GB1560275A - Electric alarm clocks - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCKS (71) We, VDO ADOLF SCHINDLING AG, of 103 Graftstrasse, Frankfurt/Main, West Germany, a body corporate organised according to the laws of West Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - The present invention relates to an electric alarm clock, in particular but not exclusively a battery-operated quartz clock, having a clock movement, an associated alarm device and independent means for setting both the time and the alarm device.

Electric alarm clocks of this type are already known, wherein for setting the time indicated by the clock movement there is provided a hand-setting spindle having a pinion connected via a gear-wheel with the minute wheel of the hour train. With this arrangement, the hand-setting spindle projects out of the rear portion of the clock housing. Furthermore, for setting the alarm time, there is provided setting means projecting laterally out of the clock housing and coupled via a pinion with the alarm wheel which, together with a cam wheel located on the hour shaft, forms part of the alarm device. The alarm wheel is formed with three recesses co-operating with correspondingly arranged cams on the cam wheel.As soon as the arrangement of cams and that of the recesses affords a position of alignment, the spring-biassed cam wheel travels towards the alarm wheel, whereby a switch contact is actuated and the alarm buzzer circuit is closed.

This known alarm clock has the disadvantage that the setting devices for clock time and alarm time have a relatively large structural volume involving considerable outlay in respect of components. To this must be added the technical manufacturing and assembly disadvantages. Due to the presence of two apertures in the housing, through which said apertures the setting element or the setting spindle extends out of the housing, there is additionally an increased risk of ingress of dust or dirt into the clock movement. It is true that this risk can be reduced by appropriate sealing devices, but this involves a not inconsiderable increase in production costs.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate partially or wholly the above disadvantages by providing an alarm clock in which the time and alarm setting devices afford a mode of construction occupying only a relatively small volume, requiring few components, and which is relatively cheap to manufacture and assemble.

According to the present invention there is provided an electric alarm clock including: a clock movement; an alarm device associated with the clock movement; an axially movable pinion; and one spindle connected to said pinion for moving the pinion between a first position where it couples with a wheel for setting the alarm time, and a second position where it couples with a wheel for setting the time indicated by the clock movement, and a further wheel arranged between the pinion and the wheel for setting the alarm time, said further wheel being mounted for movement towards or away from the wheel for setting the alarm time, and being urged into engagement with the wheel for setting the alarm time only when the spindle is rotated in one direction.

Due to the above arrangement, not only is complete saving achieved with respect to a plurality of structural element, (for example a spindle, a pinion, a setting knob) but a saving is achieved also with regard to assembly time required for these components. Additionally, it is possible to contain the setting device for both the clock movement and the alarm in a relatively small volume. A special advantage of the setting device is that the requirements for holding in stock the individual elements of the device are greatly simplified. Due to the presence of only one setting spindle, furthermore, also assembly, design and construction of the clock housing, and therewith also of the tools employed for manufacturing the housing, are simplified.

In an advantageous embodiment, the further wheel is mounted in two elongated slots the longitudinal axes of which extend substantially tangentially with respect to the wheel for setting the alarm time.

A further simplification in manufacturing and assembly can be achieved if the wheel for setting the alarm time is mounted in the housing and latchinglv connected the latter. The wheel, which may be made of a plastics material can be provided with four lugs uniformly distributed on a circle concentric to the centre of the wheel and provided with detent "noses". These lugs constitute a species of journal pin about the axis of which the wheel rotates.

For achieving an accurate setting of the time indicated by the clock movement, i.e.

to the nearest second the setting spindle may be operatively connected with a leaf spring, so that when the spindle is axially moved to its second setting position, the leaf spring may be pressed against a seconds wheel or a wheel meshing with the latter thus stopping the operation of the clock movement during the setting operation so as to accurately set the time.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein the sole figure is a part sectional view through one preferred form of an electric alarm clock.

Referring to the drawing, the clock movement 1 of the electric alarm clock is located between two plates 2 and 3 made of plastics material. The clock movement 1 includes a seconds wheel 5 which is driven by a stepping motor 4. The wheel 5 is formed as a one-piece unit with a pinion 6 and is pressed onto a seconds spindle 7 mounted on the plate 3. The pinion 6 drives, via two wheels 8 and 9 also formed as a one-piece unit with a spindle 10, a minutes wheel 11 which is pressed onto a hollow minutes shaft 12. The minutes shaft 12 bears on the pinion 6 and is guided by the seconds spindle 7, A pinion 13 is integrally formed with the minutes wheel 11.

An hour wheel 17 which is pressed onto a hollow hour shaft 16 is driven from the pinion 13 via wheels 14 and 15. The hour shaft 16 surrounds the minute shaft 12 and bears on the pinion 13.

Located between the plate 2 and the housing 18 of the alarm clock is the alarm buzzer device 19. This comprises a cam wheel 20 carrying axial cams and which is secured to the hour shaft 16 so as to resist relative rotation, and an alarm wheel 21 formed with appropriate recesses for the cams of the cam wheel 20 and arranged concentric thereto. The alarm wheel 21 is mounted for rotation in an aperture of the housing 18 and is fixed in the latter by means of latching elements 22. Furthermore, the alarm wheel 21 is provided with a guide sleeve 23 for the hour shaft 16. The cam wheel 20 is pressed, by means of a contact spring 24 secured to the plate 2, against the alarm wheel 21. The free end of the contact spring 24 co-operates with a fixed contact 25. Both contacts are connected electrically in the alarm buzzer circuit.

For setting the clock movement and the alarm time there is provided a setting device 26 comprising a setting spindle 28 axially displaceable against the force of a spring 27 and having a setting wheel 29 and an elongated pinion 30. The setting device 26 also comprises an intermediate wheel 31 and a pair of integral formed intermediate wheels 32.

The setting spindle 28 is mounted at one end in the plate 3 and at its other end on a stud 33 formed in the housing 18 and projecting into the pinion 30. In a first axial position, in which the setting of the alarm time takes place, the pinion 30 meshes with the intermediate wheel 31 which is mounted for displacement in two slots 34 and 35.

On rotation of the setting spindle 28 in a first direction, the wheel 31 is moved inwards towards the centre of the clock movement and contacts the alarm wheel 21 whereas, on rotation of the setting spindle 28 in the other direction, it is moved into the position illustrated in which it is out of engagement with the alarm wheel 21.

In this manner, the above-described damage of the alarm buzzer device 19 is avoided.

In a second axial position of the spindle 28, the pinion 30 passes out of engagement with the intermediate wheel 31 and into engagement with the larger of the intermediate wheels 32. In this axial position, the time indicated by the clock movement may be set. Due to movement of the spindle 28 into its second axial position, simultaneously, via a leaf spring 36, the seconds wheel 5 is brought to a standstill. Thereby, it becomes possible to set the time indicated by the dial of the clock to the exact second.

By first of all setting the minute and hour hands slightly in advance of the correct time with the seconds wheel 5 still rotating, it is possible to hold the seconds wheel stationary with the aid of the leaf spring 36 by shifting the spindle 28 to its second position until the correct time is reached.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. An electric alarm clock including: a clock movement; an alarm device associated with the clock movement; an axially movable pinion; and one spindle connected to said pinion for moving the pinion between a first position where it couples with a wheel for setting the alarm time, and a second position where it couples with a wheel for setting the time indicated by the clock movement, and a further wheel arranged between the pinion and the wheel for setting the alarm time, said further wheel being mounted for movement towards or away from the wheel for setting the alarm time, and being urged into engagement with the wheel for setting the alarm time only when the spindle is rotated in one direction.

2. An electric alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said further wheel is mounted in two slots, the longitudinal axes of which extend substantially tangentially with respect to the periphery of the wheel for setting the alarm time.

3. An electric alarm clock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wheel for setting the alarm time is mounted in a housing of the clock movement and latchingly connected therewith.

4. An lelectric alarm clock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein means for stopping the operation of the clock movement are provided which comprise a leaf spring which is pressed against a seconds wheel or a wheel meshing therewith, when the spindle is actuated to its second axial position.

5. An electric alarm clock constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. second position until the correct time is reached. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. An electric alarm clock including: a clock movement; an alarm device associated with the clock movement; an axially movable pinion; and one spindle connected to said pinion for moving the pinion between a first position where it couples with a wheel for setting the alarm time, and a second position where it couples with a wheel for setting the time indicated by the clock movement, and a further wheel arranged between the pinion and the wheel for setting the alarm time, said further wheel being mounted for movement towards or away from the wheel for setting the alarm time, and being urged into engagement with the wheel for setting the alarm time only when the spindle is rotated in one direction.

2. An electric alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said further wheel is mounted in two slots, the longitudinal axes of which extend substantially tangentially with respect to the periphery of the wheel for setting the alarm time.

3. An electric alarm clock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wheel for setting the alarm time is mounted in a housing of the clock movement and latchingly connected therewith.

4. An lelectric alarm clock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein means for stopping the operation of the clock movement are provided which comprise a leaf spring which is pressed against a seconds wheel or a wheel meshing therewith, when the spindle is actuated to its second axial position.

5. An electric alarm clock constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.