US3473318A

US3473318A - Electrically powered timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3473318A
Application number: US598679A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Feldman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-12-02
Filing date: 1966-12-02
Publication date: 1969-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-21

Description

Oct. 21, 1969 L; FELDMAN ELECTRICALLY POWERED TI MEPIECE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1966 v n m 0 5 0O 04 I, R. H E u u 8 Q .IAUNUVJIIII, m M m zfllllqrllllldrllldullfllllm W H m a mF T =ill. mll.l l II 4 m n: v E iU:.:=-:::: V C N m M w 3 Sheets-Sheet IN TEN TOR.

L. FELDMAN E LECTRI'CALLY POWERED TIMEPIECE Oct. 21 1969 Filed Dec.

Lnweawcz FEL OMAN I HTTOENE Y5 oct. 21, 1969 FELDMAN 3,473,318

ELECTRICALLY POWERED TIMEPIECE Filed Dec. 2, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. LAWRENCE FZwMA/v BY A TTOENE Y5 United States Patent 3,473,318 ELECTRICALLY POWERED TIMEPIECE Lawrence Feldrnan, Monte Chimborazo 520, 7

Mexico City 10, Mexico Filed Dec. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 598,679 Int. Cl. G04c 1/00 U.S. Cl. 58-41 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE .An electrically powered timepiece having clockwork including a main gear and winding mechanism for said clockwork comprising a lever with one end pivoted on the shaft of the main gear and carrying a ratchet wheel that cooperates with a pawl on the main gear for winding said main gear. The other end of the lever is connected to an electromagnet having a core that serves the dual purpose of an armature and a weight for actuating the lever by gravity to wind the clockwork. The weight and lever are pivotally interconnected and can be actuated either by an electromotive force of attraction or repulsion. A switch is arranged to de-energize the electromagnet when the lever is in an elevated position, and to energize the electromagnet when the lever is in its lowered position. The switch can be mounted upon the lever and actuated at the extremes of movement of the lever, or the switch can be indirectly actuated by the lever through an overcenter toggle arrangement, or the switch can be of the tilting, mercury type arranged to energize the electromagnet when the lever and weight reach their lower position.

Electric current is commonly used to power timepieces, in part because a timepiece so powered will run indefinitely. The common electric timepiece utilizes an alternating current powered synchronous motor geared to drive the hour and minute hands, and the accuracy of the timepiece is thus dependent upon the frequency stability of the local alternating current supply. If the local alternating current frequency is unstable and fluctuates widely, as is common in some localities, then a timepiece driven by a synchronous motor simply cannot keep accurate time.

There is thus a need for an electrically powered timepiece that will keep accurate time regardless of frequency variations in the local electric current. In addition, because alternating current is not always available, there is also need for a timepiece that will function on direct current, either from a power line or a battery source. The present invention satisfies these needs.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an electrically powered timepiece that will run indefinitely on local electric current, either direct or alternating, and that when powered by alternating current will be unaffected by frequency variations in the local current supply.

Another object is to provide an electrically operated timepiece that is economical to manufacture, and that utilizes a minimum of parts.

It is also an object to provide a weight and lever arrangement for driving by gravity the main wheel of the clockwork of a timepiece.

A further object is to provide an electromagnet arrangement for periodically automatically elevating the weighted end of the lever of the invention to eifect rewinding of the lever and weight arrangement.

Yet another object is to provide a unique switch for periodically energizing and deenergizing the electromagnet of the invention.

Another object is to provide a lever and weight arrangement that is readily adaptable for use with clockworks of both the swinging pendulum and the balanc wheel type.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the timepiece of the invention, with some of the indicia on the face of the timepiece omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, of the timepiece of FIG. 1, showing the lever and weight arrangement for driving the clockwork of the timepiece, the electromagnet for winding the lever and weight arrangement, and the switch mounted on the lever for automatically controlling the electromagnet;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical staggered sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the construction of the clockwork, and the connection between the lever and the main wheel of the clockwork;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary and elevational view, partly in section, taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2, showing the construction of the switch for controlling the electromagnet;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the slide actuator for the switch of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the oscillating contact plate of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modified form of the switch arrangement for controlling the electromagnet;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the switch housing, taken on the line 99 in FIG. 8; 3

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of another form of switch arrangement, utilizing a mercury switch mounted on a pivoted platform; and

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a balance wheel type of clockwork, and a different arrangement for the weight and lever and the electromagnet for rewinding the same.

Referring now to FIGS. 1.7 of the drawings, there is shown a timepiece 2 incorporating a cylindrical base plate 4 with the usual indicia 6 on the obverse face 8 thereof, and having a clockwork 10 of the pendulum type mounted on its reverse side 12. The clockwork 10 is encased by a generally cylindrical housing 14 having a flange 16 on the base end thereof that is bonded or otherwise secured to the reverse face 12 of the plate 4, the bottom of the cylindrical housing 14 and of the flange 16 being cut away to provide an opening 18 extending over an arc length of about The interior Wall of the cylindrical housing 14 has a pair of circumferentially spaced triangular ribs 20 thereon, which begin a short distance inwardly from the outer end of the housing and extend axially. The outer end of the cylindrical housing 14 has three circumferentially extending, spaced slots 22 therethrough, for receiving the center tab 24 and the side tabs 25 on a dust cover 26 that is fitted into the housing 14 to close the same and to retain the clockwork in position. The housing 14 and the cover 26 are preferably made from plastic, or some other suitable material. The center or top tab 24 has a hole 27 therethrough, which is utilized for receiving a nail or hook to hang the timepiece 2.

The clockwork 10 includes front and rear circular frame members 28 and 30 connected together in spaced relationship by a plurality of spaced connecting rods 32, the front frame member 28 being spaced from the reverse face 12 of the base plate-4 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced legs 34 formed integral with the front frame member. The frame members 28 and 30 are preferably made of plastic, and have triangular notches 36 in the periphery thereof for receiving the ribs 20 when the clockwork 10 is fitted in the housing 14. The ribs 20 and the notches 36 cooperate to hold the clockwork 10 against rotation about the axis of the housing 14.

The base plate 4 has a centrally positioned bore 38 therethrough, through which projects a shaft 40 rotatably mounted on the front and rear frame members 28 and 30. The forward tip of the shaft 40 has an irregular cross section, and mounted thereon is the minute hand 44 of the timepiece. The shaft 40 is the main shaft of the clockwork 10, and has a small gear 46 secured thereto immediately in front of the front frame member 28, the gear 46 being meshed with a large idler gear 48 mounted on a stub projecting from the front frame member 28. Rotatably received on the main shaft 40 in front of the small gear 46 is a cylindrical hub 50 having a relatively large gear 52 on the rear end thereof, the gear 52 being engaged with a small gear 54 formed integrally on the large idler gear 48. The hub 50 projects through the bore 38, and has a reduced portion 56 on the forward end thereof on which is received the hour hand 58 of the timepiece 2. The

gears

46, 48, 52 and 54 are chosen so that the hour hand '58 will be driven at ,5 the speed of the minute hand 44.

Fixedly mounted on the main shaft 40 adjacent the rear frame member 30 is a main gear 60, to which rotational force is supplied to drive the clockwork. A top shaft :62 is mounted between the front and rear frame members 28 and 30 above the main shaft 40, and has a relatively large escape gear '64 mounted thereon. Formed integrally with the escape gear 64 is a smaller gear 66, which is meshed with a large intermediate gear 68 mounted on an intermediate shaft 70 carried by the front and rear frame members 28 and 30. Also mounted on the intermediate shaft 70 is a small spur gear 72 meshed with the main gear 60. Thus, a driving connection is established between the main gear 60 and the escape gear 64.

Extending between the front and rear frame members 28 and 30 above the escape gear 64 is a rocker shaft 74, on which is mounted a pallet fork 76 that engages the gear 64. Also mounted on the rocker shaft 74, rearwardly from the pallet fork 76, is an arm 78 to which is connected the hooked upper end of a pendulum rod 80, the rear frame member 30 having an opening therethrough for receiving the hooked pendulum rod upper end. The lower end of the pendulum rod 80 is also hooked, to receive a pendulum 82. Thus, when the pendulum 82 is swung back and forth the pallet fork 76 will be oscillated.

Secured to the main shaft 40 in spaced relation to the main gear 60 is a hub 84. A ratchet gear 86 is rotatably mounted on the main shaft 40 adjacent the front face of the main gear 60, and the inner end of an L-shaped lever arm 88 is rotatably mounted on the main shaft 40 between the ratchet gear 86 and the hub 84, said inner end of the lever arm 88 being fixed to the front face of the ratchet gear. The ratchet gear 86 has a diameter substantially less than that of the main gear 60, and the outer periphery of the front face of the main gear has a pawl 90 secured thereto arranged to engage the ratchet gear. A spring 92 is mounted on the main gear 60, and is .4 arranged to urge the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 86. The ratchet gear 86 and the pawl 90 are arranged so that the outer end 94 of the lever arm 88 can be freely elevated without causing rotation of the main gear 60, and so that when the outer end of the lever arm moves downwardly a positive driving connection is established between the ratchet gear 86 and the main gear 60.

The outer end 94 of the L-shaped lever arm 88 has an axial slot 96 therein, and received over said lever arm outer end is the bifurcated lower end of a cylindrical weight 98. A pin is carried by the lower end of the weight 98, and extends through the slot 96 to positively connect the weight of the lever arm 88. Through the effects of gravity the weight 98, acting over the length L of the lever arm 88, provides a rotational driving force to the main gear 60 to thereby drive the gear train of the clockwork. With the lever and weight arrangement placing driving force on the main gear 60 the pendulum 82 is set in motion to oscillate the pawl 76 on the rocker shaft 74, and the clockwork 10 then functions in the usual manner to rotate the hour and

minute hands

58 and 44, respectively, of the timepiece.

As the clockwork 10 operates and the escapement mechanism gradually allows the main wheel 60 to rotate, the lever arm 88 will slowly descend. When the lever arm 88 has reached the low point of its movement the timepiece 2 is rewound merely by elevating the outer end 94 of the lever arm 88, the ratchet gear 86 and the pawl 90 permitting such rewinding action independently of the main wheel 60. While the lever arm 88 could be manually elevated to effect rewinding, the present invention includes an electromagnet arrangement for automatically effecting periodic rewinding so that the timepiece 2 can operate indefinitely without attention.

Mounted on the rear face 12 of clock base 4 above the outer end 94 of the lever 88 is a hollow electromagnet 104, said magnet having a cylindrical bore 106 therethrough of a size to slidably receive the cylindrical weight 98. The upper end portion of the cylindrical weight 98 is always disposed within the bore 106, whereby said bore functions to guide movements of the weight. As the weight 98 moves downwardly, as it can do when the electromagnet 104 is not energized, the slot 96 and pin 100 compensate for the changing length L of the lever arm 88.

The electromagnet 104 can be supplied with either direct current from a battery or other source, or with ordinary household alternating current. The clock 2 shown in FIGS. 1-7 is supplied with alternating current, and when such current is utilized the weight 98 is preferably made from soft iron. When direct current is used, the weight 98 is a strong permanent magnet to ensure that there will be sufficient magnetic force to operate the timepiece.

The electromagnet 104 is supplied with electricity by a pair of

leads

108 and 110, the lead 108 being connected to a post 112 on a terminal block 114 secured to the rear face 12 of the clock base 4. The lead extends to one terminal of a switch 116 attached to the lever arm 88, and another lead 118 extends from the other terminal of said switch to the other post 120 of the terminal 114. The rear face 12 of the clock base 4 has a post 122 thereon over which the

leads

108 and 110 extend, the post functioning to hold said leads clear of the lever arm '88. The

posts

112 and 120 on the terminal block 114 are supplied with electricity by

leads

124 and 126, the

leads

124 and 126 being connected at their outer end with a conventional plug 128 for connecting with a utility outlet.

The switch 116 is constructed to control the flow of current to the electromagnet 10 4, and includes a rectangul'ar housing 117 made of plastic or some other non-conductive material, said housing comprising a rear wall 130,

side walls

132 and 134, a top wall 136, a bottom wall 138, and a front wall 140. The side pawls 132 and 134 each have upper and lower trapezoidal shaped

stop plates

142 and 144, respectively, secured thereto, the confronting lower and upper edges 146 and 148, respectively, of said stop plates diverging outwardly in a direction from the bottom wall 130 toward the front wall 140 to define an angle therebetween of about 60. The

stop plates

142 and 144 are made of plastic or some other non-conductive material and are vertically spaced apart, the rear wall 130 of the housing 117 having a transversely extending slot 150 therein positioned between the upper stop plates 142 and the lower stop plates 144.

Received within the housing is an oscillating rectangular contact plate 152, the base end 154 of said contact plate being disposed in the slot 150 to pivotally mount the plate. The contact plate 152 has a rectangular opening 156 therein, the top edge 158 of said opening having a centrally positioned, inwardly directed, rectangular tab 160 thereon, and the bottom edge 162 of said rectangular opening having a centrally positioned rectangular notch 164 therein. The contact plate 152 has a width slightly less than the distance between the

side walls

132 and 134, whereby the edges of said plate can engage the edges 146 and 148 of the

stop plates

142 and 144 to limit pivotal movement thereof.

The top wall 136 of the switch housing 117 has a centrally positioned rectangular opening 166 therethrough, and the bottom wall 138 of the housing has a similar opening 168 therethrough aligned with the opening 166. Slidably received within the housing 117 is a switch actuator 170 comprising a central portion 172 having upper and lower, oppositely directed

rectangular arms

174 and 176 thereon, respectively, that project through the upper and lower

rectangular openings

166 and 168 in the housing. The central portion 172 of the actuator 170 is wider at the opposite end edges 17-8 and 180 thereof than the

arms

174 and 176, whereby said opposite end edges will engage the

walls

136 and 138, respectively, of the housing 117 to limit upward and downward movement of the actuator.

The central portion 172 of the actuator 170 is cut away on thefront edge thereof .to form a notch defined by a bottom edge 182 and diverging side edges 184, and the rear edge of the central portion is recessed at 186. The actuator 170 is received through the rectangular opening 156 in the contact plate 152, the notch 162 in the lower end of the contact plate receiving the central portion 172 of the actuator. The recess 186 provides clearance for the lower end 154 of the contact plate 152, so that said contact plate is free to pivot between the upper stop plates 142 and the lower stop plates 144.

The central portion 1720f the actuator 170 has a projection 190 positioned centrally on the edge 182, and which is aligned with the tab 160 on the contact plate 152. The opposite ends of a spring 192 are received on the projection 190 and the tab 160, said spring functioning to operate the contact plate 152 of the switch 116 in an over-center manner. Thus, when the actuator 17 0 is moved upwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, at a point about midway of said upward movement the coil spring 192 will move over-center and will cause the contact plate 152 to snap in a pivotal manner from a first position resting on the edges 148 toward the lower edges 146 of the stop plates 142. The reverse over-center action occurs when the actuator 170 is subsequently moved downwardly within the housing 117.

The front wall 140 of the switch housing 117 has a pair of laterally spaced,

resilient contacts

194 and 196 mounted thereon to extend into the interior of the housingQThe contact 194 lies over one of the upper stop plate edges 146, and the contact 196 lies over the other stop plate edge 146. The leads 110 and 118 are connected to the

contacts

194 and 196. When the contact plate 152 is in its first position resting on the stop plates 144, as shown in FIG. 5, there is no connection between the

resilient contacts

194 and 196, and no current will flow to the electromagnet 104. When the actuator 170 is moved upwardly to pivot the contact plate 152 toward the upper stop plates 142, the plate 152 will engage the

contacts

194 and 196 and will establish an electrical connection therebetween, whereupon electric current will flow to the electromagnet 104. When the electromagnet 104 is energized, the weight 98 will be drawn into the cylindrical bore 106 and the outer end 94 of the lever 48 will be elevated.

The rear face 12 of the clock base 4 has thereon an upper stop plate 198 positioned to be engaged by the upper switch actuator arm 174, and a lower stop plate 200 positioned to be engaged by the lower switch actuator arm 176. The

stop plates

198 and 200 thus define the limits of vertical movement of the lever arm 88, and cooperate with the switch 116 to provide for automatic operation of the timepiece 2.

With electric current being supplied to the switch 116, and with the outer end 94 of the lever arm 88 initially in an elevated position, the timepiece 2 will function as follows. While the electromagnet 104 is deenergized the weight 98 will tend to move downwardly and will exert force on the lever arm 88, placing a rotational force on the main gear 60 to drive the clockwork 10. With the pendulum 82 swinging and the clockwork 10 operating, the lever arm 88 will gradually move downwardly until the lower arm 176 of the switch actuator 170 engages the lower s'top plate 200. Further downward movement of the arm 88 will continue to move the switch housing 117 downwardly while the stop plate 200 holds the actuator 170 stationary, resulting in relative upward movement of said actuator. This relative upward movement of the actuator 170 will cause the contact plate 152 to move from its open position to its closed position, wherein the

contacts

194 and 196 are connected and current fiows to energize the electromagnet 104. The weight 98 will then be drawn upwardly, thereby elevating the outer end 94 of the lever arm 88 to rewind the timepiece. This elevating movement will continue until the upper actuator arm 174 engages the upper stop plate 198, after which further upward movement of the lever arm 88 will cause the contact plate 152 to return to its open position, thus terminating the flow of current to the electromagnet 104. The weight 98 will then be subject to gravity, and will again exert force on the lever arm 88 to drive the main gear 60. Because the rewinding motion occurs very quick- 1y, there is substantially no interruption in the operation of the clockwork 10 during rewinding.

It is seen that the electric timepiece 2 is in no way dependent upon the frequency of the local alternating current, and that indeed direct current may be employed as a power source. The pendulum 82 can be set in the usual manner to ensure accurate time keeping by the timepiece 2, and once the pendulum 82 has been set and the timepiece 2 has been placed in operation it will run indefinitely.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein a different switch arrangement is utilized to operate the electromagnet. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the lever arm 88 is identical to the lever arm 88, except that there is no switch 116 connected thereto. The outer end of the lever arm 88' has a weight 98' connected thereto by a pin engaged within a slot 96 in the lever arm, the cylindrical weight 98' being received within the hollow core of an electromagnet 104.

Secured to the rear face 12' of the base plate 4' is a switch 202 including a rectangular housing 203 comprised of a rear wall 204, a bottom wall 206, a top wall 208 and

side walls

210 and 212. The front of the housing is partially closed by upper and lower vertically spaced

plates

214 and 216, the

walls

204, 206, 208, 210 and 212 and the paltes 214 and 216 all being made of the plastic or some other non-conductive material. A pivot pin 218 made of codnuctive material is carried by the side wall 210, and pivotally mounted thereon is an L-shaped contact plate 220 also made of conductive material. The contact plate 220 includes a main portion 222 extending parallel to the

side walls

210 and 212, and a transverse portion 224 extending from the rear edge of the main portion 222, the pivot pin 218 being positioned centrally on the front edge of the main portion 222. A stop 226 is secured to the side wall 212, and the upper end of the transverse contact plate portion 224 is engageable therewith to limit upward movement of the contact plate 220. A contact strip 228 is mounted on the rear wall 204 of the switch housing 203, and is engaged by the transverse contact plate portion 224 when the contact plate 220 is pivoted downwardly.

Projecting from the side wall 212 in front of and slightly above the pivot pin 218 is a pivot shaft 232, on which is pivotally mounted the base end 234 of an actuator 236, the rear edge of the base end 234 having a tab 246 positioned centrally thereon. The main portion 222 of the contact plate 220 has a tab 248 projecting therefrom, and the opposite ends of a coil spring 250 are anchored on the

tabs

246 and 248. Thus, when the base 234 is pivoted counter-clockwise in FIG. 8 about the shaft 232 the coil spring 250 will be effective in an over-center manner to pivot the contact plate 220 so that the upper end of the transverse portion 224 engages the stop 226. When the base 234 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about the shaft 232, the coil spring 250 will function in an over-center manner to pivot the contact plate 220 about the pin 218 until the lower edge of the transverse portion 224 engages the contact strip 228.

The contact strip 228 is connected by a lead 252 to a suitable power source, and the conductive pivot pin 218 is connected by a lead 254 with one terminal of the electromagnet 104'. The other terminal of the electromagnet 104' is connected by a lead 256 with the power source. Thus, when the conductive contact plate 220 is pivoted downwardly to engage the strip 228 the electromagnet 104' will be energized, and when the contact plate is pivoted upwardly to engage the stop 226 the electromagnet 104' will be deenergized.

The actuator 236 includes an arm 258 that extends from the base end 234 toward the lever 88', and which has a cross-head 260 on the outer end thereof. The cross-head 260 carries stops 262 and 264 at its upper and lower ends, respectively, which are positioned to be engaged by the lever arm 88'. As the lever arm 88 moves downwardly through the effect of gravity acting on the weight 98 it will engage the lower stop 264, and will cause the base end 234 of the actuator 236 to pivot clockwise about the shaft 232 to engage the transverse contact plate portion 224 with the contact strip 228. This will in turn energize the electromagnet 104, and the lever arm 88' will then be elevated. As the lever arm 88' is elevated it engages the upper stop 262, and the base end 234 of the actuator 236 will pivot in a counter-clockwise direction to open the switch 202. Thus, the switch arrangement of FIGS. 8 and 9 functions like the switch arrangement of FIGS. 1-7 to provide an automatically operating timepiece.

Referring now to FIG. 10, yet another switch arrangement is shown. In FIG. 10 the lever 88" is identical to the lever 88 of FIGS. I-7, and has a slot 96 therein. The bifurcated lower end of a cylindrical weight 266 is received over the outer end of the lever 88", and is secured thereto by a pin 100" passed through the slot 96". An electromagnet 104" is positioned above the weight 266, and is operable when energized to elevate said weight and the outer end of the lever 88" connected thereto.

Mounted below the lever arm 88" on a pivot pin 268 is a platform 270, the pivot pin 268 being offset from the center of the platform so that gravity will act to tilt the outer end 271 of the platform downwardly. Secured to the lower face of the platform 270 is a mercury switch 272, comprising a housing 274 containing a volume of mercury 276. A pair of

contacts

278 and 280 is mounted in the inner end of the housing 274, and when the outer end 271 of the platform 270 is elevated above the horizontal the mercury 276 will flow within the housing 274 to a position overlying both of the

contacts

278 and 280 to establish an electrical connection therebetween. Conversely, when the outer end 271 of the platform 270 is lowered below the horizontal the mercury 276 will flow away from the

contacts

278 and 280 to break the electrical connection therebetween.

The contact 278 is connected by a lead 282 to one side of a power source, and the other contact 280 is connected by a lead 284 to one terminal of the electromagnet 104". The other terminal of the electromagnet 104" is connected by a lead 286 with the power source. Thus, the switch 272 is effective to control the flow of electric current to the electromagnet 104".

The weight 266 includes a lower portion 286 that projects downwardly below the lever arm 88", and which is engageable with the inner end 273 of the platform 270. Thus, when the lever arm 88" reaches the lower limit of its travel the end portion 286 of the weight 266 will engage the inner end 273 of the platform 270, and will tilt the platform so that the mercury 276 flows over the

contacts

278 and 280 to establish a flow of electric current to the electromagnet 104-". The electromagnet 104" then elevates the weight 266, allowing the platform 270 to gradually tilt downwardly until the mercury 276 flows away from the

contacts

278 and 280 to break the flow of electric current to the electromagnet. The weight 266 will then begin its gravity fall, which as described above acts through the lever 88" to drive the clockwork. 7

It is to be understood that the lever and weight arrangement of the invention can be used with clockworks other than those of the pendulum type, and that other arrangements are possible for the electromagnet apparatus utilized to rewind the lever and weight arrangement. Referring to FIG. 11, a modified timepiece 288 is shown including a circular base plate 290 secured by standards 292 to a foot plate 294. The rear face 296 of the base plate 290 has a clockwork 298 mounted thereon, of the type that utilizes a balance wheel 300 rather than a pendulum to operate the escapement mechanism. The clockwork 298 includes a main wheel 302 having a lever 304 connected thereto, which corresponds to the lever arm 88 in FIGS. 1-7.

In FIGS. l-lO the electromagnets are arranged to attract their associated weights when electric current is supplied thereto, and thus the electromagnets in these figures are positioned above the outer end of the lever arm. It is also possible to utilize magnetic repulsion forces rather than magnetic attraction forces for elevating the weight, and FIG. 11 illustrates such an arrangement.

The outer end 306 of the lever arm 304 has an axially extending slot 308 therein, and a weight 310 is connected with the lever arm 304 to hang downwardly therefrom. The weight 310 is a permanent magnet, and has a bifurcated head 312 thereon that is secured to the lever arm 304 by a pin 314 passing through the slot 308. Positioned below the outer end 306 of the lever arm 304 is an electromagnet 316 having a hollow core within which the cylindircal weight 310 is slidably receivable. The lever arm 304 has a switch 318 thereon constructed identically with the switch 116, and which cooperates with upper and lower stop blocks 320 and 322, respectively, secured to the rear face 296 of the base plate 290.

A coiled, two-wire lead 324 is connected to the contacts of the switch 318, the coils of said lead functioning to keep it from becoming fouled in the apparatus.

Mounted on the clock foot plate 294 is a bracket 326 for receiving a battery 328, said battery including terminals 330 and 332. The terminal 330 is connected directly to one terminal of the electromagnet 316 by a lead 334, and the other terminal 332 is connected by a lead 336 to one wire of the two-wire lead 324. The other wire of the two-wire lead 324 is connected by a lead 338 to the other terminal of the electromagnet 316. The switch 318 is arranged so that the electromagnet 316 will be energized when the actuator rod 3400f the switch 318 engages the lower stop 322, and will be deenergized when the other end of the actuator rod 340 engages the upper stop 320.

The poles of the permanent magnet weight 310 are arranged relative to the poles of the electromagnet 316 so that when the electromagnet is energized by closing of the switch 318 the weight 310 will be repelled or driven upwardly therefrom. When the switch 318 is opened the electromagnet 316 will be deenergized, and the weight 310 will then be free to begin its downward movement for driving the clockwork 298.

It is readily seen that different switching arrangements for the electromagnet can be devised for the invention, without departing from the teachings thereofiFurther, the circular base plates, the gears and other components of the clockworks, and other elements of the timepiece-s of the invention, can be made from a variety of materials,

including plastics. The timepiece of the invention thus fulfills all of the objects hereinabove set forth.

I claim:

1. An electrically powered timepiece, comprising: a base plate; a clockwork secured to said base plate, and including a main shaft and a main gear mounted on said main shaft; a lever having one end thereof rotatably mounted on said clockwork, so that said lever can be pivotally moved upwardly and downwardly about said one end thereof; means between said main gear and said one end of said lever operable to establish a driving connection therebetween when said lever is pivotally moved downwardly, and arranged so that said lever can be pivotally moved upwardly free of said main gear; a weight pivotally connected with the other end of said lever and operable by gravity to pivotally move said lever downwardly; and means, including an electromagnet connected to said other end of said lever, operable to periodically elevate and release said weight and said other end of said lever to thereby rewind said clockwork.

2. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to rewind said clockwork includes: an electromagnet secured to said base plate, and arranged to effect elevation of said weight and said other end of said lever when energized; and switch means connected with said electromagnet, and arranged to be operated by movements of said lever, the said other end of said lever being movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, and said switch means being arranged to effect energization of said electromagnet when said other end of said lever attains its said lowered position and to effect deenergizatiou of said electromagnet when said other end of said lever attains its said elevated position.

3. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said electromagnet is hollow, and wherein at least a portion of said weight is slidably received within said hollow electromagnet and is guided thereby.

4. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 3, wherein said weight is made of magnetic-responsive ma terial.

5. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said weight comprises a permanent magnet.

6. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 5, wherein said electromagnet is disposed below said weight, and when energized elevates said weight by repelling upwardly said permanent magnet.

7. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 3, wherein said electromagnet is disposed above said weight and said weight is at least partially made of magnetic-responsive material, whereby said electromagnet when energized will elevate said weight.

8. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said switch means comprises: a housing made of nonconductive material; a contact plate pivotally mounted within said housing, said contact plate being made of conductive material and being movable between a first position and a second position; contact strip means within said housing engageable by said contact plate when the latter is in said first position; and actuator means connected with said pivoted contact plate, and arranged to be operable in response to rotation of said lever to move said contact plate to said first position for closing said switch means when said lever attains said lowered position, and to move said contact plate to the second position thereof for opening said switch when said lever attains said elevated position.

9. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 8, wherein said housing is mounted on said base plate apart from said lever, and wherein said actuator means includes an actuator arm terminating in a cross-head engageable by said lever as said lever moves vertically between said elevated and said lowered positions thereof.

10. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 2, including an upper stop disposed on said base plate above said lever and a lower stop disposed on said base plate below said lever, and wherein said switch means comprises: a switch housing carried by said lever, and having aligned openings in the upper and lower ends thereof; a contact plate mounted within said switch housing for pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis, said contact plate being made of conductive material and being pivotally movable between a first position and a second position; a pair of contact strips within said housing engageable by said contact plate when the latter is in said first position, one of said contact strips being connectable with a power source and the other being connected with said electromagnet; an actuator mounted within said housing for vertical sliding movement, and including upper and lower arm portions that project through said openings in the upper and lower ends of said housing, respectively, and that are engageable with said upper and lower stops; and means connecting said contact plate with said actuator, said contact plate, said actuator and said connecting means being arranged so that when said lever moves downwardly while said lower actuator arm portion is engaged with said lower stop said contact plate will be moved to said first position, and so that when said lever moves upwardly while said upper actuator arm portion is engaged with said upper stop said contact plate will be moved to said second position.

11. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 2, wherein said switch means comprises: a platform mounted on said base plate below the other end of said lever for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, the inner end of said platform being engageable by at least one of said lever and said weight when said lever is in said lowered position to pivot the outer end of said platform upwardly from the horizontal, said platform being arranged so that when said lever and weight are out of engagement therewith the outer end of said platform will normally lie below the horizontal; and :a mercury switch secured to said platform and connectable between a power source and said electromagnet, said mercury switch being arranged to energize said electromagnet when said outer end of said platform is elevated above the horizontal and to deenergize said electromagnet when said platform outer end is below the horizontal.

12. An electrically powered timepiece as recited in claim 1, wherein said one end of said lever is rotatably mounted on said main shaft, and wherein said means operable to establish a driving connection between said lever and said main gear comprises: a ratchet gear on said one lever end; and a pawl on said main gear, said pawl being engageable with said ratchet gear.

1 l 1 2 13. In an electrically powered time piece; a clockwork; de-energize said electromagnetic when said lever attains a lever pivoted at one end thereof to said clockwork and Sald elevated P having a weight on its other end, said lever being movable b 't bctwe n elevated osition and a lowered References Clted y gravi y e an p position to supply power to said clockwork; means, in 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS eluding an electromagnet connected to said other end of 637,454 11/1899 Getty 58--41 said lever, operable to periodically move said lever from RICHARD B. WILKINSON Primary Examimr said lowered position to said elevated position and to release the same to effect winding of said clock; and switch 10 SIMMONS Assistant Exammer means operable automatically to energize said electromag- 5 CL net when said lever attains said lowered position, and to 318127 gz gi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,473 318 Dated October 21, 1969 Invent0r(S) Lawrence Feldman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 50 "1.?" should read 1-7 Column 4, line 14 "of" should read with Column 4, last line "pawls" should read walls Column 6, line 9 "48" should read Column 6, line 72 "paltes" should read lates Column 6, line 74 "codnuctive" should read conductive SI'G'NED AND SEALED JUN 2 1970 6 Atteet:

M- Fletcher. I! E Sam, m. An i ()ffi Comissioner of Patents