EP0446770B1 - Réveil - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0446770B1
EP0446770B1 EP91103394A EP91103394A EP0446770B1 EP 0446770 B1 EP0446770 B1 EP 0446770B1 EP 91103394 A EP91103394 A EP 91103394A EP 91103394 A EP91103394 A EP 91103394A EP 0446770 B1 EP0446770 B1 EP 0446770B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
case
alarm clock
alarm
foot
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91103394A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0446770A1 (fr
Inventor
Christophe Aubert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
Original Assignee
Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches filed Critical Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches
Publication of EP0446770A1 publication Critical patent/EP0446770A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0446770B1 publication Critical patent/EP0446770B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C21/00—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means
    • G04C21/02—Constructional details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
    • H01H13/58—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force with contact-driving member rotated step-wise in one direction

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an alarm clock and more particularly a table alarm clock comprising a device for arming and disarming the alarm signal by pressing on its housing.
  • the ringing circuit is put on standby, the latter being in these conditions ready to be switched in response to a determined signal, and by disarming the deactivation of the alarm function as well as interrupting the alarm signal.
  • the button for arming and disarming the alarm signal which will be referred to below as the on-off button, is generally provided on the upper face of the case, or in some cases case on the back of the alarm clock case.
  • An alarm clock described in document CH-B-511 472 attempts to provide an early solution to the problem mentioned above.
  • This alarm clock has a ringing stop button which, projecting from the base of the case, forms a foot and which, when the ringing is armed, substantially raises this case.
  • a rod connected to the foot actuates a member stopping the vibration of a blade driven by an appropriate device.
  • the main object of the invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by providing an alarm clock comprising a housing and in which the device for arming and disarming the alarm signal is of practical manipulation, this device not being visible from outside the housing and can also be produced in a simple and economical manner.
  • an alarm clock comprising a housing in which is housed a clockwork movement, said movement being associated with a ringing circuit comprising an alarm signal generator and means for arming and disarming, said housing being intended to rest on a rigid surface by base means movable between two positions and projecting from the base of the housing, said base means being further associated with said arming and disarming means of said circuit so that, on the one hand, the latter are capable of being actuated when pressure is applied to the housing and that, on the other hand, the housing is able to move from an initial position to a final position in response to said pressure.
  • the base means further comprise means for returning the alarm clock unit from its final position to its initial position after the application of said pressure on the latter, said base means comprising additional means allowing, by successive presses on the housing, to arm and disarm the ringing circuit, the base means being associated with means for displaying the arming and disarming state of the alarm ringing circuit.
  • the ringing circuit of the latter can be successively armed and disarmed without special handling of the alarm clock.
  • the means for returning the alarm clock housing to its initial position after the application of pressure on the latter comprise an engagement mechanism of the "ballpoint pen" type which comprises a sleeve integral with the housing, in which an upper rod and a lower rod slide, each of these rods being associated with a return spring, the two rods further cooperating with one another by one of their ends, called first ends which respectively comprise a song gear and a corresponding sliding pinion, the teeth of the wheel sliding in grooves made in said sleeve and the teeth of the pinion sliding in the grooves or being stopped at one end of the latter according to the position angular gear.
  • the "ballpoint pen" type which comprises a sleeve integral with the housing, in which an upper rod and a lower rod slide, each of these rods being associated with a return spring, the two rods further cooperating with one another by one of their ends, called first ends which respectively comprise a song gear and a corresponding sliding pinion, the teeth of the wheel sliding in grooves made in said sleeve and
  • the upper rod is connected by its second end to a contact blade forming part of a switch for the ringing circuit and the lower rod is connected by its second end to a foot element belonging to the base means of the alarm clock.
  • an alarm clock whose housing 1 has a substantially parallelepiped shape. This case is intended to rest on a rigid surface S by base means 2.
  • This alarm clock comprises on a front face a dial 3 associated with an hour hand 4 and a minute hand 6. The latter are driven by a movement of watch not shown in the drawing.
  • the alarm clock includes a hand 8 for indicating the time corresponding to the triggering of an alarm signal.
  • This needle can of course be manually actuated from outside the housing by means of an adjustment button or by a similar device also not shown.
  • the base means 2 of this alarm clock have four feet projecting from the base 9 of the housing and only three of which are visible in the drawing.
  • the foot designated by the reference 10 forms, in connection with the housing, the control element for the arming and disarming means according to the invention which will be described in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • This circuit 12 conventionally comprises a power supply 14, for example a battery, connected in parallel to the input terminals of a clockwork movement 16 which is an electric movement, quartz or the like.
  • This power supply 14 is also connected to a ringing circuit 18 which comprises an alarm signal generator 20 connected in series with a switch 22 operating in connection with the hand 8 and at least the hour hand, as well as means 24 for arming and disarming the ringing circuit.
  • These means 24 comprise a first movable contact element 26 intended to cooperate with a second fixed contact element 28 to form the contacts of a switch.
  • the contact element 26 has two stable equilibrium positions and is directly associated with the control element 10 constituted by one of the legs of the alarm clock. Note that the state of circuit 18 shown in the drawing corresponds to a state in which the alarm is disarmed, that is to say in which the switch constituted by the means 24 is open.
  • the first contact element 26 is formed by a contact blade, on the one hand, fixed, at the end of an actuating rod 30, and of on the other hand, connected to one of the terminals of the power supply 14 by means of a flexible electric wire 32 appropriately fixed to this blade 26.
  • the second contact element 28 is formed, in the example shown, by a end of a sleeve 29, in which the actuating rod 30 slides, this sleeve 29 being connected to the other terminal of the supply 14. It goes without saying that in another embodiment, the second contact element 28 may consist of a fixed blade secured to a wall of the housing.
  • the actuating rod 30 is part of a latching mechanism of the well-known type "ballpoint pen" which will not be described here in detail.
  • This engagement mechanism 34 of generally cylindrical shape extends inside the housing 1 and is fixed in the latter on a base 36 secured to a wall of the housing. In the example described, the mechanism 34 is force fitted into an opening provided in the base, but it is understood that any other equivalent fixing means may be suitable.
  • This mechanism 34 essentially comprises the conductive cylindrical sleeve 29 in two parts 29a, 29b in which slide an upper rod 30 and a lower rod 40 (the upper rod 30 constituting the actuation rod cited above).
  • These two rods 30, 40 are respectively associated with a return spring 42, 44 and cooperate with each other by a first end by means of a sliding pinion 46 with asymmetrical edge teeth and a wheel 48 to asymmetrical edge teeth. Furthermore, the two rods are connected respectively by their second end to the contact blade 26 and to a foot 50 extending slidingly through the wall 52 of the bottom of the housing.
  • the upper rod 30 is non-conductive or insulated from the sleeve 29 in which it slides otherwise the switch formed by the means 24 would be inoperative.
  • the pinion 46 and the wheel 48 slide by means of their teeth in guide grooves 49 formed inside and over a part of the element of the sleeve. 29b. More precisely, these grooves comprise, at a first end, abutment surfaces 49a and at an opposite end of the snap-fitting ramps 49b (FIG. 5).
  • the flanks of the teeth of the pinion 46 may, depending on its angular position around the axis A of the mechanism, given by the wheel 48 when the mechanism 34 is actuated by a pressure on the housing, or come to come press against the latching ramps 49b, as shown in FIG.
  • the foot 50 comprises a first part 54 having the shape of a spherical cap intended to rest on a rigid surface S and a second part 58 having the configuration of a cylinder in which the second end of the lower rod 40 is fixed, for example by screwing.
  • This cylindrical part 58 passes through the bottom 52 and slides in a guide cylinder 60 formed in a boss 62 fixed to the inner face of the wall 52.
  • the housing is made of wood and the boss is attached. Of course, in a variant in which the housing is made of plastic, the boss can easily come in one piece with the wall.
  • the use of such a mechanism advantageously makes it possible to give the contact blade 26 two stable equilibrium positions by simple successive pressures applied to the housing. More specifically, the blade 26 forming a switch is movable between a rest position in which the ringing circuit is open (shown in phantom in the drawing) and a working position in which said circuit is closed (shown in strong lines in the drawing).
  • the alarm clock comprises display means 64 allowing the indication of the arming or disarming state of the alarm ringing circuit.
  • These display means 64 are connected to the second end of the upper rod 30 by means of a connecting element 66.
  • These means are formed by an indicator 64 which moves opposite an opening 68 formed in a side wall 69 of the alarm clock housing and which is visible through this opening 68.
  • This indicator 64 has two zones 70, 72 having distinct aspects, each of them being representative of the state of opening or closing of the switch formed by the contact blades 26 and 28.
  • the two zones 70, 72 of the indicator light are painted using a paint containing luminescent substances.
  • the alarm signal arming and disarming device operates as follows:
  • the contact blade 26 In a first position corresponding to its working position, the contact blade 26 is in contact with the part 29a of the conductive sleeve 29 and the ringing circuit 18 is on standby.
  • the contact 22 closes and triggers the alarm signal produced by the generator 20.
  • the housing To interrupt this alarm signal, simply apply pressure P to the housing.
  • the cylindrical part 58 of the foot then sinks into the housing, compresses the spring 44, and actuates the mechanism 34 as follows.
  • the wheel 48 secured to the rod 40 slides in the grooves 49 and pushes the pinion 46 in the direction of the arrow M while printing it, as soon as the pinion leaves the grooves, a rotation of a fraction of a turn around the axis A so that, when the pressure exerted on the housing has ceased, the pinion rests by its teeth on the latching ramps 49.
  • the rod 30 is then in a second stable position corresponding to its rest position (in phantom in the drawing) and in which the switch constituted by the blade 26 and the sleeve part 29b is open.
  • the generator of the alarm signal is then no longer supplied and the buzzer stops.
  • the rod 30 is returned to its first position, thus putting the contact blade 26 in its working position, so that the striking circuit is again put in the standby position and ready to ring as soon as the hour hand corresponds when the time indicated by hand 8 is displayed.
  • the alarm clock keeps in all positions (armed, disarmed) a constant level with respect to the ground.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
EP91103394A 1990-03-13 1991-03-06 Réveil Expired - Lifetime EP0446770B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH814/90 1990-03-13
CH814/90A CH679198B5 (ja) 1990-03-13 1990-03-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0446770A1 EP0446770A1 (fr) 1991-09-18
EP0446770B1 true EP0446770B1 (fr) 1993-06-02

Family

ID=4195818

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91103394A Expired - Lifetime EP0446770B1 (fr) 1990-03-13 1991-03-06 Réveil

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5050140A (ja)
EP (1) EP0446770B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH04230889A (ja)
CH (1) CH679198B5 (ja)
DE (1) DE69100097T2 (ja)
HK (1) HK98797A (ja)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9012385D0 (en) * 1990-06-04 1990-07-25 Renton Julian E Children's night and day clock
DE4326838C2 (de) * 1993-08-10 1996-01-11 Interelektrik Ges M B H & Co K Bistabiles Magnetventil
US5365499A (en) * 1994-04-29 1994-11-15 Spartus Corporation Clock with lid-activated snooze alarm
USD378277S (en) * 1995-10-16 1997-03-04 Joseph Napolitan Fishing reel clock
US5881029A (en) * 1998-04-01 1999-03-09 Kuo; Chu-Rong Device to trigger buzzing of alarm clock
US20030133363A1 (en) * 2002-01-11 2003-07-17 David Kwok Clock with pressure sensitive signal source

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3382664A (en) * 1965-10-04 1968-05-14 Gen Time Corp Shutoff arrangement for spring wound alarm clock
US3352101A (en) * 1966-02-21 1967-11-14 Gen Time Corp Touch controlled alarm clock
US3367103A (en) * 1966-11-10 1968-02-06 Gen Time Corp Alarm clock having a touch type delay feature
US3371478A (en) * 1966-11-10 1968-03-05 Gen Time Corp Alarm clock having touch type shut-off
CH531738A (it) * 1968-12-31 1972-08-31 Italora Spa Orologio a sveglia
CH1800571A4 (ja) * 1971-12-10 1975-03-14
US3721789A (en) * 1972-03-17 1973-03-20 M Black Electrical switch indicator
US4319106A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-03-09 Armitage Ralph T Push button switch
US4352170A (en) * 1980-12-22 1982-09-28 Jetter Milton W Alarm deactivation system employing timed manual switch operation
US4505597A (en) * 1983-11-28 1985-03-19 Flinn Jr Jack L Novelty alarm clock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5050140A (en) 1991-09-17
HK98797A (en) 1997-08-08
EP0446770A1 (fr) 1991-09-18
DE69100097D1 (de) 1993-07-08
CH679198GA3 (ja) 1992-01-15
JPH04230889A (ja) 1992-08-19
DE69100097T2 (de) 1993-12-02
CH679198B5 (ja) 1992-07-15

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