GB2208447A - Analog quartz alarm clock - Google Patents

Abstract

An analog quartz alarm clock has a structure comprising spaced upper and lower plates 3, 2. The upper plate 3 carries a striker 19 and an alarm bell 20 positioned to be struck by the striker 19. Between the upper and lower plates 3, 2 there is a circuit board 4 carrying a quartz oscillator 5, an IC 6, a clock coil block 7 and a motor 15 for moving the striker 19. Clock movement components 13, 14 also positioned between the upper and lower plates 3, 2. The motor 15 has an upwardly-extending neck 22 which is located in a positioning hole in the upper plate 3 and through which a shaft 18 extends to move the striker 19. <IMAGE>

Description

ANALOG QUARTZ ALARM CLOCK The present invention relates to an analog quartz alarm clock, and more particularly to a compact analog quartz alarm clock having a simple construction.

Hitherto, there is known an alarm clock carrying a circuit board on which are mounted an alarm clock-coil block and a motor for actuating an alarm-bell assembly. However, in such conventional alarm clock, since the alarm-bell assembly is simply mounted on the circuit board, such assembly occupies a considerable area of the circuit board to make it impossible to accomplish maximum compactness of the alarm clock.

The analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention has a construction in which: a motor for driving a striking member which strikes an alarm bell of an alarm-bell assembly of the alarm clock is integrally coupled with electric clock-elements such as IC and the like and mounted on a circuit board of the alarm clock together with such electric clock-elements; the motor is mounted on the same upper plate as that carrying the alarm bell; and a clock-coil block is disposed under the alarm bell; whereby maximum compactness of the alarm clock is accomplished.

An embodiment of the analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention will be hereinbelow described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention; Figs. 2-1 and 2-2 are partial plan views of the analog quartz alarm clock shown in Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of parts shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clock shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings: the reference 1 denotes hand axles on which are fixedly mounted a time-setting hand, an hour hand, a minute hand and a seconds hand; 2 a lower plate; and 3 an upper plate. These hand axles 1 extend downward from the lower plate 2 as shown in Fig.

1. The upper plate 3 is mounted on the lower plate 2 in assembling operation. The reference numeral 4 denotes a circuit board sandwiched between the upper plate 3 and the lower plate 2, and performs electric function in the analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention, which alarm clock is provided with a bell-alarm assembly.

Consequently, the alarm clock of the present invention is provided with at least a quartz oscillator 5, IC 6 and a clock-coil block 7 terminals of which are soldered into the circuit board 4.

The IC 6 issues a time signal to the clock-coil block 7. The reference 8 denotes a bobbin on which the clockcoil block 7 is mounted in a winding manner. The bobbin 8 is molded of plastics, and provided with a hook portion 9 which extends outward from a side-plate portion of the bobbin 8. The hook portion 9 is forced to pass through a hole 10 of the circuit board 4 while resiliently deformed, and then returns to its initial form so as to be engaged with the hole 10, whereby the clock-coil block 7 is fixed to the circuit board 4. After that, as described above, the terminals of the clock-coil block 7 are soldered to the circuit board 4.

The reference numeral 11 denotes a stator which is slidably inserted into a central through-hole of the bobbin 8. When the clock-coil block 7 is actuated by electric current, the stator is magnetized. The reference numeral 12 denotes a circular magnet which is press-fitted to a rotor member 13 which is intermittently rotatably driven at a predetermined speed under the influence of oscillations of the quartz oscillator 5. Any of the hour hand, minute hand and seconds hand fixedly mounted on their hand axles 1 is driven by the rotor member 13 through reduction-gear trains. Wheels such as a minute wheel 14 and the rotor member 13 are rotatably supported in positions between the lower 2 and the upper 3 plates. A motor 15 is mounted on the circuit board 4 together with its auxiliary components such as the clock-coil block 7.Terminals 16 and 17 of the motor 15 are inserted into through-holes 65 and 66 of the circuit board 4 respectively, and soldered to the circuit board 4 in positions of a lower side of the circuit board 4. Although there is not shown in the drawings, when the hour hand of the alarm clock reaches the same position as that of the time-setting hand, the motor 15 is actuated. A rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15 is connected with the alarm-bell striking member 19, so that an alarm bell 20 of the alarm clock is tapped by such alarm-bell striking member 19 at a time when the motor 15 is actuated to rotate its rotary shaft 18. In order to facilitate the striking operation of the alarm-bell striking member 19, the motor 15 is disposed in a position adjacent to the alarm bell 20 with a certain clearance provided therebetween.

As shown in Fig. 1, the motor 15 is covered with an upright sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. A neck portion 22 of the motor 15 is fitted to a positioning through hole 23 provided in an upper surface of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3 so as to position the motor 15.

Consequently, it is possible to precisely position the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15 with respect to the upper plate 3.

It is preferable to provide the neck portion 22 of the motor 15 in the vicinity of the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15.

The rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15 extends upward from the upper plate 3, and connected with the alarm-bell striking member 19 so as to support the same 19. An upright boss portion 24 is provided in the upper plate 3 at a predetermined position adjacent to the upright sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3, and inserted into a lower through-hole 25 of the alarm bell 20 to support the alarm bell 20. As described above, since both of the motor 15 and the alarm bell 20 are supported by the same upper plate 3, it is easy to keep the motor 15 spaced apart from the alarm bell 20 so as to provide therebetween a predetermined clearance, whereby it is possible to keep the level of alarm sound of the alarm bell 20 constant, which alarm sound is produced when the striking member 19 taps the alarm bell 20.Since the alarm bell 20 issues its alarm sound upward in the Fig. 1, i.e., in a direction reverse to the side of the lower plate 2, the alarm bell 20 is mounted on the upper plate 3 to direct its bell lip portion upward as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, it is preferable to support the motor 15 between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates together with the alarm clock wheels. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, the motor 15 is sandwiched between the upper plate 3 and the circuit board 4. Consequently, the upper plate 3 supports the alarm bell 20 in its upper side and the motor 15 in its lower side at a position adjacent to that of the alarm bell 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The height of the alarm bell 20 is substantially equal to two-thirds of that of the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15.The alarm bell 20 is mounted on the upper surface of the upper plate 3 at a position adjacent to the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. As shown in Fig. 1, under the alarm bell 20, and between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates is provided a space in which the clock-coil block 7 is received. As described above, the motor 15 is adjacent to the alarm bell 20 to make it possible to employ a smallsized circuit board 4 in the alarm clock of the present invention, which reduce the production cost of the alarm clock.

Therefore, the clock-coil block 7 is provided between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates at a position under the alarm bell 20, whereby maximum compactness of the alarm clock of the present invention is accomplished. Incidentally, although not shown in Fig. 1, electric components comprising the IC 6 may be mounted on the circuit board 4 at a position under the alarm bell 20 together with the clock-coil block 7 to make it possible to effectively utilize the area of the circuit board 4. In the drawings: the reference numerals 26, 27 denote through-holes provided in the lower plate 2.In assembling operation of the alarm clock of the present invention, it is preferable to solder the terminals 16 and 17 of the motor 15 to the circuit board 4 through the through-holes 26 and 27 of the lower plate 2 respectively after both of the motor 15 and the circuit board 4 are-received in a space between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates. In this assembling operation, since the motor 15 is first positioned in the upper plate 3, it is possible to eliminate errors in size of the assembly constructed of the motor 15 and the circuit board 4 as a whole, which makes it possible to eliminate cumbersome work in assembling the movements of the alarm clock. This leads to prevention of soldering errors in the assembling operation of the alarm clock of the present invention.The reference numeral 28 denotes a negative electrode portion of an end of a cylindrical battery 74 constituting an electric power source of the alarm clock of the present invention.

The negative electrode portion 28 of the battery is resiliently pressed by a coil spring 29 which constitutes a conductor extending to the terminal 17 of the motor 15 to apply a negative voltage to the motor 15. In case that the coil spring 29 assumes a conical spiral shape, it is possible to increase the resilient force of the spring 29 applied to the negative electrode portion 28 of the battery, provided that a top portion of such conical shape of the spring 29 is pressed against the negative electrode portion 28.

The reference numerals 31 and 32 denote upright boss portions of the lower plate 2, thrpugh which boss portions 31, 32 the circuit board 4 is so supported and positioned at a predetermined level by the lower plate 2.

In the alarm clock of the present invention having the above construction, when a time appointed by the time-setting hand (not shown) of the alarm clock comes, a positive voltage is applied to the terminal 16 of the motor 15 to actuate the motor 15 so that the alarm-bell striking member 19 taps the alarm bell 20 to produce the alarm sound.

Fig. 2-1 is a plan view of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. As described above, the neck 22 of the motor 15 is received and positioned in the positioning through-hole 23 provided in the upper end surface of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. The reference numeral 33 denotes a resilient arm integrally formed in the upper end surface of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. Such resilient arm 33 extends in a direction substantially parallel to that of the upper end surface of the sleeve portion 21. Such resilient arm 33 is provided with an end portion 34 which presses an upper surface 36 of the motor 15 downward.As shown in Fig. 1, under the influence of such pressure exerted on the motor 15 by the resilient arm 33 of the upper plate 3, it is possible to precisely mount both of the motor 15 and the circuit board 4 in the space between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates. In the alarm clock of the present invention having the above construction, there is no fear that the resilient arm 33 is broken even when the alarm clock of the present invention is subjected to an impact exerted in a direction of an arrow 37, because the motor 15 abuts on a lower surface 38 of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. When the above impact is applied to the motor 15, the motor 15 is moved upward in the same direction as that of the impact, and resiliently and gradually stopped in its movement by means of the resilient arm 33.In other words, since the resilient arm 33 cushions the impact applied to the lower surface 38 of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3, there is no fear that the impact breaks a resilient joint portion 64 provided between the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates. In this case, it is also possible to further cushion the impact by providing a smaller clearance between circumferential portions of both of the motor 15 and the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3 to make it possible that the motor 15 is brought into a slidable and frictional contact with the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3. In addition, by the provision of the resilient arm 33 of the upper plate 3, a clearance 39 is provided between a top surface 36 of the motor 15 and the lower surface 38 of the sleeve portion 21 to make it possible to resiliently support the motor 15.

This clearance 39 allows the motor 15 and other components of the alarm clock to vary in height in production thereof.

In other words, if there is not provided the clearance 39 between the top surface 36 of the motor 15 and the lower surface 38 of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3, errors in height of the components of the alarm clock in production cause the upper plate 3 to disengage from the lower plate 2. When the upper plate 3 is disengaged from the lower plate 2, axial clearances of the wheel train components of the alarm clock such as the rotor member 13, minute wheel 14 and the like vary to cause these wheel train components to be disengaged from each other. In case that the clearance 39 is merely provided, there is fear that the motor 15 moves in its axial direction. Consequently, in order to prevent the motor 15 from freely moving in its axial direction, the resilient arm 33 of the upper plate 3 is provided in the alarm clock of the present invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2-2 is a plan view of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3 of another embodiment of the alarm clock of the present invention. In this another embodiment of the presnet invention, the resilient arm 33 assumes a bridge-like shape having its central portion 34 project upward. The positioning through-hole 23 of the sleeve portion 21 of the upper plate 3 is separated from the resilient arm 33 as shown in Fig. 2-2. The resilient arm 33 of this another embodiment shown in Fig. 2-2 has the same function as that of the resilient arm 33 of the previous embodiment shown in Figs.

1 and 2-1. Consequently, in order to avoid redundancy of description, as for the function of the resilient arm 33 of this another embodiment shown in Fig. 2-2, please refer to that of the resilient arm 33 of the embodiment shown in Figs.

1 and 2-1.

