US3673787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital clock mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-26
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1991-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A digital read-out display type of electric clock or alarm clock uses back projection of light as a means of displaying numerals representing the time in hours, minutes, and seconds upon a front screen. Means are provided to shut off the light projection when the numerals are altered, and the alteration of numerals is carried out in a fraction of a second.
Inventors
- 👤 Radoslav Kovacevic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:38
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C19/00; G04B; G04B19/00; G04B19/34; G04C15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a gear support; a gear train formed by having a plurality of gears mounted parallely upon said support, with the edge of each gear engaging the edges of the adjacent gears and with the gears extending longitudinally from one end of the gear train to the other end; a synchronous motor mounted at one end of the gear train; a driver-pacer gear at one end of the gear train that is driven by the synchronous motor, said driver-pacer gear having at least one group of at least one gear tooth spaced about its periphery and adjacent to at least one notch in its periphery; pinion gears and gear aSsemblies comprising the plurality of gears, the first pinion gear transferring the motion of the driver-pacer gear to the first gear assembly, and each succeeding pinion gear transferring motion from one gear assembly to the next; said gear assemblies each including a fully-toothed periphery for engaging the previous pinion gear and a periphery containing at least one tooth and at least one notch for engaging the next succeeding pinion gear; and said pinion gears containing a fully toothed periphery for engaging said tooth on the preceding gear or gear assembly and the fully toothed periphery of the following gear assembly, and a partially toothed periphery for engaging said notch in the preceding gear assembly or driver-pacer gear and for otherwise immobilizing the pinion gear; numeral carriers each of which is rotated by a gear assembly; and means for viewing one numeral on each numeral carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a gear support; a gear train formed by having a plurality of gears mounted parallely upon said support, with the edge of each gear engaging the edges of the adjacent gears and with the gears extending longitudinally from one end of the gear train to the other end; a synchronous motor mounted at one end of the gear train; a driver-pacer gear at one end of the gear train that is driven by the synchronous motor, said driver-pacer gear having at least one group of at least one gear tooth spaced about its periphery and adjacent to at least one notch in its periphery; pinion gears and gear aSsemblies comprising the plurality of gears, the first pinion gear transferring the motion of the driver-pacer gear to the first gear assembly, and each succeeding pinion gear transferring motion from one gear assembly to the next; said gear assemblies each including a fully-toothed periphery for engaging the previous pinion gear and a periphery containing at least one tooth and at least one notch for engaging the next succeeding pinion gear; and said pinion gears containing a fully toothed periphery for engaging said tooth on the preceding gear or gear assembly and the fully toothed periphery of the following gear assembly, and a partially toothed periphery for engaging said notch in the preceding gear assembly or driver-pacer gear and for otherwise immobilizing the pinion gear; numeral carriers each of which is rotated by a gear assembly; and means for viewing one numeral on each numeral carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the gear assemblies includes a first half of the gear assembly that bears the fully-toothed periphery and a second half of the gear assembly that bears said tooth and said notch, wherein the two halves are coupled together by a ratchet mechanism comprising pins or lugs on one half which engage notches on the other half and spring means for driving the two halves together, and which further includes a manually actuatable time setting mechanism that attaches to one half of the gear assembly but that does not attach to the other half.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the driver-pacer includes four groups of two teeth centered about four notches which are equally spaced around the periphery of said driver-pacer gear, wherein the pinion gears each have eight teeth about their fully toothed periphery and four teeth about their partially toothed periphery, wherein the diameter of the driver-pacer gear is chosen in relation to the driver-pacer gear tooth size so that approximately 40 teeth of the same size could properly be spaced about the periphery of the driver-pacer gear, and wherein the driver-pacer gear is driven at a speed of 15 revolutions per second by a synchronous motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 to which has been added an alarm mechanism comprising: a manually positionable disc bearing the numbers ''''1'''' through ''''12''''; a gear driven through one complete revolution every 12 by means coupling to a gear assembly that rotates at least once every hour; and means responsive to the disc and the gear reaching corresponding positions for sounding an alarm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein some of the gear assemblies are identically shaped and wherein some of the pinion gears are also identically shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for viewing one numeral on each numeral carrier comprise an optical system including a source of light positioned on one side of each numeral carrier, a screen positioned on the other side of each numeral carrier, and stationary masking means for preventing images of more than one numeral on each numeral carrier from being projected onto the screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical system includes a condensing lens positioned between the source of light and each numeral carrier and a projection lens positioned between each numeral carrier and the screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein a rotating masking means including at least one opening is provided for each numeral array and is positioned to block the passage of light through the numeral array except when a opening is in line with the source of light, the masking means, and the screen; and wherein each pinion gear is arranged to rotate the rotating masking means associated with the next higher gear assembly in the gear train.