US3757508A

US3757508A - Clock with spaced-apart free-form time-indicating elements

Info

Publication number: US3757508A
Application number: US00238329A
Authority: US
Inventors: N Marklin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-27
Filing date: 1972-03-27
Publication date: 1973-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-11

Abstract

The minute-indicating element and the hour-indicating element of a clock are irregularly shaped and are distinctively different from each other. The centers of area of those time-indicating elements are mounted eccentrically on fixed pivots; and those fixed pivots are spaced apart a distance greater than the sum of the radii of the most-eccentric portions of those time-indicating elements. Those most-eccentric portions approach, but cannot overlap, each other''s path; but those most-eccentric portions recurrently overlap and expose portions of the gears of the clock. The hour-indicating element recurrently raises and lowers an arm, and thereby recurrently changes the aesthetic appearance of the clock.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Marklin Sept. 11, 1973 CLOCK WITH SPACED-APART FREE-FORM TIME-INDICATING ELEMENTS [76] Inventor: Norbert G. Marklin, 1045 Baden, St. Louis, Mo. 63147 [22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,329

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1970 Miller 58/2 10/1961 Kripak 58/2 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant EXaihinerStanlev J. Witkowski AttorneyRey Eilers 57] ABSTRACT The minute-indicating element and the hour-indicating element of a clock are irregularly shaped and are distinctiv ely different from each other. The centers of area of those time-indicating elements are mounted eccentrically on fixed pivots; and those fixed pivots are spaced apart a distance greater than the sum of the radii of the most-eccentric portions of those timeindicating elements. Those most-eccentric portions approach, but cannot overlap, each others path; but those most-eccentric portions recurrently overlap and expose portions of the gears of the clock. The hourindicating element recurrently raises and lowers an arm, and thereby recurrently changes the aesthetic appearance of the clock.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CLOCK WITH SPACED-APART FREE-FORM TIME-INDICATING ELEMENTS This invention relates to improvements in clocks. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in clocks which have irregularly-shaped timeindicating elements that are spaced apart and that provide an intriguing appearance for the clock.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved clock which has irregularlyshaped time-indicating elements that are spaced apart and that provide an intriguing appearance for the clock.

The clock provided by the present invention has a minute-indicating element and an hour-indicating element which are irregularly-shaped and which are distinctively different from each other. The centers of area of those time-indicating elements are mounted eccentrically on fixed pivots; and those fixed pivots are spaced apart a distance greater than the sum of the radii of the most-eccentric portions of those timeindicating elements. The consequent recurrent changes in the appearance of the clock are intriguing; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a clock with a minute-indicating element and an hourindicating element which are distinctively different from each other and which have the centers of area thereof mounted eccentrically on laterally displaced pivots.

The irregularly-shaped time-indicating elements of one preferred embodiment of clock provided by the present invention are equipped with gear teeth, and hence they resemble irregularly shaped gears. Those irregularly-shaped, time-indicating elements are driven by a gear train; and major components of that gear train are visible, and some of those major components rotate counter-currently relative to those timeindicating elements. The consequent circumferential and radial displacements of the teeth of the timeindicating elements relative to the teeth of the gears help add to the intriguing appearance of the clock. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide irregularly-shaped, spaced-apart time-indicating elements which have gear teeth and to provide a gear train for those time-indicating elements which has major components thereof exposed and rotating counter-currently relative to those time-indicating elements.

In the preferred embodiment of clock provided by the present invention, the time-indicating elements are disposed forwardly of the gear train; and those timeindicating elements have openings therein through which the major components of that gear train can be viewed. The rotation of those major components of the gear train and the rotation of the time-indicating elements provide an intriguing sense of motion coupled with a sense of spatial displacement, and thus add to the intriguing appearance of the clock.