In assembling operation of the alarm clock of the present invention, it is possible to insert at any time the stator 11 into the bobbin 8 on which the clock-coil block 7 is mounted in a winding manner. In the embodiment of the present invention, such insertion of the stator 11 into the bobbin 8 is conducted before the bobbin 8 is mounted on the circuit board 4.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stator 11 and the like of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1.

The stator 11 assumes a substantially U-shaped form so that a leg portion 40 of the stator 11 is inserted into a central hole 41 of the bobbin 8 of the clock-coil block 7. The leg portion 40 of the stator 11 is provided with a chamfered portion 42 to facilitate insertion of the leg portion 40 into the central hole 41 of the bobbin 8. The leg portion 40 of the stator 11 is also provided with a lower concave portion 43 into which is received a convex portion 44 of the bobbin 8 for fixedly positioning the bobbin 8 relative to the stator 11. The convex portion 44 is provided in an inner surface of the central hole 41 of the bobbin 8. The bobbin 8 is molded of plastics.In molding operation of the bobbin 8, the central hole 41 of the bobbin 8 is formed by a core or slidable core member of a mold so that the convex portion 44 of the bobbin 8 is easily formed by a slight chamfered portion provided in an end portion of such core member. The stator 11 is provided with a broken circular notch portion 46 in its inside for receiving the magnet 12 therein. The stator 11 may be provided with a hole 47 for positioning an upright boss portion 48 of the lower plate 2 as shown in Fig. 1. A stator assembly constructed of the stator 11 and the bobbin 8 is then mounted on the circuit board 4 by means of the hook portion 9 of the bobbin 8. In positioning the stator 11 in height, an assembly constructed of the stator 11 and the circuit board 4 is moved in a direction of an arrow 49 so as to be mounted on the lower plate 2.As shown in Fig. 1, the lower plate 2 is integrally provided with a resilient arm 50 an end portion of which is formed into a hook 51 which is provided with a slope surface 52 at its upper portion. Consequently, when the stator 11 is moved in the direction of arrow 49 in its assembling operation, the stator 11 is brought into contact with the hook 51 of the resilient arm 50 of the lower plate 2 to press and deform the resilient arm 50 in the left-hand side of Fig.

