Positive time device

Claim 2

A positive time indicating device intended for use with conventional electrical clocks and adapted to be automatically activated upon a power failure to the electric clock and then deactivated upon return of power to the electric clock such that the correct time at any moment is always apparent upon an adding together of the time indicated by the electric clock and the elapsed time indicated by the mechanical clock, the device comprising: an operating switch including an electrical solenoid, a piston rod disposed axially in said solenoid for movement relative thereto, and spring means operatively connected to said piston rod to bias the same in a single direction; a mechanical clock having a spring wound motor for driving indicating hands relative to a time indicating clock face, and mechanical clock operating means adapted for connection to said operating switch piston rod effective to activate the mechanical clock mechanism upon movement of the piston rod in one direction and to deactivate the mechanical clock mechanism upon movement of the piston rod in the opposite direction; and means adapted to connect said operating switch to said electric clock and to said source of electrical energy wherein said solenoid is connected by suitable electrical wiring into electrical parallel relationship with said electric clock for simultaneous energization and deenergization of said solennoid with said electric clock.

Claim 3

The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating switch comprises a hollow box-like housing having a front end wall surface and a back end wall surface, a cylindrical solenoid having a bore extending axially therethrough and having a multiplicity of electrical wires wrapped about the cylindrical side surfaces thereof, said solenoid mounted in said housing with said bore extending longitudinally in the direction between said front and back end wall surfaces, a longitudinally elongated piston rod passing freely through said bore from said housing face surface to project outwardly of said bore inwardly of said housing, said piston being freely slidable in opposite directions in said bore, said inwardly projecting end of said piston rod having a spring retaining member thereon, a coiled spring disposed intermediate said spring retaining member at one end and the interior surface of said housing back end surface at the opposite end and biasing said piston rod in a directron outwardly of said housing, said solenoid coils connected by suitable electrical wiring to an electrical cord adapted to be plugged into a suitable source of electrical energy, said solenoid when activated operable to withdraw said piston rod inwardly of said housing to compress said spring, said solenoid when de-activated releasing said piston rod to permit said spring to urge said piston rod outwardly of said housing, and said free end of said piston rod adapted to be connected to the operating handle of said mechanical clock for effecting the activation of said mechanical clock upon de-energization of said solenoid and for effecting the de-activation of said mechanical clock upon energization of said solenoid whereby said mechanical clock will only operate during those periods of time when no power is provided to the operating switch and electric clock connected in parallel thereto.

Claim 4

The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the mechanical clock comprises an operating arm rotatably supported in the back surface of said mechanical clock and having a first end portion disposed interiorly of said mechanical clock and a second end portion projecting exteriorly of said mechanical clock, said second end portion terminating in an operating lever handle member having one end affixed to said operating arm with the opposite end projecting radially outwardly therefrom and adapted to be pivotally attached to said free projecting end of said piston rod, said first portion of said operating arm terminating in a lever arm projecting radially relative thereto, said lever arm having a pin member affixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom defining a stop pawl adapted to engage the teeth of a sprocket wheel associated with the drive mechanism of the mechanical clock, said operating arm being pivotable about its axis by action of said piston rod between an "off" position where said solenoid is energized and said pawl engages said sprocket to prevent activation of mechanical clock mechanism, and an "on" position where said solenoid is electrically de-energized permitting said spring to drive said piston rod outwardly of said housing to pivot said operating arm about its axis in a manner to disengage said stop pawl from said sprocket wheel thus permitting rotation of the sprocet wheel in a manner to permit operation of said mehanical clock mechanism for time indicating purposes.