US2032774A - Time setting device - Google Patents

Description

R. D. SMITH March 3, @B

TIME SETTING DEVICE 15530 2 SheecS-Shee. l

Filed Dec.

March 3, 1936. R, D. SM|TH 2,032,774

TIME SETTING DEVICE Filed Deo. 24, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 21 IN VEN TOR Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE I 25 Claims.

This invention relates to means peculiarly adapted, though not limited, to association with the regular hands and face of a time telling clock for the purpose of performing a self-evident and easily understood and easily accomplished setting of one, two or more times at which the running of the clock shall produce some automatic effect such as to open or close an electric switch, a valve, light or extinguish lights, ring audible signals, cause the tripping of mechanism, or any other desired effect Whatsoever.

To illustrate the principles underlying the invention I have herein chosen to illustrate a time setting device capable of determining two selective times at which automatic actions will take place such, for instance, as to alternately open or close an electric switch or a valve, which switch or valve will thereby be caused to remain 20 open for one period and closed for another period. Obviously, the face of the clock could as well be marked to represent twenty-four hours around the entire circle or any other desired system for graduating periods of time.

In the use of On and Oif" automatic time switches and valves for controlling, say, the cooking of food on domestic ranges utilizing either electricity or gas for fuel it has proven to be a material factor in the commercial success of such controls that they be of a nature simple and easy to be understood and operated by women in the home and by salesmen endeavoring to sell the consumer public in general and the failure to achieve a sufficiently simple and easily understood and easily remembered means of setting the time for the cooking to start and stop in the forms of mechanism for this purpose heretofore available has been a serious obstacle to the popularizing of this otherwise desirable idea of the automatic time controlled cooking of food in the home. It has heretofore been proposed in association withA the hands and face 0f the ordinary clock to provide two separate auxiliary time dials similar to the single dial by which the alarm is set to go off in an ordinary alarm clock but the use of same has proven confusing in the matter of sequence and the relation of) vide a means for setting time for purposes analogous to the above and for any other to which a time controlled switch or mechanism can .have useful application which shall be not only selfevident as to the times of day at which the device is set to act but also practically self-instructive Without a set of operating directions and to the uninformed, as to how the time setting may be readjusted to suit the designs of the user, and it is a particular aim to render so 10 plainly visible and unmistakable the spread of time during which the cooking or other desired operation shall take place both as to its duration and as to the times of day the cooking starts and stops that the device is so far as is possible, foolproof for the uninformed to operate.

A particular object of the present improvement is to make the time setting elements coact with the working parts of a simple, cheap but eifective electric switch, snap-acting both in its movement to make and to break the circuit.

A still further object is to provide as a unitary structure the clock face of Whatever shape and marking together with the time setting means and the electric switch parts if same are employed, so that this unitary structure may be assembled with any form of standard clock movement whether of the spring motor type containing a chronometer escapement or of the manyl recently introduced forms of clocks driven, impulsed, or wound by any form of electric motor.

A further object is to avoid all limitation whatever as .to the times of day or the minimum or maximum periods of time for which the device may be set it being the aim to when desired, annui the automatic action entirely by making a setting` in which the on period is reduced to a minimum of zero and the off period is increased to a maximum of 360 degrees or vice versa. A further object is to arrange any elec- 40 trically alive parts employed so that they are insulated from the handles to be grasped for adjusting the time setting and from any metallic parts of the clock movement.

To the above described ends vand for other purposes which will appear from the following descripticn my invention is better explained by an illustrative form thereof shown in the accomlpanying sheets of drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view, with an edge portion of 50 the clock face broken away to expose the wiping switch contact linger and indicating in broken lines optionally usable means for adjusting the time setting parts. Y

Fig. 2 is a view taken in section through Fig. 1, 53

on the planes 2-2-2 indicating by broken lines the aligned relationship of time setting handles and further showing parts to represent any clock movement which may be employed together with electric wiring'connections for the switch.

Fig. 3 is a segmental section on the plane 3-3 in Fig. 1 showing parts of the time setting and circuit switching mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an isometric viewof the containing and the insulating arm integral with same which impels the contact member of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the minute hand.

