US2099547A - Alarm clock device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1937. R, VARLEY ALARM CLOCK DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l E@ /P/ch/A @a 144,@ fr

I\ ./EINTOR ATTORNEYS.

/t//T/VESS NOV. 16, 1937. R VARLEY 2,099,547

ALARM CLOCK DEVICE Filedoot. 17, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 35 FIG. 17. CT, n

/P/c//A ,e0 l/AAM INVENTOR.

f7-NESS.' BY

. ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM CLOCK vDEVICE Application October 17, 1935, Serial No. 45,392

Claims.

` This invention relates to an alarm clock device for the convenience of a person reclining in bed.

It is the natural custom of a person when 5 awakened from sleep by the sound of an-alarm clock to shut oif the alarm and unless the person immediately arises, there is the natural tendency of the person to again fall asleep, with the result that the person oversleeps and is late in arising. o I appreciate that alarm clocks have been devised whereby the clock initially sounds a soft audible alarm and if not shut olf within a predetermined time, a louder and more violent audible alarm automatically operates. Such function has required changes in the alarm mechanism of a clock thus making the cost greater than that of an ordinary alarm clock, and even though two alarms are set off at predetermined intervals of time, it is possible for a sleeper to ignore them although awakened thereby, for they sound for a limited time only or by a single manual operation, the alarm may be shut oil! so that the second alarm never operates. It is therefore the purpose of this invention to continuously sound an audible alarm even though the sleeper may perform the manual act of shutting olf the clock alarm when awakened thereby, to prevent the possibility of falling asleep thereafter.

Another feature of the invention resides in a bed side alarm device whereby the manual act of shutting off the alarm of an alarm clock serves to light a lamp and set into operation a soothing intermittent secondary audible alarm which will sound until a second manual act is performed.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a bed side alarm device wherein the lamp which may be a bed reading lamp cannot be conveniently turned od before retiring until the secondary alarm is set for operation which avoids forgetfulness on the part of a user to set the secondary alarm'.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a master control device by which an alarm clock, reading lamp, and secondary alarm may be conveniently controlled from a person lying in bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is compact and attractive in appearance so as not to detract from the artistic furnishings of a bed room in which it is intended for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described,

are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the alarm device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view with parts shown in section, the alarm clock and its supporting cradle being shown in raised position in full lines, and in lowered position in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a top plan view with the alarm clock and its cradle removed.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the alarm clock supporting cradle.

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral I II designates a flat rectangular shaped base which is hollow for the housing of electrical terminals and connecting wires for electrically connecting the several electric outlet sockets which are associated with the base and which will be hereinafter described. The open body of the flat face is closed by a removable plate I I secured in position by screws or like fastening elements I2 whereby access may be had to the parts enclosed within the base when desired.

Secured to the base I0 and rising upwardly therefrom is a rectangular shaped casing I3, the said casing being set back from the front of the base. The casing I3 is open at the top and is divided by a horizontal partition I4 to provide an upper compartment I5 and a lower compartment I6. The partition I4 extends forward of the casing I3 through a vvertical slot I1 in the front wall thereof to provide a forwardly extending elevated platform I 8. The partition I4 is constructed of metal and is bent downwardly and vertically to meet the top of the base I0. 'I'he downwardly bent portion constitutes a front wall I9 disposed in spaced parallel relation to the front wall of the casing I3, and together with the platform I8 and base I0, forms an open ended compartment 20.

The front wall of the casing I3 inwardly from the top thereof is provided with a curved cut away portion 2I to conform to the general shape of the face ofthe alarm clock with which the device is intended for use. The rear wall of the casing Il is similarly cut away4 as at 22 to ex pose the winding and setting knobs at the back of the alarm clock.

Mounted directly beneath the partition I4 and partly disposed within the lower' compartment I6 and partly within the compartment 20, is a double push button snap switch 23 of the conventional construction, and which includes an on push button 24 and an "ofP push button 25. 'Ihe push buttons 24 and 25 extend through openings 26 in the partition I4. The push button 24 is disposed within the upper compartment I while the push button 25 ,is disposed just forward of the plane of the front wall of the casing I3 centrally of the slot'or opening I1. In this type of two button snap switch, one button is always in an extended position, while the other is in a depressed position, the position of the buttons alternating relative to each other during the turning on and off oi the switch.

Slidable vertically within the casing is a rectangular shaped cradle 21 open at its topand having arcuate shaped openings 28 in the front and rear which coincide with the cut outs 2l and 22 in the casing I3, and which register therewith when the cradle is in a lowered position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The bottom of the cradle is provided with a depending socket or seat 29 for receiving the .outer end of the push button 24. The push button 24 serves to support the cradle at all times for the weight of the same combined with the weight of the. clock to be hereinafter described, is insufficient to overcome the spring action of the snap switch. The side walls of the casing act as guides for guiding the cradle during its up and down' sliding movement. It will thus be seen that by pushing downwardly 4upon the off push button 25, the cradle may be lifted by the upward movement of the push button 24, and by pushing downwardly upon the cradle when the same is in araised position, the "on push button 24 will be depressed and the oif" push button 25 will move upwardly.

Supported by the cradle 21 is an alarm clock 30, the face and back of which are exposed through the openings 26. In the event that the alarm clock should be smaller than the cradle, suitable fillers may be inserted between the clock and the end walls of the cradle so as to prevent accidental tilting of the clock relative thereto. The alarm clock 30 is shown in the drawings as being of the electrically operated type, although alarm clocks of the Winding spring actuated type may be used in connection with the invention without any changes in construction thereof..

'I'he alarm clock 30 is provided with the usual alarm setting and shut off button 3l which extends from the top of the clock casing. In the operation of this type of button, the manual pulling out of the button effects a setting of the alarm mechanism of the clockvwhereas a manual force applied in a downward direction to the button will cause the alarm to be stopped or prevent operation of thealarm clock. This same alarm control is present in spring actuated alarm clocks as well as the electrical type herein shown and described.

Mounted in the lower compartment I6 and opening throughA the rear of the casing I3 are electric outlet sockets 32 and 33, the socket 32 receiving a plug 34 carried by the free end of an electric cord 35 leading from the electric clock 30. 'I'he socket 33 receives a plug 36 carried by the free end of an electric cord 31 leading to a reading lamp 38' shown in the diagrammatic view in Figure 7. 'I'he lamp 38' may not necessarily be a reading lamp, but a wall or ceiling lamp within a bed room, or the lamp 36 may be arranged il! parallel with other remote lamps in other rooms of a household for the purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The sockets 32 and 33 are electrically connected .to a source of electric energy with which the device is adapted to be connected, and for this purpose an electric cord 38 has its conducting wires at one end respectively connected to binding posts 39 and 46 enclosed within the hollow base I0. The other end of the cord 38 carries a .plug 4I which may be inserted into thesocket of an electrical current supply system.

Mounted within the compartment 26 adjacent the left side thereof is-an electric socket 42 which receives its supply of current from the main conductor cord 38 in a manner to be later described. Arranged in the same circuit as the socket 42 is a toggle snap switch 43 having a pivoted actuating lever 44. The switch is enclosed within the compartment 26 but 'the actuating lever 44 extends above the top wall I8 thereof forwardly of and to the left side of the push button 25. 'I'he lever 44 is provided with a fiat disk 45, which when the actuating lever is swung to an "off position, serves as an obstruction to prevent convenient access to the push button 25. The disk 45 when in obstructing position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 prevents free access to themanipulation of the push button 25, for to operate the same would require the unnatural forcible insertion of the finger between the disk and the adjacent front wall of the cradle 21. With this in mind, it is obvious that the disk prevents natural operation of the push button 25 to shut off the switch 23 unless the switch 43 is in an on position.

The switch 43 controls the secondary electrically operated alarm which isconnected to the device through the socket 42. The secondary alarm includes an audible alarm preferably in the form of an electrically operated bell 46 which may be conveniently located in the room with the clock A30. The bell 46 is preferably of the soft tone or chime variety and has a less periodicity than the bell of the alarm clock 36. The bell 46 may be of -the slow sounding type such as for instance, one that sounds at minute or half minute intervals. Although other types of sound instruments may be used in lieu of the instrument 46, I have found that the soft slow intermittent tones produced by this type of instrument are more pleasing to the ear of a person after being aroused from sleep by the violent and rapid-sounding of the bell of the alarm clock 36. An electric cord 41 has one end connected to the sound instrument 46 and its other end connected to an electric plug 46 which is inserted into the socket 42.

The wiring of .the several sockets and switch with the source of electric supply which enters through the cord 38 is enclosed within the hollow base I6, but in Figure 7- of the drawings, I have illustrated the wiring diagrammatically. The reading lamp circuit in which the socket 33 is arranged may be traced as follows: From binding post 39 through wire 49 to the socket 33, through the plug 36, cord 31, lamp 38', and return to the socket 33, wires 50 and 5I to 'the terminal 52 of the switch 23, through switch 23, wire 53, connected to the other terminal 52 of switch 23, and to the binding post 40. Thus when the push button 24 is down, the circuit to the reading lamp and to the socket 33 is closed, but when the push button 25 is down and the push button 24 up, the said circuit is open.

'111e electric circuit to the secondary alarm is through the binding post 33, wire I4 to switch 43, through switch 43, when the same is in on" position to wire 55, socket 42, plug 43, cord 41, bell 4l and return to socket 42, wire 53 to wire 5I, terminals 52 and 52' of switch 23 to wire 53 to bind-l ing post 40. When the switch 43 is in on position and the switch 23 operated to on" position by depression of the push button 24, the secondary alarm circuit will be closed and the bell 45 set in operation. The bell 45 may be conveniently located within a bed room with the device or a number of similar bells may be arranged in the same circuit in other rooms of a household to arouse not only the occupant of one room, but also the occupants of other rooms. If desired, a bell or other audible alarm device 55 may be arranged in the secondary alarm system by connecting the same with wires 50 and 55. When the bell 55 is incorporated in the circuit, the same may be used as a local secondary alarm signal whereas, the alarm instrument 45 connected with the device through the plug 43 and socket 42 may be located at some remote place.

In operation of the device, the alarm clock 30 is set for operation at a predetermined time before the user retires, the knob 3| being pulled upwardly to set position as shown ln Figure 5. It is assumed that the push buttons 25 is in a down position and the switch 23 is therefore oi!". The switch 43 is in an on position as shown in Figure 1, whereby the obstructing disk 45 is out of an obstructing position with respect to push button 25. As stated before, the device is adapted to be positioned on a table beside the bed of a user, and assume that the user after reclining upon the bed desires to read. It is only necessary for the user to reach over, press downwardly upon the clock without touching or distributing the set position of the alarm button, which force depresses the push button 24 and turns on the switch 23 and by reason of the downward movement of the push button 24. the push button 25 movesupwardly. Turning on of the switch 23 effects a closing of the reading lamp circuit, whereupon the lamp 33' is illuminated. It will be remembered that the switch 43 is in an on position and that when the switch 23 is closed, the secondary alarm circuitin which the bell 45 is arranged will also be closed. In order to avoid the annoying sound of the secondary alarm bell 45, the user operates the switch 43 to an open position, whereby the disk 45 is in an obstructing position with respect to the push button 25. 'I'he actuation of the switch 43 to shut oil! position opens the secondary alarm circuit. When the user wishes to turn out the reading lamp to retire for the night, he cannot do so unless the switch 43 is turned on for it will be remembered that the disk 45 is obstructing access to the push button 25. The switch 43 is next turned on and with the obstructing disk 45 in a non-obstructing position, the user may depress the push button 25, causing the switch 23 to be turned olf, which moves the push button 24 upwardly which correspondingly moves the cradle and clock 30 to an elevated or raised position. The act of moving the disk 45 to an unobstructing position serves to set the alarm circuit for operation upon the subsequent turning on of the switch 23. When the rapid alarm of the clock sounds for the awakening of the user, the user manually pushes downwardly upon the button 3| to shut oi said alarm, and by a following through action of a slightly increased manual force, the elevated cradle 21 will move downward and cause the depression of the push button 24 against its spring action which turns on the snap switch 23, thus simultaneously lighting the bed lamp 3l' and operating the alarm circuit in which the slow sounding bell 43 is arranged. Should the user not arise upon the sounding oi' and shutting oi! of the alarm clock, he will be reminded thereafter by the slow intermittent tapping of the electrically accuated bell 43 and lighting of the lamp 33 which will act as a reminder and tend to prevent accidental falling asleep after the soundlng of the initial alarm. After arising, the user may turn of! the electric lamp 33 and the secondary alarm by the depression oi the push button 25, or the switch 43 may be turned oi! and the light permitted to remain on.

