US3897700A

US3897700A - Clock setting mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3897700A
Application number: US480366A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur W Haydon
Original assignee: Tri Tech Inc
Current assignee: Tri Tech Inc
Priority date: 1974-06-18
Filing date: 1974-06-18
Publication date: 1975-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-05

Abstract

Apparatus for setting the hour hand of a clock one hour ahead at the beginning of daylight saving time or one hour back at the end of daylight saving time by moving two gears that are connected together and are meshed, respectively, with a gear on the shaft that drives the minute hand and a separate gear on the concentric shaft that drives the hour hand. The pair of gears is mounted on a support that may be pivoted about the same axis as the minute and hour hands by moving the support mechanically or through the interaction of a magnetic member on the support and a magnetic controller.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Haydon 1 1 CLOCK SETTING MECHANISM Arthur W. Haydon, Middlebury, Conn.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Tri-Tech, lnc., Waterbury, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 18, 1974 {21] Appl, No.: 480,366

[52] US. Cl 74/801; 58/34; 58/35 R;

235/144 [51] Int. Cl. Flfih 1/28; G04c 9/00; G06c 15/42 [58] Field of Search 58/34, 35 R, 36, 26 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1 Aug. s, 1975 Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Arwrney, Agent, or FirmLee C. Robinson. Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for setting the hour hand of a clock one hour ahead at the beginning of daylight saving time or one hour back at the end of daylight saving time by moving two gears that are connected together and are meshed, respectively, with a gear on the shaft that drives the minute hand and a separate gear on the concentric shaft that drives the hour hand. The pair of gears is mounted on a support that may be pivoted about the same axis as the minute and hour hands by moving the support mechanically or through the inte raction of a magnetic member on the support and a magnetic controller.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEU B 1975 FIG. 2

PATENTED AUG 5 gm;

CLOCK SETTING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for adjusting the relative angular position of geared devices, and particularly to apparatus for changing the setting of the hour hand of a clock by one hour.

2. The Prior Art In places such as schools, factories, commercial buildings and the like where there are large numbers of clocks that must all be reset at the beginning and end of each period of daylight saving time, it is desirable to make the resetting as simple as possible and at the same time to make sure that the same clock or group of clocks cannot inadvertently be reset a second time, for example, by a second maintenance person, after having been set to the new time. Even in the case of individual clocks used in the home, it is desirable to provide a simple means to adjust the setting of the hour hand from standard time to daylight saving time and from daylight saving time to standard time and to be sure that the setting is done only once and is not repeated by someone unaware of the fact that the change in time had already been made.

In the case of clocks in public or commercial buildings it is common to find that they are located high on a wall where they cannot easily be reached. As a result, the maintenance personnel may have to carry a step ladder from one clock location to the next to reset each clock. Not only is this inconvenient, but the resetting may have to be done from a position in which the clock face is seen at an acute angle, which can result in incorrect setting due to parallax.

In many conventional clocks it is common to provide a driving mechanism that includes a motor and a reduction gear train to drive the minute hand or indicating device of the clock at the proper speed. For a twelve hour clock with dial and hands a further step-down gear mechanism having the specific ratio of 1:12 connects the shaft of the minute hand to the shaft of the hour hand. When the hour hand is to be reset, it is cus tomary to override or separate the gear train ahead of the minute hand so that the minute hand may be easily adjusted by one full revolution, either forward or backward as necessary to change the setting of the hour hand in the desired way. In doing so it is not uncommon to find that the minute hand has been placed a minute or two off its proper setting.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple means for changing the setting of the hour hand of a clock by one hour without affecting the setting of the minute hand and without permitting the hour to be set two successive times in the same direction.

A more general object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for adjusting the relative positions of a pair of interrelated time indicating devices.

A further object is to provide means to indicate the setting of a clock for either standard time or daylight saving time.

A still further object is to provide means for setting a clock either an hour ahead or an hour back by means external to the clock and capable of effecting the setting without requiring precise adjustment of the hands of the clock by the person carrying out the setting.

Further objects will become apparent from the following specification and the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing objects, a gear mechanism which is normally part of a clock, but which could be part of other apparatus instead, includes a first gear and a second gear mounted coaxially but independently of each other so that they can rotate at different speeds. A third gear meshes with the first gear and is connected to a fourth gear that meshed with the second gear. In a clock with dial and hand, for example, the first gear would be mounted on the shaft of the minute hand and the second gear would be attached to the shaft of the hour hand. The third and fourth gears are preferably formed as a planetary gear assembly and rotate on the same axle which moves orbitally relative to the axis of the first and second gears. Since in a twelve hour clock the overall gear ratio from the minute hand to the hour hand is 12:], it is convenient to select one of the meshed pairs of gears, for example, the first and third gears, to have a ratio of 4:1 and the other pair of meshed gears to have a ratio of 3:l. The third and fourth gears are mounted on a support that can be moved along an arcuate path to keep these gears in mesh with the first and second gears, respectively. Such a support may conveniently be an arm pivoted about the same axis as the first and second gears.

It is customary in clocks of this type to drive the hands by a relatively high speed motor. The speed of the shaft of the motor is reduced by a gear train to the proper speed to drive the minute hand. This gear train usually has a relatively large step-down ratio between the motor shaft and the minute hand shaft. When the support for the third and fourth gears is moved pivotally to cause these gears to follow an arcuate path in mesh with the first and second gears, the third gear rolls along the surface of the first gear as support is pivoted from a first position to a second position. This rolling movement is imparted to the fourth gear which, in turn, rotates the second gear through an angle that is determined in part by the extent of arcuate movement of the support and in part by the rotation of the third and fourth gears. The extent of the arcuate movement and the various gear ratios is such that the hour hand is shifted either ahead or back one hour.

In certain preferred embodiments the support for the third and fourth gears is attached to an arm that extends through the clock housing, and two end positions are marked Daylight Saving Time" and Standard Time". Alternatively, the support includes a magnetic device, either in the form of a permanent magnet or a suitable ferro-magnetically soft member. The magnetic device is placed so that it can interact with another magnetic device external to the clock housing. This latter device illustratively may comprise a permanent magnet that can be moved along a path near the clock housing to shift the position of the support from one of its two positions to the other. If the magnetic attraction between the internal magnetic device and the external magnetic device is sufficiently great, the change of setting can be made without being very careful to cause the external device to follow a precise path. This is advantageous in setting a clock high enough on a wall to be out of reach, because the external device can simply be a magnet attached to a pole or rod long enough to reach the clock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I shows the face ofa clock with an arm to adjust the angular position of the hour hand between a standard time position and a daylight time position.

FIG. 2 shows the geometrical relationship between rotary members to obtain relative angular setting in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the clock of FIG. 1 with the face and hands removed to show the gears and angular set ting member.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 to illustrate a magnetic device for setting the clock between daylight saving time and standard time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The clock in FIG. I is of standard appearance with a face 11, an hour hand 12, and a minute hand 13. Another hand to indicate seconds could be added and the invention could also be embodied in an alam1 clock, or another device, but these features are separate from the present invention, which lies in the simple angular setting mechanism. In the case of the clock in FIG. 1, the only part of this mechanism that is visible is a handle 14 shown as being movable between a position marked S.T. to stand for standard time and a position marked D.S.T. to stand for daylight saving time.

The handle 14 is shown in solid lines in the standard time position, and the

hands

12 and 13 are also shown in solid lines at a setting of 2 o'clock. The alternative location of the handle during daylight saving time is in the position indicated in broken lines, and it corresponds to a one hour advance of the hour hand 12 to a position indicating 3 o'clock. The handle 14 can be kept indefinitely in either of these positions by friction or by a mechanical or magnetic detent, which is not shown in this figure.

FIG. 2 is a geometrical construction of the basic angular setting mechanism suitable for use in the clock shown in FIG. 1. The hour hand of a clock based on a twelve hour system rotates l/12 of a revolution, or 30, each hour and the minute hand rotates one revolution, or 360, each hour. While the hands themselves are not shown in FIG. 2, the common axis on which they would rotate is the axis of two concentric shafts 16 and 17. The inner shaft 16 is usually the minute hand shaft, and the hollow outer shaft 17 is the hour hand shaft. The shaft 16 is connected to a rotary driving member 18 which will be referred to as the minute gear. A second rotary member 19 is attached to the shaft 17 and is referred to as the hour gear.

The minute gear 18 drives a third rotary member in the form of a gear 21, shown in solid lines in the position that would correspond to the standard time position in the clock in FIG. 1. This gear has a shaft 22 on which another rotary member in the form of a gear 23 is also mounted. In fact, it is common practice to mold all of the

gears

18, 19, 21, and 23 of a suitable plastic material such as Delrin, which is a trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company for an aeetol homopolymer. The shaft 22 and the

gears

21 and 23 may be molded as a single element, the radii of the

gears

21 and 23 being such that they mesh respectively, with the gears 18 and l9.

In order to change the angular position of the shaft 17 relative to the shaft 16, from an arbitrary position indicated by an arrow 24 to a position indicated by the arrow 24', which is ahead of the arrow 24 by 30 clockwise, the

gears

21 and 23 are moved orbitally with respect to the

gears

18 and 19 through an angle or to a position indicated in broken lines. During the orbital movement of the

gears

21 and 23 both of them remain meshed with their

respective gears

18 and 19. If it is assumed that the gear 18 remains in a fixed position, the gear 21 must roll on the surface of the gear 18 to turn by an angle [3 while moving bodily through the orbital are defined by the angle a. The relationship between the angles a and B is indicated by the equation:

r B I l where r is the radius of the gear 18 and n is the gear ratio between the

gears

18 and 21.

Since the

gears

21 and 23 are formed as a rigid unit. rotation of the gear 21 through the angle B causes the gear 23 also to rotate through the angle B as both of these gears are moved orbitally through the angle a. The gear 23 is kept constantly in mesh with the gear 19, and as a result the gear 19 rotates through the angle 7 determined by the equation where r is the radius of the gear 23 and n is the ratio of the gear 23 to the gear 19.

Combining

equations

1 and 2 eliminates and results in In a clock the overall ratio between the

gears

18 and 19 is the product of n, times n which is 12, so that It will be noted that the gear ratios n and n are combined into a fixed number 12 in equation (4). Thus, it does not matter whether the numbers in and n: are 3 and 4 or 2 and 6 or even 12 and 1, as long as their product is 12. For the sake of incorporating them in a minimum space the ratios of 3 and 4 are preferred.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the rotation of the gear 19 and its shaft 17 when the

gears

21 and 23 move through the angle a is less than a by the angle 7. Furthermore, since the desired angle of rotation of the gear 19 and its shaft 17 is 30, in order to transfer the setting of a clock between standard time and daylight saving time the relationship between the angles a and 'y is Substituting equation (4) in equation (5) gives (6) and substituting equation (6) in equation (4) gives Thus, the

gears

21 and 23 must be moved orbitally through an angle of 360lll to rotate the gear 19 and its shaft 17 through an angle of 30 with respect to the gear 18 and its shaft 16 if the overall ratio of the rates of rotation of the shafts 16 and 17 is 12:]. Obviously other shaft ratios would require different numbers but could be calculated in the same way.

FIG. 3 shows the clock mechanism in greater detail, and includes a motor 25 which may be a two-wire stepper motor of the type disclosed in Haydon US. Pat. No. 3,495,107 or any other clock motor either electrical or spring-operated. If the normal speed of the motor 25 is relatively high, a gear box 26 may be attached between the motor 25 and the remainder of the gear mechanism in an enclosure 27 but if the motor 25 has a low enough speed, in this case 1 rpm, it is unnecessary to provide the gear box 26.

The motor or gear box is supported by a plate 28 that forms the rear wall of the gear enclosure 27. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the gear box 26 has an output shaft 29 with a pinion 31 at its end. This pinion extends through an opening 32 in the wass 28 formed by offsetting a flap 33. The pinion 31 meshes with a gear 34 mounted on an axle 36 sffixed to the wall 28. The gear 34 is rigidly attached to a concentric pinion 37 to rotate with the pinion as a unit. In fact, the gear 34 and the pinion 37 may conveniently be molded of Delrin, although it is not necessary that they be so formed. The pinion 37 is meshed with another gear 38 that is rigidly attached to a pinion 39 and is rotatably supported along with the pinion 39 on an axle 40. The axle 40 is an extension ofa post 41 on the front wall 42 of the enclosure 27, and it is convenient to form the axle 40, the post 41, the front wall 42, and a cylindrical side wall 43 as a one-piece structure molded of Delrin. The pinion 39 meshes with a gear 44 rotatably mounted on an alignment shaft 46 that extends into the gear 31, and a spacer 47 keeps the gear 44 in a correct position on the shaft 46.

