Trick action type clock

Details Trick action type clock Trick action type clock

1999-01-28

2001-05-08

Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)

Horology: time measuring systems or devices

Displays or display device details

C368S228000, C368S233000, C368S285000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06229768

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trick action type clock, more particularly relates to a trick action type clock which moves a dial plate etc. at a predetermined time to make a figurine or other ornament behind the dial plate appear.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trick action type clocks where the dial plate is composed of a plurality of parts and where when a predetermined time, for example, 12 noon, arrives, the plurality of parts are moved so as to separate from each other, a figurine or other ornament installed behind the dial plate is made to appear, and the ornament is made to move in time with music have been developed and marketed.
Such clocks are disclosed in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 8-10256 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-68870. The clock disclosed in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 8-10256 has a dial plate comprised of a plurality of fan-shaped parts. When a predetermined time arrives, these dial plate parts rotate to form a petal configuration and, as a result, a figurine or other ornament installed behind the dial plate can be seen. The mechanism which drives the parts is comprised of a ring-shaped rack formed with gear teeth at its circumference and a plurality of pinions which are arranged outside of the ring-shaped rack in the radial direction and engage with the ring-shaped rack. The dial plate parts are fixed to the shafts of the plurality of pinions and rotate to the opening or closing position when the ring-shaped rack is driven by a motor.
On the other hand, the clock disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-68870 has a dial plate which can split into two parts in the vertical direction. When a predetermined time arrives, the dial plate splits into two parts in the vertical direction and a figurine or other ornament installed behind the dial plate appears.
These clocks have problems, however. In the clock disclosed in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 8-10256, since the drive mechanism for moving the dial plate parts consists of a ring-shaped rack with gear teeth at its circumference and of a plurality of pinions arranged outside of the ring-shaped rack in the radial direction and engaging with the ring-shaped rack is adopted, there is the problem that the overall dimensions of clock and the number of parts become large.
Further, there is the problem that the dial plate parts rotated to the open position are only supported by their corresponding shafts, therefore the parts loosely rattle forward and backward.
Furthermore, there is the problem that the parts forming the dial plate can only move by rotating about their own fixed shafts, therefore the movement of the parts is not so striking and therefore the clock is somewhat lacking in impact from the standpoint of the surprise of the dynamic change.
In the clock disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-68870, on the other hand, there is the problem that two parts forming the dial plate only move upward and downward. Therefore, even though the clock can make the ornament hidden inside appear, the clock does not produce such a strong impact in terms of the change of its appearance and, like the above case, is poor in terms of the surprise of the change.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a trick action type clock which is mechanically simple and comprised of a small number of parts yet which can produce a strong impact through the change of a dial plate or other cover concealing an ornament etc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a trick action type clock having a dial plate or other cover concealing an ornament which can be kept stable when opening or closing it.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trick action type clock comprising a dial plate; long and short hands; a movement for moving the hands; a cover formed by a plurality of parts mating along a line passing through a predetermined axis and arranged so as to be openable from and closeable to the predetermined axis; and a drive means for driving the cover parts so as to make the parts rotate and make them revolve around the predetermined axis to produce the opening and closing motion.
Due to the above configuration, when a predetermined time, for example, 12 noon, arrives, the drive means drives the cover so that the parts engage in an opening and closing motion while rotating and revolving around the predetermined axis.
In the above configuration, the drive means may be formed by a sun gear fixed immovably on a housing coaxially with the predetermined axis; a plurality of planetary gears engaging with the sun gear; a plurality of connection members fixed to the centers of rotation of the planetary gears at one end and rotatably connected to the cover parts at the other ends away from the centers of rotation; a support member arranged rotatably on the predetermined axis and supporting the planetary gears rotatably; and a drive motor for making the support member rotate on the predetermined axis.
In such a configuration, when the support member is rotated by the drive motor, the planetary gears engaged with the sun gear revolve around the sun gear while rotating, the connection members rotate with the planetary gears, and the cover parts connected to the connection members rotate and revolve around the center of rotation of the support member to perform an opening and closing motion.
Further, the clock may include a plurality of ornaments arranged behind the cover and a plurality of ornament-use gears engaging with the sun gear and rotatably supported on the support member for moving the ornaments.
In such a configuration, the cover performs the opening and closing motion as described above to make the ornaments concealed behind it appear and the rotation of the support member makes the ornament-use gears rotate and revolve around the center of rotation of the support member, whereby the ornaments rotate and revolve around the predetermined axis.
Further, the connection members may be crank-shaped members having step differences in the direction of the predetermined axis.
Further, to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trick action type clock comprising long and short hands; a movement for moving the hands; a dial plate formed by a plurality of parts mating along a line passing through a center of rotation of the hands and arranged so as to be openable from and closeable to the center of rotation; and a drive means for driving the dial plate parts to make the parts rotate and revolve around the center of rotation to produce an opening and closing motion.
In the above configuration, when a predetermined time, for example, 12 noon, arrives, the drive means drives the dial plate so that the parts engage in an opening and closing motion while rotating and revolving around the center of rotation.
Further, the drive means may be formed by a sun gear immovably fixed on a housing coaxially with the center of rotation; a plurality of planetary gears engaging with the sun gear; a plurality of connection members fixed to the centers of rotation of the planetary gears at one end and rotatably connected to the dial plate parts at the other end away from the centers of rotation; a support member arranged rotatably on the center of rotation and supporting the planetary gears rotatably; and a drive motor for making the support member rotate on the center of rotation.
In such a configuration, when the support member is rotated by the drive motor, the planetary gears engaged with the sun gear revolve around the sun gear while rotating, the connection members rotate with the planetary gears, and the dial plate parts connected to the connection members rotate and revolve around the center of rotation of the support member to perform an open

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