US4015346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for use in teaching the manner in which a clock indicates time
Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1975-11-24
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Granted: 1977-04-05
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Expires: 1995-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A machine for use in teaching the manner in which a clock indicates time appearing more or less as a simulated clock can be constructed so as to utilize a support or housing holding a simulated clock face. Concentric shafts extending through the clock's face are used in conjunction with a mechanical structure for transmitting motion to couple simulated clock hands on the shafts with readout wheels. These wheels are rotatably mounted in the support behind windows through which limited portions of the wheels can be viewed. These windows are normally covered by covers capable of being moved so as to display the portions of the wheels behind them. The wheels are provided with numbers corresponding to positions of the clock hands capable of being viewed through these windows when the covers are lifted. Mechanical structures are employed for the purpose of advancing the clock hands and for the purpose of lifting the covers.
Inventors
- 👤 Toyotsugu Ogasawara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:08
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
426 words
A machine for teaching the manner in which a clock having at least one rotary hand indicates time, which machine comprises: a support, a simulated clock face located on said support so that the front thereof is exposed, said clock face having a center, a first shaft rotatably mounted with respect to said clock face and extending through the center of said clock face from the front thereof to the back thereof, a second shaft rotatably mounted around said first mentioned shaft, said second shaft also extending through the center of said clock face from the front thereof to the back thereof, a first simulated clock hand connected to said shaft so as to rotate therewith, said hand being located in front of said clock face and extending generally parallel to said clock face, a second simulated clock hand, said second hand being connected to said second shaft so as to rotate therewith, said second hand also being located in front of said clock face and extending generally parallel to said clock face, readout means for indicating a plurality of numerical values corresponding to positions of said hand relative to said clock face movably mounted on said support so as to be capable of being moved to a plurality of positions corresponding to various positions of said hand relative to said clock face, said readout means having parts, one of said parts for indicating positions of said first mentioned hand relative to said clock face and the second of said parts for indicating positions of said second hand relative to said clock face, mechanical means for moving said readout means as said hand is moved, said mechanical means connecting said shaft and said readout means, said mechanical means includes gear means for transmitting motion coupling said first mentioned shaft and said second shaft so that said shafts can be rotated in syncronism with one another so as to provide a single mechanical output and a single motion transmission means for transmitting rotation coupling one of said shafts and said readout means, actuating means for causing rotation of at least one of said shafts, display means for permitting a specific numerical value on said readout means to be visually inspected, said display means being located adjacent to said readout means, cover means for covering the portion of said readout means capable of being visually inspected, said cover means being capable of being moved relative to said display means and said readout means so as to permit visual determination of a specific numerical value on said readout means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
426 words
A machine for teaching the manner in which a clock having at least one rotary hand indicates time, which machine comprises: a support, a simulated clock face located on said support so that the front thereof is exposed, said clock face having a center, a first shaft rotatably mounted with respect to said clock face and extending through the center of said clock face from the front thereof to the back thereof, a second shaft rotatably mounted around said first mentioned shaft, said second shaft also extending through the center of said clock face from the front thereof to the back thereof, a first simulated clock hand connected to said shaft so as to rotate therewith, said hand being located in front of said clock face and extending generally parallel to said clock face, a second simulated clock hand, said second hand being connected to said second shaft so as to rotate therewith, said second hand also being located in front of said clock face and extending generally parallel to said clock face, readout means for indicating a plurality of numerical values corresponding to positions of said hand relative to said clock face movably mounted on said support so as to be capable of being moved to a plurality of positions corresponding to various positions of said hand relative to said clock face, said readout means having parts, one of said parts for indicating positions of said first mentioned hand relative to said clock face and the second of said parts for indicating positions of said second hand relative to said clock face, mechanical means for moving said readout means as said hand is moved, said mechanical means connecting said shaft and said readout means, said mechanical means includes gear means for transmitting motion coupling said first mentioned shaft and said second shaft so that said shafts can be rotated in syncronism with one another so as to provide a single mechanical output and a single motion transmission means for transmitting rotation coupling one of said shafts and said readout means, actuating means for causing rotation of at least one of said shafts, display means for permitting a specific numerical value on said readout means to be visually inspected, said display means being located adjacent to said readout means, cover means for covering the portion of said readout means capable of being visually inspected, said cover means being capable of being moved relative to said display means and said readout means so as to permit visual determination of a specific numerical value on said readout means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said mechanical means also includes detent means for controlling said mechanical means so that said mechanical means will only be at rest in predetermined positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means comprises a handle means capable of being manually engaged connected to one of said shafts and extending therefrom in front of said clock face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: there are two of said actuating means for causing rotation of said shafts, the first of said actuating means comprising handle means capable of being manually engaged connected to one of said shafts and extending therefrom in front of said clock face, the second of said actuating means comprising a ratchet means for transmitting motion connected to one of said shafts, pawl means for engaging and moving said ratchet means movably mounted adjacent to said ratchet means and lever means for moving said ratchet means relative to said pawl means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
