GB1590565A - Alarm clocks - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM CLOCKS (71) We, COPAL COMPANY LIMITED, a joint-stock company of Japan, of Shimura 2-16-20, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan, and MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL Co.

LTD., a joint-stock company of Japan, of Ooaza Kadoma 1006, Kadoma-shi, Osakahu, Japan, 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: This invention relates to improvements in alarm clocks.

Various kinds of clocks having alarm functions, "sleep" functions and other functions built in to them have recently been developed and sold. However, in a clock provided with such functions, the control mechanism is complicated and many switches are needed to switch between various electric circuits so that the various functions may be controlled. Therefore, the costs of such clocks has been high.

According to the present invention there is provided an alarm clock comprising a clock movement including a time indicating means, manually operable alarm time setting means associated with said clock movement, an alarm switch capable of being closed at a set alarm time, and a printed circuit base plate provided with an alarm circuit connected to said alarm switch and to a manually operable change-over switch for opening and closing said alarm circuit, wherein said clock movement and alarm time setting means are supported by a clock frame as one block and said printed circuit base plate bears said alarm switch and is formed as another block detachably secured on said clock frame.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which : - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a leaf type digital clock embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of an assembly comprising a main shaft, a minute-drum and driving gear incorporated in the clock of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the connection of the clock frame and a leaf pressing spring fitting plate of the clock of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the action of a clock wheel, an alarm setting wheel and a leaf switch piece of the clock of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the arrangement of printed circuit patterns, a switch piece and respective contacts of the clock of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a leaf type digital clock having "sleep" and "alarm" functions.

Reference numeral 1 indicates a clock frame of plastics material having a bottom wall portion 110, a right side wall portion 120, a left side wall portion 130, a top wall portion 140 and a back wall portion 150. Each side wall portion of this frame 1 is formed so as to be flexible. Projecting pieces 1 10a and 110b, each having a hook are formed at the left end of the bottom wall portion 110 and a similar projecting piece 140a is formed on the upper wall portion 140. Slots 120a and 130a are formed to extend rearwardly from the front end surfaces of the right side wall portion 120 and left side wall portion 130 respectively. Projections 120b and 130b are formed as shown in the bottom parts of the slots 120a and 1 30a respectively.

Slots 120c and 130c are formed as shown in the side wall portions 120 and 130 respectively, adjacent to said bottom parts.

Other shallow slots 120d and 130d are formed to extend downwardly from the upper end surface of the respective side wall portions 120 and 130. The walls 120 and 130 are, to one side of the slots 120d and 130d, formed with respective thin portions 120e and 130e as shown. Notches 120f and 130f are formed on the inner surfaces of the thin portions 120e and 130e respectively, by which the slots 120d and 130d are formed. A hole 120g and an internally threaded pillar 120h are formed in the right side wall portion 120 and a hole 130g is formed in the left side wall portion 130. A projecting piece 110c and slot 110d are formed in the bottom wall portion 110 as shown.A projecting piece 140b, a downwardly extending screw hole 140c and an ui,wardly projecting internally threaded pillar 140d are formed on the top wail portion 140 as shown.

Reference numeral 2 indicates a main shaft. A flange 2b and a part 2c, of somewhat larger diameter and roughened on its surface are formed near one end 2a on the main shaft 2.

Reference number 3 indicates a bobbinshaped minute-drum formed of plastics ma trial and having a shaft hole 3c (Figure 2) of an inner diameter somewhat less than the outer diameter of the part 2c, of the main shaft 2, enabling it to be secured to the main shaft 2 as will be later described, a rib 3d for forming a predetermined space between one side wall 3a and the flange 2b of the main shaft, ratchet teeth 3e formed so as to be annular on the outside surface of the side wall 3a and 60 holes 3f and 3g respectively arranged at regular intervals near the peripheral edge portions of both side walls 3a and 3b.

Reference numeral 4 indicates a gear formed of a plastics material, rotatably mounted on the rib 3d between flange 2b and side wall 3a of the minute-drum 3 and having a rib 4a for forming a predetermined space between the side wall 3a of the minutedrum 3 and the gear 4. Gear 4 has three ratchet pawls 4b resiliently engaging respectively with the ratchet teeth 3e.

Reference numeral 5 indicates a group of 60 minute-indicating digit plates rockably fitted to holes 3f and 3g of the minute-drum 3. Reference numerals 6a and 6b indicate side walls of an hour-drum 6 having 48 holes respectively near the peripheral edge portions and having a gear 6c integrally formed on the side of side wall 6b.

Reference numeral 7 indicates a group of 48 hour indicating digit plates rockably fitted to the above mentioned holes of the hour-drum 6.

Reference numeral 8 indicates a pinion secured to the main shaft 2, whilst reference numeral 9 indicates a synchronizing piece .arranged between the minute-drum 3 and hour-drum 6. Reference numeral 10 in dicates a digit-plate pressing-plate-spring and numeral 11 a plate-spring fitting-plate having incisions ila and projections lib formed respectivdy in both of its end por tions.

Reference numeral 12 indicates a motor, 'numeral 13 a gear box, and numeral 14 an output pinion. Reference numeral 15 in dicates a gear having pinions 16 and 17 in tegrally formed on both sides thereof. Refer ence numeral 18 indicates a washer, numeral 19 a compression coil spring and numeral 20 a clock wheel having a cam plate 21 provided with integrally formed cams 21a Reference numeral 22 indicates a setting wheel for setting an 'alarm' time, and having time graduations 22a provided on the peripheral surface thereof, cam grooves 22b formed in its side wall portion, ratchet teeth 22c formed in its inner peripheral surface portion and a cylindrical portion, 22d, formed in its central portion.

Reference numeral 23 indicates a side plate having five rectangular holes 23a to 23e and a through hole 23f for the main shaft formed in it. Reference numeral 24 indicates a supporting shaft secured to the side plate 23 and 25 indicates a U-shaped alarm time setting indicating part formed of plastics material, forming a pointer 25a and mounted on said supporting shaft 24.

Reference numeral 26 indicates a ratchet pawl mounted on the supporting shaft 24 so as to enter the U-shaped portion of the alarm time setting indicator 25. Reference numeral 27 indicates a printed base plate having incisions 27a to 27c and a hole 27d formed in it and having printed circuit patterns formed thereon to form an alarm circuit, a 'sleep' circuit and a switching circuit for switching between an alarm and radio and for switching a radio on and off, that is to say, the alarm circuit is formed of patterns 28a and 28b, the 'sleep' circuit is formed of patterns 28a and 28c and the switching circuit is formed of patterns 28a to 28e.

Reference numerals 29 and 30 indicate leaf switch pieces secured to the printed base plate 27 so as to be directly electrically connected to the patterns 28a and 28b respectively and bent downwardly through the incision 27a. The leaf switch piece 30 is so made as to be opposed to the right side surface of the clock wheel 20.

Reference numeral 31 indicates a "sleep" setting member formed of plastics material, having a number of hemispherical projections 31a arranged at regular intervals ex- cept in a certain angular range formed in the outer peripheral portion of its lower surface and having a projection 3lib, for limiting its rotating range, formed on its upper surface.

Reference numeral 32 indicates a sliding contact piece provided with two contacts 32a and 32b and fitted to a rectangular projection (not seen) formed in the center portion on the lower surface of said member 31 so that the contact 32a may always be in contact with the annular portion 28a- 1 of the pattern 28a and the contact 32b may contact the arcuate portion 28c-1 of the pattern 28c. A switch operating member 33 is formed of plastics material and has a segmental projection 33a (for limiting its rotat ing range3 and a positioning projection 33b cut off in its inside so as to be resilient.A switching contact piece 34 has two contacts 34a and 34b and is fitted on a rectangular projection (not shown) formed in a centre portion of the lower surface of member 33 such that contact 34a may selectively contact the patterns 28a-2, 28c-2 and 28b-1, and the contact 34b may selectively contact patterns 28c-3, 28e-1, 28c-4 and 28d-1.

Reference numeral 35 indicates a cover formed of plastics material for the printed base plate 27 and to support the members 31 and 33 and having screw holes 35a and 35b, holes 35c and 35d (through which the shaft parts 31c and 33c of the respective members are to be passed), resilient pro jetting pieces 35e and 35f provided with hooks engaging with the incisions 27b and 27c respectively of the printed base plate 27, stopper pins 35g and 35h for limiting the rotating range of the member 31, stoppers 35i and 35j for limiting the rotating range of the member 33, and click pins 35k to 35n for holding the rotating position of said member 33 formed integrally with it.

A clock comprising component elements as described above is assembled as follows.

First, in the time indicating block, as shown in Figure 2, the gear 4 is fitted to the main shaft 2, then the minute-drum 3 is fitted to it and the shaft portion 2c of somewhat larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the shaft hole 3c is pressed into the shaft hole 3c so that the minutedrum 3 is fixed with the rib 3d in contact with the flange 2b. Thereby, gear 4 is properly supported between flange 2b of the main shaft 2 and side wall 3a of the minutedrum 3, and the ratchet pawls 4b properly engage respectively with the ratchet teeth 3e.

In the same manner, the engaging position with the later described output pinion 14 will also be stabilized.

The hour-drum 6 (the inner diameter of the shaft hole of the hour-drum is larger than the outer diameter of the main shaft and therefore -the hour-drum is rotatable with respect to the main shaft) is fitted to the main shaft 2 and the pinion 8 is fitted and fixed to the main shaft 2. The synchronizing piece 9 is mounted on the main shaft 2 and is located between the minutedrum 3 and hour-drum 6.

The time indicating block sub-assembled as described above is located in the frame 1 by inserting the main shaft 2 at its two end portions into the slots 120a and 130a formed respectively in the right side wall portion 120 and left side wall portion 130 of the frame 1 so that the right side surface of the flange 2b of the main shaft 2 is opposed to the left side surface of the right side wall portion 120 and the flange 8a of the pinion 8 is opposed to the left side surface of the left side wall portion 130.The width of each of the slots 120 and 130a is somewhat larger than the diameter of the main shaft 2 and the part of each of the projections 120b and 130b is narrower than the diameter but, due to the presence of the slots 120c and 130c, if the shaft 2 is strongly pushed in, the side wall portions will flex and, when the shaft 2 passes through, they will recover due to their resiliency to prevent the shaft 2 being pulled out. The main shaft 2 will be thus rotatably supported by the bottom portions of the slots 120a and 130a and the projections. The synchronizing piece 9 is inserted into the slot 110d formed in the bottom wall portion 110 and is then bent to be fixed to the frame 1.As is obvious from the above explanation, it is very simple to incorporate the time indicating block into the frame 1 and it is also simple to disassemble it for repair.

Now the fitting plate 11 -supporting the plate spring 10 is attached to the frame 1 by pushing both of its end portions (having the incisions ila and projections llb) into the slots 120d and 130d so as to be fixed to the frame 1 (see Fig. 3). Thus the minutedigit plate group 5 and hour-digit plate group 7 will be pressed by the lower end portions of the plate-spring and will be held in the position illustrated for some time.

The motor 12 and gear box 13 are then simultaneously attached to the pillar 1 20h by a screw, by passing the output pinion 14 through the hole 120g in the right side wall 120 of the frame 1. Thereby the output pinion 14 meshes with the gear 4. Then by passing the portion forming pinion 16 through the hole 1 30g in the left side wall portion 130 of the frame 1, gear 15 meshes with pinion 8 and pinion 16 meshes with gear 6c and then the washer 18, coil spring 19 and clock wheel 20, and 'alarm' time setting wheel 22 are mounted on the main shaft 2 in the order mentioned from the end portion 2d of the main shaft 2.Then the side plate 23 is attached to the frame 1 by fitting the holes 23a to 23e to the projecting pieces 110a to 110c and 140a and 140b respectively of the bottom wall portion 110 and top wall portion 140 of the frame 1. Thus the block from the gear 15 to the 'alarm' time setting wheel 22 will be held between the frame 1 and side plate 23 and (as shown in Fig. 4) the clock wheel 20 will be pushed against the setting wheel 22 by the resilient coil spring 19 and the end portion 2d of the main shaft 2, and the cylindrical portion 22d will pass through the hole 23f.In attaching the side p]ate 23, when the edges of the holes 23a, 23b and 23d push the respective tapered portions of the projecting pieces 110a, 110b and 140a to flex the respective projecting pieces and reach the hooks, the projecting pieces will recover due to their resiliency so that the side plate 23 will be connected to the main frame 1. By the way, the side plate 23 may be removed by gripping and flexing the tips of the projecting pieces. The pointer 25a of the timer setting indicating member 25 is now opposed to the graduations 22a on the outer peripheral surface of the setting wheel 22 and the ratchet pawl 26 held in the U-shaped portion of said members 25 will disengageably mesh with the ratchet teeth 22c.An alarm setting knob and time correcting knob (not illustrated) are attached respectively to the cylindrical portion 22d of the setting wheel and the end portion 2d of the main shaft 2.