Fig. l1 is a diagrammatic illustration of two partially assembled intersliding split discs illustrating the idea underlying o ne possible form for the rotatably adjustable elements for setting the time for automatic actions with relation to each otherand to the face of the clock.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of three spirally overlapping indicators or insulative or conductive switch tracks which may be employed for a purpose similar to that of the discs of Fig.

vbeing shown.

11 within the principles of this invention; a contact wiper circularly movable to ride. on same being indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 13 shows'three discs similar to the two of Fig. 11 removed from their normal concentric relation to show more clearly the nature of their assembly and sliding relationship.

Fig. 14 shows, disassembled, a conductive disc similar to the conductive disc of Fig. 5, but Awith overlapping annular ends.

Fig. 15 shows a similar construction of insulative disc.

Fig. 16 shows the discs of Figs. 14 and 15 in assembled relation at the extreme position of their relative adjustment when ,the front surface of the conductive disc is completely covered and concealed by the insulative disc.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 -With the discs of Figs. 14 and 15, relatively positionedas in Fig. 16, the lips 2l and 25 not Fig. 18 shows the parts of Fig. 16 at their opposite extreme of relative adjustment wherein the front surface of the insulative disc is fully covered and concealed by the conductive disc.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 17 when the discs are relatively positioned as in Fig. 18, lips 24 and 25 likewise here being omitted.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is indicated the frame 3 of any clock movement which may afford-bearing for the vminute spindle I or ,for some clock impelled spindle to be 4coupled to same and driven by the gear #,the source of power and the time keeping mechanism not being shown in detail because a spring motor movement, an electric clock ,movementor any other form of movement may be used. The minute spindle Il! may be surrounded by -a rotatable hub I I for the hour hand of the clock suitably intergeared to spindle IIJ by gears 5, 6, 1 and' in the wellknown manner not necessary here to describe in detail so. that the spindle I0 for the minute hand I2 makes twelve complete revolutions for each single revolution of the hub I I. It will be understood that the minute hand I2 is not essential to the present improvement since it is possible to tell time by the hour lhand only `and the' latter could be vdirectly ixnpelled at proper speed by the clock move-'- ment without the intermediary minute spindle I 0. The speed of hourv hand II may be dilerent from one revolution in twelve hours with time graduations to accord. y

The structure of my present improvement may .be disposed and mounted quite separately from the minute spindle I0 and hour hub II but is designed to carry the face of the clock here shown as the disc I3 which may or may not be circular in shape .and which is iixed to the stationary hub I4l extending rearwardly and which may conveniently surround the rotatable hour hub II and may or may not allord bearing. for same. to provide an insulating sleeve I to prevent metallic contact of the hour hub II with the hub I4 of the clock face.

At the rear end of the hub I4 and ixedly spaced from the clock face I3 by a collar I I may mount a large plate I1 of insulating material secured fast to the hub I4 by the nut I8 having threaded engagement with hub I4,and by the use of keys,

pins, flats, solder or the like I may keep all these parts I3, I4, I6, II and I8 in xed rotative relation and supported rigidly by any suitable mounting of the insulating plate I'I as by two or more brackets 9 upon the frame work 3 or within the casing of whatever kind-of clock movement is employed and from which all these parts will consequently be insulated.

On the insulating plate I'I I may also mount the shell I9 which is a shallow dish shaped el'ement shown in Fig. 4 having no permanent electrical connection with the above mentioned metallic parts which are fast with the' clock face. Seated in the shell I9 I may arrange two or more inter-sliding annular portions of radially split discs shown most clearly in Figs. 5, 11 or 13. For the purposes of my invention it may be the function of these time setting split discs to aiord contrasting colors in their portions which are vis- `Vible as an annual ring peripherally exterior to the clock face I3. Or I may form one of these discs 20 of conductive material and the other disc 2l of insulating material so that they will divide the 360 degrees of a complete circle into two sectors one of which will afford a-conductive track and the other an insulating track for a contact wiper or wipers to be described.