322 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means comprises ratchet means for transmitting motion connected to one of said shafts, pawl means for engaging and moving said ratchet means movably mounted adjacent to said ratchet means and lever means for moving said pawl means relative to said ratchet means, said mechanical means also includes detent means for controlling said mechanical means so that said mechanical means will only be at rest in predetermined positions, said ratchet means comprises a ratchet wheel mounted on one of said shafts, said pawl means comprises an arm pivotally mounted on said support so that an end thereof is located adjacent to said ratchet wheel, so that said arm is capable of being pivoted relative to said ratchet wheel, to move said end thereof into engagement with said ratchet wheel and so that said arm is capable of being tilted relative to said ratchet wheel so that the said end thereof is spaced from said ratchet wheel, biasing means for biasing said arm so that said end thereof is normally spaced from said ratchet wheel, said lever means is capable of being moved into contact with said arm so as to tilt said arm in order to bring said end into engagement with said ratchet wheel and so as to cause said end to rotate said ratchet wheel as said lever means is actuated, there are two of said actuating means for causing rotation of said shafts, the first of said actuating means comprising handle means capable of being manually engaged connected to one of said shafts and extending therefrom in front of said clock face, the second of said actuating means comprising a ratchet means for transmitting motion connected to one of said shafts, pawl means for engaging and moving said ratchet means movably mounted adjacent to said ratchet means and lever means for moving said ratchet means relative to said pawl means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means comprises ratchet means for transmitting motion connected to one of said shafts, pawl means for engaging and moving said ratchet means movably mounted adjacent to said ratchet means and lever means for moving said pawl means relative to said ratchet means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said ratchet means comprises a ratchet wheel mounted on one of said shafts, said pawl means comprises an arm pivotally mounted on said support so that an end thereof is located adjacent to said ratchet wheel, so that said arm is capable of being pivoted relative to said ratchet wheel, to move said end thereof into engagement with said ratchet wheel and so that said arm is capable of being tilted relative to said ratchet wheel so that the said end thereof is spaced from said ratchet wheel, biasing means for biasing said arm so that said end thereof is normally spaced from said ratchet wheel, said lever means is capable of being moved into contact with said arm so as to tilt said arm in order to bring said end into engagement with said ratchet wheel and so as to cause said end to rotate said ratchet wheel as said lever means is actuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
387 words
A machine for use in teaching the manner in which a clock having rotary hands indicates time which comprises: a housing having a simulated clock face located on the exterior thereof and having two openings leading from the interior thereof to the exterior thereof, a first rotary member rotatably mounted within said housing so that a portion of its periphery is adjacent to and can be viewed through one of said openings, a second rotary member rotatably mounted within said housing so that a portion of its periphery is adjacent to and can be viewed through the other of said openings, a simulated minute hand and a simulated hour hand rotatably mounted on said housing so as to be capable of being rotated relative to said clock face, a first mechanical means for causing both of said hands to rotate in synchronism with one another and for producing a single mechanical output corresponding to the rotation of both of said hands, said first mechanical means being connected to both of said hands, a single motion transmitting means for conveying said output so that it can be used in rotating both of said rotary members, said motion transmitting means being connected to said first mechanical means and a second mechanical means for rotating said first rotary member in accordance with the rotation of said minute hand and for rotating said second rotary member in accordance with the rotation of said hour hand through the use of the motion transmitted by said motion transmitting means, said second mechanical means connecting said motion transmitting means to both of said rotary members, a plurality of indicia indicating the time in hours indicated by the position of said hour hand on said clock face located on said second rotary member, a plurality of indicia indicating the number of minutes indicated by the position of said minute hand on said clock face located on said first rotary member, selective of said indicia on said rotary members depending upon the positions of said rotary members being visible through said openings, cover means for covering said openings so as to prevent viewing of the portions of said rotary members adjacent to said openings, means for opening said cover means so as to permit viewing of the portions of said rotary members adjacent to said openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
387 words
A machine for use in teaching the manner in which a clock having rotary hands indicates time which comprises: a housing having a simulated clock face located on the exterior thereof and having two openings leading from the interior thereof to the exterior thereof, a first rotary member rotatably mounted within said housing so that a portion of its periphery is adjacent to and can be viewed through one of said openings, a second rotary member rotatably mounted within said housing so that a portion of its periphery is adjacent to and can be viewed through the other of said openings, a simulated minute hand and a simulated hour hand rotatably mounted on said housing so as to be capable of being rotated relative to said clock face, a first mechanical means for causing both of said hands to rotate in synchronism with one another and for producing a single mechanical output corresponding to the rotation of both of said hands, said first mechanical means being connected to both of said hands, a single motion transmitting means for conveying said output so that it can be used in rotating both of said rotary members, said motion transmitting means being connected to said first mechanical means and a second mechanical means for rotating said first rotary member in accordance with the rotation of said minute hand and for rotating said second rotary member in accordance with the rotation of said hour hand through the use of the motion transmitted by said motion transmitting means, said second mechanical means connecting said motion transmitting means to both of said rotary members, a plurality of indicia indicating the time in hours indicated by the position of said hour hand on said clock face located on said second rotary member, a plurality of indicia indicating the number of minutes indicated by the position of said minute hand on said clock face located on said first rotary member, selective of said indicia on said rotary members depending upon the positions of said rotary members being visible through said openings, cover means for covering said openings so as to prevent viewing of the portions of said rotary members adjacent to said openings, means for opening said cover means so as to permit viewing of the portions of said rotary members adjacent to said openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 including: means for biasing said cover means in a closed position so as to conceal said rotary member from view.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |