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US4135474A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bell actuating mechanism

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-09-15
•
Granted: 1979-01-23
•
Expires: 1997-09-15
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Abstract

Abstract In the combination of a spring driven motor having a winding shaft which rotates less than one complete revolution during the unwinding of the motor from a fully wound condition, escapement means for permitting the motor to unwind at a controlled rate and a bell to be struck immediately proximate to completion of unwinding of the motor, there is provided an improved bell actuating mechanism. The bell actuating mechanism comprises a bell post coaxially mounted at one of its ends on the winding shaft for rotation with the winding shaft, means coaxially mounting a gong bell onto the other end of the bell post for rotation with the bell post and the winding shaft, a hammer for striking the bell, a spring mounting the hammer immediately adjacent to an inner surface of the bell, an arm integral with and extending outwardly from the bell post for rotation with the bell post and the winding shaft, the path of movement of the arm intersecting the hammer and the hammer being rotationally so positioned relative to the axis of the winding shaft and the bell post that the arm engages the hammer as the unwinding of the motor is completed. The spring flexes, the arm then disengaes from the hammer, whereupon the unflexing of the spring throws the hammer against the gong.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ruth Kaplan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 02:33
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K1/00; G10K1/06; G10K1/07; G10K1/072

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 259 words
In the combination of a spring driven motor having a winding shaft which rotates less than one complete revolution during the unwinding of the motor from a fully wound condition, escapement means for permitting the motor to unwind at a controlled rate and a bell to be struck immediately proximate to completion of unwinding of the motor, an improved bell actuating mechanism comprising a bell post coaxially mounted at one of its ends on the winding shaft for rotation with the winding shaft, means coaxially mounting a gong bell onto the other end of the bell post for rotation with the bell post and winding shaft, a hammer for striking the bell, a spring mounting the hammer immediately adjacent an inner surface of the bell, an end of the spring remote from the bell being fixed relative to the bell, an arm integral with and extending outwardly from the bell post for rotation with the bell post and winding shaft, the path of movement of the arm intersecting the hammer and the hammer being rotationally so positioned relative to the axis of the winding shaft and the bell post that the arm engages the hammer as the unwinding of the motor is completed, the arm being so shaped as to facilitate disengagement of the hammer, whereby as the unwinding of the motor is completed and the arm engages the hammer, the spring flexes until the flexure permits the arm to slide over the hammer whereupon unflexing of the spring throws the hammer against the inner surface of the bell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 259 words
In the combination of a spring driven motor having a winding shaft which rotates less than one complete revolution during the unwinding of the motor from a fully wound condition, escapement means for permitting the motor to unwind at a controlled rate and a bell to be struck immediately proximate to completion of unwinding of the motor, an improved bell actuating mechanism comprising a bell post coaxially mounted at one of its ends on the winding shaft for rotation with the winding shaft, means coaxially mounting a gong bell onto the other end of the bell post for rotation with the bell post and winding shaft, a hammer for striking the bell, a spring mounting the hammer immediately adjacent an inner surface of the bell, an end of the spring remote from the bell being fixed relative to the bell, an arm integral with and extending outwardly from the bell post for rotation with the bell post and winding shaft, the path of movement of the arm intersecting the hammer and the hammer being rotationally so positioned relative to the axis of the winding shaft and the bell post that the arm engages the hammer as the unwinding of the motor is completed, the arm being so shaped as to facilitate disengagement of the hammer, whereby as the unwinding of the motor is completed and the arm engages the hammer, the spring flexes until the flexure permits the arm to slide over the hammer whereupon unflexing of the spring throws the hammer against the inner surface of the bell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
In the combination according to claim 1, in which the arm has a side facing away from the bell mounting end of the bell post for sliding over the hammer, said side being inclined toward the free end of the bell post thereby to facilitate disengagement of the hammer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US473879A Cited
US491328A Cited
US578059A Cited
US912516A Cited
US1068395A Cited
GB124305A Cited
US2583245A Cited
US3827232A Cited
US4020625A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-01-22 1982-07-24 1983-01-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-01-22 1986-07-24 1987-01-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-01-22 1990-07-24 1991-01-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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