GB2030735A - Alarm Clocks - Google Patents

Abstract

A time measuring device, more particularly a travel clock or table alarm clock, having a casing (1, 2), is provided with an operating press key for switching an alarm device on or off, in which the press key is arranged on the upper side of the clock casing (1) and comprises a switching rocker (7) having a width which corresponds to the width (b) of the clock casing and a depth which is over one half of the thickness (t) of the clock casing. The switching rocker (7) is tiltable between a first position and a second, depressed, position about an axis (8) which extends substantially parallel to and at a spacing from the front face (3) of the clock casing. When the rocker is depressed to render the alarm operative, a mark (12) on the rocker is hidden by the case part (1) and a projection (14) on the case passes through an aperture (15) in the rocker and can be felt in the dark. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Time Measuring Device having an Operating Press Key This invention relates to a time measuring device more particularly a travel or table alarm clock having an operating press key for switching the alarm device on or off.

A table alarm clock having an approximately rectangular parallelepipedic casing is known (German Gebrauchsmuster No. 76 07 670.1), in which the press key for switching the alarm device on or off is arranged on the front side of the clock casing adjacent the clock face. This arrangement of the press key has the disadvantage that, when switching the alarm device on or off, the clock casing has to be gripped since otherwise the clock is displaced from its stationary position or is even knocked over before the operating press key has been moved into the desired switching position.

Another table alarm clock is known (German Auslegeschrift No. 25 28 502), in which the press key for switching the alarm device is arranged on the upper side of the clock. This arrangement has the disadvantage that, because of its small dimensions, particularly in a darkened room or during the night, it has to be located by touch and the person operating it cannot be sure whether the alarm device is switched on or off at that moment.

Finally, a table alarm clock is known (German Offenlegungsschrift No. 26 38 885) having a switch and digital display dependent on its position, which switch is provided inside the clock casing and which displays the switching position of a rotary switch arranged on the rear side of the clock after the clock casing has been tilted. This switch has the disadvantage of being expensive to manufacture and moreover that the person operating it cannot be sure whether the rotary switch of the alarm device has just been switched on or switched off.

The present invention aims to provide a time measuring device, more particularly a travel clock or table alarm clock, having an operating press key which is so arranged that the person operating it can be sure as to whether the alarm device is switched on or switched off even in an darkened room. Furthermore, the operating press key should be arranged on the clock casing so that the clock is not displaced unintentionally from the position where it was placed before the operating press key is depressed. Finally, the operating press key should be arranged so that it is possible to see at least from the side of the clock face, i.e. from the front side, whether the alarm device has been switched on or switched off.

According to the invention, there is provided a time measuring device, more particularly a travel clock or table alarm clock, having a casing with an operating press key for switching an alarm device on or off, wherein the operating press key is arranged on the upper side of the clock casing and comprises a switching rocker having a width which corresponds to the width of the clock casing and a depth which is over one half of the thickness of the clock casing, the switching rocker being tiltably mounted on the upper side of the clock casing between a first position and a second, depressed, position about an axis which extends substantially parallel to and at a spacing from the front face of the clock casing.

In order to make the respective position of the switching rocker clearly visible, a mark is preferably provided on the front side of the switching rocker and when the rocker is depressed its front side is moved into the clock casing to such an extent that the mark is not visible.

The switching rocker is advantageously provided with cams which are engageable in recesses or depressions in the side walls of the clock casing to facilitate tilting of the switching rocker about the said axis.

In order to facilitate identification of the respective position of the switching rocker in the dark, the switching rocker is preferably provided with a window-like recess and the clock casing is provided with a projection arranged to project through the recess when the switching rocker is depressed.

Means may be provided on the clock casing for ensuring that the switching rocker can be moved from its first position to its second, depressed, position only against a resilient force.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table alarm clock having a switching rocker according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table alarm clock shown in Figure 1 but in which the switching rocker and the rear part of the clock casing have been removed; and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the underneath of the switching rocker.