The hour-indicating element of the preferred embodiment of clock provided by the present invention has gear teeth at the periphery thereof, and those teeth drive teeth at the periphery of an idler which is rotatably mounted on a pivoted arm. The irregular shape of the hour-indicating element enables the rotation of that hour-indicating element to cause the idler to move upwardly and permits that idler to move downwardly; and, in doing so, it also causes the lever to oscillate. In doing so, the hour-indicating element adds to the intriguing appearance of the clock.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one preferred embodiment of clock that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the clock shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 denotes a support for one preferred embodiment of clock that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That support can, and usually will, be the wall of a room or other space in which the clock is used. However, that support could be part of a frame for the clock, or could be part of a piece of furniture. Although the support 10 is shown as being imperforate, as it will be if it is a wall, it could be provided with an opening; and the clock of the present invention could be mounted adjacent that opening. In that event, that opening would permit access to the rear of the clock to permit the clock to be wound, if the clock is spring-driven. The numeral 12 generally denotes a supporting bracket for the said preferred embodiment of clock; and that supporting bracket has a flat central portion 14 which has outwardly and rearwardly inclined legs 16 at the opposite ends thereof. Feet 18 are provided at the rear ends of the legs 16; and those feet will abut, and will be secured to, the front surface of the support 10. Fasteners 20 extend through quick-connect and quick-disconnect slots, not shown, in the feet 18 and seat in the support 10; and those slots will permit the bracket 12 to be quickly secured to or released from that support. Although various types of quick-connect and quick-disconnect onnect slots could be used in the feet 18, key-hole slots are preferred.

The numeral 22 denotes a power source which is secured to the rear face of the flat central portion 14 of the bracket 12 by threaded studs and nuts 23. That power source will include gears and a motor; and that motor can be spring-driven, battery-operated or operated by conventional alternating current. In all instances, the power source 22 will have an output'shaft 24 extending forwardly through an opening, not shown, in the flat central portion 14 of the bracket 12. A 'pinion 26 is fixedly mounted on that output shaft; and it is disposed a short distance forwardly of the front face of the flat central portion 14. A pivot 28 is fixedly secured to the flat central portion 14 of the bracket 12 by a nut 30; and that pivot is adjacent the left-hand end of that flat central portion. A pivot 32 is fixedly secured to the flat central portion 14 by a nut 34; and that pivot is intermediate the pivot 28 and the power source 22. A pivot 36 is fixedly secured to the flat central portion 14 by a nut 38; and that pivot is disposed to the right of the power source 22. A pivot W is fixedly secured to the flat central portion 14 by a nut, not shown; and that pivot is adjacent the right-hand end of that flat central portion. A pivot 44 is fixedly secured to the flat central portion M by a nut 42; and that pivot is located above and generally in register with the pivot 40. The

pivots

28, 32, 36, 410 and M can have different forms and configurations; but they are conveniently formed as shouldered and headed bolts which have the threaded portions thereof extending rearwardly through spaced openings in the flat central portion M of the supporting bracket 12.

The numeral 436 denotes a spur gear which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 32, and which has the teeth thereof meshing with, and driven by, the teeth of the pinion 26. A pinion as is fixedly secured to, and is coaxial with, the gear 46; and that pinion also is mounted on the pivot 32. if desired, the pinion 4 and the spur gear 46 could be molded so they were integral. The numeral 50 denotes a spur gear which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 28; and which has the teeth thereof meshing with, anddriven by, the teeth of the pinion 48. The numeral 52 denotes an irregularlyshaped, free-form, hour-indicating element which has an essentially convex periphery. That time-indicating element has gear teeth at the periphery thereof; and it has four irregularly-shaped, free-form openings therein. The radial dimensions of the hour-indicating element 52 vary widely; and, in the position shown by FIG. 2, the periphery of that hour-indicating element projects beyond the periphery of the spur gear 46. However, in other positions, the periphery of that spur gear will be visible beyond the periphery of the hourindicating element 52. The hour-indicating element 52 is secured to, and is driven by, the spur gear 50; and, if desired, the spur gear 50 and the hour-indicating element 52 could be molded so they were integral. How

ever, that spur gear and that hour-indicating element will be displaced a short distance axially from each other by a hub-like intervening portion.

The numeral 54 denotes a spur gear which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 36, and which has the teeth thereof meshing with, and driven by, the pinion 26. The numeral 56 denotes a pinion which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 40 and which has the teeth thereof meshing with, and driven by, the teeth of the gear 54. The numeral 57 denotes an irregularly-shaped, free-form minute-indicating element which has an es sentially convex periphery. That time-indicating element has gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof; and it has four irregularly-shaped, free-form openings therein. The radial dimensions of the minute-indicating element 57 vary widely; and, in the position shown by FlG. 2, only a small portion of the area of that timeindicating element overlies any part of the spur gear 54. However, in other positions, the time-indicating element 57 will overlie a substantial portion of the area of that spur gear. The time-indicating element 57 is secured to, and driven by, the pinion 56; and, if desired, that pinion and that time-indicating element could be molded so they were integral. However, that pinion and that time-indicating element will be displaced a short distance axially from each other by a hub-like intervening portion.

The hour-indicating element 52 is much larger than the minute-indicating element 57, and hence it is readily and unmistakably distinguishable from that minute-indicating element. Moreover, that hourindicating element will preferably have a color which is distinctively different from the color of the minuteindicating element. The hour-indicating element 52 is mounted on the pivot 28 so the center of area thereof is eccentric of that pivot; and, similarly, the minuteindicating element 57 is mounted on the pivot 40 so the center of area thereof is eccentric of that pivot. The spacing between the pivots 2% and 40 is greater than the sum of the most-eccentric portions of the

timeindicating elements

52 and 57.

The numeral 58 denotes an elongated lever which has one end thereof rotatably mounted on the pivot 44; and the other end of that lever has a pivot 60 fixedly secured thereto by a nut 62. That pivot preferably is made as a shouldered and headed bolt. An irregularlyshaped, free-form idler 64 is mounted on the pivot 60. That idler is mounted on that pivot so the. center of area thereof is eccentric of that pivot. Gear teeth are provided at the periphery of the idler 64; and those teeth mesh with, and are driven by, the gear teeth on the hour-indicating element 52. As indicated particularly by FIG. 2, the idler 64 has four openings therein. As indicated particularly by FIG. 1, the lever 58 has. an offset intermediate the ends thereof to enable the right-hand end thereof to lie immediately adjacent the front face of the flat central portion 14 of the bracket 12 and to permit the idler 64 to be coplanar with the hourindicating element 52.

In the said preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hour-indicating element 52, the minuteindicating element 57, and the idler 64 are generally pear-shaped in elevation. Also, those elements and that idler have thicknesses which are materially greater than the peripheries of any of the

gears

26, 46, 48, 50, 54 and 56. Those gears may be colored; but they will preferably have subdued hues and intensities. The openings in the hour-indicating element 52, in the minuteindicating element 57, and in the idler 64 are irregularly-shaped, free-fonn openings; and those openings are relatively large and occupy the major portions of the areas of the webs of those time-indicating elements and of that idler. The large areas of the openings in the hour-indicating element 52 and in the minuteindicating element 57 are desirable because they permit correspondingly large portions of the

gears

46, 48, 5t), 54 and 56 to be viewed from the front of the clock. The

gears

46, 50 and 54 have openings in the webs thereof; and those openings occupy the major portions of the areas of those webs. The large openings in those gears are desirable; because they make those openings plainly visible from the front of the clock, even though the

gears

46 and 50 are displaced rearwardly of the hour-indicating element 52 and even though the gear 54 is displaced rearwardly of the minute-indicating element $7.

The clock provided by the present invention has an open and unconfined appearance because it does not have a clock face, and it does not even have numerals, points, or bars in the positions which are customarily occupied by the numbers on clock faces. Instead, the clock of the present invention has the free-form appearance of a mobile. The pear-shaped configuration, plus the eccentric mounting, of the hour-indicating element 52 enables the most-eccentric portion of that element to indicate hours; and the pear-shaped configuration, plus the eccentric mounting, of the minuteindicating element 57 enables the most-eccentric portion of that element to indicate minutes. in the positions shown by FIG. 2, those time-indicating elements indicate 12 oclock.

