US3817019A

US3817019A - Digital clock and alarm

Info

Publication number: US3817019A
Application number: US00348674A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Fowler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-06
Filing date: 1973-04-06
Publication date: 1974-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-18

Abstract

A clock and alarm and/or timer associated therewith consisting of a stationary base member having time interval indications thereon and a rotary housing having hourly time indications thereon mounted on said base, the housing having a plurality of concentric rows of openings formed in the top wall thereof and pins insertable in one or more of said openings for engaging with a tiltable type switch to complete an electrical circuit and activate an electrical device at a predetermined time.

Description

I United States Patent [191 Fowler [11] 3,817,019 June 18, 1974 DIGITAL CLOCK AND ALARM [75] Inventor: Herbert H. Fowler, Lexington, Ky.

[73] Assignee: Elihu C. Asher, Nicholsville, Ky. a

part interest [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 348,674

[52] US. Cl. 58/l6.5, 58/19 A [51] Int. Cl. G04b 23/06 [58] Field of Search 58/19 A, 20, 22, 44, 126 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,559 7/1917 Darche 58/19 A 1,929,582 10/1933 Greenwood ..58/126R 9/1939 Schroeder 200/38 9/1957 James 58/19 A Primary Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin ABSTRACT A clock and alarm and/or timer associated therewith consisting of a stationary base member having time interval indications thereon and a rotary housing having hourly time indications thereon mounted on said base, the housing having a plurality of concentric rows of openings formed in the top wall thereof and pins insertable in one or more of said openings for engaging with a tiltable type switch to complete an electrical circuit and activate an electrical device at a predetermined time.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Clocks are not new in the art dealing generally with horology. Llkewise, an alarm device combined with a suitable clock mechanism is known. However, such prior art devices are lacking in certain respects, one being that it is sometimes extremely difficult to set the alarm operating mechanism to set off the alarm at the precise time and, also, such prior art mechanisms have included complex arrangement of parts in order to produce a properly operating combined clock and alarm device.

With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the invention to combine a clock with an electrically operated alarm and to provide a means for the accurate setting of the time the alarm is to be sounded.

Another object of the invention is to combine a clock with a suitable switch mechanism housed within the confines of the clock housing which will sound off an alarm or initiate the starting of a suitable electrical equipment at precisely the time the alarm is to be sounded or the time for the starting of an electrically operated mechanism with which the clock is associated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivoted switch member within the housing of the clock and to employ a means whereby the length of time the alarm is sounded may be varied.

Another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the number of moving parts for the switch mechanism employed in conjunction with a clock so as to increase the efficiency thereof and to render less likely the malfunction of such a switch mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of contact pins of differing lengths which are to be used in connection with a plurality of openings formed in the rotating housing of the clock to thereby determine the length of time the alarm is sounded by the sound emitting device combined therewith.

Another object of the invention is to combine a clock with a conventional female AC plug whereby when a pivoted switch member within the clock housing is tipped to an on position, a suitable electrical appli-' cance connected to the said female plug may be turned to the on position at a designated time set by the user of the clock. 1

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a digital clock and alarm or timer made in accordance with my invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the top of the housing for the clock mechanism, and,

FIG. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary view showing the details of the switch mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a clock designated generally by the reference numeral 10 comprising a stationary base member 11 and a housing 12 mounted for rotation thereover in the direction of the arrows by means of any suitable clockwork mechanism associated therewith. The clockwork may be one that is electrically driven or may be the type which requires winding from time to time.

The base 11 and housing 12 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, plastics, etc. and imprinted or otherwise mounted on the exterior of the housing are hour markings starting with 1 to 12, with each hour designation separated by a vertically extending division line 14 as shown more clearly in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Imprinted or'otherwise secured to the base member 11 at one area thereon are a plurality of vertically extending division lines to indicate the hour, half-hour, and the five minute intervals between the hour and half-hour. The hour designation is indicated by a line shown at 15 and extending on either side thereof are the division lines 16 to indicate five minutes before and after the aforesaid hour designating line 15. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the clock shows the time to be 6 oclock. To enhance the outward appearance of the clock, the base 11 may be of one color with the hour and five minute designation lines of a contrasting color and the housing may likewise comprise a variety of color arrangements for the hour sections marked off thereon. Extending between each of the division lines 14 are a plurality of lines 17, one for each five minutes interval between the hour designations appearing on the housing.

Mounted interiorly of the housing 12 and supported on the base 11 in any known manner is a conventional clockwork mechanism. A spindle 13 extends from the clockwork mechanism and is adapted to be rotated thereby. The housing 12 is fixedly mounted on the spindle and the same is adapted to be rotated one full revolution every twelve hours.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the top wall 12' of the housing 12 is provided with a plurality of concentrically arranged rows of openings 18. The outermost rows of openings 18 representing either the hour or the half-hour of a given hour marking on the outside of the house 12. Each succeeding rows of openings 18 representing five minute intervals between hours. Thus, there are provided 12 openings in the top 12' of the housing 12 between each hour designations appearing on the housing. Hourly designations 1 to 12 inclusive are shown outwardly of the rows of openings 18. i

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that while the rows of openings 18 are arranged concentrically with respect to the circular housing 12, it will be observed that all of the openings in all of the rows of openings except for the outermost row of openings are slightly offset with respect to the center of the housing which is defined by the aforesaid spindle 13. This offset in the successive rows of openings is to compensate for the amount of time the housing has to rotate for each five minute interval of time. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that if a plurality 3 of imaginary radial lines were drawn emanating from the spindle 13, each radial line would intersect only one opening 18 at any one time. v

Headed pins 19 are provided and'the same may be of varying lengths for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. The pins 19 are stored when not in use in one or more of the openings 20.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown therein the circuitry employed with the clock and alarm of the present invention. Mounted on the base 11 and secured thereto in any known manner is a vertical standard 21 constructed of any suitable material. Extending outwardly from the said standard 21 is a horizontally extending support arm 22 of any suitable material and mounted for pivotal movement on said arm 22 is a block 23 of light weight material having a mercury type switch 24 of conventional construction secured to the block in any known manner. As can be appreciated, the mercury switch has the usual internal and external terminals therefor.

It should be pointed out that the standard 21 and block 23 are so arranged on the base 11 to extend to a position closely adjacent to the undersurface of the top 12' of the housing 12. Also, the block is of sufficient dimension as to span the area defined by the width of the aforesaid rows of openings 18.

A source of electrical energy is provided and a lead 25 extending therefrom one terminal is connected to one of the external terminals of the switch 24. A lead 26 extends from the other terminal of the switch 24 and is'connected to'one of the terminals of a sounding device such as a buzzer 27. Another lead 28extends from the otherterminal of the sounding device and connects to the other terminal of the supply source of electrical energy. ,In instances where the clock of the present invention is to be employed in connection with an electrical appliance such as a stove, oven, etc., the sounding device may be replaced with a conventional female AC plug of known construction.

Having described the various components employed in the formation of my combined clock and alarm and- /or timer, I shall now describe the manner of operation thereof.

Assuming that the clock is to be set to activate the electrical components therein at 6 oclock as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a pin 19 will have previously been inserted in the opening formed in the outermost mounted off center on the arm 22 so as to permit for the same to return by gravity to its normal position once the pin has cleared the, same in its rotational movement with the housing. As seen more clearly in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the length of the pin 19 will determine the length of timethe buzzer will be activated. The longer the pin thelonger in time it will keep the switch in a tilted position thus effecting a longer period of time for the buzzer to be activated. Thus, the reason for providing pins of differing lengths as aforesaid. Of course, should the clock be used in connection with an electric appliance so as to effect the start of operation of such an appliance, then the pin length would not be material since the circuit to the appliance would be closed as soon as the switch is tilted to the extent necessary to close the same.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it is understood that alternations and modifications may be made thereto provided the said alterations and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined clock and circuit maker and breaker I comprising a stationary base, a clockwork'mechanism mounted on said base, a centralspindle extending from said clockwork mechanism and adapted tov be rotated row of openings 18 provided for this hour and when the housing on its rotational movement caused by the aforesaid clockwork mechanism reaches the hour of 6, the pin 19 extending through the aforesaid opening will engage with the block 23 and upon continued rotation of the housing, as aforesaid, theswitch 24 will be tilted as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings, thus causing the mercury in the switch to complete the circuit between the leads or terminals extending therein thus initiating the alarm. The continued rotation of the housing will keep the circuit closed until such time as the pin has cleared the block when the same will return to its normal position which is shown in full lines in FIG. 3. It shouldbe pointed out that the block 23 is thereby, first time indicating indicia located on the side surface of said base, a rotating housing secured to said spindle for rotation therewith, second time indicating indicia located on the side surface of said housing ad jacent said first time indicating indicia to cooperate therewith for indicating the time as the said housing rotates, a plurality of rows of openings formed inthe top wall of said housing arranged concentrically about said central spindle, each of said rows of openings being angularly offset with respect to the said central spindle such that each of a plurality of imaginary radial lines emanating from said central spindle and angularly spaced to represent a five-minute interval of time when said housing is rotated would intersect only one open-' ing, a tiltable switch means mounted on said base under said housing, and pins adapted to extend through some of said openings to engage with said tiltable switch means to effect the closing of a circuit between a source of electrical energy and an electrically operated means associated therewith when the clockwork mechanism has rotated said housing to a predetermined set time.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said switch means is a mercury switch.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said elec trically operated means is a sound emitting alarm means.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein the pins are of differing lengths to thus lengthen'the time of sounding of an alarm closing of said circuit.

5. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein the electrically operated means comprises an electrically heated device.

Claims

1. A combined clock and circuit maker and breaker comprising a stationary base, a clockwork mechanism mounted on said base, a central spindle extending from said clockwork mechanism and adapted to be rotated thereby, first time indicating indicia located on the side surface of said base, a rotating housing secured to said spindle for rotation therewith, second time indicating indicia located on the side surface of said housing adjacent said first time Indicating indicia to cooperate therewith for indicating the time as the said housing rotates, a plurality of rows of openings formed in the top wall of said housing arranged concentrically about said central spindle, each of said rows of openings being angularly offset with respect to the said central spindle such that each of a plurality of imaginary radial lines emanating from said central spindle and angularly spaced to represent a five-minute interval of time when said housing is rotated would intersect only one opening, a tiltable switch means mounted on said base under said housing, and pins adapted to extend through some of said openings to engage with said tiltable switch means to effect the closing of a circuit between a source of electrical energy and an electrically operated means associated therewith when the clockwork mechanism has rotated said housing to a predetermined set time.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said electrically operated means is a sound emitting alarm means.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein the pins are of differing lengths to thus lengthen the time of sounding of an alarm closing of said circuit.