US1624539A - Electric time switch for automobile lights - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1927.

A. L. N.'CREMO ET AL ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE L I GETS Filed April 1925 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARISTIDE L. N. CREMO AND ALBERT J. GORDON, OF ATTLEBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, AS- SIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH E. GAYNQR, OF ATILEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE LIGHTS.

Application filed April 6, 1925. Serial No. 21,094.

The present invention appertains to an electric time switch for autoi'nobile lights, and has for its principal object to provide means which can be set, and depended upon to display a light at the predetermined time, said means being automatically operable when set or adapted to be manually act-initial at any time to admit of the light being displayed. This invention is of in'iportance since, at the present time, in the operation of motor vehicles it frequently happens that the same are .left unattended for a period. extending past niglitfall, thereby subjecting the owner or operator to a penalty for fail ure to display a light which is ui'iiversally required by traflic regulations, and further more an operator of a motor vehicle often forgets to display his lights as nightfall approaches.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an electric time switch of this nature, which is easily adjustable so that the lights will be displayed at the desired time, and one which is exceedingly simple in its construction, easy to install as part of the light circuit of an automobile, efficient and reliable in its operation, not liable to easily become out of order, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is de signed.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a circuit closing key which will be eflicient in preventing theft of the automobile.

lVith the above and numerous other ob jects in view as will appe r as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure l is a front elevation, of the device embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken therethrough.

Figure 3 is another fragmentary section taken tlierethrough.

Figure 4; is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring incident to the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that 5 designates a casing mounted on a plate 6 so that it may be attached to the dash board of an automobile, 01' in some other suitable and convenient position.

The front wall or panel 7 of the casing 5 provided with an arcuate slot 8 having hours,

thereon by suitable indicia 9.

and fraction of an hour indicated A shaft 10 is rotated by the hour hand shaft of a clock mechanism of any suitable nature.

On this shaft 10 there is mounted agear 11 which meshes with a gear 12 rotatable on the shaft 13. A hub l l is rotatable on the shaft 13, and spring 15 is disposed about the hub for impinging against the collar 16 thereof and a nut 17 so that the collar 16 will be held in frictional engagement with the gear 12 and be normally rotated thereby.

indicator 18 projects from the collar 16 and is bent to extend through the slot 8 and terminates in a pointer 19 for cooperating with the indicia 9. I disposed between the collar 16 and gear 12.

An insulating washer 20 is A wire 21 is connected to the indi ator 18 and a terminals 23.

wire 22 is .-onnected to the contact If, by way of example, the

lights 2%. should be turned on within four and one half hours, the hand or indicator 18 would be set at four and one half on the indicia 9, and thus it will be seen that after this amount of time transpires, the point 19 of the indicator will contact with the termin al 23, thereby closing a circuit as will be evident from an inspection of Figure 4. The clock mechanism willcontinue to rotate, and the gear 12 will also continue to rotate, but it will merely slip in relation to the indicator, and have no further efi'ect there- Itwill be seen that the indicator may at any time be manually moved so as to engage the fixed contacts 23.

A slot 25 is provided in the panel 7.

shock.

Thus when the operator is about to leave the car he may )ull out this key :28 and it will not be possible for unauthorized persons to start the car. This key, of course, is supplemental to the ordinary ignition lock key.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of this invention will now be clearly understood without a more detailed description thereof.

The invention provides a comparatively simple mechanisn'i which is positive in operation, and which may be set and depended upon to operate at the predeterminet time so that a motor vehicle may be left unitttclitlfitl, and that at the required time will be provided with the lights without any special care on the part of the owner or operator, other than to properly set the circuit closer when the machine is left unattended. it will further be apparent that the present embodiment of the invention has been given merely by way of example in order to disclose means whereby the advantages of the invention may be attained. It is to be understood, that numerous changes in the details of construction, in the materials, in the sizes and the proportions, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new is In a device of the class described, a casing, a front panel for the casing, said front panel being provided with an arcuate slot having one end slightly offset, a fixed contact at said offset end, of the slot, a shaft mounted for rotation in the casing, a gear rotatable on the shaft, an insulating washer on the shaft next to the gear, an indicator having a hub portion rotatable on the shaft, a spring associated with the hub portion holding it in frictional engagement with the washer and the washer in frictional engagement with the gear, a time controlled mechanism gear meshing with the first mentioned gear, said indicator being bent intermediate its ends so that its free extremity is offset, the intermediate bent portion extending through the slot, so that when the indicator is actuated to said end of the slot, it will en ga e the fixed contact for closing a circuit.

in testimony whereof We our signatures.

ARISTIDE L. N. GREMO. ALBERT J GORDON.

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