The numbers of teeth on the

various gears

26, 46, 48, 50, 54 and 56 are such that the minute-indicating ele ment 57 makes 12 revolutions for each revolution of the hour-indicating element 52. To set or adjust the time indicated by the clock, a setting knob at the rear of the power source 22 can be grasped and suitably rotated. However, if that power source is not equipped with such a knob, the minute-indicating element 57 will not be molded integrally with the pinion 56; and, instead, will be secured to that pinion by a frictional engagement which will normally cause that timeindicating element and that pinion to rotate as a unit, but will permit that time-indicating element to be rotated relative to that pinion when the clock is to be set. Similarly, if that power source is not equipped with such a knob, the hour-indicating element 52 will not be molded integrally with the spur gear 50; and, instead, will be secured to that spur gear by a frictional engagement which will normally cause that time-indicating element and that spur gear to rotate as a unit, but will permit that time-indicating element to be rotated relative to that spur gear when the clock is to be set.

in the operation of the clock provided by the present invention, the pinion 26 rotates in the clockwise direction and drives the spur gear 54 in the counterclockwise direction with consequent rotation of the pinion 56 and of the minute-indicating element 57 in the clockwise direction. That minute-indicating element will make one complete rotation every hour. The clockwise rotation of the pinion 26 will cause counterclockwise rotation of the spur gear 46 and of the pinion 48 with consequent clockwise rotation of the spur gear 50 and of the hour-indicating element 52. That hour-indicating element will make one complete revolution every 12 hours. The clockwise rotation of the hour-indicating element 52 will cause counterclockwise rotation of the idler 64. Because the idler 64 has fewer teeth than does the hour-indicating element 52, that idler will make more revolutions per day than will that hour-indicating element. in the drawing, the idler 64 is shown as having 14 teeth and the hour-indicating element 52 is shown as having 32 teeth; but, in the said preferred embodiment of clock provided by the present invention, the idler 64 has 17 teeth and the hourindicating element 52 has 34 teeth. Consequently, in that embodiment, the idler 64 makes two revolutions every 12 hours, whereas the hour-indicating element 52 makes only one revolution during that time.

Because the distance between the pivot 28 and the pivot 40 is greater than the sum of the most-eccentric portions of the time-indicating

elements

52 and 57, those most-eccentric portions can approach, but safely pass, each other during the relative rotations of those time-indicating elements. As the hour-indicating element 52 rotates about the pivot 28, the varying-radius portions of the periphery thereof will expose portions of the periphery of the spur gear 46 to direct viewing by persons standing in front of the clock. Specifically, after that hour-indicating element has rotated about 55 in the clockwise direction from the position indicated by FIG. 2, and until that hour-indicating element has rotated in that direction through an additional 260, some portions of the periphery of the gear 45 will be disposed radially outwardly of the small-radius portions of that hour-indicating element. As the minuteindicating element 57 rotates in the clockwise direction, the large-radius portions thereof will cover various portions of the area of the gear 54. The resulting constantly-changing pattern will add to the intriguing appearance of the clock.

Further, it will be noted that as the hour-indicating element 52 rotates in the clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 2, gravity will be able to move the idler 64 and the lever 58 downwardly until that hour-indicating element has rotated approximately and thereafter that idler and lever will remain well below the levels indicated by FIG. 2 until that hourindicating element has rotated an additional 90. Subsequently, that idler and lever will start moving upwardly towards the position indicated by FIG. 2. The rate at which the idler 64 and the lever 58 move downwardly and upwardly will be a function of the varying radial dimensions of the contiguous portions of the peripheries of the hour-indicating element 52 and of that idler. Because that idler makes more revolutions per unit of time than does the hour-indicating element 52, a pleasing and interesting variation in the rate of movement of the lever 58, and in the relative positions of that lever and of the idler 64, is provided.

It should also be noted that as the openings in the web of the hour-indicating element 52 move, they will expose differently-sized areas of the

gears

46, 48 and 50. While the openings in the web of that hourindicating element and in the web of the spur gear 50 are rotating in the clockwise direction, the openings in the web of the gear 46 will be rotating in the counterclockwise direction. The resulting counter-current rotation of the differently-sized and differently-shaped openings in the web of the hour-indicating element 52 and in the web of the spur gear 46 helps add to the pleasing and interesting appearance of the clock. Similarly, the rotation of the differently-sized and differently-shaped openings in the minute-indicating element 57 will expose differently-sized areas of the spur gear 54. While the openings in the web of that minute-indicating element rotate in the clockwise direction, the openings in the web of the spur gear 54 will rotate in the counterclockwise direction. The resulting counter-current rotation of those openings will additionally enhance the appearance of the clock.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description show and describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A clock which comprises a pivot, a minuteindicating element rotatably mounted on said pivot, a second pivot laterally displaced from the first said pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted first said pivot so the center of area 'of said minuteindicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hourindicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, said minute-indicating element having gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, said hour-indicating element having gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, said gear-like teeth on said minute-indicating element rotating counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears, and said gear-like teeth on said hourindicating element rotating counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears.

2. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said minuteindicating element passes through a predetermined space as it rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein said hour-indicating element passes through a second predetermined space as it rotates on said second fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said minute-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from said second predetermined space as said minute-indicating element rotates on said first fixed pivot, and wherein the most-eccentric portion of said hour-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from the firstsaid predetermined space as said hour-indicating element rotates on said second fixed pivot.

3. A clock as claimed in claim 11 wherein said minuteindicating element is longer than it is wide but has a substantial width, wherein said minute-indicating element is convex throughout its periphery, wherein said hour-indicating element is longer than it is wide but has a substantial width, and wherein said hour-indicating element is convex throughout its periphery.

4. A clock as claimed in claim ll wherein said gears are external of said power source and are visible, wherein said minute-indicating element has gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hourindicating element has gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said gear-like teeth on said minuteindicating element rotate counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears, and wherein said gear-like teeth on said hour-indicating element rotate counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears.

5. A clock as claimed in claim 3 wherein an idler is rotatably mounted on a pivot at the free end of an elongated lever, wherein said idler has an acircular configuration, wherein said idler has gear teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hour-indicating element has gear teeth at the periphery thereof that mesh with said gear teeth at the periphery of said idler, and wherein rotation of said hour-indicating element and the resulting rotation of said idler will cause said pivot at said free end of said lever to move radially of said second pivot, and thereby will move said free end of said lever radially of said second pivot.

6. A clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein an idler is mounted on a pivot adjacent said hour-indicating element, wherein said idler has gear teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hour-indicating element has gear teeth at the periphery thereof that mesh with said gear teeth at the periphery of said idler, wherein rotation of said hour-indicating element enforces rotation of said idler, and wherein the number of teeth at the periphery of said idler differs from the number of teeth at the periphery of said hour-indicating element, whereby said idler and said hour-indicating element rotate at different angular rates as well as rotate counter-currently of each other.

7. A clock which comprises a pivot, a minuteindicating element rotatably mounted on said pivot, a second pivot laterally displaced from the first said pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted on said second pivot, whereby said hour-indicaing element is laterally displaced from said minute-indicating element, a power source, and gears interconnecting said power source with said minute-indicating element and with said hour-indicating element, said minuteindicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as a minute-indicating element, said hour-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as an hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element being mounted on the first said pivot so the center of area of said minuteindicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hourindicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, said minute-indicating element being disposed forwardly of said gears but having at least one opening therein through which at least one of said gears can'be viewed, and said hour-indicating element being disposed forwardly of said gears but having at least one opening therein through which at least one of said gears can be viewed.

8. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said minuteindicating element passes through a predetermined space as it rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein said hour-indicating element passes through a second predetermined space as it rotates on said second fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said minute-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from said second predetermined space as said minute-indicating element rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said hour-indicating element moves closer to and further away from the first said predetermined space as said hour-indicating element rotates on said second fixed pivot, and wherein the lateral displacement of said second fixed pivot from said first said fixed pivot laterally displaces said minute-indicating element and said hour-indicating element from each other and keeps said most-eccentric portion of said minuteindicating element from ever overlapping any of said second predetermined space and also keeps said mosteccentric portion of said hour-indicating element from ever overlapping any of said first said predetermined space.

9. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein an idler bears against and is rotated by the periphery of said hour-indicating element, wherein said idler moves toward and away from said second pivot in response to the acircular configuration of said hour-indicating element, and wherein a driven element has a portion thereof movable with and driven by said idler, whereby said portion of said driven element is moved toward and away from said second pivot in response to said acircular configuration of said hourindicating element.

Mi. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said minute-indicating element is disposed forwardly of and is thicker than said gears, and wherein said hourindicating element is disposed forwardly of and is thicker than said gears.

second pivot laterally displaced from the first said' pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted on said second pivot, whereby said hour-indicating element is laterally displaced from said minute-indicating element, a power source, and gears interconnecting said power source with said minute-indicating element and with said hour-indicating element, said minute indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as a minute-indicating element, said hour-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as an hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element being mounted on the first said pivot so the center of area of said minuteindicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hourindicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, an idler that is rotatably mounted on a pivot at the free end of an elongated lever, said idler bearing against and being rotated by the periphery of said hour-indicating element, and said idler having an acircular configuration, whereby rotation of said hour-indicating element and the resulting rotation of said idler will cause said pivot at said free end of said lever to move radially of said second pivot, and thereby will move said free end of said lever radially of said second pivot.

Claims

1. A clock which comprises a pivot, a minute-indicating element rotatably mounted on said pivot, a second pivot laterally displaced from the first said pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted on said second pivot, whereby said hourindicating element is laterally displaced from said minuteindicating element, a power source, and gears interconnecting said power source with said minute-indicating element and with said hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as a minute-indicating element, said hour-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as an hourindicating element, said minute-indicating element being mounted on the first said pivot so the center of area of said minuteindicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hour-indicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, said minute-indicating element having gearlike teeth at the periphery thereof, said hour-indicating element having gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, said gear-like teeth on said minute-indicating element rotating counterconcurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears, and said gear-like teeth on said hour-indicating element rotating counterconcurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears.

2. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said minute-indicating element passes through a predetermined space as it rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein said hour-indicating element passes through a second predetermined space as it rotates on said second fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said minute-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from said second predetermined space as said minute-indicating element rotates on said first fixed pivot, and wherein the most-eccentric portion of said hour-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from the first said predetermined space as said hour-indicating element rotates on said second fixed pivot.

3. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said minute-indicating element is longer than it is wide but has a substantial width, wherein said minute-indicating element is convex throughout its periphery, wherein said hour-indicating element is longer than it is wide but has a substantial width, and wherein said hour-indicating element is convex throughout its periphery.

4. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gears are external of said power source and are visible, wherein said minute-indicating element has gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hour-indicating element has gear-like teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said gear-like teeth on said minute-indicating element rotate counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears, and wherein said gear-like teeth on said hour-indicating element rotate counter-concurrently to the teeth on at least one of said gears.

5. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein an idler is rotatably mounted on a pivot at the free end of an elongated lever, wherein said idler has an acircular configuration, wherein said idler has gear teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hour-indicating element has gear teeth at the periphery thereof that mesh with said gear teeth at the periphery of said idler, and wherein rotation of said hour-indicating element and the resulting rotation of said idler will cause said pivot at said free end of said lever to move radially of said second pivot, and thereby will move said free end of said lever radially of said second pivot.

6. A clock as claimed in claim 1 wherein an idler is mounted on a pivot adjacent said hour-indicating element, wherein said idler has gear teeth at the periphery thereof, wherein said hour-indicating element has gear teeth at the periphery thereof that mesh with said gear teeth at the periphery of said idler, wherein rotation of said hour-indicating element enforces rotation of said idler, and wherein the number of teeth at the periphery of said idler differs from the number of teeth at the periphery of said hour-indicating element, whereby said idler and said hour-indicating element rotate at different angular rates as well as rotate counter-currently of each other.

7. A clock which comprises a pivot, a minute-indicating element rotatably mounted on said pivot, a second pivot laterally displaced from the first said pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted on said second pivot, whereby said hour-indicaing element is laterally displaced from said minute-indicating element, a power source, and gears interconnecting said power source with said minute-indicating element and with said hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as a minute-indicating element, said hour-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as an hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element being mounted on the first said pivot so the center of area of said minute-indicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hour-indicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, said minute-indicating element being disposed forwardly of said gears but having at least one opening therein through which at least one of said gears can be viewed, and said hour-indicating element being disposed forwardly of said gears but having at least one opening therein through which at least one of said gears can be viewed.

8. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said minute-indicating element passes through a predetermined space as it rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein said hour-indicating element passes through a second predetermined space as it rotates on said second fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said minute-indicating element recurrently moves closer to and further away from said second predetermined space as said minute-indicating element rotates on said first said fixed pivot, wherein the most-eccentric portion of said hour-indicating element moves closer to and further away from the first said predetermined space as said hour-indicating element rotates on said second fixed pivot, and wherein the lateral displacement of said second fixed pivot from said first said fixed pivot laterally displaces said minute-indicating element and said hour-indicating element from each other and keeps said most-eccentric portion of said minute-indicating element from ever overlapping any of said second predetermined space and also keepS said most-eccentric portion of said hour-indicating element from ever overlapping any of said first said predetermined space.

9. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein an idler bears against and is rotated by the periphery of said hour-indicating element, wherein said idler moves toward and away from said second pivot in response to the acircular configuration of said hour-indicating element, and wherein a driven element has a portion thereof movable with and driven by said idler, whereby said portion of said driven element is moved toward and away from said second pivot in response to said acircular configuration of said hour-indicating element.

10. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said minute-indicating element is disposed forwardly of and is thicker than said gears, and wherein said hour-indicating element is disposed forwardly of and is thicker than said gears.

11. A clock as claimed in claim 7 wherein some of said gears have openings therein, and wherein said some gears rotate counter-currently relative to the time-indicating elements adjacent thereto, whereby said one opening in said minute-indicating element and said one opening in said hour-indicating element permit the viewing therethrough of openings in said gears which rotate counter-currently to said one opening in said minute-indicating element and to said one opening in said hour-indicating element.

12. A clock which comprises a pivot, a minute-indicating element rotatably mounted on said pivot, a second pivot laterally displaced from the first said pivot, an hour-indicating element rotatably mounted on said second pivot, whereby said hour-indicating element is laterally displaced from said minute-indicating element, a power source, and gears interconnecting said power source with said minute-indicating element and with said hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as a minute-indicating element, said hour-indicating element having an acircular configuration enabling it to serve as an hour-indicating element, said minute-indicating element being mounted on the first said pivot so the center of area of said minute-indicating element is eccentric of said first said pivot, said hour-indicating element being mounted on said second pivot so the center of area of said hour-indicating element is eccentric of said second pivot, an idler that is rotatably mounted on a pivot at the free end of an elongated lever, said idler bearing against and being rotated by the periphery of said hour-indicating element, and said idler having an acircular configuration, whereby rotation of said hour-indicating element and the resulting rotation of said idler will cause said pivot at said free end of said lever to move radially of said second pivot, and thereby will move said free end of said lever radially of said second pivot.