Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Reexamination Certificate
1994-06-21
2002-09-17
Miska, Vit (Department: 2841)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
C368S107000, C119S051110, C222S650000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452871
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a lunar transit timepiece and an apparatus using the device.
Lunar transit time is the time when the moon is at its highest point in the sky. Thus, the lunar transit time is analogous to noon, which is the time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It will be seen that the lunar transit time varies across the face of the earth. It will also be apparent that the moon is not necessarily directly overhead at lunar transit time. Instead, the moon is merely at its highest point in the sky. Because our normal timekeeping systems are based on sun time, elaborate calculations are needed to convert sun time into a table providing lunar transit times.
There is some evidence to suggest that animal activity, e.g. deer or fish feeding, is at a maximum at lunar transit time and when the moon is directly on the opposite side of the earth, i.e. when the earth has rotated 180° relative to the moon. See The Corpus Christi Caller Times, page C3, Thursday, Apr. 30, 1992.
The provision of timepieces which indicate high and low tides and the like are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,708,971; 4,412,749; 4,993,002; 5,050,139; 5,086,416 and 5,086,417. The provision of automated fish feeders are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,922,856 and 4,967,697.
As used herein, the term daily lunar cycle means the period during which the moon completes one complete revolution about the earth. This is in contrast to the monthly lunar cycle where the moon goes through phases of being more and less visible from the earth.
This invention comprises a timer which provides an output at lunar transit time and one half daily lunar cycle later. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the timer includes an oscillator and a counter. When the time interval corresponding to one half a daily lunar cycle elapses, an output signal is delivered from the timer. The timer is preferably started at lunar transit time so each output signal occurs at lunar transit time and one half daily lunar cycle later.
If one analyses a table of lunar transit times, one sees that the times vary in an apparently unknown manner. Further study shows that the time of each lunar transit falls more than twenty four hours later than the previous lunar transit. This shift of lunar transit time varies between forty and sixty minutes and averages about 51.2 minutes. Thus, on the average, each lunar transit time occurs twenty four hours 51.2 minutes later than the previous lunar transit time. Thus, on average, one half lunar transit time falls 12 hours 25.6 minutes later than the previous lunar transit time. In a practical sense, the timer of this invention does not have to provide an output exactly at lunar transit time because an approximation will suffice in almost all situations. Thus, using averages of about twenty four hours, 51 minutes and twenty four hours 25 or 26 minutes works quite well.
It is an object of this invention to provide a timer for indicating lunar transit time or a time related to lunar transit time.
Another object of this invention is to provide a feeder or similar device which is energized at or near lunar transit time.
These and other objects of this invention will become more fully apparent as this description proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4035661 (1977-07-01), Carlson
patent: 4834265 (1989-05-01), Snyder
patent: 4981107 (1991-01-01), Beaudoin et al.
patent: 4993002 (1991-02-01), Kerr
patent: 5143289 (1992-09-01), Gresham et al.
patent: 5160068 (1992-11-01), Fishman et al.
Caller-Times article, Apr. 30, 1992 New hunting and fishing aid debuts Friday.
Texas Parks and Wildlife article dated May 1992, pp. 20-25 Big bass respond to solunar dinner bell.
Guerrero Juan L.
Sotelo Oscar
Miska Vit
Moller G. Turner
Sotelo Oscar
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