US2909771A - Door signal regulator - Google Patents

Description

1959 L. H. MINNICH 2,909,771

DOOR SIGNAL REGULATOR Filed July 5, 1956 INVENTOR. ZOU/S H. M/N/V/CH United States Patent DOOR SIGNAL REGULATOR Louis H. Minnich, Maple Shade, NJ.

Application July 5, 1956, Serial No. 596,084

3 Claims. (Cl. 340-392) The present invention is directed to a door signal regulator and is concerned primarily with the provision of a regulator which will automatically control the time during which a door signal is effective and also inactivate a signal for a predetermined interval after it has once been actuated.

At the present time, bells, buzzers, and chimes are commonly employed as door signals for the purpose of advising the occupant of the premises where such a signal is installed of the fact that a caller is at the door. For the purposes of this specification, such a door signal will hereinafter be referred to as a doorbell, although it is to be clearly understood that the term is synonymous with a buzzer or chime.

People ringing doorbells may be divided into several categories. Some people will depress the push button only momentarily. Others will push the button repeatedly at short intervals; while still others will hold the button depressed for long periods. In many cases, the actuation of a doorbell in any of these manners is annoying to the people occupying the premises. Thus, when an impatient caller holds the button depressed for a long time or repeatedly pushes it, a nuisance is created which is particularly objectionable if infants should be asleep. Then again, on occasions such as Halloween, youngsters in pursuit of mischief often ring doorbells repeatedly and on different occasions, all to the annoyance of the home owner.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view as an important object the provision of a door signal regulator which, in the first instance, is efiective to so activate the signal, whatever character it may be, for a certain predetermined time period regardless of how long the push button is held depressed. Purely by way of example, it is noted that if the regulator is set for the signal to be activated for a period of twofifths of a second, the regulator of this invention is effective to cause the signal to be activated for exactly that period regardless of whether or not the push button is depressed only momentarily or for a long period.

Another highly important object of the invention is to provide a door signal regulator of the character indicated which includes electrical devices whereby, once the push button has been actuated to render the signal effective for the predetermined period, it is then rendered ineffective for another longer predetermined interval. Thus, by way of example, it may be noted that, after the bell has been activated, it cannot again be rendered effective uutil after the elapse of an interval which may be something in the nature of three minutes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door signal regulator of the type aforesaid which causes the period during which the signal is inactivated to begin to run each time the push button is depressed. Thus, if a caller should push the button and become impatient after waiting a minute or two, and then again push the button, the signal will not be in a condition to. become Patented Oct. 20, 1959 ice effective until after the elapse of the full period from the time of the last pushing of the button.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a door signal regulator of the character noted, an electrical system including a push button and a signal, together with electrical devices for short-circuiting the push button once it is depressed so as to make certain the signal is activated once, and only once, and for the proper period of time.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a door signal regulator which consists essentially of an electrical circuit that includes the signal, a push button, and electrical devices for causing the signal to be activated for exactly a predetermined period once the push button is depressed, and then rendered ineffective for another longer predetermined interval irrespective of whether or not the push button is actuated.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

The figure is a wiring diagram of a door signal regulatordesigned in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, a transformer is referred to in its entirety by the reference character T.

- The transformer T includes a primary 10 which is intended to be connected to any appropriate source of current supply, such as the usual or l20-volt lines that are commonly found in the home. The transformer T also includes a secondary 11 having terminals 12 and 13.

It will be understood that the current that is usually available is alternating current and that the transformer 'From this same terminal 14 another line 19 extends and is connected to a binding post 20 which is included as a part of a door signal, which is represented by the bell B. The bell B includes another terminal 21, from which extends a line 22 that is connected to a switch terminal 23 of a three-pole double-throw switch which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character S. From this switch terminal 23 there extends another line 24 to a terminal 25.

Between this terminal 25 and another terminal 26 there is a condenser 27. This condenser is provided for antispark purposes and is not an absolute essential to the device. From the terminal 26 a line 28 extends to the terminal 13 of the transformer secondary 11.