In the drawings, the clock casing comprises a front boxshaped and upwardly open part 1 having a width b, a rear part 2 connected to the front part, a clock face 4 arranged on the front face 3 of the casing part 1 and a switching rocker 7 tiltably mounted at 5 and 6 on the clock casing part 1.

The width of the rocker 7 corresponds to the width b of the casing part 1 and its depth is approximately the same as the depth of the casing part 1 but is less than the combined depth t of the casing parts 1 and 2. The upper surface of the switching rocker 7 is located below the upper surface 1 6 of the casing part 2 and is further provided with two shallow depressions 13 to facilitate the engagement of the rocker by the fingers for movement of said rocker.

In order to actuate the alarm device the switching rocker 7 may be tiltably moved about the axis 8 in the direction of the arrow A. The switching rocker 7 is equipped laterally with cams 9, 10 for this purpose which engage corresponding recesses or depressions in the side walls of the casing part 1 at 5 and 6 or are mounted in these recesses or depressions. When the switching rocker 7 is pivoted about the axis 8 in the direction of arrow A, the alarm device is moved into its operative state and the front side 11 of the switching rocker 7 moves into the inside of the clock casing so that a sighting mark 12 is arranged on the front side 11 is located below the upper edge 1 7 of the front face 3 of the clock casing and is no longer visible.The person operating the alarm device may therefore establish merely by looking at the front face 3 of the clock in which switching position the switching rocker 7 is located and thus whether the alarm device is in its operative or nonoperative state. The switching rocker 7 has a window-like recess 1 5 close to its front edge 11 through which a pin or lug 14 which is fixed to the casing projects when the switching rocker 7 is moved in the direction of arrow A and is located in the depressed position. The pin or lug 14, which can be easily located by touch, indicates the switching position of the switching rocker in the dark.

As shown in Figure 3, the switching rocker 7 has a rib 19 on its underside 18 which rib 19 has button-like thickened portions 20 at its two side surfaces, which abut the side walls 21, 22 of two projections 23, 24 on the upper side 25 of the clock casing. The projections 23, 24 have a certain spring action and serve to apply a braking effect to the switching rocker 7 when the rocker is pivoted about the axis 8 so that the switching rocker 7 may only be tilted after overcoming a certain resilient resistance. The switching rocker 7 also has a finger 26 which passes through a window-like opening 27 on the upper side of the clock casing and acts on electrical switch contacts (not shown) of the alarm device of the clock when the switching rocker 7 is pivoted into the depressed position.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A time measuring device, more particularly a travel clock or table alarm clock, having a casing with an operating press key for switching an alarm device on or off, wherein the operating press key is arranged on the upper side of the clock casing and comprises a switching rocker having a width which corresponds to the width of the clock casing and a depth which is over one half of the thickness of the clock casing, the switching rocker being tiltably mounted on the upper side of the clock casing between a first position and a second, depressed, position about an axis which extends substantially parallel to and at a spacing from the front face of the clock casing.

2. A time measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a mark is arranged on the front side of the switching rocker and, when the rocker is depressed, its front side is moved into the clock casing to such an extent that the mark is not visible.

3. A time measuring device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the switching rocker is provided with cams engageable in recesses or depressions in the side walls of the clock casing to facilitate tilting of the switching rocker about the said axis.

4. A time measuring device according to any preceding claim, wherein the switching rocker is provided with a window-like recess and wherein the clock casing is provided with a projection arranged to project through said recess when the switching rocker is depressed.

5. A time measuring device according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided on the clock casing for ensuring that the switching rocker can be moved from its first position to its second, depressed, position only against a resilient force.

6. A time measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the switching rocker is provided with a rib on its underside, said rib having projections on its side surfaces, and wherein the clock casing is provided with a pair of projections engageable with the projections on the rib to provide resilient resistance to depressing movement of the switching rocker.

7. A time measuring device substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.