US3668858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clock
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-03
•
Granted: 1972-06-13
•
Expires: 1990-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A clock in which planetary gear wheels provided with inner teeth engage on stationary elements with outer teeth to obtain uniform rotation for successive gear stages. The eccentric drive of one stage necessary for engagement is directly effected by the eccentric shape of the rotating element of the preceding stage. The rotating elements belonging to each stage act as moving elements and also as indicating elements due to their markings.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudiger Hartwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:15
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04B; G04B45/00; G04B45/04; G04B19/00; G04B19/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A time-keeping instrument comprising a case, an outer toothed wheel rigidly attached to said case and arranged coaxially about a first longitudinal axis, a first time indicating element indicating the maximum unit of time for the instrument and having a circular bore at its hub having a second longitudinal axis which moves intermittently eccentrically relative to said first longitudinal axis, an inner toothed wheel rigidly connected to said first time indicating element and having more inner teeth than the outer toothed wheel has outer teeth and a larger diameter of contact than the outer toothed wheel and being rolled on the outer toothed wheel, a second time indicating element indicating the next smaller unit of time, supported by said case rotatably about said first longitudinal axis and having a first circular disc engaging and rotatably supporting said first time indicating element in said circular bore and moving intermittently about the eccentricity of the two longitudinal axes to drive said first time indicating element, and having teeth at its circumference equal in number to its time unit and having a second circular disc arranged coaxially with said first longitudinal axis, a knob rigidly connected to said second time indicating element for turning same, rotatable coaxially with said first longitudinal axis, clock driving means, a third element supported by said second disc and rotatable about said first longitudinal axis, having teeth at its circumference equal in number to the periodic driving frequency of said clock driving means, one of said teeth being followed by a gap deeper than the depth of the other teeth, said clock driving means being laterally arranged and engaging the teeth of said third element and also engaging a tooth on said second time indicating element when engaging said gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A time-keeping instrument comprising a case, an outer toothed wheel rigidly attached to said case and arranged coaxially about a first longitudinal axis, a first time indicating element indicating the maximum unit of time for the instrument and having a circular bore at its hub having a second longitudinal axis which moves intermittently eccentrically relative to said first longitudinal axis, an inner toothed wheel rigidly connected to said first time indicating element and having more inner teeth than the outer toothed wheel has outer teeth and a larger diameter of contact than the outer toothed wheel and being rolled on the outer toothed wheel, a second time indicating element indicating the next smaller unit of time, supported by said case rotatably about said first longitudinal axis and having a first circular disc engaging and rotatably supporting said first time indicating element in said circular bore and moving intermittently about the eccentricity of the two longitudinal axes to drive said first time indicating element, and having teeth at its circumference equal in number to its time unit and having a second circular disc arranged coaxially with said first longitudinal axis, a knob rigidly connected to said second time indicating element for turning same, rotatable coaxially with said first longitudinal axis, clock driving means, a third element supported by said second disc and rotatable about said first longitudinal axis, having teeth at its circumference equal in number to the periodic driving frequency of said clock driving means, one of said teeth being followed by a gap deeper than the depth of the other teeth, said clock driving means being laterally arranged and engaging the teeth of said third element and also engaging a tooth on said second time indicating element when engaging said gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the circumference of the third element is provided with teeth corresponding to the number of seconds; an adjacent circumference of the second element is provided with teeth corresponding to the number of minutes; the teeth of the second and minute sections are supported on different diameters; and a flank of only one tooth of the second section is guided into a portion corresponding approximately to the diameter on which are supported the teeth of the minute section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the two discs lie on the same side of the minute section in that the second disc has a considerably larger diameter than the first disc and in that the first disc is located on the second disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the circumference of the second section and the minute section is the outer circumference in each case, in that the minute section and the second section are flat discs which are made of a transparent plastics material for visual reading, and in that the external diameter of the minute section is at the most the same as, the internal diameter of the teeth on the second section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which the teeth of the second section are in the form of saw-teeth, and in that the teeth of the minute section have a symmetrical shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which a radial slot is provided in the case above the second section, and a strip the lower edge of which is supported on the circumference of the second section, is vertically movable through the slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3498045A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |