GB2220769A - A radio - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio comprising a housing (10) and a time display (11) which is provided on a carrier (12) pivotable relative to the housing (10). The carrier may be releasably held in its lowered position and spring urged towards its upper position. <IMAGE>

Description

A radio This invention relates to a radio having a time display.

According to the present invention, there is provided a radio having a housing and a time display which is provided on a carrier pivotable relative to the housing.

Preferably, the carrier is moveable between a first position in which it is accommodated in a compartment in the housing and a second position in which it extends out of said compartment. In this case the compartment may be in the upper surface of the housing and the carrier may be arranged so that the time display is visible from above when the carrier is in its first position and from one side of the radio when the carrier is in its second position.

This could be achieved by providing a window in a surface of the carrier which can lie flush or substantially flush with an upper surface of the radio housing when the carrier is in its first position and by providing the time display beneath said window and preferably at an acute angle thereto. With such an arrangement it is possible to employ an LED time display which will not disturb a person sleeping when the carrier is in its first position but which can be viewed by moving the carrier to its second position.

Advantageously, the carrier is urged towards its second position by spring means and releasable fastening means, e.g. a spring loaded latching device, is provided for holding the carrier in its first position. Thus by releasing the fastening means the carrier will move from its first to its second position.

Conveniently, a radio frequency indicator is also provided on the carrier.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a radio according to the present invention, showing the carrier in a first position, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the radio of Figure 1, showing the carrier in a second position, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, the radio shown therein is mains powered and has a housing 10, and a digital LED time display 11 which is provided on a 'pop-up' carrier 12. A radio frequency indicator 13 is also provided on the carrier 12 alongside the time display 11.

The carrier 12 is mounted in a compartment 14 in an upper surface of the housing 10 for pivotable movement about an axis 9 between a lowered position (Figures 1 to 3) in which carrier 12 is accommodated in the compartment 14, and a raised position (Figures 4 and 5) in which the carrier 12 extends out of the compartment 14. The carrier 12 is generally triangular in cross-section and has an upper wall 15 which lies flush with the upper surface of the housing 10 when the carrier 12 is in a lowered position, and front and rear inclined walls 16 and 17, respectively. The LED time display 11 and frequency indicator 13 are provided on the rear inclined wall 17 and the upper wall 15 has a transparent window 18 through which the display 11 and indicator 13 can be viewed.

The carrier 12 is urged towards its raised position by compression springs 19 (see Figure 3) at opposite ends, respectively, of the carrier 12, the springs 19 acting between a depending flange 20 of the housing 10 and projections 21 attached to the front inclined wall 16 of the carrier 12. When the carrier is in its raised position a projection 22 on the rear inclined wall 17 of the carrier 12 abuts a further depending flange 23 of the housing 10 to prevent further upwards movement of the carrier.

Releasable fastening means in the form of a spring loaded latching device 24 is provided to releasably hold the carrier 12 in its lowered position. The latching device 24 comprises a push button 25 and an integral catch 26. The push button 25 is urged towards an upper position, in which it projects out of the housing 10, by a compression spring 27 and the catch 26 engages behind a depending flange 28 on the carrier 12 when the carrier 12 is in its lowered position and the push button 25 is in an upper position.

When the push button 25 is depressed against the urging force of the spring 27 the catch 26 will move out of engagement with the flange 28 and the carrier 12 will pivot about axis 9 to its raised position under the urging force of springs 19. To return the carrier 12 to its lowered position the carrier 12 is simply depressed whereupon flange 28 will engage inclined edge 29 of catch 26 to depress the push button 25 until the catch 26 can engage behind the flange 28.

LED time displays are preferred by some people as they are easier to read than liquid crystal displays. However, some people find it disturbing to have an LED display within line of sight when they are trying to sleep. However, if the radio is placed on a bedside table or chest the carrier 12 can be lowered so that the LED display 11 does not disturb the sleeper, yet the LED display 11 can be read by a person raising his head, or by depressing the push button 25 so that the carrier moves to its raised position.

The time display 11 is connected to a mains supply or to a battery by flexible leads (not shown) and the frequency indicator 13 is connected to a tuning knob by a Bowden cable (not shown).

The radio could also include an alarm.

Claims (10)

1. A radio comprising a housing and a time display which is provided on a carrier pivotable relative to the housing.

2. A radio as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is arranged to be pivotable between a first position in which it is accommodated in a compartment in the housing and a second position in which it extends substantially out of said compartment.

3. A radio as claimed in claim 2, wherein the compartment is provided in an upper surface of the housing.

4. A radio as claimed in claim 3, wherein the time display is located on the carrier so that it is viewable from above of the housing when the carrier is in its first position and is viewable from one side of the housing when the carrier is in its second position.

5. A radio as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carrier includes a window through which the time display is viewable, said window being arranged to lie flush or substantially flush with the upper surface of the housing when the carrier is in its first position and to extend at an acute angle to said upper surface when the carrier is in its second position.

6. A radio as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier is urged towards its second position by spring means and releasable fastening means is provided for holding the carrier in its first position.

7. A radio as claimed in claim 6, wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a spring loaded latch device.

8. A radio as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time display incorporates lightemitting diodes.

9. A radio as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a radio frequency indicator is provided on the carrier.

10. A radio substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.