GB2226663A - Pendulum clock - Google Patents

Abstract

A pendulum clock having a first movement which drives at least an hour hand (2) and a minutes hand (3) of the clock and a second movement (9) which drives a movable member (11) such as a moon phase indicator. <IMAGE>

Description

"PENDULUM CLOCK" The present device relates to a pendulum clock.

A pendulum clock having a suspended pendulum which swings back and forth has been known for a very long time. In the case of a mechanical clock, the pendulum has been the driving source of the clock, but with the recent spread of electronic timepieces such as quartz type clocks, the pendulum is now used only as a dummy.

However, although previous pendulum clocks have been of various styles and have used various shapes of pendulum bobs or even two pendulums, these differences have been mere matters of design or fashion.

A clock is also known in which the age or phase of the moon is displayed, in which case such a display section has been provided on the dial within the time display portion.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pendulum clock having a first movement which drives at least an hour hand and a minutes hand of the clock and a second movement which drives a movable member.

The movable member may indicate the phase or age of the moon, may be a calendar member, or may be a seconds hand of the clock.

The movable member is preferably carried by the pendulum of the clock.

The pendulum may be a dummy.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a pendulum clock having an attractive pendulum the appearance of whose bob changes.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a pendulum clock according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of a pendulum bob forming part of the clock of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line a-a of Figure 2.

In Figure 1 there is shown a pendulum clock according to the present invention which comprises a main body A, having a time display portion 1, and a pendulum B which is pivotally suspended from the main body A so as to swing back and forth.

The time display portion 1 includes a dial 4 on the front surface of which there are provided an hour hand 2 and a minutes hand 3 driven by a first or main movement (not shown).

The main body A and the pendulum B are connected to each other by means of a known pendulum suspension means (not shown) and the pendulum B swings right and left as shown by the solid and dotted lines due to the attraction and repulsion between a magnet and a coil (not shown).

The pendulum B comprises a connecting rod 5 connected to the main body A and a pendulum bob 6 supported by the connecting rod 5. The pendulum bob 6 carries a movable member 11 which, in the present embodiment, is constituted by a disc 11 whose position indicates the age or phase of the moon.

The construction of the pendulum bob 6 will be described by reference to Figures 2 and 3.

A pendulum rod 7 which is hooked on the connecting rod 5 passes through a slit 6a formed in the upper part of the pendulum bob 6 and held fixed by means of screws 8, 8. To the rear surface of the pendulum rod 7 there is fixed a movement 9 which constitutes a second or additional movement of the clock. Designated by reference numeral 10 is a rear wall of the pendulum bob 6.

A stub shaft 9a, which extends forwardly from the movement 9 and passes through the pendulum rod 7, is attached to the moon age indicator disc 11.

A pair of pictures ila of the same circular moon (only one shown) are respectively depicted on the disc 11 in symmetrical relationship with each other with respect to the centre of rotation of the disc 11.

One of the pictures lia passes, in operation into and out of a window 6b so that the age of the pictured moon is displayed as the moon waxes and wanes.

With the above construction, the pendulum bob 6 of the pendulum B displays the age of the moon as the bob 6 swings back and forth.

Although in the above description, the movable member driven by the second movement is a moon age display disc, it may alternatively be a seconds hand or may perform a calendar display. Moreover, the second movement can, if desired, be mounted on the main body A.

Thus, in the clock described above, the pendulum bob of a pendulum clock can be provided with a movable member such as a moon age display member or a seconds display member, and it is thus possible to -provide an attractive pendulum clock of a novel kind.

Claims (9)

1. A pendulum clock having a first movement which drives at least an hour hand and a minutes hand of the clock and a second movement which drives a movable member.

2. A pendulum clock as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable member indicates the phase or age of the moon.

3. A pendulum clock as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable member is a seconds hand of the clock.

4. A pendulum clock as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable member is a calendar member.

5. A pendulum clock as claimed in any preceding claim in which the movable member is carried by the pendulum of the clock.

6. A pendulum clock as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pendulum is a dummy.

7. A pendulum clock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accomompanying drawings.

8. Any novel integer or step, or combination of integers or steps, hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings, irrespective of whether the present claim is within the scope of, or relates to the same or a different invention from that of, the preceding claims.

9. A pendulum clock having at least an hour and a minute hand and a pendulum and which is characterized by the provision of an additional movement for driving an additional mechanism including a second or moon age display.