US3929364A

US3929364A - Clock setter

Info

Publication number: US3929364A
Application number: US504225A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude T Haley
Original assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Current assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Priority date: 1974-09-09
Filing date: 1974-09-09
Publication date: 1975-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-30

Abstract

An apparatus for manually adjusting large wall-mounted clocks while the operator remains safely on the floor, comprising a long handled tool which slips over the reset knob of such clocks allowing a downward and twisting motion to adjust the indicated time.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 1 3,929,364 Haley Dec. 30, 1975 CLOCK SETTER 1,105,473 7/1914 Walker 81/13 X 7 4 l.. O [75] Inventor: Claude T. Haley, Newport News, ggg gg 4 Va. 3,252,727 5/1966 DeFrank.. 294/20 Assigneez The United States of America as Kennedy R X represented by the National Aemflauficsfnd Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Adm'mstratm MGeneral Assistant Examiner--Johnny D. Cherry counselcode washmgton Attorney, Agent, or FirmWallace J. Nelson; Howard J. Osborn; John R. Manning [22] Filed: Sept. 9 1974 21 A 1. No.: 504,225 1 PP 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 294/19 R; 294/1 R An apparatus for manually adjusting large wall- [51] Int. Cl. B25J 1/00 mounted clocks while the operator remains safely on [58] Field of Search 294/1 R, 19 R, 20, 21, the floor, comprising a long handled tool which slips 294/22, 23, 33, 99 R; 81/3 R, 13, 65 over the reset knob of such clocks allowing a downward and twisting motion to adjust the indicated time. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures 697,961 4/1902 Ainsworth 294/20 US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 3,929,364

CLOCK SE'ITER The invention described herein was made'by an employce of the United States Government and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus to allow resetting of wall clocks which have a bottom mounted reset knob.

In the event of power failures or changes in time reference it becomes necessary to change the setting of all wall clocks. In most instances such wall clocks are mounted out of reach above the operator requiring some sort of extension to effect the required change. The only method prior to this invention for accomplishing this result was to physically climb a ladder (or a desk or chair), pull down and simultaneously twist the reset knob until the desired time is indicated. Since this operation is performed, many times by untrained personnel, while observing the clock face, sufficient attention often is not directed toward ones safety, resulting in painful falls and disabling injuries to employees. Additionally, there are different types of reset knobs requiring a certain amount of flexibility, making the task more difficult.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an extension of the operators arm to allow adjustment and resetting of clocks mounted out of normal reach without requiring any climbing.

Another object of the present invention is a novel tool to simultaneously apply a downward and twisting force to the wall clock adjustment knob, allowing corrections to be made thereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are attained by providing an extension tube with a bifurcated end formed into opposing semicircles to form a claw. The claw is equipped with an adjusting screw to vary the distance between the tube tips, so they can be slipped over any type adjusting knob and pulled downward by the operator allowing a' twisting force to be applied to the reset mechanism and thereby effecting an adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A more complete appreciation of the invention and the attendant advantages thereof will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description in connection with drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the clock setter of the present invention in operation;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the clock setter claw shown in FIG. 1 engaged in one type reset knob;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the clock setter claw shown in FIG. 1 engaged in another type reset knob; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the clock setter claw and reset knob shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical parts throughout the several views. The clock setter 12 is depicted in FIG. 1 as being used on awall mounted clock lwith a reset knob 16 attached to stem 11. The preferred embodi- 2 ment of the presentinvention is comprised of a length of steel tubing 17 having a handle 15 on one end with the other end split and bent to form opposing semicircles terminating in tips 14. The spacing between tips 14 is variable through adjustmenfscrew 13. which is threadably engaged inone semicircle such that when turned, the adjustment is effected. FIG. 2 is a top view of the operational relationship of the clock setter to knob 16 showing that the edges of the tips 14 actually engage the serations on knob 16 to allow a twisting motion as well as a downward pull.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top and side views, respectively, of the operational relationship between the clock setter l2 and another type reset knob clearly showing the edges of tips 14 engaged in the serations on the knob allowing a simultaneous twisting as well as downward motion to change the setting of the clock.

OPERATION The operation should now be apparent. To change the setting of a wall-mounted clock, the tips 14 are slipped sideways over the reset knob. The operator then pulls downward until the internal clock reset mechanism engages, and then twists the handle which twists the knob allowing the setting to be corrected. After the clock has been corrected, the downward pull is terminated allowing the clock setter to be removed by sliding sideways until free of the stem 11 and knob 16 assemblies.

Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, it is not so limited and many modifications and variations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings. For example, the tube could be made of wood or plastic with the claw assembly separately molded from rubber, plastic or other suitable material. The claw assembly could be replaced by any device, such as a cap which when slipped over the reset knob and pulled down, grasps the knob sufficiently to allow adjustment of the clocks setting. Methods of adjusting the cap size other than the adjusting screw will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings, such as a handle-mounted device which allows the cap to accommodate differing size reset knobs. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A clock setter for manually twisting the serated reset knob of a wall-mounted clock and thus enabling an operator to adjust the indicated time of the clock, comprising in combination:

a rod means having two ends; said rod means being capable of extending from an operators reach to the serated reset knob of a wall-mounted clock;

a cap means having two adjustably opposed members extending axially outward from one end of said rod means and having lower, middle and upper portions; said members being joined together at said lower portions and said middle and upper portions being in spaced relation; said middle portions being spaced such that the serated reset knob will pass between said middle portions; said upper portions being disposed toward each other and spaced such that the serated reset knob will not pass between said upper portions; said upper portions having tips which engage the serations of the reset knob when a downward force is exerted on said rod means reset knobs of varyingdiameters; and thereb e itti a t i tin ti to b i a handle means attached to the end of said rod means parted to the reset knob; opposite said cap means for receiving and transmitan adjusting means disposed between said opposed 5 ting to said rod means a downward and twisting members for adjusting the spacing between said forceupper and middle portions to accomodate serated

Claims

1. A clock setter for manually twisting the serated reset knob of a wall-mounted clock and thus enabling an operator to adjust the indicated time of the clock, comprising in combination: a rod means having two ends; said rod means being capable of extending from an operator''s reach to the serated reset knob of a wall-mounted clock; a cap means having two adjustably opposed members extending axially outward from one end of said rod means and having lower, middle and upper portions; said members being joined together at said lower portions and said middle and upper portions being in spaced relation; said middle portions being spaced such that the serated reset knob will pass between said middle portions; said upper portions being disposed toward each other and spaced such that the serated reset knob will not pass between said upper portions; said upper portions having tips which engage the serations of the reset knob when a downward force is exerted on said rod means thereby permitting a twisting motion to be imparted to the reset knob; an adjusting means disposed between said opposed members for adjusting the spacing between said upper and middle portions to accomodate serated reset knobs of varying diameters; and a handle means attached to the end of said rod means opposite said cap means for receiving and transmitting to said rod means a downward and twisting force.