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein the numeral carriers are in close proximity to the screen, whereby images of the numerals are formed by the light rays from the light source passing through the numerals and striking the screen without the aid of lens system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein two arrays of numerals are used to represent the time in seconds, wherein two arrays of numerals are used to represent the time in minutes, and wherein a single array of numerals is used to represent the time in hours; wherein the arrays of numerals representing the units digit of time in seconds and in minutes each contain 10 numerals from 0 to 9, wherein the arrays of numerals representing the tens digit of the time in seconds and in minutes each contain six numerals from 0 to 5, and wherein the array of numerals representing the time in hours contains the 12 numerals from 1 to 12.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the pinion gears includes a first half of the pinion gear that bears the fully-toothed periphery and a second half of the pinion gear that bears the partially toothed periphery, wherein the two halves are coupled together by a ratchet mechanism comprising pins or lugs on one half which engage notches on the other half and spring means for driving the two halves together, and which further includes a manually actuatable time setting mechanism that attaches to one half of the pinion gear but that does not attach to the other half.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 to which has been added an alarm mechanism comprising: a manually positionable disc bearing the numbers ''''1'''' through ''''24''''; a gear driven through one complete revolution every 24 hours by means coupling to a gear assembly that rotates at least once every hour; and means responsive to the disc and the gear reaching corresponding positions for sounding an alarm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the numeral carriers and the gear assemblies are the same elements; wherein each of the gear assemblies contains 60 numerals; wherein first and second gear assemblies contain the numerals 0 to 60 and wherein a third gear assembly contains five sets of the numerals 1 to 12.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a plurality of gear assemblies; a plurality of pinion gears coupling the motion of each gear assembly to the next gear assembly; a plurality of numeral carriers rotating simultaneously with the gear assemblies; a screen; optical means for forming an image of one numeral from each numeral carrier on the screen; and perforated masks driven simultaneously with the rotation of the numeral carriers and positioned to block numeral projection when the associated gear assembly rotates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a plurality of gear assemblies; a plurality of pinion gears coupling the motion of each gear assembly to the next gear assembly; a plurality of numeral carriers rotating simultaneously with the gear assemblies; a screen; optical means for forming an image of one numeral from each numeral carrier on the screen; and perforated masks driven simultaneously with the rotation of the numeral carriers and positioned to block numeral projection when the associated gear assembly rotates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital clock mechanism in accordance with claim 14 wherein each rotating mask is driven by the pinion gear which also drives the associated gear assembly and numeral carrier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
165 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a gear train including a plurality of gear assemblies, each one serving a different digital time division and including a plurality of gear pinions, each one meshing with and between the preceding and succeeding gear assemblies, and propagating gear rotation from one end of gear train to the other end, and producing a quick, intermittent and partial turning of each gear assembly in accordance to the requirements of its designated digital time division; a plurality of numeral carriers, each serving a different digital time division and each one numbered in accordance with the requirements of its designated time division; wherein each said numeral carrier is directly attached to its related gear assembly and is simultaneously turned with the said gear assembly thus changing the numerals in the Digital display; and an optical system that transforms the numerals on said numeral carriers into light images representing one digital number at one time for each digital time division upon a viewing screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
165 words
A digital clock mechanism comprising: a gear train including a plurality of gear assemblies, each one serving a different digital time division and including a plurality of gear pinions, each one meshing with and between the preceding and succeeding gear assemblies, and propagating gear rotation from one end of gear train to the other end, and producing a quick, intermittent and partial turning of each gear assembly in accordance to the requirements of its designated digital time division; a plurality of numeral carriers, each serving a different digital time division and each one numbered in accordance with the requirements of its designated time division; wherein each said numeral carrier is directly attached to its related gear assembly and is simultaneously turned with the said gear assembly thus changing the numerals in the Digital display; and an optical system that transforms the numerals on said numeral carriers into light images representing one digital number at one time for each digital time division upon a viewing screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |