Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With mechanical or electromechanical driven display
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-16
2004-11-30
Cuneo, Kamand (Department: 2841)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With mechanical or electromechanical driven display
C368S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06826125
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a novelty clock. More specifically, the present invention relates to a clock using numbered balls to display the current time.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of time keeping, there are many different novelty clocks having various types of displays. While the object of a clock is to properly display the correct time, novelty clocks are provided to display the correct time in a manner that is not only informative, but also entertaining. Novelty clocks have been provided to accomplish particular themes. For example, clock housings have been formed in various shapes, sizes, colors, and the like. Clocks have been made to look like various animals, sports objects, famous characters, and objects of art.
Several clocks have been designed to not only have a unique appearance, but also to display the time in a unique manner. Of specific interest in the present invention are clocks in which a plurality of balls, coins, or other objects are provided for the display of the current time. The plurality of objects are individually manipulated in order to accomplish this task. In several of the prior art devices, the objects are moved into particular viewable positions for displaying the time. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor(s)
Issue Date
4,077,198
H. Mayenschein
Mar. 7, 1978
4,280,211
H. Mayenschein
Jul. 21, 1981
4,370,064
A. A. Hicks et al.
Jan. 25, 1983
4,421,415
A. E. Goldfarb
Dec. 20, 1983
Of these patents, the '198 patent issued to Mayenschein discloses a novelty clock using an accumulation of balls displayed on a track to depict the current time. A plurality of balls is provided in a reserve portion of a track. A pivoting arm rotates at a rate of one rotation per minute. At a low point of the rotation, the arm picks up one of the balls and deposits it onto the upper end of the track when the arm reaches a high point in its rotation. The ball traverses the track until reaching the first time indicator, which is in one minute increments up to four minutes. When a fifth ball is deposited into the first time indicator, the first time indicator is emptied, with one ball being delivered to a second time indicator and the remainder being delivered back to the reserve. The second time indicator is in five minute increments up to fifty five minutes. The minutes are determined by combining the values of the last displayed balls in the first and second time displays. When both the first and second time indicators have been filled, the next ball deposited causes the first time indicator to dispense all of the balls therein, one being diverted to the second time indicator as described, that ball causing the second time indicator to be emptied, with one ball being directed toward a third time indicator and the remainder back to the reserve. The third time indicator is in one hour increments up to twelve hours. In like manner to the first and second time indicators, when twelve is displayed in the third time indicator and a further ball is delivered thereto, all of the balls are emptied and delivered to the reserve. Each of the time indicators is provided with one permanently placed ball in order to enable reorientation of the time indicator after having been emptied. In the first and second time indicators, this ball is positioned in a “zero” position, given no value. In the third time indicator, this ball is position in the “one” position.
The '211 patent issued to Mayenschein discloses a novel clock which visually indicates the current time by continuously changing the placement order of a plurality of accumulated balls. A plurality of apertures are defined by a housing, with each aperture representing a particular time increment. In one housing, the time increments are hours, in a second housing, the time increments are five minutes, and in a third housing the time increments are one minute. There are four apertures in the third housing. The first housing thus displays the hour while the second and third housings combine to display the minutes. A motor is provided in each housing to move the balls therein to display the balls through the appropriate aperture. Each housing is designed to resemble a train car, with the three being connected in end-to-end fashion behind a train engine to give the appearance of a train.
Hicks et al., in the '064 patent, disclose a clock which uses a counting device with ball actuated, aligned, rotatable indicating elements. The '064 device includes a plurality of indicating elements rotatable around parallel axes, arranged side by side in three columns, representing one hour increments, ten minute increments and one minute increments. Each indicating element includes a display portion and a ball actuated flange, mounted on a common axle with the flanges of adjacent elements in each column forming a ball conveying track. The elements are successively rotated to the upward display position by a ball whose continued presence atop an element's flange causes an appropriate rotation of that element. The balls are continuously recycled by a synchronous motor elevator which collects the balls at their lowest position and returns them to their highest position in communication with the ball conveying tracks. After all of the indicating elements in a column have been raised to their display position, the ball resets the first rotated element causing it to reset the adjacent elements. In this way the elements are returned to their downward position by a domino effect.
Finally, Goldfarb ('415) discloses a clock mechanism which displays the time by accumulations of counting tokens deposited within three generally vertical but zigzag-shaped channels. As in the previously described devices, the three channels represent one hour, ten minute and one minute increments. A synchronously driven belt carries projecting pins which push the tokens along a path from an enclosure near the bottom of the mechanism to positions above the channels, whence the tokens drop into the channels that are not full. When a particular channel is full, a token bypasses that channel and causes tokens already within the channel to be released for return to the enclosure. Time indicia disposed in front of the channels and the push-path identify the times represented by the various possible accumulations of tokens in the channels and the positions of tokens along the push-path. The indicia are adapted to be relatively inconspicuous when not backed up by tokens, and to be made relatively conspicuous when they are backed up by tokens.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a novelty clock having a display comprised of numbered balls. Specifically, the present invention is a clock in which replica pool balls are used to display the current time in a twelve hour cycle. The clock is contained primarily within a housing having a front panel defining a time display opening through which the balls are passed. The balls are displayed on a shelf that is hinged to the front panel of the clock. The shelf is pivoted upwardly to withdraw the balls and is then lowered to return the balls the most forward position. The housing is received within an opening in the wall of a structure making the only visible portions of the clock the front panel including the display, and whatever is visible through the time display opening in the front panel.
Three ball receiving carousels are provided. The first carousel defines ten ball receptacles for displaying one minute increments of time. A second carousel defines six ball receptacles and is provided for displaying ten minute increments. A third carousel defines twelve ball receptacles and is provided for displaying one hour increments. Each carousel includes first and second side walls mounted on either end of a bearing sleeve. The bearing sleeve is
Cuneo Kamand
Phan Thanh S.
Pitts & Brittian P.C.
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