US3918249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cuckoo clock
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-07-26
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A cuckoo clock having a bird-displacing mechanism which enables a normally closed aperture to open when the clock tolls a time and enables the bird''s body to fully come out of the aperture. Said aperture is normally covered with a plate but when the clock tolls a time, said plate is projected outwardly in a horizontal plane from the casing which houses the clock mechanism. Then a perch plate for the bird slides forward in the horizontal plane, fully exposing the bird.
Inventors
- 👤 Isao Masuyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:19
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04B; G04B25/00; G04B25/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
In a cuckoo clock, a bird-displaying mechanism comprising: a clock housing having an aperture in the front wall thereof; door means pivotally mounted on said front wall adjacent said aperture to move between a first position closing said aperture and a second position opening said aperture, said door means including means biasing said door means to said first position; a bird; plate means supporting said bird; means constraining said plate means to slide between a first position in which said bird is completely concealed behind said closed aperture and a second position in which said bird is substantially completely exposed exteriorly of said housing, said plate means moving said door means from said first position to said second position and moving said bird through said aperture while sliding between said first and second positions; drive means for reciprocally sliding said plate means from said first position to said second position comprising a gear train, a rotatable crank arm connected at one end to a shaft of said gear train and rotatably coupled at the other end to a first end of a connecting rod, the second end of said connecting rod being rotatably coupled to said plate means; locking means coacting with said gear train to permit said crank arm to rotate through 180* increments and to lock said gear train at the ends of said increments, said ends of said increments corresponding to said plate being positioned in said first and second positions, respectively; and means for releasing said locking means at preselected time intervals, whereby said bird is displayed from said first position to said second position and back to said first position at the tolling time of said cuckoo clock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
In a cuckoo clock, a bird-displaying mechanism comprising: a clock housing having an aperture in the front wall thereof; door means pivotally mounted on said front wall adjacent said aperture to move between a first position closing said aperture and a second position opening said aperture, said door means including means biasing said door means to said first position; a bird; plate means supporting said bird; means constraining said plate means to slide between a first position in which said bird is completely concealed behind said closed aperture and a second position in which said bird is substantially completely exposed exteriorly of said housing, said plate means moving said door means from said first position to said second position and moving said bird through said aperture while sliding between said first and second positions; drive means for reciprocally sliding said plate means from said first position to said second position comprising a gear train, a rotatable crank arm connected at one end to a shaft of said gear train and rotatably coupled at the other end to a first end of a connecting rod, the second end of said connecting rod being rotatably coupled to said plate means; locking means coacting with said gear train to permit said crank arm to rotate through 180* increments and to lock said gear train at the ends of said increments, said ends of said increments corresponding to said plate being positioned in said first and second positions, respectively; and means for releasing said locking means at preselected time intervals, whereby said bird is displayed from said first position to said second position and back to said first position at the tolling time of said cuckoo clock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
The bird displacing mechanism of claim 1, wherein there is further included a rocker arm pivotally coupled to the gear train of the clock for angular displacement thereby at preselected tolling times and a linkage system comprising a forked lever in engagement with and driven by said rocker arm, a shaft secured to and movable together with said forked lever, said shaft being angularly movable about its own longitudinal axis, a slotted, channel member secured to said shaft and angularly movable together with said shaft and a Z-shaped lever having a first end positioned in and driven by the slot in said channel member, the opposite, second end of said Z-shaped lever being drivingly secured to said locking means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The bird displacing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a V-shaped bracket secured proximate the apex thereof to said second end of said Z-shaped lever at said output end of said linkage system and a pin integral with the portion of the gear train that is engaged and disengaged, said pin being arranged to sequentially and alternately abut the two free ends of said V-shaped bracket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2574704A
Cited
US2677228A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |