US 5,751,667 AGranted

Clock with object receiving volume

OwnerBrendon Nunesinventor

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Abstract

A measuring instrument assembly, such as a clock, thermometer, or barometer, comprises a casing including a base and an upstanding perimeter (e.g. annular) portion (e.g. integral with the base). An instrument face is mounted by the base and has an upper surface facing away from the base, typically including instrument indicia (such as clock numbers) and preferably also including word indicia. A substantially transparent cover substantially parallel to the instrument face and supported by the casing is spaced from the instrument face to define, with the casing upstanding perimeter portion, an interior volume. At least one discrete object, and preferably a plurality of loosely provided objects, such as golf tees, are disposed within the interior volume. A passageway is defined through the interior volume for an instrument shaft extending from the base substantially perpendicular to the face through the cover and spaced from the upstanding perimeter portion of the casing. A measuring instrument movement (e.g. a clock movement) is mounted by the base, and the movement shaft or shafts extend from the movement through the passageway.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A measuring instrument assembly comprising:

a stationary casing including a base and an upstanding perimeter portion;
an instrument face mounted by said base and having an upper surface facing away from said base;
a substantially transparent cover substantially parallel to said instrument face and supported by said casing, said cover spaced from said face to define, with said casing upstanding perimeter portion, a substantially closed interior volume and wherein said cover is mounted by said upstanding portion of said casing;
at least one discrete object disposed within said interior volume;
a lens covering said instrument face on the opposite side of said face from said base, and having a peripheral portion;
said lens peripheral portion received within an annular groove in said casing upstanding portion;
and
means defining a passageway through said interior volume for an instrument shaft extending from said base substantially perpendicular to said face, through said cover, and spaced from said upstanding perimeter portion of said casing
clock movement mounted by said base, at least two clock shafts extending from said clock movement through said passageway, and at least an hour hand and minute hand connected to said shafts on the opposite side of said cover from said face
wherein said means defining said passageway includes an externally threaded metal tube engaging a first nut within said interior volume adjacent said base, and engaging a second nut at said cover on the opposite side of said cover from said interior volume;
and an element engaging said cover within said interior volume to prevent significant deflection of said cover toward the interior of said volume at said passageway.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.