For the purpose of providing illumination for the face of the alarm clock during the night, I provide a night light 51 which rises upwardly from the platform I3, and which receives its current from a socket 53 enclosed within the compartment 2li. A switch 53 is provided for the turning Ion and on of the night light 51.' In Figure '7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the socket 53 ior the night light receives its electrical energy through wires 30 which are respectively connected to the binding posts 33 and 4I.

Although I have described the tension on the shut-oi! button 3| of the alarm clock when in set position as being less than that of the on push button 24 oi' the snap switch 23 when in up position, these relative tensions may be reversed, to assure that the on push button 24 is actuated from oil position to on" position during shutting oil' of the alarm mechanism of the clock. Such an arrangement avoids any possibility of the shutting on of the clock alarm until the snap switch 23 is actuated to on" position to close the auxiliary alarm circuit.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that certain changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

l. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a primary time alarm device including an alarm setting and shut-off mechanism, a secondary alarm means having a less periodicity than said primary alarm device, manually actuated control means for rendering said secondary alarm means operative and inoperative, means operable by the manual actuation of the shut-ot! mechanism from set to of!" position for actuating said control means to operative position to sound said secondary alarm means, and releasable obstructing means for preventing operation of said manually actuated control means when the latter is in operative position.

2. An apparatus of the class described corn-v prising in combination, an alarm clock having a manually operated slidable alarm setting and shut-oil mechanism, an electrical alarm device including a circuit, a source of electrical energy for said circuit, an electrically operated sound instrument arranged in said circuit and having a less periodicity than said alarm clock, a switch arranged in said circuit, and means for slidably supporting said alarm clock relative to said switch to cause actuation of said switch to on" position upon manual actuation of said alarm setting and shut-oi! mechanism from its set position to its shut-of! position.

3, An alarm device comprising in combination an alarm circuit, an electric lamp circuit. a source oi electric energy ior both circuits, a snap switch arranged in and common tof said alarm circuit and to said electric lamp circuit, an alarm switch arranged in said alarm circuit, and obstructing means associated with the alarm switch for preventing access to the actuation ot said snap switch to oil position when said alarm switch is in "oil" position.

4. An alarm device comprising in combination an alarm circuit, an electric lamp circuit, a source ci electric energy foi-.both circuits, a double push button snap switch having an on push button and an ofi push button, said push button snap switch being arranged in and common to said alarm circuit and to said electric lamp circuit, an alarm snap switch having a pivoted actuating lever arranged adjacent the on push button of said double push button switch, and an obstruction member carried by said actuating lever movable to an obstructing position with respect to the off push button when the alarm switch is in oil position to interfere with the manual manipulation oi said on push button when said alarm switch is in oh position and to swing out of obstructing position relative to said off push button when said-alarm switch is in an on position. y

5. An alarm device comprising in combination, an alarm circuitl having a source oi electric energy, an electrically operated periodicv audible alarm instrument arranged in said alarm circuit, a double push button snap switch having an on" push button and an ci push button, said push buttons being vertically disposed, an alarm clock supported by said on" push button, means for guiding said alarm vclock for up and down vertical movement, said alarm clock having a vertically slidable alarm control element at the top thereof, whereby manual actuation oi said control element .by a downward pressure to shut oil the alarm will move said alarm clock downwardly and cause said on push button to'be depressed to actuate the snap switch to close said alarm circuit to operate said periodic audible alarm instrument,

6. A device of the class described -comprislng in combination. a supporting stand. a double push-button snap switch mounted in a horizontal position upon said stand. said snap switch having lan "oill push button and an on push button, both push buttons being vertically disposed, an electric circuit in which said switch is arranged, a source oi electrical energy for said circuit, an electrical signal device in said circuit, an alarm clock supporting cradle supported by the on" push button oi means on said stand for said alarm clock supporting cradle whereby manual downward pressure upon said cradle when said switch is in oi!" position will effect a turning on oi' said switch.

'7. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a supporting stand, a double push button snap switch mounted in a horizontal position upon said stand, said snap switch having an o push button and an on" push button, both push buttons being vertically disposed, an electric circuit in which said switch is arranged, a source of electrical energy for said circuit, an electrical signal device in said circuit, an alarm clock supporting cradle supported by the "on push button .of said switch, guide means on said stand for said alarm clock supporting cradle whereby manual downward pressure upon said switch, and guide Y said cradle when said switch is in oi!" position will cilect a turning on o! said switch, a second snap switch arranged in said circuit and mounted on said stand and having a pivoted actuating member movable to an obstructing position forward oi the oi!" push button when said second snap switch is in "oil" position, and movable to a position out o! obstructing position with respect to said "oiP'fpush button when the second snap switch is in on position to facilitate tree gcc?? to the manipulation of said "ofP push 8. An apparatus oi' the class described comprising in combination an alarm clock having a manually depressible alarm shut-oi! mechanism, an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy, an electrically operated instrument in said circuit, an electric double push button snap switch 'arranged in said circuit and having an on push button and an of!" push button, and means for slidably supporting said alarm clock in an upright position upon said on push button, whereby the manual downward pressure exerted upon said shut-o2 mechanism will successively shut-ofi said alarm mechanism and actuate said on push button to closesaid electric switch.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprislng Ain combination, an alarm clock having a manually depressible alarm shut-oil? mechanism, an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy, an electrically operated element arranged in said circuit, an electric double push button switch arranged in said circuit and having an on push button and an oil push button, said push buttons 4being vertically disposed, and means for slidably supporting said alarm clock in a position of rest upon said "on" push button, whereby when said switch is in "oil" position said alarm clock will be supported in an elevated position upon said on push button and upon a slight manual downward pressure upon the depressible alarm shut-oil mechanism the same may be shut oil', or upon an increased manual pressure thereto suillcient to overcome the tension of the snap switch, the alarm shut-oli mechanism may be shut of!` and the on" push button actuated to on position to close said switch and circuit.

10. In an apparatus oi' the class described, an alarm clock having manual depressible alarm shut-of! mechanism, a stand, a double push button snap switch mounted on said stand having an on" push button and an ofi push button, and means for slidably supporting said alarm clock upon said on" push button, the tension oi the snap switch being suilicient to support the alarm clock when the switch is in of' position, whereby 1a single manual actuation or said shut loil mechanism will actuate the same from set to shut of! position and depress said "on push button to on position to close said switch.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, an alarm clock having a manual depressible alarm shut-ofi mechanism, a stand, a double push button snap switch mounted on said stand having an on" push button and an o push button, the manual force required to actuste said depressible alarm shut-on mechanism from set to of! position being greater than the manual force required to actuate the on push button from ofi to on position, and means for slidably supporting said alarm clock upon said "on push button whereby a single manual force applied to said shut-oi! mechanism will successively actuate said 75 "on push button and shut of! the alarm mechanism.

12. An alarm device comprising in combination, an alarm circuit, a source of electric energy for said circuit, a snap switch arranged in said circuit, an alarm switch arranged in said circuit, and obstructing means associated with the alarm switch for preventing access to the actuation of said snap switch to oi position when said alarm switch is in off position.

13. An alarm device comprising in combination, an alarm circuit, a source o1 electric energy for said circuit, a double push button snap switch having an on push button and an off push button, said push button snap switch being arranged in said alarm circuit, an alarm snap switch having a pivoted actuating lever arranged adjacent the off push button oi.' said double push button switch, and an obstruction member carried by said actuating lever movable to an obstructing position with respect to the oi push button when the alarm switch is in ofi position to interfere with the manual manipulation of said oi push button when said alarm switch is in off position and to swing out of obstructing position relative to said oil push button when said alarm switch is in on position.

14. In a device of the class described, a supporting stand, a double push button snap switch mounted in a horizontal position upon said stand, said snap switch adapted to control an electric circuit and having an ofi push button and an on push button, both push buttons being vertically disposed, an alarm clock supporting cradle supported by the on push button of said snap switch, and guide means on said stand for said alarm clock supporting cradle whereby manual downward pressure upon said cradle when said switch is in oiI position will eiIect a turning on oi said switch.

15. In a device of the class described, a supporting stand, a double push button snap switch mounted in a horizontal position upon said stand, said snap switch adapted to control an electric circuit and having an off push button and an on push button, both push buttons being vertically disposed, an alarm clock supporting cradle supported by the on push button of said snap switch, and guide means on said stand for said alarm clock supporting cradle whereby manual downward pressure upon said cradle when said switch is in oi position will effect a turning on of said switch, a second snap switch adapted to be arranged in the same circuit as the double push button snap switch and having a pivoted actuating member movable to an obstructing position forward o! the off push button when said second snap switch is in off position and movable to a position out of obstructing position with respect to said off push button when the second snap switch is in on position to facilitate free access to the manipulation of said oil push button.

RICHARD VARIEY.

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