The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 1983
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1980
Alan A Hicks, Chicago, IL (US);
Howard J Morrison, Deerfield, IL (US);
John R Wildman, North Riverside, IL (US);
Terry E Webb, West Chicago, IL (US);
Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A counting device with ball actuated, aligned, rotatable indicating elements is disclosed that is particularly useful as a clock. The device includes a plurality of indicating elements rotatable around parallel axes, arranged side by side in three columns. Each indicating element includes a display portion and a ball actuated flange, mounted on a common axle with the flanges of adjacent elements in each column forming a ball conveying track. The elements are successively rotated to the upward display position by a ball whose continued presence atop an element's flange causes an appropriate rotation of that element. The balls are continuously recycled by a synchronous motor elevator which collects the balls at their lowest position and returns them to their highest position in communication with the ball conveying tracks. After all of the indicating elements in a column have been raised to their display position, the ball resets the first rotated element causing it to reset the adjacent elements. In this way the elements are returned to their downward position by a domino effect.