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US 4,583,864 AGranted
Solar system clock
OwnerJoseph R. Gravesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novelty clock is provided wherein a spherical representation of the earth rotates about the face of the clock as would a second hand. While rotating about the face of the clock, the earth also rotates upon its own axis, thereby providing a more realistic and appealing visual effect. The special motion of the earth is achieved by a motion producing mechanism driven by the rotational force of the shaft which ordinarily drives the second hand of the clock.
Claims9
A clock comprising
- (a) a timing mechanism,
- (b) a generally flat circular face,
- (c) coaxial drive shafts centrally positioned in said face and rotated by said timing mechanism to accommodate hour, minute and second hands,
- (d) a transparent cover mounted upon said face in spaced apart relationship therewith, said cover having a substantially flat forward panel having interior and exterior surfaces,
- (e) an opaque representation of the sun centrally affixed to said forward panel, and
- (f) a motion producing mechanism comprising:
- (1) a first axle representing an extension of the drive shaft intended to drive a second hand, and having a distal extremity positioned adjacent the center of said forward panel,
- (2) a second axle perpendicularly mounted to said first axle in parallel disposition to said face and adapted to rotate about its own axis of elongation, and terminating in a radially outermost extremity located radially beyond the sun,
- (3) a substantially spherical representation of earth affixed to the outermost extremity of said second axle,
- (4) moving gear means mounted upon said second axle in perpendicular disposition to said face,
- (5) stationary gear means affixed to the interior surface of said forward panel in annular relationship to the center thereof, and adapted to engage and rotate said moving gear means, and
- (6) bearing means centrally associated with the interior surface of said forward panel and adapted to support the distal extremity of said first axle, whereby
- (7) movement of the shaft intended to drive a second hand rotates the earth in a circular path around the sun and simultaneously produces axial rotation of the earth.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.