US2726571A - Shadow image clock projecting device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1955 H. K. CHANG 2,726,571

SHADOW IMAGE CLOCK PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, 1952 IN V EN TOR. 15 54551 ff, (fly/V4 United States Patent SHADOW IMAGE CLOCK PROJECTING DEVICE Henry K. Chang, NewRochelle, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1952, Serial No. 309,525 1 Claim. (CI. 88-24) This invention relates to clocks and more particularly to clocks which will throw enlarged, shadow images of the clock faces on portions of a darkened room.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shadow clock which, when illuminated, will throw enlarged images of the clock face and hands upon a ceiling or upon any spot on the four walls of a room, or even on the floor, as desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shadow clock of the above type which is especially useful to a person lying in bed, who, by means of this clock, can tell time instantly and constantly without getting up.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shadow clock of the above type which may be used as a bed-side reading lamp, as an illuminated clock, a night lamp, or an ordinary clock during the day.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a shadow clock bearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is compact, pleasing in appearance, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shadow clock embodying the features of the present invention, partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view or a modified form of the present invention, partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a still further modified form of the present invention showing a perspective view thereof and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the clock shown in Fig. 3, partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, and in the practice of my invention, there is shown a shadow clock, referred to collectively as 10, consisting of a cylindrical housing 11 containing a clock mechanism, referred to collectively as 12, at one end, substantially as illustrated.

While in the drawing I have shown a hand-wound clock mechanism, it will be readily understood that any suitable clock, electric or mechanical may be used in connection with the present invention.

The portion of the housing 11 containing the clock mechanism 12 is separated from the rest of the interior thereof by a disc of insulating material 13 of any suitable type and having a central opening 14 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A conical reflector 15 is secured within the housing 11 adjacent the disc 13 and is similarly provided with a central opening 16 aligned with the opening 14, and carries bulb sockets 17 and bulbs 18 connected to a household source of power by means of a male plug 1.9 and wire 20, a switch 21 being connected in series therewith controlling one or both bulbs.

2,726,571 Patented Dec. '13, 1955 A circular face 22 of translucent plastic or glass or any suitable material is secured within the housingadjacent the outer rim of the reflector 15 and carries along its periphery the usual markings indicating the time, the face 22 being provided with a central opening 23 in alignment with the openings Hand 14.

The mechanism 12 is conventional except that it carries elongatedhour and minute sleeves extending outwardly therefrom through the aligned openings 14, 16 and 23 to fixedlycarry at'their ends the usual hour and minute hands 24 and 25, substantially as illustrated.

A first lens '26 is fixedly positioned within the'housing 11 forwardly of'the face 22, while a second lens 27 is secured within a ring-28 movable longitudinally within the end of the housing by means of flanges 29. It will be noted that the lens 27 is detachable and adjustable for focusing.

The housing 11 is r otatably supported by a forked member 30 and side pins 31 located therein, a knob 32 being provided which permits the clock to rotate and then to hold its position as desired. The base of the member 30 is rigidly secured to a supporting shaft 33 carrying a ball 34 at its lowerendrotatable in a universal joint 35 integrally formed in a heavy base member 36, substantially as illustrated.

Access to the portion of the housing 11 above the bulbs and reflector is had readily through a window, not shown, which may be opened and shut by a sliding door, semi-circular in section, also not shown.

It is obvious that any suitable lighting means may be employed other than the bulbs 18 and sockets 17, such as for example fluorescent lighting means or any other lighting system that may in the future be thought to be more effective from the standpoint of securing better diffusion and greater brilliancy, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular means shown in the drawing. It is also to be understood that the lighting means so employed could be increased in intensity to such an extent that it may permit the invention to be used as a bedside reading lamp.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, and in the further practice of my invention, there is shown a modified form of shadow clock 10 differing from the first form in the substitution of a curved mirror for the lenses 26 and 27 in a manner to be described below.

A modified housing 11 similar to the housing 11 but terminating slightly beyond the face 22 in a threaded portion 37 and having a glass 38 secured therewithin receives a cylindrical housing 39 having a threaded portion 40, substantially as illustrated. The housing 39 is provided with a semi-circular cut-out 41 and rotatably mounts a curved mirror 42 by means of a hinge 43. A knob, similar to the knob 32, not shown, is provided to permit rotation of the mirror to various angular positions and to permit the holding of these positions as desired.

The internal construction of the member 11 is the same as the housing 11, containing the mechanism 12, the disc 13, the reflector 15, the bulbs 18 and sockets 17, and the face 22, while the pins 31 and associated parts may be eliminated, since direction of the shadow images is now controlled by the mirror 42 rotating on the hinge 43 by means of the knob described above, the images being reflected by the curved mirror to the ceiling or other portion of the room, as desired.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, and in the further practice of my invention, there is shown a still further modified shadow clock 10" differing from the second form in the arrangement of the mirror .42.

A modified housing 11", now rectangular in shape, but similar in all other respects to the housing 11', containing the mechanism 12, the reflector 15, the bulbs 18 and sockets 17, the disc 13' and the face 22', is provided with a bottom compartment 44 adapted to slidably receive a longitudinally movable hinge 43' mounted upon a longitudinally slidable shaft 45 whereby when not in use, the mirror 42 may he slid into the compartment 44 and out of harms way. A glass 46 is provided within the housing 11" adjacent the face 22' and serves to protect the latter from dirt or the like. The housing 11 may rest upon a table or the like, direction of the shadow images being controlled by rotating the mirror 42 to various angular positions, a knob, not shown, similar to the knob 32 permitting the holding of the various positions as desired. Or alternately, the hinge 43' may rotate upon the shaft 45 in frictional fit, holding any particular position until rotated further manually.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, What is claimed is:

The combination of shadow clock with a support comprising a housing, a clock-work disposed in the said housing, reflector means arranged within the said housing in front of the said clock-work, a translucent clock face disposed in the said housing in front of the said reflector means, the said clock face having hands arranged in front thereof, illuminating means arranged between the said reflector means and the said translucent clock face, and means for focusing the image of the said face and of the said hands upon any part of a room, a forked member, means for pivotally securing the ends of the said forked member to the said housing, the said forked member having a base, a supporting shaft permanently secured to the said base at one end thereof, a ball provided at the other end of the said shaft, a heavy supporting member carrying secured thereto a universal joint, and the latter receiving the said ball of the said shaft for rotatable connection of the latter in all directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,694 Armstrong Aug. 11, 1891 812,105 Wetzler et al. Feb. 6, 1906 813,836 Smith Feb. 27, 1906 877,041 Blatter Jan. 21, 1908 1,053,650 Saalburg Feb. 18, 1913 1,172,844 Steinberg Feb. 22, 1916 1,913,870 Briggs June 13, 1933 2,195,425 Roger Apr. 2, 1940 2,201,376 Prins May 21, 1940 2,243,759 Maluo May 27, 1941 2,351,238 Teuber June 13, 1944

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