1 to make it possible that the hook 52 of the resilient arm 50 catches the stator 11 after the stator 11 passes the hook 52 downward to cause the resilient arm 50 to return to its initial form. The thus caught stator 11 abuts on an upright supporting boss portion 53 of the lower plate 2 so as to be positioned in height with respect to the lower plate 2, whereby the circuit board coupled with the stator 11 is mounted on the lower plate 2. As described above, by the provisions of the resilient arm 50 and the boss portion 53 of the lower plate 2 both passing through the circuit board 4, the stator 11 is precisely positioned at a predetermined height over the circuit board 4. The rotor member 13 coupled with the magnet 12 is rotatably supported at a position in the vicinity of a central portion of the magnet 12 in thickness by an upright bearing portion 54 of the lower plate 2.Since the stator 11 and the magnet 12 is equal to each other in height of their centers of thickness, the rotor member 13 is held in a position perpendicular to the stator 11 under the influence of the magnetic force exerted by the magnet 12 and the stator 11. After each of the Circuit board 4, stator 11 and the rotor member 13 are mounted on only the lower plate 2, the clock-coil block 7 is energized to rotatably drive the rotor member 13, to make it possible to check rotation of the rotor member 13 before the upper plate 3 is coupled with the lower plate 2, whereby the assembling operation of the alarm clock is easily accomplished, and cost reduction in the assembling operation is realized. Since the stator 11 is light in weight, it is possible to support the stator only by the lower plate 2.In contrast with this, since the clockcoil block 7 is considerably heavy, it is necessary to support the clock-coil block 7 by both of the upper 3 and the lower 2 plates in order to prevent both of the stator 11 and the clock-coil block 7 from dropping out of the lower plate 2 when the alarm clock is subjected to an impact. With this end in view, the upper plate 3 is provided with boss portions 61, 62 each of which is disposed in a position adjacent to the resilient arm 50 to prevent the arm 50 frombeing so excessively deformed that the stator 11 is disengaged from the resilient arm 50 when the alarm clock is subjected to an impact. Consequently, there is no fear that the stator 11 is disengaged from the resilient arm 50 in the alarm clock of the present invention.The boss portion 62 is provided with an endportion 63 which abuts on the circuit board 4 to prevent the circuit board 4 from being deformed upward.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 71 denotes a square-shaped structural member of the alarm clock of the present invention; 72 a seconds-hand wheel mounted on the hand axles 1 on which are coaxially mounted a minute-hand wheel and an hour-hand wheel; 73 wheel axles disposed in a substantially central position of the structural member 71 of the alarm clock; 74 a cylindrical battery between which and the circuit board 4 is interposed the wheel axles 73; and 76 a partition plate for the battery 74 which is electrically connected with the circuit board through conductors (not shown). The circuit board 4 carries each of the quartz oscillator 5, IC 6, motor 15 for operating the alarm-bell assembly. The stator 11 assumes a substantially U-shaped form having a pair of leg portions. The reference numeral 46 a broken circular portion or rotational center portion of the stator 11.In the drawings, the reference numeral 82 denotes a rotor member provided with a magnet 12; and 83 a reduction gear interposed between the rotor member 82 and the seconds-hand wheel 72. The stator 11 is disposed in the structural member 71 along an upper side 84 of the structural member 71. An outer leg portion 85 of the stator 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper side 84 of the structural member 71 so that an inner leg portion 86 of the stator 11 is disposed in a position near the center of the structural member 71 as shown in Fig. 4. In the drawings, the reference numeral 7 denotes a clockcoil block; and 8 a bobbin on which the clock-coil block is mounted in a winding manner. As described with reference to Fig. 1, the bobbin 8 is mounted on the circuit board 4 in the vicinity of an end portion 89 of the circuit board 4 by means of the hook and the like. The terminals of the clock-coil block 7 are soldered to the circuit board 4. The inner leg portion 86 of the stator 11 is inserted into the central hole of the bobbin 8. When an electric current flows through the clock-coil block 7, the stator 11 is magnetized to move the rotor member 82 so that the movements of the alarm clock such as the second-hand wheel 82 are moved. The circuit board 4 has a sufficient size to support the bobbin 8 thereon so that the board extends to its end portion 89. In case that the outer leg portion 85 is inserted into the central hole of the bobbin 8, the clock-coil block 7 is disposed in a position shown in two-dotted chain line, to make it necessary to further extend the circuit board 4 upward beyond the end portion 89 shown in Fig. 4 so as to form an extension portion 91 of the circuit board 4.However, such extension portion is disadvantageous in cost. Consequently, as is in the embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the inner leg portion 86 of the stator 11 is inserted into the central hole of the bobbin 8 so as to save the area of the circuit board 4 carrying at least the quartz oscillator 5 and the IC 6. The rotational motion produced by the rotor member 82 is transmitted from the rotor member 82 to the secondshand wheel 72 disposed in the central portion of the structural member 71 of the alarm clock. In order to prevent thereduction gear 83 from interfering with a wall portion 93 of the bobbin 8, a clearance 92 is provided therebetween. Consequently, a center 94 of the reduction gear 83 is more separated from the wall portion 93 than a center 95 of the rotor member 82 as shown in Fig. 4. The reduction gear 83 moves the secondshand wheel 73.In the embodiment of the prevent invention shown in Fig. 4, both of the terminals 16, 17 of the motor 15 for actuating the alarm-bell assembly of the alarm clock are inserted into holes of the circuit board 4 and soldered to the board 4. The reference numeral 98 denotes a time-setting switch mounted on the circuit board 4. The time-setting switch 98 is actuated when a time having been set by a time-setting hand of the alarm clock comes. When the time-setting switch 98 is thus actuated, an electric voltage of the battery 74 is applied to the terminals 16, 17 of the motor 15 to actuate the motor 15. In order to save the area of the circuit board 4, the clock-coil block 7 is disposed in a position adjacent to the motor 15. The reference numeral 18 denotes a rotary shaft of the motor 15.The reference numeral 19 denotes an alarm-bell striking member supported by the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15. As described with reference to Fig. 1, an alarm bell 20 is fixedly mounted on the upper plate 3. When the alarm bell 20 is tapped by the striking member 19, an alarm sound is produced in the alarm clock. In order to save space of the circuit board 4 so as to accomplish maximum compactness of the alarm clock, the alarm bell 20 is disposed in a position above the clock-coil block 7 adjacent to the motor 15.

