US3026707A - Microphone for apparatus to check the rate of timepiece movements - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1962 F. MARTI ETAL 3,026,707

MICROPHONE FOR APPARATUS TO CHECK THE RATE OF TIMEPIECE MOVEMENTS Filed July 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS gem-yes Brawwckweay arz :S'c/wcaoi @zQW March 27, 1962 F. MART] ETAL 3,026,707

MICROPHONE FOR APPARATUS To CHECK THE RATE OF TIMEPIECE MOVEMENTS Filed July 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 f6 /5' 77; F a I l| L I 3,026,707 MICROPHONE FOR APPARATUS TO CIECK THE RATE OF TIMEPIECE MOVEMENTS) Frdric Marti, Georges Braunschweig, and J can Schaad,

all of 165 Rue Nurna-Droz, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland Filed July 15, 1958, Ser. No. 748,735 Claims priority, application Switzerland July 19, 1957 2 Claims. (Cl. 73-6) 7 This invention relates to improvements in the construction of microphones for apparatus to check the rate of watch and clock movements and has for its object to provide a microphone of this character having a support, a case enclosing a piezoelectric device with means for removably securing a timepiece to be checked on the observation surface of said case, and pivoting means whereby the observation surface of said case may be readily brought into any position in two orthogonal planes.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings represent, by Way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES l and 2 are comprehensive perspective views of the microphone showing its case in difierent positions of its observation surface.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical partial section through the axis of a horizontal arm of the support, and

FIGURE 4 is a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

The microphone represented comprises a support 1 composed of a horse-shoe shaped base 1a, an upright 1b made integral with the base, and a hollow horizontal supporting arm 2 fixed to the upright lb or made integral therewith and designed for the passage of a flexible cable 3 to connect electrically a piezoelectric device 4 enclosed in a rectangular case 5 to an apparatus (not shown) to check the rate of timepiece movements.

On a reduced diameter extension 2a of the horizont supporting arm 2 is rotatably mounted an arm 6, the cylindrical shaft of which ends in a nearlycubical hollow head 6a, (FIG. 4), of which two opposite side walls are provided with a hole; these holes serve to support a fixed hollow shaft 7 which extends perpendicularly to the arm 6; both ends of this shaft 7 protrude beyond head 6a and are engaged with the cheeks 8 of a metallic frame 9 solid with case body 5. This latter is therefore pivoted on one hand about the axis of shaft 7, and on the other hand, by means of shaft 7 and arm 6, about the geometrical axis of the horizontal supporting arm 2. It can therefore take in the space all the desirable positions.

thanks to its pivoting in two orthogonal planes.

The two checks 8 of frame 9 which are pivotally mounted on the ends of the fixed shaft 7 are made integral V fingers 11 and fingers 12 of a spring loaded slide, or in the case of a. desk watch or a'big watch, simply leaned against fixed fingers 11.

To ensure a better poise of the case 5, shaft 7 is arranged nearly at the centre of gravity of the case, behind the part of this case which encloses the piezoelectric de- 3,026,707 Patented lViar. 27, 1962 vice 4. The electric connection between flexible cable 3 and piezoelectric device 4 is made through a metallic rod 22 maintained in contact by spring 13 through a hole radial to fixed hollow shaft 7 with a pin 14 pressed by a spring 15 (FIG. 4) against a small metal piece 16 fixed to a cap 17 and welded to the end of a wire 18 connected to the crystal of the piezoelectric device 4.

The hollow shaft 7 is made of insulating material like the inner lining 19 of the hollow supporting arm 2 and its extensions 2a.

What is claimed is:

l. Timepiece holding apparatus having an internal microphone and being adjustable to hold a timepiece in various positions to check its rate, said apparatus including a frame having a generally horizontal arm, a hollow member rotatably mounted on the end of said arm and having a pivot shaft generally at right angles to said arm, a case mounted on said shaft and swingable therearound from a position generally parallel to said arm to a position generally at right angles thereto, a microphone mounted in said case substantially along the axis of said arm, and electric circuit means to establish a connection from said microphone to a remote position, said circuit means including a spring-loaded conductive portion coaxial with said arm and projecting axially against a center portion of said hollow member to permit said member to rotate in either direction around said arm an unlimited amount, said shaft having an outer insulating sleeve and an inner conducting pin connected to said microphone, the end of said coaxial conducting portion projecting at right angles against the center of said conducting pin, whereby said case can swing on said shaft.

2. Timepiece holding apparatus having an internal microphone and being adjustable to hold a timepiece in various positions to check its rate, said apparatus including a frame having a generally horizontal arm, a hollow member rotatably mounted on the end of said arm and having a pivot shaft generally at right angles to said arm, a case mounted on said shaft and swingable therearound from a position generally parallel to said arm to a position generally at right angles thereto, a microphone mounted in said case substantially along the axis of said arm, and electric circuit means to establish a connection from said microphone to a remote position, said case surrounding the ends of said shaft partially encircling said arm, eing generally rectangular in shape, and extending approximately equally infront of and behind said shaft, said microphone being enclosed in the forward portion of said case, whereby said case tends to counterbalance itself when holding a timepiece.

' References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 284,805 Brewtnall Sept. 11, 1883 1,754,520 Marsh Apr. 15, 1930 1,870,959 Morrison Aug. 9, 1932 2,103,013 Nirdlinger Dec. 21, 1937 2,123,103 Fischel July 5, 1938 2,175,021 Gibbs Oct. 3, 1939 2,360,191 Beach et al. Oct. 10, 1944 2,561,084 Wickham et al. July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain -1-.. May 16,

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