US2235068A

US2235068A - Mantel clock

Info

Publication number: US2235068A
Application number: US341483A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerritsma Girard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-06-20
Filing date: 1940-06-20
Publication date: 1941-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1958-03-18

Description

G. GERRITSMA 2,235,068

MANTEL CLOCK Filed June 2o, 1940 2 Shefgts-Shet 1 Rg. Z

hummm cmo/.v Caermo b M 5 Matig March 13, 19'41- G. GERRiTsMA 2,235,068

ANTEL CLOCK Filed June 20, 1 940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w v wv om Civ@ Qeusmu Patented Mar. 1-8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Claim.

My invention relates to timepieces and particularly to ornamental mantel clocks.

The type of clock in which my invention is embodied, in general comprises a clock case in which the front and sides are of plate glass mounted in metal corner frames with a metal top and base,

the dial being visible from both front and sides, and the clock movement being mounted behind and connected with the dial.

In such a clock, the movement is either enclosed in a housing or in some cases is left exposed within the glass case.

In the clock in which my invention is embodied,

the dial is formed as a glass ring with the hours inscribed on the face, and is supported on posts independent of any part of the movement, the movement being concealed with only inconspicuous connections to the hands of the clock, being visible.

One object of my invention is to provide a mantel clock in which the dial and hands are mounted independently, in a clock case having glass sides, the movement except for the connections to the hands, being concealed within the base of the case.

A second object is to provide a clock of the above character in which the movement may be adjusted, and wound or set from the outside of the clock case.

My invention consists in the novel construction and means employed for accomplishing the foregoing objects and providing an artistic and reliable mantel clock.

In the accompanying specification and claim and the drawings forming a part thereof, I have described and illustrated a clock in which my invention is embodied, but do not conne myself to the form shown, as modifications may be made within the scope of the claim.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a face view of a clock in which my invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, a portion of the base being broken away to show means for regulating, winding and setting the movement.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment substantially on the line 3-3, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a front View enlarged, featuring the reduction gearing for the hour hand.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan, normal size, showing the relation of the winding, setting and regulating means, relative to the movement.

Referring to the drawings,

I is a chambered clock base, to which are secured the corner posts II, each formed with grooves in which plate glass panels I2, I3, I4 and I are held, forming the front, sides and back of the clock case.

A top member, I6 fits over these posts and 5 panels, bolts I'I into each corner post securing rigidly the elements of the case. Rigid with the platform of the base III are the posts I9, 20, 2l, posts I9 being provided with forked tops 22, adapted to support, in connection with the l0 flanged element 23, the dial ring 24. The dial ring 24 is preferably formed from plate glass with the hour figures inscribed on the outer face, and no other support or fastening other than described, is required. The dial is mounted concentric with the axis of the shaft 25, Figs. l, 3, 4, rigid with which is the minute hand 26 rotatable in a plane parallel with the face of the dial ring 24. The shaft is journaled in

bushings

21, 28 secured respectively in the

member

29, and 30 rigid therewith. The member 29 is secured to the upper ends of the

posts

20, 2| the latter being tubular in form. Secured to the shaft 25 at the end remote from the hand 26, is a, pinion 30, meshing with a like pinion 3i, here shown as a crown gear. This pinion 3l is rigid with the shaft 32, journaled in the bushing 33, axially secured in the end of the tubular post 2 I. This shaft constitutes an extension of the minute hand shaft of the clock movement A, mounted beneath the base plate or platform I8 of the case. I have found it convenient to use the type of movement known commercially as a travellers clock. This is an eight day stem winding and setting movement of larger size than the usual watch movement of the same general character, and it may be used without change, the shaft 32 being coupled to the minute hand shaft, thus operating through the connections described to rotate the minute hand 26. The reducing gearing between the minute hand shaft and the hour hand in the movement may be left in place but I prefer to remove this part from the movement and use it or substitute its equivalent at the clock face in the following manner: Secured to the shaft 25 is a pinion 35, Figs. 3 and 4, meshing with the intermediate gear 36, journaled on a stud projecting from the extension 3l of the member 29.' Rigidly secured to and concentric with the gear 36 is the pinion 38 meshing with the gear 39, rigidly secured to and concentric with the hub 40 of the hour hand 4 I and journaled on the minute hand shaft 25, limited in axial movement by the nut 42. It will be obvious that the combined reduction gearing between the minute and hour hands is proportioned in the ratio of l2 to l.

Returning to the movement A, Fig. 5, the element 5G constitutes an extension of the setting and winding stem of the original movement, the opening 5i in the side of the base permitting the insertion of a winding key at In order that the stem may be moved axially for winding or setting, I provide a bellcrank journaled in the element 53, rigid with the under side of the platform. One arm 54 of this bellcrank is formed to engage a groove 55 on the element 5S, the other arm 56 extending through the opening 51 in the side of the base, the arm 56 operating to move the element 50 axially to engage either the winding or setting mechanism within the housing of the movement. To regulate the movement from the outside of the clock case, I employ the following means: Journaled in projections from the base at both sides as at 66, is a shaft 6I extending through one side of the base, and having the knurled button 62 to facilitate rotation. This shaft is provided with a threaded portion 63, engaging the nut 6e, slidable axially. Projecting from this nut is the stud 65 adapted to engage a slot in the lever S5, journaled at 6l on the housing of the movement. An extension 68 of this lever, is adapted to engage a projection 69 from the movement regulator 69 within the housing, operative as the shaft 6I is rotated, to move the regulator micrometrically in either direction. To protect the movement and connections from dust, I employ a cover plate 1U tted to the base and secured thereto.

The means I employ for connecting the extension shaft 32 to the minute hand shaft of the movement is as follows: The pinion 'l5 of the movement engages with the gearing of the movement to move the minute hand in the usual clock, and for my purpose the element 'I6 is secured to this pinion and extends upwardly and has a square hole breached in its upper end, a squared end 'Vl being formed on the end of the shaft 32 and tted to the hole. The extension of the setting and winding shaft is connected to the movement as follows: The stem 18 of the setting and winding mechanism is formed at its outer end 19 with a threaded portion and the end of the extension 50 is tapped to engage therewith.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a clock including a dial, a chambered base, a clock movement mounted therein in a plane normal to the plane of the face of the dial, an extension of the minute hand shaft of the movement, and a countershaft geared thereto and having a minute hand rigid with the end thereof, said minute hand being rotatable in a plane parallel with the face of the dial; an hour hand rotatably mounted on said countershaft; and reduction gearing between the minute hand and the hour hand, to rotate the latter in relation to the minute hand to indicate the hour and minute, in combination therewith, a pair of pillars upwardly projecting from the base,` and on which the dial is supported; another pair of pillars upwardly projecting from the base and on which the countershaft is rotatably supported, and through one of which the said minute hand extension shaft passes and in which it is journaled; the reduction gearing being mounted on the other pillar.

GIRARD GERRITSMA.