Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Flaky rehab

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


 

Please log in.
Before you can vote, you need to register. Please log in or create an account.

Oscillating Puzzle Clock

Real Men Don't Need Instructions
  (+1)
(+1)
  [vote for,
against]

The Oscillating Puzzle clock, as purchased, comes in two layers of packaging. The outer layer has lots of pictures and a full description. The inner layer is very plain brown cardboard and is sturdy enough to ship through the mail. Full instructions for assembling and mounting the clock are between the two layers.

Inside the box, nestled in styrofoam pellets, are several pieces. The all snap together with ease, in a manner which is fairly obvious without instructions. These pieces are the frame, the face (which is a photovoltaic panel background, with white digits), the hands (also white), a removable clear cover, an electric circuit and motor, a clock escapement mechanism (with a transparent case, so it's action can be see when the clock is off the wall), and a bracket. The bracket has a square shaft, which slides into a matching hole in the escapement.

The PV panel charges the circuit, which turns the motor, which winds one end of a spring which is within the clock escapement mechanism. The mechanism applies alternating clockwise and counterclockwise torque to the square hole, as well as moving the hands on the front of the clock.

To the naive, one might expect the bracket to attach to the top of a pendulum, and the body of the clock to be attached to the wall. When you ship the clock to your unsuspecting friend, he will no doubt call you on your phone to complain that the hanging pendulum is missing. "Don't worry, I'll come over and fix it," you say.

You move the hands to the correct time, and put the clear cover in place.

Then, you attach the bracket firmly to the wall of your friend's home, and slide the clock over the square shaft of the bracket.

Finally, you give the body of the clock a slight clockwise or counterclockwise push, which sets it in motion, so that the entire clock thereafter rotates in an oscillating manner.

"Ta da!"

goldbb, Sep 05 2015

[link]





      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle