Abstract: A timepiece regulating member including a balance wheel oscillating about an axis subjected to a torque exerted by a torsion return mechanism. The balance includes an attachment mechanism causing it to oscillate integrally with a torsion wire forming the torsion return mechanism specific to the balance, a largest dimension of the cross-section of a useful part of the torsion wire which is subjected to torsion is less than 100 micrometers, a smallest dimension of the cross-section of the useful part is less than 50 micrometers, a total length of the torsion wire is less than 6 millimeters, and the regulating member includes a mechanism tensioning the torsion wire.

Abstract: A crystal display device is disclosed wherein a vertically arranged photovoltaic cell, main device housing—encasing an electric motor and transmission—, and a refractory crystal suspended below is rotated so as to provide multi-colored displays upon room walls and other surfaces when exposed to sunlight. A preferred embodiment of the device utilizes a suction cup to retain the device housing in the afore-mentioned vertical alignment against the inside of a selected window.

Abstract: This device projects slow moving light beams on the shadowed regions of a windowed room when the sun shines through the window. It includes a crystal-set (9) directly suspended from the bottom of a vertical rotor (14) of a motor (2) by a thread-like member (12). A small box (1), with attachment means to the window, supports the following interconnected electrical components: the motor (2) discussed above, a solar panel array (5), a capacitor (4), and a circuit (3). The capacitor is repeatedly charged slowly when the solar panel is exposed to sunlight, and discharged quickly by the circuit through the motor windings to occasionally pulse rotate the motor rotor about one turn. This occasional quick rotation activates and sustains the smooth and slow meandering rotation of the crystal-set about a vertical axis because of the loose thread-like member coupling between the motor rotor and crystal-set.

Abstract: A rotary decoration driving device comprises a case, a first rotary shaft having a first end portion rotatably supported by the case and a second end portion supporting a first decoration for rotation therewith. A second rotary shaft is mounted on the first rotary shaft for rotation therewith and has an end portion supporting a second decoration for rotation therewith. A first gear is mounted on the first rotating shaft for rotation therewith, and a second gear is mounted on the second rotating shaft for rotation therewith. At least one intermediate gear is driven to undergo intermittent rotation. A transmitting device transmits the intermittent rotation of the intermediate gear to the first and second gears. A smoothing device smoothens the intermittent rotation of the intermediate gear to thereby transmit a smooth and continuous rotary motion to the first and second gears.

Abstract: A suspension fork for a 400-day anniversary clock is disclosed. The suspension fork includes a main fork and a tuning fork interconnected by an adjustment mechanism to permit easy and precise adjustment of the beat of the clock. The main fork includes a proximal end that is connected to a suspension spring which supports a torsion pendulum. The main fork further includes arms which are connected together at the proximal end and are spread apart at a distal end. The adjustment mechanism connects to the main fork at its distal end. A tuning fork is connected to the adjustment mechanism and is arranged so that its tines surround and interact with an anchor pin associated with the escapement of the clock. Operation of the adjustment mechanism causes the tuning fork to move relative to the main fork for precise adjustment of the beat.

Abstract: A drive unit for a rotary decoration has a transmission gear train configured to include a damper such as a coil spring and is capable of imparting a visually elegant swing motion to the rotary decoration. A reciprocating stepping motor is capable of rotating or turning in both the forward and reverse directions to drive a rotary decoration in such a manner that the rotary decoration exhibits a reciprocative swing motion over a specified angular displacement. A memory circuit stores data for determining the drive timing of the stepping motor. A control circuit controls the stepping motor in accordance with the data stored in the memory circuit. The data represents the interval between drive pulses supplied to the stepping motor so as to cause the rotational speed of the rotary decoration to vary according to a sine curve.

Abstract: A solar powered electric clock of the type configured as a traditional 400-day clock with a torsional pendulum includes a housing in which the clockworks, dial face and hands are disposed. The housing is supported over a base by means of vertical columns. Solar cells are mounted in a top surface of the base, along with a storage capacitor. No battery is required. A radio signal receiver mechanism for setting the time in response to external radio signals can be provided and mounted in the housing or base. A pendulum drive mechanism can be mounted in the housing or base. The clockworks is driven by a motor which can be mounted in the housing or base.

Abstract: A prismatic glass or transparent synthetic resin case for a clockwork on a base of an anniversary clock is provided on at least some of its planar facets with a decor whose resistance to peeling is ensured by the planarity of the facets to which the decor is applied. All surfaces of the case are planar and adjoin other surface elements at obtuse angles.

Abstract: A clockwork having a decorative torsion pendulum and a star wheel connected to a drive shaft of the clockworks by a friction coupling wherein a follower needle connected to the torsion spring of the torsion pendulum crosses the path traveled by the spokes of the star wheel and is driven thereby in an intermittent manner. The friction coupling comprises elastic spring fingers which bear against a surface of the hub portion of the star wheel to form a friction-locking connection therebetween.

Abstract: A timepiece, with a clockwork driven by a stepping motor, has a clockwork-supporting structure with front and rear uprights, generally of hourglass shape, each constituted by a pair of mirror-symmetrical coplanar strips defining its contour, the front upright being framed by an annular dial swept by the minute and hour hands; the gears of the clockwork are visible from all sides. The supporting structure with the dial is mounted on a platform carried by two columns above a base which contains the motor, its power supply and a tone generator controlled by the clockwork to emit acoustic time signals on the hour and possibly also on the half and quarter hours; a torsion pendulum without time-keeping function is suspended between the columns. Most of the shafts of the clockwork lie in a vertical plane of symmetry also containing the axis of the nested hour, minute and seconds shafts disposed at the center of the dial ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately controlling a timekeeping apparatus utilizing a relatively heavy free pendulum or other harmonic structure carrying a permanent magnet, and a powered harmonic structure carrying a ferromagnetic element. The magnet is positioned on its carrier in a manner to effect energy transfer between the pendulums or structures during intermittent periods of magnetic attraction as the two structures oscillate. The free structure governs the speed of oscillation of the powered structure to maintain accurate control over the latter and energy transferred from the powered structure to the free structure maintains continued oscillation of the governing, free structure.

Abstract: A rotary pendulum without time-keeping function, comprising an inertial body suspended from a clockwork housing of a preferably electronically driven timepiece through the intermediary of an elongate torsion spring, is periodically accelerated by the impact between a vane on the spring and radial camming teeth of an impeller wheel frictionally entrained on a horizontal seconds shaft of the timepiece via a spiral spring anchored to that shaft. The vane, near the upper end of the torsion spring, oscillates only through a half-cycle limited on the return swing by an abutment on the clockwork housing. The inertial body is secured to a latch member at the lower end of the torsion with the aid of a coupling ring on which a drag ring is rotatably mounted, the latter carrying a radial fin engageable with a fixed stop pin as well as with a peripheral lug on the coupling ring whereby the body can turn through almost two full revolutions before being positively arrested.

Abstract: An electrical pendulum clock comprising a clock movement having a driven shaft and a dummy pendulum driven from the shaft independently of the timekeeping function of the clock. The pendulum comprises a torsion spring with a vertical axis of twist and a pendulum body suspended at the lower end of the torsion spring. The torsion spring has a radial projection which undergoes pendulous travel with the pendulum under the drive from the shaft of the clock movement. For this purpose a first toothed element is driven in rotation by the shaft of the clock movement and a turnable element is loosely suspended for pendulum movement on the shaft. The turnable element loosely carries a second toothed element on a shaft extending parallel to the shaft of the clock movement, the second toothed element being in mesh with the first toothed element.

Abstract: A timepiece with an electrodynamically controlled clockwork has a torsion ndulum intermittently coupled through a gear train with the clockwork for the maintenance of its oscillations. The gear train includes a first pinion mounted on a weighted rocker tending to hold it in mesh with a driving gear actuated by the clockwork; the torsion spring of the pendulum carries near its suspension point a horizontal spur receivable in a slot of a stationary mounting member so as to come periodically to rest on a slot edge, this spur being engageable in its arrested position by a hump on a cam disk entrained by a second pinion which meshes with the first pinion and decouples the latter from the associated gear against the countervailing force of the rocker weight as long as the spur is immobilized. When the spur-biasing force of the torsion spring changes direction, the gear train is re-established and the spur receives an impetus from the engaging hump as it moves away from the arresting slot edge.