US2568995A - Automatic chime and christmas tree holder - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1951 G, ECKHARDT, JR I AUTOMATIC CHIME AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 INVENTOR, 650265 5 00-44207, ([2.

v a I HrTOE/VEY- P 25, 1951 G. ECKHARDT, JR I 2,568,995

AUTOMATIC CHIME AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

35' I ig' Goee ECKHAQDT, r12.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CHIME AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a musical instrument, and particularly to such a device designed for use in conjunction with a rotating Christmas tree.

Automatic musical devices proposed for this purpose in the past'have, in general, been of complicated and costly construction and their expense has prevented their wide acceptance by the public. Moreover, such devices have generally afforded only one melody to be played, and the provision of other melodies greatly increases the manufacturing cost.

My invention, on the other hand, is arranged to play, selectively, any one of a number of melodies embodied in a stationary record disk, and only two sliding contacts are necessary for each melody. Furthermore, in accordance with my invention, the melody may extend over any desired musical range without increasing the number of sliding contacts.

An object of my invention is, therefore, to provide an improved musical, rotating Christmas tree holder of novel design.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein a single record disk may have a number of diiferent melodies recorded thereon.

Another object is to provide such a device using only two sliding contacts for each melody.

A further object is to disclose a device of the above character in which, selectively, all melodies may be played in sequence.

Another object is to disclose an improved record disk for a rotatable musical instrument.

A still further purpose is to provide a rotating musical device wherein any number of different musical tones may be included Without increasing the number of sliding contacts.

A still further object is to provide a device having the above advantages, which is simple in operation and comparatively inexpensive to manuf-acture.

These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be understood from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an exemplary form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a rotatable Christmas tree holder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one form of the record disk of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary diagram of the electrical circuit embodied in a simplified form of the stationary record disk of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1.

Generally speaking, my invention includes a housing with a motor driven, vertically disposed shaft, on the upper end of which is a tree-engaging member. The shaft is driven at a relatively slow rate, preferably approximately one-half revolution per minute.

Immediately beneath the tree-engaging member is a circular slip ring holder, fixed to the shaft and including a radially extending sweep arm on which may be mounted a plurality of spring-biased switches. Beneath the movable sweep arm is positioned a stationary record disk with one or more melodies recorded thereon by means of electrical contacts. Such contacts are arranged in circular paths on the record disk, each melody occupying one path, and the paths are concentric witheach other and with the vertical shaft.

The spring-biased switches carried by the sweep arm are arranged to make sequential electrical connections with the contacts in a selected circular path as the sweep arm is rotated by the shaft. A bank of chime bars, each having a different tone, provides the musical notes constituting a selected melody, and each chime bar has a solenoid actuated striker associated therewith. The solenoid of each chime bar is connected to an appropriate one or more electrical contacts in the circular paths on the stationary record disk. A source of electric power supplies current through a brush into a selected one of the rotating slip rings whence the current is conducted to one of the spring-biased switches on the rotatable sweep arm.

During the movement of the sweep arm, contact is momentarily made between the springbi-ased switches and each of the electrical contacts inthe selected circular path on the stationary record disk,- thus sequentially actuating the solenoids associated with the several chime bars, and reproducing the melody embodied in the selected circular path. I provide a selector switch 'by means of which a desired melody may be chosen for repeated playing or all melodies may be played sequentially.

I may also provide in the upper wall of the housing, adjacent the vertical shaft, a number of openings covered by colored transparencies. A small electric lamp fixed to one of the rotating elements, such as the slip ring holder, creates pleasing and harmonious colored light beams projected upwardly upon the rotating tree.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, housing i8 is supported at its corners by feet [2 and includes a box-like structure having an upper wall [4. Formed centrally in wall [4 is port [6. Lower wall I8 is likewise provided with a centrally disposed port 28. Mounted upon lower wall i8 is a pedestal block 22 and a stationary record disk 24 is supported by pedestal block 22. Record disk 24 and pedestal block 22 are each provided with circular channels 23 and 21 respectively, these channels being coaxial with upper port [6 and lower port 2|.

Projecting through these channels and ports is vertically disposed shaft 26 supported by thrust bearing 28 which in turn is mounted in a counterbored recess formed in the upper surface of pedestal block 22. Shaft 26 is also journaled in lower bearing 25, which is likewise mounted in a counterbored recess in the lower surface of block 22. Fixed to the upper end of shaft 26 as by set screw 4i is a cup-shaped tree holder 42 having one or more adjustable bolts 44 arranged to securely grip the trunk of tree 43 and hold it in substantially vertical position.

The lower end of shaft 26 is coupled to a driving means 29, preferably an electric motor with suitable reduction gearing to rotate shaft 26 at approximately one half revolution per minute. I may provide a flexible coupling means between the shaft 26 and motor 29 so that slight misalignment will not result in a binding of shaft 26.

Fixed to shaft 26 above record disk 24 is slip ring holder 32, constructed of dielectric material. Holder 32 contains on its lower surface one or more circular metallic slip rings 34, against each of which rides a brush 36 arranged to form a sliding electrical contact with its respective slip ring 34. Each of the brushes 36 is mounted in pedestal block 22 and projects upwardly through holes formed in stationary record disk 24. Also mounted for rotation on shaft 26 is radially extending sweep arm 38, carrying near its outer end a plurality of spring-biased switches 46 radially spaced along the length of arm 38.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 7, stationary record disk 24 is provided with a plurality of circular tracks or paths 46, each track or path representing a melody. Positioned in each path 46 is a series of electrical contacts 48.

I provide a plurality of chime bars 58, each having a different musical tone and having one end supported in block 51. There is a striker mechanism for each chime bar, as shown in Fig. 4, including a solenoid indicated generally at 52; solenoid 52 includes an electrical coil 54 and an armature 56. The upper portion of the ferromagnetic armature 56 has attached thereto a wooden striker head 58, and beneath each solenoid 52 is a cup-shaped member 60 having a pad 62 of resilient material, such as felt or the like, to deaden the sound of the fall of armature 56 after it has hit its chime bar 58.

Winding 54 is fed by electrical conductors 64, as will be understood from the description of the electrical circuit diagram hereinafter. The voltage for operation of solenoids 52 is preferably low, of the order of 12 volts, and such low voltage is provided by transformer 86 mounted on lower wall l8 within housing [8.

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Mounted on housing In is a selector switch, indicated generally at 66, arranged to allow the operator to choose a desired melody by rotation of knurled handle 68 containing indicator 10. In order to permit automatic playing of all melodies in sequence, there is provided means for automatically switching from one melody to another once during each revolution of sweep arm 38. Such means may include lever wheel 12 associated with selector switch 66 and having a plurality of radially extending arms 13. As best seen in Fig. 8, the arm 13 which projects upwardly and toward sweep arm 38 will be struck by the outermost tip of sweep arm 38 as the arm swings through the portion of its are closest to selector switch 66, and each such movement of lever wheel 12 selects the next melody in sequence.

Two of the slip rings 34, preferably the two innermost rings, are used for conducting an electrical circuit to electric socket 14 which is mounted upon and rotates with tree holding means 42 in order to permit the continuous operation of one or more strings of Christmas tree lights or other electrical devices while the tree is being rotated.

Spaced circumferentially about port 46 in upper wall I4, I may provide one or more openings 15 in said wall and interpose therein thin sheets 76 of colored transparent material or filters. I then attach one or more electric lamps 18 on the upper surface of slip ring holder 32 spaced radially from shaft 26 so that light from lamps 18 passes upwardly through colored filters l6 and is projected upon the branches (not shown) of tree 43. Lamps 18 receive electrical power from a pair of slip rings 34, preferably the innermost pair, as shown. Each of the remaining slip rings 34 is connected by a conductor 84 with one of the spring-biased switches 40.

As best seen in the fragmentary views of stationary record disk 24 in Figs. 3 and '7, each of the electrical contacts 48 is connected to one of a plurality of conductors. For clarity of description, I have there shown an arrangement using only two separate chime bars, but it will be evident that as many more may be used as desired.

The electrical circuit of my invention is shown in Fig. 6, and again for clarity I have shown the electrical circuit for only two chime bars and their actuating solenoids. Connection plug 9| is arranged to be attached to a convenient source of alternating current power and feeds the primary of a transformer 86 through conductors 82. Transformer 86 is of the step-down type and its low secondary voltage, preferably 12 volts. serves only to actuate the several solenoids 52 of my invention.

Connected to one side of the output of transformer 86 through conductor 63 is selector switch 66. In the illustration shown in the drawings, wherein any one of three melodies may be played, selector switch 66 is provided with four terminals. One terminal 94 is the off position of switch 66 and each of the terminals 96 provides for selecting the desired melody to be played. As hereinabove stated, selector switch 66 may be manually actuated and is also preferably provided with means actuated once in each revolution by the outer end of sweep arm 38 so that all melodies ma be automatically played in sequence.

Each of the terminals 86 is connected by a conductor 98 to one of the brushes 36 mounted in the stationary record disk 24. Each of the brushes 36 makes continuous sliding contact with one of the circular concentric slip rings 34 carfled in the lower face-of slip ring holder 32. It will be recalled that sweep arm 38, carrying thereon a plurality of radially spaced switches 40, is fixed to and rotates with slip ring holder .32. Conductors IO'I represent the electrical connec= tions of sweep arm 38, each of conductors IIJI connecting one of the concentric sli'p rings 34 with one of the resilient switches 40-.

With particular reference to the outermost switch 40, it will be noted that conductors I02 and I02 lead from stationary record disk 24 to solenoids 52 and 52', respectively, and conductors I03 and I01 connect the solenoids to transformer 86. During the rotation of slip ring holder 32 together with sweep arm 38 and its associated resilient switches 40, an electrical connection will be made momentarily from switch 40- to one of the contacts 48 in stationary record disk 24.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 7 that each of contacts 48 is connected to one of two conductors I02 or I02", representing, say, notes A and B respectively on the musical scale. When a particular contact 48 connected to conductor I02 is momentarily energized by resilient switch 40, the electrical circuit thus established will energize solenoid 52 so that armature 56 and its associated striker head 58 are caused to move upwardly so that head 58 will strike chime bar 50, thus producing a musical note. Similarly, when an electrical contact '48 connected to conductor I02 is energized by resilient switch 40, it will be seen that solenoid 52' will cause its armature 56' and associated striker head 58 to strike chime bar 50'.

Fig. 3 illustrates one means of forming electrical contacts 48 on record disk 24. As there shown, and with particular reference to the outermost circular path 46, it can be seen that for each contact 48 in path 46 there is provided a pair of cylindrical passageways or channels extending through the disk 24 perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces thereof. Each channel is large enough to permit the passage of an insulated conductor I02 therethrough. Conductor I02 passes upwardly through channel 41, thence across the upper surface of disk 24 to channel 41, and thence downwardly to the lower surface of the disk. The conductor I02 then extends along the lower surface of disk 24 to the pair of channels 49 and 49' corresponding to the next occurrence of the same note in the melody, and passes upwardly through channel 49', across the upper surface of disk 24, and downwardly through channel 49. Conductor I02 continues in path 45, being threaded through the appropriate pair of. channels for each occurrence of the musical note associated with that conductor.

Conductor I02, associated with a different musical note, is similarly led through its appropriate pairs of channels, as 45 and 45, in disk 24. When the conductors have been threaded through their channels, in accordance with the tones constituting the melody of path 46, the insulation is removed from each conductor on the portion thereof lying on the upper surface of disk 24. A series of bared electrical contacts 48 is thus formed in the circular path 46, and each contact will make a momentary electrical connection with resilient switch 40 during the rotation of sweep arm 38. I have found that conductors having an enamel insulation are especially well suited to be used as just described, although any conductor having an insulation which can be conveniently removed may be employed.

Since sweep arm 38 is rotated at a constant speed, it will be'understood that the spacing be= tween adjacent pairs of channels in path 46 cor: responds to the time interval between succes= sive notes in the melody of that .path. It is understood that although only two conductors I02and I02, two chime bars 50 and 50' and their associated solenoids 52 and 52' have been illus= trated, my invention comprehends the use of many chime bars in order to permit playing of most of the relatively simple melodies. I have found that twelve chime bars, as shown in Fig. 2, provide suflicient tonal gradations for this purpose.

Also fed from alternating current power source through conductors I04 is electric motor 29 arranged to slowly rotate tree holder 42 by means of shaft 26, as described hereinbefore. In order to provide for connection of one or more strings of electric lamps on the rotating tree, I provide conductors I65, each connected through one of the brushes 36 to a circular slip ring holder 32. Thusalternating current at line voltage will be available at electrical socket I4, which is arranged to rotate with a tree holder 42. Lamp 18, when used, may also be energized from this same line voltage circuit, and provides rotating illumination projected upwardly onto the tree'held by tree holder 42.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention and have disclosed certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited thereto. All modifications and changes within the spirit of the invention are intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising: a vertical shaft and pedestal block arranged to support the shaft for rotation, including a thrust bearing adjacent the upper end of the shaft; a motor connected to the lower end of the shaft; a sweep arm carried by the upper part of the shaft and resilient switch means carried by the sweep arm; a stationary record disc of dielectric material beneath the sweep arm, said disc being provided with a reproducible sound record comprising a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged in a circular path, said contacts being spaced in accordance with tempo of a melody; a plurality of chime bars, each of a desired tone; a striker and striker actuating means for each chime bar; and an electrical circuit for each chime bar connecting contacts corresponding to each tone to a striker actuating means associated with a chime bar of such tone and through the resilient switch means with a source of energy whereby the striker actuating means are selectively energized in accordance with the placement of the contacts in the path of the switch means.

2. A musical instrument of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the record disc is provided with a plurality of different recordings, each comprising a series of metallic electrical contacts in a circular path, the sweep arm is provided with a plurality of resilient switch means, each in operative relation to one of said paths and the circuit includes a manuall actuatable selector switch whereby a selected switch means may be energized.

3. A device of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the record disk is provided with a plurality of different recordings, each comprising a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged in a circular path, said paths being concentric and each path lying in a virtually common radial zone of the disk; a plurality of resilient switch means carried by the sweep arm, each of said means being in operative relation to a different path; a selector switch in the circuit whereby each of said switch means may be separately energized; and means operative in timed realtion to the rotation of said shaft for operating the selector switch to sequentially energize the switch means.

4. A device of the character stated in claim 1, including a slip ring and brush means to maintain electrical connection between a source of energy and the resilient switch means carried by the sweep arm.

5. In a device of the character stated, provision of a plurality of chime bars, each of a desired tone; a striker in operative relation to each of said chime bars; a striker actuating means for each striker; a record including a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged along a path, said contacts being spaced in accordance with the tempo of a melody; an electrical circuit for each tone permanently connecting contacts corresponding to such tone to the striker actuating means of the chime bar for that tone; and switch means arranged to sequentially contact said metallic electrical contacts to sequentially energize the striker actuating means and reproduce the melody carried by the record upon said chime bars.

6. A device of the character stated in claim 5, wherein the record is stationary and said switch means is mounted upon a vertical shaft; and means for driving the shaft.

7. A device of the character stated in claim 5, wherein .the said path includes a plurality of pairs of spaced cylindrical channels formed in said record, metallic electrical contacts of each given tone being formed by bared portions of an insulated conductor threaded through the pairs of channels corresponding to such tone.

8. Amusical instrument comprising: a plurality of chime bars, each of a desired tone; an electrically actuated striker for each chime bar; a record including a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged along a path; an electrical conductor for each tone permanently connecting contacts corresponding to such tone to the electrically actuated striker of the chime bar for that tone; a source of electrical energy; a switch means fed from said source and movable along said path arranged to sequentially contact said metallic electrical contacts.

GEORGE ECKHARDT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 859,620 Sandell July 9, 1907 1,816,647 Goriup July 28, 1931

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