The reference numeral 55 shown in Fig. 1 denotes a wire for connecting the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15 to the alarm-bell striking member 19. The wire 55 is provided with a coiled portion 56 at its central portion, through which coiled portion 56 the wire 55 is mounted on the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15. The wire 55 is bent at its end portion to form a U-shaped end 57 which is inserted into a throughhole 58 of the alarm-bell striking member 19 so as to loosely support the alarm-bell striking member 19.

When the motor 15 is actuated, the alarm-bell striking member 19 moves to its horizontal position under the influence of centrifugal force applied thereto to tap the alarm bell 20, whereby an alarm sound is produced in the alarm clock. As shown in Fig. 1, the wire 55 is also provided with a balance weight 59. The weight 59 assumes a coiled-wire shape, and is oppositely disposed against the alarm-bell striking member 19 with respect to the rotary shaft 18 of the motor 15 while spaced apart from the alarm bell 20 to prevent the weight 59 from tapping the bell 20. In case that the balance weight 59 is not provided in the wire 55, a considerable vibration is produced when the alarm-bell striking member 19 taps the alarm bell 20 to make the alarm sound level and clearness decrease. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to employ only one striking member 19 supported by the low-cost wire 55.

As is clear from the above description, it is possible to produce the analog quartz alarm clock of the present invention at low cost and in an easy manner. In addition, the present invention realizes maximum compactness of the analog quartz alarm clock having a simple construction.

Claims (4)

CLAIM:

1. An analog quartz alarm clock provided with a striking means for tapping an alarm means such as an alarm bell for producing an alarm sound, characterized in that: in a structural member constructed of an upper plate and a lower plate, hand axles extend downward from said lower plate, and each of a circuit b6ard and movements such as a rotor member and wheel trains are mounted between said upper and lower plates; said circuit board carry at least a quartz oscilator, an IC, a clock-coil block, and a motor for causing said striking means to tap said alarm means; said motor is provided with its neck portion which is inserted into a positioning hole provided in said upper plate, said motor being mounted between said upper plate and said circuit board;; a rotary shaft of said motor extends upward through said upper plate, and is connected to said striking means for tapping said alarm means; said alarm means is adjacent to said motor, and mounted on said upper plate; and said clock-coil block mounted on said circuit board is disposed between said upper and lower plates at a position under said alarm means.

2. The analog quartz alarm clock as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a stator having a substantially U-shape form provided with a pair of parallel outer and inner leg portions is mounted on said circuit board, said clock-coil block being mounted on a bobbin in a winding manner, said bobbin being provided with a central hole, said outer leg portion of said stator being disposed along a side portion of said structural member., while said inner leg portion of said stator is inserted into said central hole of said bobbin on which said clock-coil block having been mounted in a winding manner.

3. The analog quartz alarm clock as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said inner leg portion of said stator is provided with a concave portion in its outer peripheral portion, while said bobbin is provided with a convex portion in its central hole in the vicinity of its exit end portion, so that said convex portion of said stator is inserted into said convex portion of said bobbin after completion of insertion of said inner leg portion of said stator into said central hole of said bobbin, whereby an electro-magnetic converter unit is formed in said alarm clock.

4. An analog quartz alarm clock constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in Figures 1; 2-1; 3 and 4 or when modified in accordance with Figure 2-2.