The minute gear 18, shown also in FIG. 2, is molded as part of a unitary structure with the gear 44 and the shaft 16. The gear 18 meshes with the gear 21, which is formed as a unitary structure with the gear 23. The latter meshes with the hour gear 19, which is molded as a unit with the hollow shaft 17. The minute hand 12 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 16, for example by means of a screw 48, and the hour hand 13 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 17 by being pressed thereon.

The shaft 17 is supported in a bushing 49, threaded into the front wall 42 of the enclosure 27. A nut 51 is also threaded onto the bushing 49 to hold the dial 52 in place. The position of the dial 52 relative to the gear structure 27 is fixed by any convenient indexing means, such as a plurality of screws of which only one screw 53 appears in FIG. 3.

The bushing 49 also forms a short axle for the handle 14. This handle extends through an opening 54 in the side wall of the enclosure 27 and it has a stub axle 56 on which the

gears

21 and 23 are rotatably mounted. A small detent 55 obstructs part of the opening 54 so that the handle 14 has to pushed toward the rear of the enclosure 27 in order to be moved out of the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows part of the chain of gears in the housing 27 including, particularly, the arrangement of the minute gear 18, the hour gear 19, and the

planetary gears

21 and 23 supported by the handle 14. As may be seen, the handle has an enlarged circular end 57 that encircles the larger end of the bushing 49 so that the handle can pivot on the bushing. The axle 56 that extends from the handle rotatable supports the

gears

21 and 23 and, since the axle 56 moves along an orbital path with re spect to the

gears

18 and 19, it keeps the

gears

21 and 23 in mesh with the

gears

18 and 19 in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

The handle 14 is shown midway between its two end positions and directly behind the center of the detent 55. The detent 55 forms, together with adjacent edges of the sidewall 43, a pair of

detent slots

58 and 59 into which the handle 14 can fit in either of its end positions. It cannot go beyond these positions and thus the setting of the shaft 17 with respect to the shaft 16 is limited so that the shaft 17 can only move 30. However, in either of the positions of the handle 14, the transmission of power through the gears is continuous.

Although the shaft 17 is spoken of as being angularly set relative to the shaft 16, it is equally correct to say that it is set with respect to the overall structure of the enclosure 27. Furthermore, during the setting process there is continuous movement of all of the gears. Normally the handle would be moved from one of its end positions to the other so quickly that there would be no perceptible rotation of even the minute hand shaft 16, but it is possible to move the handle 14 quite slowly. Since the motion of the

gears

21 and 23 is entirely orbital, neither slow movement of the handle 14 nor rapid movement would have any effect on the shaft 16 and would only serve to set the shaft 17 to a position 30 different from the position it would have occupied if such relocation ofthe handle 14 from one of its end positions to the other had not taken place.

FIG. 5 shows a clock similar to that in FIG. 1 except that part of the face has been broken away to illustrate a magnet 61 attached to an arm 62 similar to the handle 14 in FIGS. 1 and 4. The arm 62 may be moved by placing another magnet 63 near the clock and close to the glass or plastic crystal to be in close juxtaposition to the magnet 61 so that the field of the magnet 63 can penetrate the dial 11 and cause the magnet 61 to be drawn along as the magnet 63 moves. In this way the arm 62 can be moved from either of its end positions to the other one, and it is not necessary to have an opening in the side wall of the clock for a mechanically actuated handle.

The end positions of movement of the arm 62 are fixed by two ferromagnetic members 64 and 65, which may be made of cold rolled steel, for example. The magnet latches itself on to either of these members when it is brought near to them by the magnet 63. The members 64 and 65 thus serve as magnet detents. In such a structure it is necessary, of course, that the enclosure 27 and the dial 1] be made of nonmagnetic materials so that they will not interfere with the magnetic coupling between the magnet 61 inside the clock and the external magnet 63 used to set the clock forward or back one hour.

One of the advantages of a magnetically set clock of the type shown in FIG. 5 is that it can be mounted high on a wall, as is common in public buildings, and yet can be easily and safely set precisely one hour ahead or one hour back by attaching the magnet to a long pole 66. The setting operation does not require delicate manipulation of the clock; all that need be done is to swing the pole 66 to cause the magnet to pass across the proper part of the clock to allow the field of the magnet 63 to lock onto the field of the magnet 62 and to move the arm from one of the members 64 or 65 to the other.