Fig, 1.1 shows the geometrical nature 'of each of the discs 20 and 2I and the manner in which they interslide when being assembled although when completely assembled for operation it will be understood that these discs 'are concentric. Also as shown in Figs. 14 to 19, inclusive the lips of each disc at the split may be eiongated so that the two lips of a single disc overlap instead of being separated by an actualbreak as in the figures. The conductive disc 2c may be shifted rotatively by the handle 22 and the insulating disc 2I may be shifted rotatively by the handle 23 veach handle being preferably of insulating material. It will be seen from the broken line showing of handle 23 in Fig. 2 and from Figs. 14 to 19,

In'some cases it may be desirable discs which occur at the point where they are split could be adjusted to a point of relative alignment with each other whereby either of the discs would cover up and expose no part of the adjacent face of the other disc. I givethese discs preferably a peripheral bearing against the outer wall of the shell I9 and a sufiiciently large opening in the center to keep them remote from the collar I6 although in some constructions I may prefer to have them turn about an insulating bearing centered by the hub I4. Fig. 5 shows each disc provided with a raised lip or incline, 24 on disc and 25 on disc 2| for coaction with a springcontact nger 26 to make a quick make and break action which will now be described, although the provision of the lip 24, or its equivalent, on conductive disc 20, is alone adequate without the lip 25 on insulative disc 2| to effect the desirable amount of circuit breaking separation between the rotative contact finger 26 and the conductive material of disc 20 when the circuit breaking snap action of linger 26 takes place.

This finger will be seen to be formed as a struck down portion 26 of a rotatable contact disc 21 and made of some springy conductive material such as phosphor bronze, this disc in all parts other than its portion 26 being backed up by an insulating facing 28 which carries in diametrically opposite relation to the contact nger 26 a similarly shaped spring nger 29 which however is not in conductive relation to the disc 21 but serves to equalize the spring pressure of the contact nger ,26 to somewhat prevent the slanting or tipping out of true transaxial alignment of the disc 21 as a whole. An alternative construction is to make the contact fingers 26 and 29 rigid instead of flexible and .provide an axially acting spring to yieldingly thrust the disc 21 rearward as a whole while permitting its rotation in electrical contact with the clock dial I3. I'he disc 21 further carries at its periphery the bent over projecting fork 30 which reaches forwardly over the edge of the clock face I3 to be engaged by the hour hand structure 3| and thereby impelled in unison with the rotation of the hour hub II.

I may form this hour hand structure with an arm part 32 tapering into a projection suitable to engage the fork 30 and made of insulating and preferably of transparent material diametrically opposite to which the hour hand 33 may be provided as the conventional sheet metal pointer fixed to this transparent and insulating arm portion 32. The entire structure 3| may be xedly mounted on the forward end of the hub II rather than frictionally mounted, in order to insure `a positive impelling of the switch rotor contact disc 21 in addition to the mere time telling function of the hour hand as in an ordinary clock.

As regards the possible form of construction above described which is but one of a large possible number oi constructions subject to the broad principles of this invention, there remains to be mentioned merely the provision of binding posts for two electric wires 39 and 39 the circuit through which is tobe made and broken. One of these binding posts is represented by the screw 34 carried by the bracket 35 in electrical contact With the nut I8, hub I4 and clock face I3 and the other binding post is represented by the screw 36 carried by the bracket 31 which is in electrical contact with the shell I9 and thereby with the time setting conductive disc 20 at all times as insured by the contacter strip 38 carried by the forward standing part of the handle 22 which Wipes internally against the rim of shell I9. It

will be plain that even without this wiper strip 38 electrical contact between shell I 9 and disc 20 is pretty well insured by the contact between the front face of the former and rear face of such portion of the latter as isnot separated from the shell I9 by the insulation disc 2 I.

In operation, the contact disc 21 remains pressed by its contact inger 26 and by the other spring finger 2l insulated therefrom, forwardly against the metal of the clock face dial I3 with a. light friction insuring the disc 21 remaining always in electrical contact with the clock face dial and thereby through hub I4, bracket and screw 34 with one of the circuit wires 39. The circuit can be completed with the other circuit wire 39 only when the contact nger 26 rests against the conductive disc 20 which in the setting shown in Fig. 1 can occur only between the hours of four oclock and six oclock. It will be observed that the hour hand aligns radially with the circuit making and breaking terminal of this nger 26 the latter being in back of the clock face and the former being in front of the clock face. If desired the clock face could be made of transparent material to render the action of this contact finger 26 visible to the user.

From Fig. 3 it will be apparent that a quick make and a quick breakof the circuit is produced by the sudden dropping off of the contact finger 26 from the tips of inclines 25 and 24 and that when the setting discs are formed and used like parts 20' and 2| in Figs. 14 to 19 inclusive, there is possible advantage in omitting the raised step 25 on disc 2| so that contact finger 26 will travel through a greater distance in snapping from conductive disc 20 to insulative -disc 2|, thereby increasing the amount of its circuit breaking separation from the material of conductive disc 20. The correspondingly smaller distance that finger 26 will travel in snapping from insulative disc 2| to conductive disc 2|) (because of the absence of a raised step such as 25 on disc 2|) is of relatively small importance because in this action there is no arc to be broken even if there be considerable voltage in the circuit to be controlled. If desired these inclines may be formed by merely striking up a portion of the discs 20 and 2| preferably to slope about in accordance with the slope of the contactnger 26 and it will be seen that a projection 40 in Fig. 3 carried by one underlip of the insulating disc 2| prevents the relative rotation of this disc in relation to the ,conductive disc 20 beyond the point of approxiedges of inclines 24 and 25 if present, can be aligned with each other for which purpose it is desirable to have the two edges of each of the two discs overlap somewhat as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 19 inclusive. This overlapping will preserve the inter-sliding engagement of each disc with the other both in the position indicated in Fig. 16 where the insulative disc completely covers and conceals the conductive disc and in the position shown in Fig. 18 where the conductive disc Cil completely covers and conceals the insulative disc tive indicator to the uninformed user as to during what portion of the time represented by the dial the current to the electric range will be On and as to what proportion of the time represented by the dial it will be Off. This ease of un-v derstanding would be even further increased by the use of simple wording Cooking stops at this time or Cooking starts together with an arrow pointing toward the graduation .on the clock face as suggested in Fig. 1. Each disc 20 and 2| is individually adjustable to any position of adjustment both in relation to the other disc and to the face of' the clock, and accuratelysothrough the registering of the lip of each disc at its splitportion with the graduations at the edge of the clock face. The latter is of suicient diameter as shown in the` drawings to give an accuracy of time setting of better' than ve minutes which possible accuracy of setting is indefinitely increased if the diameter of `30 the face of the clock is made larger.

The discs 20 and 2| will remain positioned wherever set by the friction imparted to them by the insulating washer 4| which is forced rearwardly by the tension of the leaf springs 43 exerted preferably upon three or more studs 42 extending rearwardly throughholes in the insulating plate Il, the Washer 4| preferably not rotating but permitting the discs 20 and 2| to be rotatively adjusted thereunder.v As shown herein washer 4| has a square hole axially slidable on a square portion of collar i6.

It may be mentioned that whereas my invention is not confined .to such feature, it is desirable for some purposes that each ofthe separable edges or lips of discs l20 and 20 and 2| or 2| should possess a substantially equal degree of `yielding to admit the continuous portion of the other disc or ring thereby to permit a substantially equal angleof helical deflection in the continuous portions of both rings where they pass through the separable edges of the other ring.

This condition affords the smallest possible declination of each ring from a planeperpendicular to the axis about which the rings are rotatably adjustable and thereby makes possible a minimum overall thickness of the assembled rings as well .as uniform steepness to the inclines on each ring leading up to the drop-ofi points for contact rotor 26. l

While' as pictured in the drawings and above described the time setting elements 20 and 2| are shown as only two 'at inter-sliding disc-like members it is within tliescope of the principles ci this invention to make them three or more in number and similarly intersliding as per Fig. 13.

Such time setting discs could be merely indicators of the three different time settings and' 'possibly of three contrasting colors .for this P111'- pose or couldcomprise electricallyl conductive tracks to two or more different circuits. It is optional to form such multiple indicators or conductive and insulative tracks as spirally intersliding bands an vedgewise view of which is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 12 surrounding which can rotate an electrical contact wiper indicated in broken lines; as comprising a rotor 21' propelling or carrying the electric contact wiper 26' in conductive engagement rst with one and,

.then the others of the three spirally interthreaded electrical conductive tracks 20. These three tracks are not in electrical connection with one another but may be constructed to comprise the terminals, respectively of three separate electric circuits and tobe individually adjustable by the handle-like tabs 22' to set them into desired relative and absolute positions for pre-determining the time of circuit-making and breaking actions which will result from rotation of the wiper 26'. One or more of the tracks 20 might be made of insulation rather than conductive material depending upon the nature of the circuit switching actions desired.

It has been stated hereinbefore that the discs 20 and 2| need not comprise nor co-actV with and issued patents, or the positioning of the discs 20 and 2| herein can be made to set the time at which any .form of escapement or automatic action shall take place to secure the advantages of this invention residing merely in the provision ,of visible ltime determining indicators in alignment with the time markings on a dial or clock face.v

I do not limit the invention to the manner of setting the discs '20 and 2| by simple handles such as 22 and 23 herein but may set them through the twisting of thumb knobs indicated by broken lines as 44 and 45 in Fig. l respectively turning by means' of spindles4 4B and 49, the pinions 46 and 41 each of which may be in mesh with gear teeth which may be provided at the peripheral edges of disc 20 and disc 2|, suitable openings in the shell I9 permitting this mesh.

Brackets 50 and 5| extending from the shell I9 might afford bearing forlthe spindles 48 and .49. This provision of gear and' pinion adjustment of the circular positions of'discs r2| and -2li would be useful if it were desired to enclose the entire structure of this invention back of a glass window in a clock case, because handles such as22 and 23 would require opening of the glass to afford access or would .require circular slots in the clock case out of which to protrude and which slots would give undesired'entrance to dust and dirt.

.As modifications I may prefer to form either the shell I9 or the discs of Fig. -5 as a dish with conical' rim after the manner' of the ordinary decorative bezel or frame around a circularclock face. Obviously I may provide a thumb 'nut 52 by which to set the hands of the clock either at the front or at the rearas indicated by Fig. 2 and for this purpose lslippage may be introduced between the spindle I0 and the gear 4 to constitute a friction drive. Many othermodications will occur to one experienced in the art and the following claims are to include all equivalents of the construction which I have disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. Means for predetermining the time at which a succession of automatic actions shall occur including in combination, a circular scale of time indicating graduations, annular indicator members of relatively contrasting appearance, each member being of at least 360 degrees circular extent and broken at one point to interrupt its circular continuity and each oi said members being arranged to pass helically through the break in the other member to permit relative rotative adjustment of the members, and a separate handle carried by each indicator member for manually shifting the rotative relationship of said members, said handles being formed with a portion of each handle axially disposed and so positioned as to permit the passing of said handles for eiecting the relative rotative adjustment of said members through at least 360 degrees of relative movement.

2. In combination, a plurality or intersliding indicator rings of respectively contrasting colors, each ring having a split through which the other ring may helically pass to permit relative rotative adjustment of the rings and to mark a dividing line between the visible portions of the rings whereby each of said rings may be adjusted to expose or conceal any desired circular extent of the other ring, a stationary clock face with time telling hands and positioned centrally of said indicator rings thereby to appear from the front as surrounded in part by the color of respectively different rings` said rings being also adjustable relative to said stationary clock face whereby any selected portion of the full periphery of said clock face may be made to appear as bordered by the color of either of said rings through suitable relative and absolute adjustment of the rings, a clock movement connected to impel the time telling hands, and electric current switching means connected in part to be motivated by said clock movement and in part operatively associated with said indicator rings in a way to perform a current switching action when one of the clock hands and said dividing line between the visible portions of the indicator rings are substantially in radial alignment with each other and register with a common point on said clock face.

3. In timing mechanism, in combination, a clock works, a frame to support said clock works, a bearing bushing rigid with said frame and extending forwardly therefrom, a clock face supported rigidly at the forward end of said bushing and centered thereon, a spindle driven by said clock works and extending forwardly through said bearing bushing, and a clock hand carried by said spindle to sweep in front of said clock face, and means to indicate the division of said clock face into component segments, including discs of Arelatively contrasting appearance mounted to be relatively and absolutely adjustable about said bearing bushing at the rear of said clock face.

4. In timing mechanism, a mechanical graph device for indicating the division of a circuitous series of dial graduations into a plurality of component groups, and including in combination with said graduations, a plurality of inter-sliding indicator rings of relatively contrasting colors, each ring having a split disposed to register visibly with graduations on said dial and through which the other ring may helically pass whereby either ring may be adjusted from a position exposing the full circular extent of the other ring to a position concealing the lfull circular extent .of said other ring, and stop means arranged to limit the relative movement of said rings in one rotative direction when either ring is so positioned relative to the other ring that it exposes oiionceals the entire circular extent of said other r 5. 'A time switch for assemblage with the works of a clock to be motivated thereby and formed as an integral structure separate from the works of the clock and carrying the clock face, a quick make and break switching mechanism at the rear ot the clock face and a switch actuator rotatable at the rear of the clock face and having a part extending forwardly to bridge the edge of the clock face thereby to be engaged and propelled by one ot the hands of the clock works.

6. In combination with the hands and face of a clock a. spindle to rotate one of said hands by means of the clock work, a mechanism to be acted upon by the rotation oi' said spindle, and an arm carried by said spindle in front of the clock face for actuating said mechanism, said arm being of transparent material to avoid rendering invisible any part of said clock face and a visible marker on said transparent arm simulating the time telling hand of a clock.

7. In a time switch, time setting means embodying in combination with a clock dial and time telling hands mounted to sweep in front oi same, a contact rotor to be impelled by timing mechanism at the rear of said dial, a circular track for said rotor also at the rear of said dial and comprised of alternately conductive and insulative portions, each of said portions being individually adjustable as to its circular extent and as to its circular position with relation to said clock dial, the material of which said track is made extending to 'a greater diameter than said dial thereby to be visible as a setting indicator back of and adjacent to the periphery of said dial.

8. In the structure deiined in claim 7 the combination with the conductive and insulative portions of said track oi' a ratchet-like step carried at the dividing line between each of the said portions of the track whereby the said contact rotor is projected with a quick snap action from a conductive portion of the track onto an insulative portion of the track and vice versa.

9. In combination, a plurality of intersliding indicator rings of respectively contrasting colors, each ring having a split through which the other ring may helically pass to permit relative rotative adjustment of the rings whereby each of said rings may be adjusted to expose or conceal any desired circular extent ofthe other ring, a stationary clock face with time telling hands positioned in iront of and central oi said indicator rings thereby to appear-trom the front as surrounded in different parts by the color of respectively different rings, said rings being also adjustable relative to said stationary clock face whereby any selected portion of the full periphery of said clock face may be made to appear as bordered by the color of either of said rings through suitable relative and absolute adjustment oi. the rings,

10. Means for predetermining the times at which a succession of automatic current switching actions shall occurI including in combination with timing mechanism and a current distributing ro'- tor impelled thereby, a circular scale of time indicating graduations, annular indicating members of relatively contrasting appearance, each member being of at least 360 degrees circular extent and containing a break permitting the helical entrance of the other member therethrough, and drop off steps arranged respectively at the 4break in each member to be traversed by said rotor and departed from by said rotor with a snap action, the arrangement further being such Athat each member may be adjusted to a. position relative to the other member wherein its said drop oi step acts as a baille to preclude contact between said rotor and the other drop oii step during a plurality of revolutions of said rotor.

11. In combination, Ya timing mechanism, circuit controlling mechanism operated by said timing mechanism, a plurality of arcuate markers of relatively contrasting appearance, a clock face of smaller diameter than said arcuate markers and disposed centrally thereof so that its peripheral edge shall appear from the front as bordered in part by one of said markers and in part by -another of said markers, said markers-being also adjustable relative to said clock face so that any'selected portion of the entire circular edge of said clock face may be bordered by either of said arcuate markers alone, and connections causing the functions of said circuit controlling mechanism to occur at times of day indicated by the position of said markers against said clock face.

