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The ball is dropped onto a wedge
where it bounces into a panel which
advances the clock by a small degree.
After it bounces off the panel it
bounces back to a foam covered
funnel where it can start the cycle all
over again. The clock can be
complicated with different colored
balls and
even have a few bouncing
at the same time.
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Annotation:
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Shirley the device that dispenses the super balls is the actual timepiece in this idea. Having the balls hit a panel to advance a clock face is merely a means of expressing the passage of time, and the use of different colours and variable numbers of balls adds entertainment value. I estimate this idea would be interesting for about 3,623 bounces. |
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< aside > I am reminded of an old joke: Why do mice have such small balls? Answer (backwards): ecnad ot woh wonk ecim ynam toN < aside > |
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Odd as it may seen, I have actually seen a clock that uses bouncing balls as part of its mechanism. (In fact, the balls had to traverse all sorts of obstacles before completing the circuit.) It was at a school somewhere. |
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