US2721611A - Clock with remote alarm control - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1955 E. J. GORDON CLOCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Filed May 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3 H9 INVENTOR. 94 75 EDWARD JOSEPH GORDON ATTORN EY E- J. GORDON CLOCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Filed May 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EOgeRD JOSEPH GORDON ATTORNEY United States Patent "cc CLQCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Edward Joseph Gordon, Wickford, R. i. Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,756

3 Claims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates to electric clocks and more particularly to an alarm for an electric clock which is controlled by a unit remote from-the clock but having electrical coaction with the clock.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an alarm for a clock which is encased and controlled by a unit remote from the clock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm control for an electric alarm clock encased in a housing separate from the clock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm for an electric clock which is personal to one person and is controllable by that individual.

In the past electric clocks have had built in alarm systems which, when functioning, arouse all persons in the room providing a source of annoyance to later risers. Attempts have been made to obviate this nuisance in clocks by providing buzzers, chimes, sweet music and pretiming light flashes. Whatever the means employed to overcome the nuisance, the mechanism in the clock itself had to be handled to shut off the alarm. In addition, lights are ineffectual to a heavy sleeper.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies while overcoming the noise of the alarm nuisance to others by providing an alarm, personal to the user while retaining the use of the clock to others. Particular application of the present invention is found in homes with babies, hospitals, hotels, institutions, apartment houses and where one mate sleeps later than another.

The in ention is embodied in a unit separate from but controlled by the parent clock. The unit contains the alarm and the alarm control mechanism.

With these and other objects in View, the invention con sists of certain novel features of construction which will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claii .s.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an electric clock having electrical connection with the new remote alarm control unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the workings of an electric clock showing their interconnection with the new alarm and alarm control unit.

Figure 3 is a detail of the alarm control mechanism.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the alarm timing mechanism in the parent clock.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the timing mechanism in the parent clock.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the gear train in the parent clock.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view in section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an electrical diagram of the circuit controlling the clock with remote alarm control.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the alarm indicator dial.

70 Figure 10 1s a modified form of the alarm control mechanism.

2,721,511 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 Referring to the drawings, especially Figure 1, 10 generally indicates an electric clock. 11 generally indicates the unit housing the alarm and remote alarm control.

Referring to Figure 2, the mechanism of electric clock 10 consists of a primary coil 12, having a secondary winding 13, a horizontal core 14, secured to a laminated Ll-shaped core 15 having poles 16 and 17 oppositely disposed across armature 18 which has a shaft 19 provided with a pinion 20. This description is common to an alternating current induction motor commonly used in elec tric clocks with the exception of the secondary winding 13 which forms part of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, pinion 20 engages spur gear 21 which is secured to one end of a shaft 22 while a second hand 23 is secured to the other end of shaft 22. Adjacent spur gear 21 and secured to shaft 22 is a pinion 24 engaging a spur gear 25 secured to shaft 26 to which is secured a pinion 27 engaging a gear 28 secured to one end of a sleeve 3*!) freely and rotatably mounted on shaft 22. Minute hand 31 is secured to the other end of sleeve 30. A pinion 32 adjacent gear 23 is secured to sleeve 39 and engages gear 33 mounted on shaft 34 which also has pinion 35 secured thereto adjacent gear 33. Pinion 35 engages hour gear 36 secured to one end of a sleeve 37 freely and rotatably mounted on sleeve 3-9. An hour hand 38 is secured to the other end of sleeve 37. Reference character as indicates the glass face of a clock, while 41 indicates the dial of a clock and 42 is part of the housing of a clock. 43 is a plate held in spaced relation from housing 42 by means of four pillows 44. Shafts 19, 22 and 34 are mounted with one end in housing &2 and the other end in plate 43. The means for setting the minute and hour hands forms no part of this invention, hence such means is eliminated. What has just been described is merely by way of illustration to show clock mechanisrn.

The heart of the present invention will now be described. A shaft Stl, its opposite ends mounted in housing 42 and plate 43, has a pinion 51 secured thereon, engageable with hour gear 36. A shaft 52 has a gear 53 secured thereon, engageable with pinion 51. Referring to Figures 2 and 5, gear 53 has a gear segment 54 secured in an electrically insulated housing 55 fastened to its face 56. An arcuate shaped piece of electrically insulated material shown as comprising a base 57 and a pinion housing 58 is secured to housing 42. Shafts 60 and 61 mounted in pinion housing 58 and projecting beyond said housing 58 have pinions 62 and 63 rotatably mounted thereon, respectively.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4 shaft 52 is solid but is provided with a neck 65 and a knurled knob 66. Neck 65 is rotatably mounted in plate 43. Shaft 52 is mounted for slidable movement in a bearing 67 formed in housing 42. A coil spring 71 is interposed between housing 42 and gear 53. An alarm indicating finger 70 is secured to neck 65 and cooperates with a twenty-four hour dial 72, illustrated in Figure 9. Depressing knob 66 will force shaft 52 to compress spring 71. Movement of shaft 52 will carry gear 53 out of engagement with pinion 51, permitting the change in the relationship of gear 53 to hour gear 36 through pinion 51, thus setting the alarm. The removal of pressure from knob 66 will permit spring 71 to push shaft 52 hence gear 53 into engagement with pinion 51. Dial 72 as illustrated would be located on the back of the clock or on the side opposite the face of the clock.

Refer-tin to Figures 1 and 2 wherein 11 generally indicates the unit housing the alarm and remote control unit. A pillow alarm housing oval in shape consisting of a bottom 75 provided with a ridge 76 is adapted to be secured to a top 77 provided with a groove (not shown) adapted to engage ridge 76. A conventional commercial Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a bracket is secured to' bottom 75. Pivotally mounted for complete freedom of movement upon bracket 90 is a segment 91. Pinions 92 and 93 are rotatably mounted upon shafts 94 and 95 in bracket 90 on either side of the centerline of segment 91 when it is hanging in a vertical position. Shafts 94 and 95 project beyond bracket 90 so that electric wires can be secured to them.

Electric clock 10 is provided with a conventional plug outlet secured to one end of a wire cord 101, the

other end of which is secured to primary coil 12 with the positive wire connected to terminal 102 and the negative wire connected to terminal 103. Primary coil 12 is attached to secondary winding 13 in conventional manner so that the positive side of the secondary winding 13 is connected to wire 104 which forms part of cable 105 and connects to shaft 95. The negative side of secondary winding 13 is connected by means of covered wire 106 to shaft 60. Shaft 61 is connected by means of wire 107 which forms part of cable 105. The other end of wire 107 is connected to terminal 82. A wire 108 connects fixed contact 123 to magnet coil 121 which is connected to magnet coil by means of bus bar 127 which is connected to base plate 81 which has the stationary bracket 130 of movable contact 124 secured to it. Movable contact 124 is secured to armature 122 which is integral with terminal 83. A wire 132 connects terminal 83 to base 89. A wire 133 connects base 89 to shaft 94. A complete circuit has thus been described which has mechanism for interrupting the circuit.

Referring to Figure 10 wherein is shown a modified form of a gear segment which is illustrative of gear segment 54 and segment 91. It will be noted that gear teeth are missing from the face so that electrical contact will be periodically interrupted to sound the alarm in timed sequence. This feature of a periodic alarm can be controlled in gear segment 54 or in gear segment 91. The interruption is accomplished when the gear teeth of the segment fail to engage both pinions at the same time, thereby closing the electric circuit.

In operation electric clock 10 will be placed on a night stand. Unit 11 housing the alarm and the remote control will be placed under the sleepers pillow. Knob 66 will be used to set the alarm for the desired hour as indicated by finger 70 pointing to the numerals on dial 72. Top 77 is provided with finger grooves 138 so that the person may know the remote control is in alarm ringing position. Handle 85 is adjusted to rheostat coil 84 for the desired decibels in the buzzer 80. As hour gear 36 turns pinion 51 and gear 53 gear segment 54 will engage t pinions 62 and 63 thereby closing the circuit and permitting the buzzer to sound. The sleeper will be awakened, reach under the pillow and turn unit 11 upside down. By so doing segment 91 will swing away from contacting pinions 92 and 93, thereby breaking the circuit and silencing buzzer 80.

Referring to Figure 3 it can be used as a safety factor in the ignition system of automobiles airplanes, tractors, electric toasters and other home appliances by causing a break in the electrical system when the device tips over.

Having illustrated and described one embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, but realizing that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

l. A mechanism comprising a bracket of electrically insulating material, a segment of electrically conductive material having gear teeth in one face pivotally suspended from said bracket for free oscillation under the influence of gravity, two pinions of electrically conductive material rotatably mounted upon shafts fixed in said bracket on either side of the center of the pivotal point of said segment, said shafts having means for engaging the positive and negative connection of an electrical cirzuit, the gear teeth of said segment engaging the teeth of both pinions in one position of said segment in its relation to the centerline between said pinions and being completely disengaged from said pinions when said segment is swung to an extreme position by the action of gravity.

2. A mechanism for an electrical circuit provided with gravity actuated means comprising a pivotally mounted gear segment, two pinions, each connected as a terminal of the electrical circuit, said gear segment engaging both pinions to close the electrical circuit when in one position and disengaging at least one of said pinions to break the electrical circuit when said gear segment is in an opposite position.

3. A mechanism for an electrical circuit comprising a gear in constant rotation, a gear segment provided with missing teeth secured to said gear, two pinions rotatably mounted in an insulated housing, said pinions being part of the electrical circuit, said gear segment periodically engaging said pinions, said missing teeth interrupting the periodic engagement, a remote control unit in the circuit containing a second gear segment, two additional pinions rotatably mounted in an insulated bracket, said last mentioned pinions being part of said electrical circuit, said second gear segment being pivotally mounted for gravitationally engaging said last mentioned pinions to close said electrical circuit when the teeth in said first mentioned gear segment engage the first mentioned two pinions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,886 Schloss Dec. 17, 1901 951,601 Doyle Mar. 8, 1910 952,710 Pesce Mar. 22, 1910 1,350,693 Barletta Aug. 24, 1920 1,411,298 Osborn Apr. 4, 1922 1,563,753 Krone Dec. 1, 1925 1,934,387 Tweedale Nov. 7, 1933 1,983,645 Soreng Dec. 11, 1934 2,239,160 Newman Apr. 22, 1941 2,396,947 Gutteridge Mar. 19, 1946 2,517,368 Wiseley Aug. 1, 1950

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