12. In a time switch, means for selectively 'varyingy and determining more than two different intervals of time to elapse between successive current switching actions of the time switch comprising in combination, a time movement, a contact wiper connected to be impelled in a circular path by `said movement, more than two circularlyinterlapping ring devices each device having a break through which a plurality of the other devices may rotatively slide, a plurality of circular tracks of conductive material carried by respectively different ones of said ring devices and presented thereby in the path of said contact wiper, whereby relative rotative adjustment of said interlapping ring devices varies and predetermines what circular extents of more than two of` said devices and bers upon a circle of relatively small diameter, and l a time dial stationed in front of said members and of suiiicient diameter to conceal that portion of said members comprisedwithin the said circle of small diameter, whereby portions of said meinbers in circles of larger diameter than said dial may appear to surround said dial and thereby serve as indicators of the v'circular positions of said members.

14. In timing mechanism, in combination, a clock works, a frame to support said clock works, a bearing bushing rigid with said frame and' extending forwardly from the plane of said clock works, 'a clock face supported rigidly at the forward end of said bushing and centered thereon, a spindle driven by said clock works and extending forwardly through said bearing bushing, a clock hand carried by said spindle to sweep in front of said clock face, and means to indicate the division of said clock face into component circular parts, including discs of relatively contrasting appearance mounted to be relatively andv absolutelyadjustable about said bearing bushing back of said clock face and of larger area than said clock face, whereby said clock face appears to be completely surrounded by a background composed of the visiadjustable contact controlling members rotatably mounted at the rear of said dial, concentric therewith and concealed thereby and co-operating with said rotor to determine the time of day that'automatic switching action shall take place, and indicators movable at the rear of' said dial and appearing inpart at the edge thereof when said dial is viewed from the front and connected respectively to said contact controlling members, thereby to show by the position of their visible portions about the edge of the clock dial, the times of day that automatic switching actions will take place.

16. In combination, a clock face, clock hands 'pivoted to sweep in front of said face to tell the I time of day, a circular indicator ring of at least 860 degrees extent disposed to appear from the front of said clock face as surrounding the same, means arranged for adjustive sliding movement in circular relation to said ring in both circular directions and reversibly slidable from all positions relative thereto for selectively concealing or exposing any portion or the whole of the full circular extent of said ring thereby to provide a boundary mark for the visible portion of said ring, said ring being turnable to station its thus .exposed portion at any one of an unlimited number of positions` about said clock face, a clock .movement connected to impel the time telling hands, and electric current switching means connected in part to be motivated by said clock movement and in part operatively associated with said indicator ring and means arranged for adjustive sliding movement in a way to perform a current switching action when one of the clock hands and said boundary mark for the visible portion of the indicator ring are substantially in radial alignment with each other and register with a common point on said clock face.

17. In combination, a time dial, an indicator ring of at least 360 degrees circular extent concentric with said dial, means selectively adjustable to conceal any portion or the whole of the full circular extent of said indicator ring, said ring being turnable relative to said dial to station its exposed portion at any of an unlimited number of positions relative to said dial, and said ring being of larger diameter than said dial, and

-disposed at the rear of said dial to be visible around .the periphery of the dial when viewed from the front of the dial.

18. In timing mechanism, in combination, a clock works, a frame to support said clock works, a bearing bushing rigid with said frame and extending forwardly from the plane of said clock works, a clock face supported rigidly at the forward end of said bushingand centered thereon, a spindle driven by said clock works and extending forwardly through said bearing bushing, a clock hand carried by said spindle to sweep in front of said clock face, and circuit switching means including a circuit controlling rotor rotatable about saidbearing bushing back of the clock face and connected to b e impelled by said clock works, and discs to determine the time said rotor shall act-to switch a current, rotatively adjustable about said bearing bushing also in back of said clock face, in which arrangement 4'said discs but not said rotor are visible outside the area occupied by said clock face when said timing mechanism is viewed from the front.

