Digital clock

Claim 2

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, a normally stationary and cyclically operating electrical motor for driving it, contacts for controlling the motor, a coil spring energized by the motor, a control member carried by the coil spring, and movable into operative association with said contacts, escapement mechanism controlling the coil spring and effecting constant movement of the control member carried thereby, and means actuated by the control member operative for closing the contacts and establishing a new cycle for driving the motor which thereby drives the time-indicating means and energizes the coil spring.

Claim 3

Clock mechanism comprising a plurality of normally stationary drums bearing time indications, a driver normally stationary but adapted for periodic operation and movable through a cycle at each operation, means operatively interconnecting the driver and the drums for driving the latter in response to operation of the driver, a constantly tensioned and moving power-transmitting means connected with the driver and tensioned thereby in each cycle of operation, control means for controlling the driver and operated by the power-transmitting means, the control means being operative for effecting energization of the driver throughout a cycle, and the power-transmitting means being operative for again controlling the control means at each of successive periodic intervals.

Claim 4

Clock mechanism comprising a plurality of normally stationary drums bearing time indications, a driver normally stationary but adapted for periodic operation and movable through a cycle at each operation, means operatively interconnecting the driver and the drums for driving the latter in response to operation of the driver, a constantly tensioned and moving power-transmitting means connected with the driver and tensioned thereby in each cycle of operation, control means for controlling the driver and operated by the power-transmitting means, the control means being operative for effecting energization of the driver throughout a cycle, and the power-transmitting means being operative for again controlling the control means at each of successive periodic intervals.

Claim 5

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electrical motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and motor, contacts for the motor, a pivoted lever carrying the contacts and having an arm element, an arm actuator including a knockoff platform having a finger movable generally in the direction of the length of said arm element, and being engageable therewith in such movement for pivotally swinging the lever for opening said contacts for thereby stopping the motor, a gear train interposed between the motor and said knockoff platform, and continuously moving power-transmitting means for releasing said finger from said arm element to enable said contacts to close, said motor upon being thus energized being operative for again moving through a cycle for advancing the time-indicating means and energizing said continuously moving power-transmitting means.

Claim 6

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electrical motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and motor, contacts for the motor, a pivoted lever carrying the contacts and having an arm element, an arm actuator including a knockoff platform having a finger movable generally in the direction of the length of said arm element, and being engageable therewith in such movement for pivotally swinging the lever for opening said contacts for thereby stopping the motor, a gear train interposed between the motor and said knockoff platform, and continuously moving power-transmitting means for releasing said finger from said arm element to enable said contacts to close, said motor upon being thus energized being operative for again moving through a cycle for advancing the time-indicating means and energizing said continuously moving power-transmitting means.

Claim 7

Clock mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said finger is released from the arm in a direction having a large component transverse to the direction of said Arm element.

Claim 8

Clock mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said actuating finger moves in a circular path and remains in operative engagement with the lever arm throughout a substantial angular portion of its movement.

Claim 9

Clock mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said finger rotates about an axis extending generally transverse to the direction of movement of said lever arm.

Claim 10

Clock mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the lever arm is so constructed that said arm element moves into the axial projection of the path of the finger, and the finger acts as a cam for swinging the arm element.

Claim 11

Clock mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said finger is released from engagement with the lever arm independently of its bodily position along the length of said arm member.

Claim 12

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electric motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and the motor, contacts for controlling the motor, a pivoted lever carrying said contacts, said lever being biased to closed contact position, a release unit mounted for movement and having a stationary position in which it holds the lever in open contact position, a gear train between the motor and the release unit, constantly moving power-transmitting unit movable through a cycle and operative for releasing the release unit at each cycle, whereby to enable the lever to move to closed contact position and energizing the motor, and the motor thereupon being operative for advancing the time-indicating means and said release unit throughout a cycle from said stationary position of the release unit to another such stationary position thereof at the end of said cycle, the lever being held in open contact position by the release unit when the latter is in stationary position, and the lever being in closed contact position throughout the cycle of operation of the motor between stationary positions of the release unit.

Claim 13

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electric motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and the motor, contacts for controlling the motor, a pivoted lever carrying said contacts, said lever being biased to closed contact position, a release unit mounted for movement and having a stationary position in which it holds the lever in open contact position, a gear train between the motor and the release unit, constantly moving power-transmitting unit movable through a cycle and operative for releasing the release unit at each cycle, whereby to enable the lever to move to closed contact position and energizing the motor, and the motor thereupon being operative for advancing the time-indicating means and said release unit throughout a cycle from said stationary position of the release unit to another such stationary position thereof at the end of said cycle, the lever being held in open contact position by the release unit when the latter is in stationary position, and the lever being in closed contact position throughout the cycle of operation of the motor between stationary positions of the release unit.

Claim 14

Clock mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the power-transmitting means includes a spring energized by the motor, and means confining the spring to maintain tension therein between periods of operation of the motor.

Claim 15

Clock mechanism according to claim 10 and including escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of the spring throughout a predetermined time interval.

Claim 16

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electric motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and the motor, contacts for controlling the motor, a pivoted lever carrying the contacts and having a relatively long arm element, a driving unit including a driven gear, a gear train between the motor and said driven gear, said driving unit being mounted for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel with the pivot axis of said lever, said driving unit including a release unit, a knockoff platform in the release unit rockable about an axis transverse to the axis of the driving unit, a finger rockably mounted in said release unit, yieldable spring means surrounding the axis of said release unit and biasing the finger to an advanced position, the release unit upon rotation about the driving unit axis carrying said finger into camming engagement with the lever and thereby moving the latter to open contact position, said finger being retractable about the axis of the release unit against the action of said spring, the driving unit also including a coil spring about the axis of the driving unit and the driving unit including a knockoff tab driven by the latter coil spring and movable into operative engagement with said finger for releasing the latter from the lever and thereby enabling the lever to move to closed contact position, and time escapement mechanism controlling the advancing movement of the latter coil spring.

Claim 17

Clock mechanism comprising time-indicating means, an electric motor for driving the time-indicating means, a gear train operatively interposed between the time-indicating means and the motor, contacts for controlling the motor, a pivoted lever carrying the contacts and having a relatively long arm element, a driving unit including a driven gear, a gear train between the motor and said driven gear, said driving unit being mounted for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel with the pivot axis of said lever, said driving unit including a release unit, a knockoff platform in the release unit rockable about an axis transverse to the axis of the driving unit, a finger rockably mounted in said release unit, yieldable spring means surrounding the axis of said release unit and biasing the finger to an advanced position, the release unit upon rotation about the driving unit axis carrying said finger into camming engagement with the lever and thereby moving the latter to open contact position, said finger being retractable about the axis of the release unit against the action of said spring, the driving unit also including a coil spring about the axis of the driving unit and the driving unit including a knockoff tab driven by the latter coil spring and movable into operative engagement with said finger for releasing the latter from the lever and thereby enabling the lever to move to closed contact position, and time escapement mechanism controlling the advancing movement of the latter coil spring.