Next, the contact pieces 32 and 34 are fitted respectively to rectangular projections (not seen) on the lower surfaces of the members 31 and 33, then the shaft portions 31e and 33e are passed respectively through the holes 35e and 35d of the cover 35 and, in this state, the cover 35 is attached on the printed base plate 27. This attaching is completed by engaging the hook portions of the projecting pieces 35e and 35f respectively with the incisions 27b and 27c of the printed base plate 27.Thereby, the contact 32a of the contact piece 32 will be able to contact the pattern 28a-1 and the contact 32b will be able to contact the pattern 28c-1. Also the contact 34a of the contact piece 34 will contact either of the patterns 28a-2, 28c-2 and 28b-1 and the contact 34b will contact either of the patterns 28c-3, 28e-1, 28c-4 and 28d-1.The thus assembled printed base plate block is fixed on the top wall 140 of the frame 1 by screws inserted through the holes 35a and 27d and hole 35d respectively into the screw hole 140c of the upper wall portion 140 of the frame 1 and the screw hole of the pillar 140d. As a result, as shown in Figure 4, the leaf switch piece 30 will contact the right side surface cf the clock wheel 20 and the piece 30 is flexed away from piece 29 until the clock wheel 20 moves at the alarm time that has been set. Further, the gear 15 will partly project out of the top wall portion 140 of the frame 1 and will be present within the track of the projections 31a when the printed base plate block is secured on the frame 1 as mentioned above.The circuit including the 'alarm' switch Si consisisting of the leaf switch pieces 29 and 30, the 'sleep' switch s2 consisting of the contact piece 32 and patterns 28a and 28e and the change-over switch S3 consisting of the contact piece 34 and patterns 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d and 28e can be as shown in Figure 5.

The operation of the above mentioned clock will now be explained. As the motor 12 rotates, output pinion 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow to rotate gear 4 in the direction indicated. Thereby, the minutedrum 3 will rotate at the rate of one rotation per hour (in the direction indicated by the arrow) by the engagement of the ratchet teeth 3e with the ratchet pawls 4b. The hour-drum 6 will rotate clockwise (at the rate of one rotation per 24 hours) being driven by main shaft 2, pinion 8, gear 15, pinion 16 and gear 6c. By this rotation of the minute-drum 3 and hour-drum 6, the minute digit indicating plates 5 and hour digit indicating plates 7 will be rotated in turn to show the time. In the same manner, the clock wheel 20 will be clockwise rotated at the rate of one rotation per 24 hours through the gear 15 and pinion 17.

Meanwhile, when the 'alarm' time set by the setting wheel 22 comes, the cams 21a formed on the cam plate 21 integral with the clock wheel 20 will be opposed respectively to the cam grooves 22b and, at this moment, the clock wheel 20 will move toward the setting wheel 22 due to the resiliency of the coil spring 19. Therefore, the leaf switch piece 30 will recover to the position shown by the two-dot chain line due to its resilience and will contact the leaf switch piece 29. Therefore, in the case, as shown in Figure 5, when the change-over switch S3 is set in the auto alarm position, the electric alarm means will operate.The alarm will continue, for example, for 1 to 1.5 hours until, with the progress of time, the end surfaces of the cam grooves 22b are pushed by the slopes of the cams 21a so that the clock wheel 20 moves rightward (in Figure 4) against the resiliency of the coil spring 19 and the switch piece 30 is again pushed by the right side surface of the clock wheel 20 so as to separate from the switch piece 29. Therefore, if it is desired to turn off the alarm, the on-off-switch within the alarm means may be switched off or the changeover switch S may be switched to the offposition. Also, if the change-over switch Ss is set in the auto radio position, the radio will operate at the 'alarm' set time.Further, by setting the change-over switch Sa in the on-position or off-position, the radio can be operated or turned off independently of the alarm. If the change-over switch Sa is set in the off-position and the "sleep" setting member 31 is operated, the radio will be turned on only for a preset time. That is to say, if the member 31 is rotated counterclockwise, the contact 32b of the contact piece 32 will contact the pattern 28c-1, the switch S. in Figure 5 will be closed and a current feeding circuit to the radio will be formed. With the counterclockwise rotation of the member 31, the projection 31a in the outer peripheral portion on the lower surface will engage with the gear 15. In the operation in this setting direction, due to flexure by the resiliency of the member 31, the projection 31a will pass over the gear 15 and will engage with the gear 15 at the position where the member 31 is released. Then, with the rotation (in the direction indicated by the arrow) of the gear 15 with the passage of time, the member 31 will be gradually rotated clockwise and, when the projection 31a is disengaged from gear 15 after a lapse of the 'sleep' time, the contact 32b will be separated from the pattern 28c-1 and the switch S2 will be opened to stop the operation of the radio.The "sleep" time will be determined by the amount of the counterclockwise rotation of the member 31, the maximum "sleep" time will be, for example, 90 minutes and its counterclockwise rotation will be limited by the contact of the projection 31b with the stopper pin 35h of the case 35.

Further, by the selection of the auto alarm, auto radio, on- and off-positions, the changeover switch member 33 will switch the connections of the patterns 28b--1- 28d--1, 28b -- 28,-4, 28,,--28,~, and 28a2 - 28,~3.

Its clockwise and counterclockwise rotations will be limited by the contact of the sector projection 33a respectively with the projections 35j and 35i. As the distance from the center of the member 33 to the tip of the projection 33h is set to be somewhat longer than that from the center of the hole 35d of the case 35 to the click pins 35k to 35n, if the member 33 is rotated, the projection 33b will flex and move inwardly when it contacts the respective pins 35k to 35n but it will return to its original shape when between the pins. Accordingly, member 33 can be held semi-fixedly by pins 35k to 35n at the respective switching positions.

In the above described embodiment, the rotating output of the motor 12 is continuously transmitted to the minute-drum 3 through the connection of the output pinion 14 with the gear 4. But, an intermittent feeding mechanism as, for example, advancing the minute-drum 3 by six degrees (by connecting it) at intervals of one minute may be used and the ratchet pawls 4b may be formed integrally with the rotation transmitting member.

It will be seen that the described embodiment provides a clock the various component parts of which may be assembled simply, and which may easily be incorporated in such electrical device as a radio or television set.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. An alarm clock comprising a clock movement including a time indicating means, a manually operable alarm time setting means associated with said clock movement, an alarm switch capable of being closed at a set alarm time, and a printed circuit base plate provided with an alarm circuit connected to said alarm switch and to a manually operable change-over switch for opening and closing said alarm circuit, wherein said clock movement and alarm time setting means are supported by a clock frame as one block and said printed circuit base plate bears said alarm switch and is formed as another block detachably secured on said clock frame.

2. An alarm clock according to Claim 1, wherein said printed circuit base plate further comprises a manually operable sleep time setting means capable of being moved by said clock movement and a sleep circuit connected to said sleep time setting means.

3. An alarm clock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. where the member 31 is released. Then, with the rotation (in the direction indicated by the arrow) of the gear 15 with the passage of time, the member 31 will be gradually rotated clockwise and, when the projection 31a is disengaged from gear 15 after a lapse of the 'sleep' time, the contact 32b will be separated from the pattern 28c-1 and the switch S2 will be opened to stop the operation of the radio. The "sleep" time will be determined by the amount of the counterclockwise rotation of the member 31, the maximum "sleep" time will be, for example, 90 minutes and its counterclockwise rotation will be limited by the contact of the projection 31b with the stopper pin 35h of the case 35. Further, by the selection of the auto alarm, auto radio, on- and off-positions, the changeover switch member 33 will switch the connections of the patterns 28b--1- 28d--1, 28b -- 28,-4, 28,,--28,~, and 28a2 - 28,~3. Its clockwise and counterclockwise rotations will be limited by the contact of the sector projection 33a respectively with the projections 35j and 35i. As the distance from the center of the member 33 to the tip of the projection 33h is set to be somewhat longer than that from the center of the hole 35d of the case 35 to the click pins 35k to 35n, if the member 33 is rotated, the projection 33b will flex and move inwardly when it contacts the respective pins 35k to 35n but it will return to its original shape when between the pins. Accordingly, member 33 can be held semi-fixedly by pins 35k to 35n at the respective switching positions. In the above described embodiment, the rotating output of the motor 12 is continuously transmitted to the minute-drum 3 through the connection of the output pinion 14 with the gear 4. But, an intermittent feeding mechanism as, for example, advancing the minute-drum 3 by six degrees (by connecting it) at intervals of one minute may be used and the ratchet pawls 4b may be formed integrally with the rotation transmitting member. It will be seen that the described embodiment provides a clock the various component parts of which may be assembled simply, and which may easily be incorporated in such electrical device as a radio or television set. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An alarm clock comprising a clock movement including a time indicating means, a manually operable alarm time setting means associated with said clock movement, an alarm switch capable of being closed at a set alarm time, and a printed circuit base plate provided with an alarm circuit connected to said alarm switch and to a manually operable change-over switch for opening and closing said alarm circuit, wherein said clock movement and alarm time setting means are supported by a clock frame as one block and said printed circuit base plate bears said alarm switch and is formed as another block detachably secured on said clock frame.

2. An alarm clock according to Claim 1, wherein said printed circuit base plate further comprises a manually operable sleep time setting means capable of being moved by said clock movement and a sleep circuit connected to said sleep time setting means.

3. An alarm clock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.