface 4, is provided? with. a circular array of 12 openings6 in. which pegs 8 are vertically slidablefrom; a. lower position, wherein the: upper endsof thev pegs are. flushwi'thzthesurface 4r; to. upper positions. whereim'the pegs project upwardlyfrom; that. surface A. mechanism. to be described.

sequentially liftsthe pegs8t from: their lower} position.to-their.= upwardly projectedposition, taking l: hour. to-raiseeachpeg', The positions. ofthe pegsare indicative'ofthehours of: the day. For example, the peg 8! isatthenormal 11 2-200 o clock position; and. the'other pegs are indicative oftthe hoursoft the day as thoughthey were conyentionalnumenals. As showntin- FIG. 11, the 1:00; 2:00and.--3:00 oclock-. pegs have been lifted'to their full extent indicating; that the time-is; after 3:00o'clock. The peg-in the.4;00,=ocloc k position hastbeenlifted only part way,

the extent of its projection beingindicativeof'the' fraction of 2 the indicated'time is approximately 3:30. As are sequentially raised at ayuniform rateand in the 12 o'clock position (which is preferably shown in FIG. I, stated, the pegs when the peg 8' 'the last one Iiftedlreaches its full height, a mechanism to be described operates to cause all l2 pegs to drop back into the body 2 and the cycle is repeated. I

It is to be noted that this embodiment of the invention is intended to beplaced on a horizontal surface, such as a desk or table, and the time indicated thereby can be observed and determined from any position around the clock, from any side of the table or desk. Thus, it is not necessary to position ones self directly in front of the clock to readthe time. Since the in dicia rings 10 extend completely'around each peg, they can be read from any direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, the body or block 2 is shown as comprising a lower blockportion l2 and an upper or covering plate 14 suitably secured to the block 12, after assembly of the mechanism. The block 12 is provided with a large central opening defining a chamber 16 closed by a bottom plate 18 on which a clock motor 20 is mounted, as by suitablespacers 22. The clock motor 20 may be either a spring motor or a conventional electric clock motor and is provided with an output shaft 24, which rotates at the rate of I revolution per hour.

Such shafts conventionally drive the minute hand of a clock. Also driven by the motor 20 is a pinion 26 engageable with and driving a gear 28 journaled freely on the shaft 24. The

gear'ratios are such that the gear 28 makes one complete revolution in 12 hours and is customarily employed to drive I the hour hand of a conventional clock. It is contemplated that the motor 20 be provided with a conventional manually operable means (not shown) to enable the clock to be set to the correct time. The gear 28 is secured to the lower hub portion 30 of a cam disc 32 extending outwardly over the clock motor 20. Fixed to the disc 32 is a cam 34, to be described in greater detail later, and an upper hub 36 on which a reset disc 38 is journaled. t

Adjacent its outer periphery the disc 32 is provided with a depending cylindrical skirt or flange 40 spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the disc 32. On the outer cylindrical surface of the skirt 40 there is fixed a helical cam 42 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) extending angularly through 30 or one-twelfth of the circumference of the skirt 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the helical cam extends from. the lower edge of the skirt 40 and its upper surface provides a cam surface extending through a notch provided in the outer peripheral portion of the disc 32. The upper end of the cam surface terminates at the upper surface of the disc 32. Spaced bronze or other antifriction blocks45 (preferably Stare mounted om plate 18 andsupport the cam means32',.34, 40; 42' for rotationiwithout tilting about the axis of shaft 24-0bviously, rollers could be substituted for the blocks 45. I

Referring; nowalso toFIG 6-, the'cl'ramber [6 in the block I 2" is of generally circular configuration: as shown: and larger thantbut concentric to the cam disc32. A circular array of 12 cylindricalopenings'46-areformcd'intileblbck 12, each of the openings 46 extending into the circular chamber 16. In each the hour between-3:0Q'and34:00=o cloclc. Rreferably, each peg; I

is. provided with suitable: indicia, suclnasv the circular ringsv or groovesm, cooperable with the surfacec tgatzthe.periphery of the; openingfia Asshowmeach peg ;ispr.o vided with-four suchringsgeach representing l5- minutes of: the hour; Thus, as

tion 52; tapering downwardly from the upper periphery. The

guide'tubes 48'are fixedly'securedintlie block l 2 by any suitableadhesiveor the like andeach extends above block portion 1 2" intoratcounterbore in cover 14; concentric with the associatedopeningfi. This assures propcralignment of the tubes- 48 withthe openings-6:

Eachof'the. pegsfiis provided, betweemits ends, with an inwardlyextending-pin. 54', extending inwardly through the slot defined. by the. edges-50am! 52, with their inner ends closely adjacent but slightly spaced from the outer surface of the skirt 40, and extending into the path of movement of the upper cam surface: of helical cam 42. The. angular. extent of the helical cam .42 is exactly equal to the angular spacing betwee n the tive peg 8 to slide upwardly, with pin 54qsliding along edge 50, to project thepegs' successively vertically upwardly to their 7 upper positions. When each pin 54 reaches the top of the cam surface of cam'42, it is then at the level of the upper surface of disc 32 and continued rotation of that disc causes the outwardly projecting edge of the disc to remain in'supporting relation to the lifted pins 54 and hold theraised pegs 8 in their uppermost positions, as seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, each of the pins 54 is provided with a flat lower surface 56 so formed that the cam 42 is tangent to the cylindrical surface of the pin 54 at one edge of the flat bottom surface 56. Since the cam 42 is of uniform slope and rotates at a uniform speed, the rates at which the pegs 8 are 'lifted is also uniform and remains so until a pin 54 reaches the upper position shown by dotted line at 58 in FIG. 4. When the pin 54 reaches that upper position its lower surface 56 is coplanar-with the upper surface of the disc 32 and no further rising takes place as the disc continues to rotate. Thus, each peg is lifted at an exactly uniform rate throughout its entire range of movement. I

When the helical cam 42 lifts a pin 54 to its upper position, that pin moves upwardly into a corresponding notch 60 in the periphery of the reset disc 38 previously referred to. The disc 38, while joumaled on the hub 36, is held stationary and does notrotate with the disc 32. Thus, all of the notches 60 are in position to receive the pins 54 as they rise and to thus confine the pins on'the'disc 32. With the parts in the position shown in F|G. 6, the cam '42 has lifted the 12:00 o'clock peg 8' almost to its upper position and at this time all the other pegs 8 have been lifted and the time indicated is nearly 12500 oclock. All

the disc 32. Preferably, each pin 54 is bevelled somewhat at its inner end,'as shown at 86, to limit the extent of rotation necessary to impart to the pegs 8 to drop the pins 54 off the disc 32. It is to be noted that the described rotation of. the pegs 8 is permitted by the large spacefb'et'ween the jedges so and 52 (FIG.

The pegs 8 are freely slidable'in thieir guide tubes 48 so that when pins 54 drop off disc 32, the entire ,peg drops downwardly and its p'in 54fen'gages cam surface 52 to rotate each peg 8 back to its normal position wherein itspin '5 .4 again 4, engages vertical guide surface '50 of its guide tube. v l

.When the pegs are dropped, as described, their lower if engage and rest on bottom plate :18 to position their pins 54 at the proper elevation for the next cycle. Thus, when'all l2 pegs are dropped (at 12:00 oclock) as described, the peg in the 1:00 oclock position has its pin 54 just in engagement with the' lower end of the helical cam 42 as shown by dotted line 88 in FIG. 4 and since the disc 32 is rotating at a uniform but slow rate a new 12 hour cycle commences immediately.

Again referring to FIG. 6, the drop-off edge 90 of cam notch I 84 would have to be very accurately positioned for the pegs to .of the other pins 54 are slidably resting on the upper surface of 1 the outer edge of disc 32-within their corresponding notches 60 of reset disc 38.

A post 62 is fixed to the baseplate I8 and extends upwardly through anopening 64 in block 12. A reset control lever 66 is freely pivoted to theupper end of the post 62 and extends inwardly over the reset disc 38. The inner 'end of the reset control lever 66 is provided with a downwardly extending cam follower 68 which extends downwardly through an opening 70 in the stationary disc 38 to a position adjacent the upper surface of disc 32. A link 72 is pivotally connected at 74 to the lever 66 and at 76 to the disc 38. A torsion spring 78 is anchored at one end to the post 62 and its other end extends between the

