GB2318213A

GB2318213A - A timer with time setting means

Info

Publication number: GB2318213A
Application number: GB9620942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Stekelenburg
Original assignee: Grasslin Far East Corp
Current assignee: Grasslin Far East Corp
Priority date: 1996-10-08
Filing date: 1996-10-08
Publication date: 1998-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-08
Also published as: GB2318213B; GB9620942D0

Abstract

A timer with easily controllable time setting means includes a dial 2 with a plurality of time setting keys 21 around it and a push-button means 3 located next to the dial. The time setting keys can be shifted along an inclined side surface of a rotating disc 23 of the dial to set a time at which power should be ON or OFF. When the time setting keys are at an upward pushed position, the push-button means can be used to push down desired time setting keys one by one to accurately set the time at which the power should be ON. The push-button means includes a spring biased push button 32 carrying a press plate 322 having a projection for depressing a selected time setting key.

Description

A TIMER WITH EASILY CONTROLLABLE TIME SETTING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timer with easily controllable time setting means, and more particularly to a push-button time setting means for easily but accurately selecting a desired time setting key on a timer.

2. Description of the Prior Art Most of the conventional key-setting type timers have a dial about 6.5cm in diameter and a plurality of time setting keys arranged around an outer periphery of the dial. Generally, there are 96 setting keys (each key represents 15 minutes and each full turn of the dial represents one day) with each key having a width less than 2mm! This width is much smaller than the thickness of a finger people usually use to touch the key for setting purpose. Thus, it is very easy for a user to touch (pull, push, depress, etc.) other keys at two sides of the desired key. Some of the keys tend to stay in a half-depressed condition, especially for the keys which are frequently used to set power ON or OFF. For the old and weak people, small children, and those with vision defect, it is particularly difficult to accurately depress these tiny setting keys and tends to produce incorrect ON and/or OFF settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a timer having an easily controllable push-button time setting means attached thereto. The timer has a plurality of time setting keys each of which is designed to have a structure and profile which can be easily pressed and pushed. The push-button time setting means has a push button and a press plate connected to a lower portion of the press button. The press plate has a front end which is less than 2mm in width.

To set a timer by using the present invention, first push all the time setting keys to an upper position. Then, use the push-button time-setting means to push down the desired keys one by one and finally accurately complete the time setting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a timer with the pushbutton time-setting means according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the relation of the dial and the setting keys with the push-button time-setting means of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the time setting key of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective of the push-button timesetting means of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the push-button time-setting means in a depressed condition to push down a time setting key on the timer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Please refer to Fig. 1. The present invention relates to a timer having a push-button time-setting means. The timer has a housing 1, a dial 2 provided on a top surface of the housing 1, and a push-button means 3 provided on the top of the housing 1 next to the dial 2. There are also switch, receptacle, plug, etc. provided on the timer but all are parts with conventional structure and are therefore not further described herein.

The dial 2 is provided around an outer periphery with a plurality of setting keys 21 for setting a specific time on which a power should be ON or OFF. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all the setting keys 21 are pushed upward from the dial 2 with a finger, and then the push-button means 3 is used to push downward the desired setting keys 21 one by one to set the time on which the power should be ON.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the relation of the dial 2 and the setting keys 21 with the push-button time-setting means 3. As shown, in addition to the peripheral setting keys 21, the dial 2 also has a time marking indicator 22 and a rotating disc 23. The time marking indicator 22 is fixedly attached to the rotating disc 23 and rotates with the rotating disc 23 synchronously. The rotating disc 23 has a conventionally known internal structure (not shown) to actuate the rotation thereof, for example, to rotate one turn each day. The setting keys 21 are mounted to an outer periphery of the rotating disc 23. The setting keys 21 are so designed that they can be pushed to move upward along an downward and outward inclined side surface of the rotating disc 23, as the time setting key 21 at the left side of the timer shown in Fig. 2, or be pushed to move downward along the inclined side surface of the rotating disc 23, as the time setting key 21 at the right side of the timer in Fig.

2. Generally, a depressed setting key 21 shall set a time on which the power should be ON. And, an upward pushed setting key 21 shall set a time on which the power should be OFF. Since this is a known skill, it is not further discussed herein.

As shown in Fig. 2, the push-button time-setting means 3 is mounted to the top of the housing 1 next to the setting keys 21. The push-button time-setting means 3 includes a casing 31, a push button 32, and a spring 33.

As shown in Fig. 3, the time setting key 21 according to the present invention includes two upward inclinedly projected legs together defining a sliding channel 211 between them, a head portion 212, a back portion 213, and a tooth 214 downward projected from a bottom surface of the time setting key 21. The time setting key 21 is mounted on the dial 2 by engaging the sliding channel 212 with the inclined side surface of the rotating disc 23, as shown in Fig. 2. Since this is a known skill, it is not discussed herein. The head portion 212 is where the time setting key 21 contacts with the push button 32 so that the setting key 21 is pushed downward. When the head portion 212 is depressed, the tooth 214 moves into a tooth seat 24 provided below the rotating disc 23. This is also a known skill and is not further discussed herein. The back portion 213 has a profile suitable for a finger or nail to contact with so as to push the time setting key 21 5 upward along the inclined side surface of the rotating disc 23.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective of the push-button timesetting means 3 of the present invention. Please refer to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 at the same time. The casing 31 of the time-setting means 3 is mounted on the top of the housing 1 next to the dial 2. The casing 31 is an integral extension of the housing 1 and includes an upward projected top portion 311 and a downward extended seat portion 312.

The push button 32 includes a button head 321 and a press plate 322. The button head 321 is provided at a bottom surface with a downward extended rod 321a. An insertion stem 321b is provided to a lower end of the rod 321a. The top portion 311 of the casing 31 is provided at a top surface with a hole 311a for the rod 321a and the insertion stem 321b of the button head 321 to pass through. The seat portion 312 is provided at a top surface with a recess 312a for the insertion stem 321b of the button head 321 and the spring 33 put around the insertion stem 321b to locate thereat. The press plate 322 is located below the top portion 311 of the casing 31 and has a hole 322a through which the rod 321a of the button head 321 extends. The press plate 322 has a front projection 322b which locates immediately above the head portion 212 of the time setting key 21. The hole 311a has a diameter large enough for the rod 321a to freely move up and down therein while the hole 322a has a diameter small enough for the rod 321a to tightly fit therein.

The above arrngements allows the push button 32 to freely move up and down within the hole 311a relative to the casing 31 and to easily and accurately push down those time setting keys 21 to set a time on which the power should be ON.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the push button 32 is depressed to push the setting key 21 downward. As shown, when a downward force is applied to the button head 321 of the push button 32, the press plate 322 descends at the same time with the front projection 322b contacting with and pressing against the head portion 212 of one of the time setting keys 21, causing the specific time setting key 21 to slide down along the inclined side surface of the rotating disc 23 until the bottom tooth 214 is seated in the tooth seat 24. The depressed time setting key 21 now sets a time on which the power should be ON. The Depressed push button 32 also compresses the spring 33. When the button head 321 is released, the compressed spring 33 immediately recovers to its extended state and pushes the press plate 322 and the button head 321 upward, and the push button 32 returns to a non-depressed position.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A timer with easily controllable time setting means, comprising a housing, a dial provided on a top surface of the housing, and push-button means mounted on the housing; the dial having around an outer periphery thereof with a plurality of time setting keys which are each movable upward or downward relative to the top surface of the housing along an inclined side surface of a rotatable disc of the dial until a respective time setting key is locatable in a predetermined position, so as to set a time at which power should be ON or OFF; the push-button means being mounted on the top surface of the housing adjacent the time setting keys, the pushbutton means including a casing, a push button mounted in the casing, and biasing means for biasing the push button in an outward direction of the casing; the push button having a press plate tightly fitted near a lower portion of the push button to locate above a head portion of the time setting keys, the press plate having a front projection which has a width smaller than the width of the head portion of each time setting key, whereby when the push button is depressed, the front projection of the press plate depresses a selected time setting key to set a time on which the power should be ON, and when the push button is released, the biasing means disposed below the press plate immediately pushes the press plate upward without interfering with any subsequent rotation of the dial.

2. A timer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

3. A timer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring is a coil spring.

4. A timer with easily controllable time setting means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to/and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.