Although the invention has been described with par ticular reference to an angular setting mechanism in the form of a clock with hands, it will be apparent that the novel construction and arrangement of the various parts also are applicable to other types of angular setting mechanisms. For example, the invention is readily adaptable for use in setting digitally related clock indicia.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; and

means operable independently of the first and second rotary members for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members.

2. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members co-axial with each other and connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members. respectively; and

3. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively;

a movable support operable independently of the first and second rotary members for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members; and

means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbital positions.

4. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; support for the third and fourth planetary rotary members to move the third and fourth members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members; and

means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbital positions.

5. The angular setting means of claim 4 in which the means to hold the support comprises a detent.

6. The angular setting means of claim 4 in which the means to hold the support comprises permanent magnet means.

7. Angular setting means comprising:

a first rotary member;

a second rotary member rotary member rotatable with respect to the first rotary member;

third and fourth rotary members connected to rotate together and engaging the first and second rotary members, respectively; support for the third and fourth rotary members movable in an orbital are between first and second orbital positions with respect to the first rotary member while the third and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the first and second rotary members, respectively; and means to move the support independently of the first and second rotary members to either of said predetermined orbital positions.

8. Angular setting means comprising:

a first rotary member;

a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member and rotatable with respect to it;

third and fourth rotary members rigidly connected together and engaged with first and second rotary members, respectively; and

a pivotally mounted support for the third and fourth rotary members to move the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second rotary members and independently of the first and second rotary members while keeping the third and fourth members engaged with the first and second members.

9. Angular setting means comprising:

a fixed member;

a first rotary member rotatable relative to the fixed member;

a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member and rotatable relative to the first rotary member and the fixed member;

third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other and connected to rotate together and engaging the first and second rotary members, respectively;

a support comprising an arm pivotally supported with respect to the fixed member and co-axial with respect to the first rotary member, and

an axle on the arm for the third and fourth rotary members, the am being movable independently of the first and second rotary members to move the axle in an orbital arc with respect to the first rotary member while the third and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the first and second rotary members, respectively, when the arm is pivoted between first and second orbital positions.

10. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable with respect to each other and comprising respective driving surfaces of different radii;

third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other and connected to rotate together and comprising driving surfaces drivingly engaging the driving surfaces of the first and second rotary members, respectively; and

a support for said third and fourth rotary members, the support being pivotal independently of the first and second rotary members co-axially with respect to the first and second rotary members to move the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second rotary members while the third and fourth rotary members remain continuously engaged with the first and second rotary members.

11. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial gear of different radii rotatable with respect to each other;

third and fourth co-axial gears rigidly connected to rotate together and meshed with the first and second gears, respectively; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears to move the third and fourth gears independently of the first and second gears and orbitally with respect to the first and second gears while maintaining the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, as the common support moves within a range between first and second orbital positions spaced apart by predetermined angle.

12. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the first gear;

a second gear coaxial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears movable independently of the first and second gears along an arcuate path between first and second positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving the common support from the first to the second position and one hour back in moving the common support from the second to the first position.

13. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear coaxial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour hand indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; and

means to hold the arm in either of said orbital positions.

14. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the first gear;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to drive said second gear at a speed 1/ l 2 the speed of the first gear; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears pivotally mounted co-axially with respect to the first and second gears, and movable independently of the first and second gears along an orbitally arcuate path between first and second positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving the common support from the first to the second position and one hour back in moving the common support from the second to the first position.

15. The clock setting means of claim 14 in which the arcuate spacing between the first and second positions is 360/ 1 l.

16. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360/ll with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; and

fixed detent means on the fixed structure to hold the arm in either of said orbital positions.

17. The clock setting means of claim 16 in which said fixed structure comprises an enclosure for the gears, and the arm extends through an opening in the enclosure to be manually settable to either of the first and second orbital positions.

18. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a fist gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360lll with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital position while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respec tivcly, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position;

a magnet attached to the arm; and

ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of the first and second orbital positions to hold the arm in either of the first and second orbital positions by magnetical attraction to the magnet.