discs

32 and 38, then upwardly through an opening 80 in disc 38, with a hook 82 on its inner end engaging an edge of the shown,- the outer, periphery of the cam 34 is circular throughout substantially its entire periphery but is provided with a notch 84. When the follower 68 engages the circular periphery of cam 34, the disc 38 is held in the stationary positionshown in FIG. 6 wherein each of its notches 60 embraces Y a corresponding pin 54 of a-Iifted peg 8. The cam notch 84 is so positioned that the follower 68 on lever 66 would drop into that notchwhen the I2:00 o'clock pin 8 reaches its upper position. This would permit the lever 66 to swing clockwise and thus release the disc 3810 the spring 78 so that the disc is rotated counterclockwise until the follower 68 engages the bottom of the notch 84. FIG. 7 illustrates what happens when this occurs. Just prior to l2:00 o'clock, the pins 54 and notches 60 are in the dotted line positions shown in FIG. 7 but when the cam follower on lever 66 drops into notch 84, the disc 38 is caused to rotate slightly counterclockwise tothe full line positions shown in FIG. 7. In rotating counterclockwise, the trailing edge of each notchv60, engages its corresponding drop at exactly 12:00 o'clock and after continued use wear on the follower 68 and the upper terminus of edge 90 would introduce errors. In addition, it would be diflicult to initially position the edge 90 in exactly the right position of disc 32.

Theovercome these difficulties a further cam member 92 is provided. The cam member 92 has a split hub 94 by which it can be adjustably oriented on the minute hand shaft 24 previ- 'ously described. This hub, being larger than hub portion 36 of disc 32, also serves to hold disc 38 on the hub 36. The cam 92 is provided with an outer cam surface-96 substantially coincident with the outer circular periphery of the cam 34,

although preferably of slightly less radius. The edge 90 of cam notch 84 is positioned slightly in advance of the 12:00 oclock position so that the follower 68 would normally drop into the notch 84 a minute or two before 12:00 o'clock. However, the cam 92 can be accurately adjusted on shaft 24 so that the follower 68 drops on its periphery 96 and will not drop ofi the trailing edge 98 until the parts have exactly reached the 12:00 'oclock position. As is evident, this cam 92 can be very accurately and easily adjusted for this purpose. As cam 34 then continues to rotate with disc 32, the trailing edge 99 of notch 84 cams follower 68 and lever 66 outwardly and link 72 causes disc 38 to rotate clockwise back to the position of FIG. 6. The

angular extent of notch 84 is such that disc 38 reaches the FIG. 6 position in time for the pin 54 of the 1 :00 oclock peg to enter its notch 60.

While the description thus far relates to a specific form of the invention, it is obvious that other embodiments and configurations may be employed. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates a modification wherein the body of the clock would be a circular block I00 adapted to be hung on a wall or otherwise placed in a vertical position. The hour-indicating pegs 102 would be mounted to be projected radially outwardly from the peripheral surface 104 of the body 100. Clearly, mechanism comparable to that already described could be readily adapted by those skilled in the artto effect operation of this modification. It is, however, necessary that biasing means be provided to return the pegs to their inner position at 12:00 o'clock since they cannot be returned by gravity, particularly those extending from the lower half of the body 100.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment. While FIGS. 1 and 8 suggest a circulararray of time-indicating pegs, FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment wherein the indicating pegs 106 are arrangedin a rectilinear array in an elongated body 108. It is contemplated that this modification be actuated by an endless belt or band 110. passing over end rollers or drums 112. The

band 110 would be provided with a pair of diametrically opposed flexible cams 114. When one of the cams I14 lifts the final or 12:00 o'clock peg to its upper position, the other cam is positioned to immediately start lifting the 1:00 o'clock peg,

. cylinders or the like, each mounted for rotation about an axis 118 lying substantially in an outer surface 120 of a suitable body or block 122. Each of the bodies 116 would have a lower position wherein a flat surface 122 thereof would be flush with the surface 120 and upper positions wherein that surface 122 is rotated, as illustrated to any desired extent in the time period to be indicated thereby. Suitable fractional indicia 124 may also be provided to cooperate with the surface 120.

'-While a limited number of specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative and not limiting.

We claim: l. A time indicator comprising: a body having relatively movable exterior portions;

drive means-for relatively moving said portions to increase the external volume of said body at a uniform .rate jwhereb y said external volume is proportional to time; and cooperating indiciaon said portions to indicate said time.

2.Atime indicator comprisingz' i I a body having an outer surface;

- an array of a plurality of indicator members carried by said body, each being movable thereon from a first position wherein an outer face portion thereof is generally flush with said outer surface to a second position wherein said member extends outwardly from said outer surface; and

drive means in said body for sequentially moving said members of said array from said first position to said second position in predetermined periods of time and at such a rate that intermediate positions of said members are indicative of corresponding fractions of said predetermined periods of time.

3. A time indicator as defined in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes: means for holding each member in its second position while subsequent members of said array are being moved to their second positions and means for substantially simultaneously causing all said members to return to their first positions when the last member of said array reaches its second position.

4. A time indicator as defined in claim 2 wherein said drive means moves said members from their first to their second positions in equal periods of time and at a uniform rate.

: surface extends movable generally vertically to their second positions whereby they may be returned by gravity to their first positions.

6. A time indicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said outer peripherally around said body, said members being movable generally radially of said body from said surface.

7. A time indicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said members are arranged in a generally rectilinear array along said outer surface.

8. A clock comprising:

a body having an outer surface;

a generally circular array of openings through said surface;

a plurality of pegs in said body, each having a first position with an end in one of said openings and with its outer end face substantially flush with said outer surface, each peg being movable outwardly of said body through its corresponding opening to a second position;

drive means in said body for sequentially moving the pegs of said array outwardly through their respective openings to their second positions at the same uniform rate and in equal periods of time; and

spaced indicia on each of said pegs, cooperable with said body for indicating portions of said periods of time.

A clock as defined in claim 8 wherein there are 12 equally spaced openings and pegs in said array, said drive means being arranged to move each of said pegs outwardly from their first to their second positions in equal periods of time of one hour each.

10. A clock as defined in claim 9 including means for holding the first and each subsequent peg in its second position while subsequent pegsof said array are being moved outwardly, and reset means for causing all said pegs to return to their first positions when the 12 peg of said array reaches its second position.

11. A clock as defined in claim 10 wherein each peg is provided with a cam follower; said drive means comprising a first rotary cam means having a first cam portion sequentially engageable with said cam followers for moving said pegs outwardly and a second noncamming portion for holding said cam followers and their pegs in their outer positions, said reset means comprising means for disengaging said cam followers from said noncamming portion.

12. A clock as defined in claim 11 including a third cam portion on said first cam means for controlling said reset means.

13. A clock as defined in claim 12 wherein said first cam means rotates at the rate of one revolution in 12 hours, a second cam means rotatable at the rate of one revolution in l hour and having a fourth cam portion thereon, said reset means having a control element engageable with both said third and fourth cam portions.

Claims

1. A time indicator comprising: a body having relatively movable exterior portions; drive means for relatively moving said portions to increase the external volume of said body at a uniform rate whereby said external volume is proportional to time; and cooperating indicia on said portions to indicate said time.

2. A time indicator comprising: a body having an outer surface; an array of a plurality of indicator members carried by said body, each being movable thereon from a first position wherein an outer face portion thereof is generally flush with said outer surface to a second position wherein said member extends outwardly from said outer surface; and drive means in said body for sequentially moving said members of said array from said first position to said second position in predetermined periods of time and at such a rate thaT intermediate positions of said members are indicative of corresponding fractions of said predetermined periods of time.

5. A time indicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said outer surface is an upper surface of said body, said members being movable generally vertically to their second positions whereby they may be returned by gravity to their first positions.

6. A time indicator as defined in claim 4 wherein said outer surface extends peripherally around said body, said members being movable generally radially of said body from said surface.

8. A clock comprising: a body having an outer surface; a generally circular array of openings through said surface; a plurality of pegs in said body, each having a first position with an end in one of said openings and with its outer end face substantially flush with said outer surface, each peg being movable outwardly of said body through its corresponding opening to a second position; drive means in said body for sequentially moving the pegs of said array outwardly through their respective openings to their second positions at the same uniform rate and in equal periods of time; and spaced indicia on each of said pegs, cooperable with said body for indicating portions of said periods of time.

9. A clock as defined in claim 8 wherein there are 12 equally spaced openings and pegs in said array, said drive means being arranged to move each of said pegs outwardly from their first to their second positions in equal periods of time of one hour each.

10. A clock as defined in claim 9 including means for holding the first and each subsequent peg in its second position while subsequent pegs of said array are being moved outwardly, and reset means for causing all said pegs to return to their first positions when the 12 peg of said array reaches its second position.

13. A clock as defined in claim 12 wherein said first cam means rotates at the rate of one revolution in 12 hours, a second cam means rotatable at the rate of one revolution in 1 hour and having a fourth cam portion thereon, said reset means having a control element engageable with both said third and fourth cam portions.