19. In combination,` a clock'works to furnish Cil aosavu power, a clock dial, circuit making and breaking means positioned in back of said clock dial and concealed thereby, means rotatable by the power of said clock works to be visible in front of said clock dial for telling time, and connections between the former means and the latter ,means whereby said latter means impels said former means while the two means are on respectively opposite sides of said dial, said connections straddling the edge of said dial.

20. Means for indicating the division of a stationary 12-hour clock face into selective fractional portions whose sum shall comprise the full circular extent of said clock face, including in combination with a clock face, graduations proximate the edge thereof, two rotatively ad-` instable elements each of at least 360 degrees circular extent and of greater diameter than said clock face and disposed at the rear thereof to be visible from the front around the periphery of said clock face, time telling hands rotatable in front of said clock face, and means rendering said elements so adjustable as-to selectively conceal or expose the entire c ircular extent or any selective fractional part of the entire circular extent of either element, whereby the elements may be `adjusted to cause the clock face to appear as surrounded entirely by one of said elements or to appear as surrounded entirely by the other of sai-d elements or to appear as surrounded entirely by a combination of the two elements in areuately end-to-end relation.

2l. In combination, a plurality of intersllding indicator rings of respectively contrasting colors, each ring having a split through which the other ring may helically pass to permit relative rotative adjustment of the rings and to mark a dividing line between the visible portions of the rings whereby each of said rings may be adjusted to expose or conceal selective arcuate extents ci the other ring, a stationary clock face, and time telling hands mounted to sweep in front of said face, said face covering an incomplete area in front of said rings thereby to expose the color of each of said rings that is exposed by the position of the other ring as viewed from the front of said clock face, a clock movement connected to impel the tim'e telling hands, and electric current switching means connected in part to be motivated by said clock movement and in part operatively associated with said indicator rings in a way to perform a current switching action when one of the clock hands and said dividing line between the visible portions of the indicator rings are substantially in radial alignment with each other and register with a common point on said clock face.

22. In combination with concentric minute and hour spindles of a time telling clock, a time motor connected at the rear ends of said spindles to rotate the spindles, minute and hour hands carried respectively on the front ends of said spindles, a stationary clock dial with time graduations disposed immediately back of said hour hand, and circuit controlling means connected to be motivated by said time motor and disposed in back of said dial so as to be concealed thereby from the sight of an observer of said clock hands and time graduations, and a time setting indicator operatively associated with said circuit controlling means and disposed for appearance at the edge of said dial and mounted to be rotatively adjustable in relation to the time graduations thereon whereby the time of day and the time setting of said means may be simultaneously viewed from the front of said clock dial.

23. An assemblage of parts of a time telling clock with parts of a selectively settable time switch, characterized by compact and concentric relationship of parts and including in combination, concentric minute and hour spindles, minute and hour hands carried respectively on the forward ends of said spindles, a time motor at the rear end of said spindles connected to impel the latter, circuit controlling means disposed and operating about the axis of said spindles by power derived from said motor and including normally stationary means co-operating with said power driven means to make and break a circuit and carrying an arcuate indicator to show the position of said stationary means, and a stationary clock dial supported intermediate said clock hands and said circuit controlling means and of a size to expose said arcuate indicator circularly exterior to the dial edge while concealing the other parts of said circuit controlling means.

24. Indicators for dividing a circle into graphically visible parts comprising in combination, a split ring of substantially 360 degrees circular extent and of flexible material to be disaligned at its split portion, a second split ring of appearance to contrast with the first said ring and likewise of substantially 360 degrees circular extent, means to mount said rings so that each ring may pass through the split portion of the other ring thereby to dispose extents of its circular length concentric hour spindle of a time telling clock, a

motor of time keeping speed connected to rotate said spindle, an hour hand rotated by said hour spindle and a minute hand rotated by said minute spindle for telling the time of day, a clock dial with time-of-day markings disposed to be stationary in back of said hour hand and minute hand, and circuit controlling means operated by said motor and disposed immediately back of said clock dial to be concealed thereby from the sight of an observer of said clock hands, and time setting indicators for said means mounted to be visible at the peripheral edge of said clock dial thereby to be exposed to the sight of an observer of said clock hands.

RAYMOND D. SMITH.

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