19. Clock setting means comprising:

a first gear;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a common support for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360!" with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position;

ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of said orbital positions to hold the support in either of said orbital positions; and

a housing enclosing the gears, support, magnet, and ferro-magnetie means, the magnet being located adjacent the wall of the housing to interact with an external magnet to move the support from one of said orbital positions to the other.

Claims

1. Angular setting means comprising: first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; and means operable independently of the first and second rotary members for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members.

2. Angular setting means comprising: first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetary rotary members co-axial with each other and connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; and means operable independently of the first and second rotary members for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members.

3. Angular setting means comprising: first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; a movable support operable independently of the first and second rotary members for moving tHe third and fourth planetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members; and means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbital positions.

4. Angular setting means comprising: first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; a support for the third and fourth planetary rotary members to move the third and fourth members between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members; and means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbital positions.

7. Angular setting means comprising: a first rotary member; a second rotary member rotary member rotatable with respect to the first rotary member; third and fourth rotary members connected to rotate together and engaging the first and second rotary members, respectively; a support for the third and fourth rotary members movable in an orbital arc between first and second orbital positions with respect to the first rotary member while the third and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the first and second rotary members, respectively; and means to move the support independently of the first and second rotary members to either of said predetermined orbital positions.

8. Angular setting means comprising: a first rotary member; a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member and rotatable with respect to it; third and fourth rotary members rigidly connected together and engaged with first and second rotary members, respectively; and a pivotally mounted support for the third and fourth rotary members to move the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second rotary members and independently of the first and second rotary members while keeping the third and fourth members engaged with the first and second members.

9. Angular setting means comprising: a fixed member; a first rotary member rotatable relative to the fixed member; a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member and rotatable relative to the first rotary member and the fixed member; third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other and connected to rotate together and engaging the first and second rotary members, respectively; a support comprising an arm pivotally supported with respect to the fixed member and co-axial with respect to the first rotary member; and an axle on the arm for the third and fourth rotary members, the arm being movable independently of the first and second rotary members to move the axle in an orbital arc with respect to the first rotary member while the third and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the first and second rotary members, respectively, when the arm is pivoted between first and second orbital positions.

10. Angular setting means comprising: first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable with respect to each other and comprising respective driving surfaces of different radii; third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other and connected to rotate together and comprising driving surfaces drivingly engaging the driving surfaces of the first and second rotary members, respectively; and a support for said third and fourth rotary members, the support beIng pivotal independently of the first and second rotary members co-axially with respect to the first and second rotary members to move the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and second rotary members while the third and fourth rotary members remain continuously engaged with the first and second rotary members.

11. Angular setting means comprising: first and second co-axial gear of different radii rotatable with respect to each other; third and fourth co-axial gears rigidly connected to rotate together and meshed with the first and second gears, respectively; and a common support for the third and fourth gears to move the third and fourth gears independently of the first and second gears and orbitally with respect to the first and second gears while maintaining the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, as the common support moves within a range between first and second orbital positions spaced apart by predetermined angle.

12. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the first gear; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear; and a common support for the third and fourth gears movable independently of the first and second gears along an arcuate path between first and second positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving the common support from the first to the second position and one hour back in moving the common support from the second to the first position.

13. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear; a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour hand indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; and means to hold the arm in either of said orbital positions.

14. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the first gear; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to drive said second gear at a speed 1/12 the speed of the first gear; and a common support for the third and fourth gears pivotally mounted co-axially with respect to the first and second gears, and movable independently of the first and second gears along an orbitally arcuate path between first and second positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, Respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving the common support from the first to the second position and one hour back in moving the common support from the second to the first position.

15. The clock setting means of claim 14 in which the arcuate spacing between the first and second positions is 360*/11.

16. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear; a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; and fixed detent means on the fixed structure to hold the arm in either of said orbital positions.

18. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a fist gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear; a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital position while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; a magnet attached to the arm; and ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of the first and second orbital positions to hold the arm in either of the first and second orbital positions by magnetical attraction to the magnet.

19. Clock setting means comprising: a first gear; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear; a common support for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 with respect to the first and second gears between first and second orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbital position; ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of said orbital positions to hold the support in eiTher of said orbital positions; and a housing enclosing the gears, support, magnet, and ferro-magnetic means, the magnet being located adjacent the wall of the housing to interact with an external magnet to move the support from one of said orbital positions to the other.