From the terminal 15 of the rectifier R there extends a line 29 ending in a terminal 30. This terminal 30 is connected to another switch terminal 31, which is a part of the switch S, by a line 32. A contact switch C has contacts 33 and 34 which are adapted to be either in the open condition depicted in the drawing or closed. The contact 33 is carried by an arm 35 that is connected to the terminal 30; while the contact 34 .is carried by an arm 36 that is connected to a terminal 37. From the terminal 37 a line 38 extends to another switch tenninal 39 of the switch S. Also connected to the terminal 37 is one end of a relay coil 40,'the other end of which is connected to a terminal 41. From the terminal 41 a line 42 extends to a terminal 43. Between this terminal 43 and another terminal 44- there is a condenser 45. A high resistance 46 in the nature of 80,000-100,000 ohms is connected across the condenser 45 and to the terminals 43 and 44. the terminal 17 of the rectifier R.

A second contact switch is represented at C. It includes contacts 48 and 49, which normally are spaced as depicted in the drawing but which are adapted to be brought intocontacting engagement under the influence of the relay coil 4%. The contact 48 is connected to the terminal 25 by a line 50; while the contact 49 is connected by a line 51 with a terminal 52..

The terminal 52 is connected to the terminal 26 by a line 53, and another line 9 extends from the terminal 52 to a terminal 54.

From the terminal 54 a line 55 extends to a switchblade pole 56 which is included as a part of the switch S. The switch S also includes switch-blade poles 57 and as well as another switch terminal 69. From the switch-blade pole of the switch S a line 59 extends to the terminal 68 that is included as a part of a push button, which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character P. The push button P includes another terminal 61 that is connected by a line 62 with the switch-blade pole 57 of the switch S. From the switch terminal 69 of the switch S a line 63 extends to the terminal 16 of the rectifier R.

The switch S includes an arm 64 that, in the position of the drawing, connects the terminal 31 and switchbiade pole 53. In the other position, this arm is adapted to connect the switch-blade pole 58 with the switch terminal 23. The switch S also includes a second arm 65 which, in the position illustrated, connects the terminal and switch-blade pole 57. When the switch is swung over into its other position, this arm 65 connects the switch-blade pole 57 with a switch terminal 66 that is in turn connected by a line 67 with the terminal 54. Switch S includes still another arm 68 which, in the position illustrated, connects the switch-blade pole 56 with switch terminal 69. When the switch isswung into its other position, this arm 68 is ineffective.

Operation When the push button is depressed, the connection across the terminals 6t? and 61 is completed. This complctes the circuit from terminal 15 of the'rectifier through line 29, terminal 3t), line 32, switch terminal 31 of the switch S, switch-blade pole 58 of the switchS, line- 5?, line 62, switch-blade pole 57 of the switch S, switch terminal 39 of the switch S, line 3%, terminal 37, relay coil 4t, terminal 41, and line 42 through condenser 45 and line 47 back to the terminal 117 of the rectifier R.

As the relay coil 40 is energized, the contacts C and C are closed and will remain closed as long as suflicient current passes through the relay coil 40. When the contact C is closed, the circuit through the bell B is completed in the following manner: it flows from terminal 12 of the transformer 13. through line 18 to terminal 14, from the latter through the line'll9 through the bell B.

From the terminal 44 a line 47 extends to ton P and renders ineffective any actuation of the latter until such time as the condenser is discharged.

The high resistance 46 across the condenser 45 gradually discharges this condenser and, after it has been discharged, the system is again in condition to have the push button P depressed to ring the bell B. The time which it takes the resistance 46 to discharge the condenser is the time during which it is impossible to activate the signal. The time it takes the condenser to charge determines the time .during which sufficient current flows through the relay coil 40, and hence the time period during which the signal B is activated.

When the switch S is thrown into position in which the arm 64 engages switch terminal 23 and the arm 65 engages the switch terminal 66, the door signal is ready to be used in the normal manner now obtaining without the regulating features. This position of the switch simply cuts out the regulator.

In' order to give a more clear understanding of one embodiment of the invention, it will be noted that the source of current supply available is ordinarily 110-120 volts-AC; The secondary 11 of the transformer will have a potential ranging from 8 to 16 volts. The bell, chime, or buzzer which is represented at B will include the usual'standard circuits for such devices.

The relay coil 40 should have a resistance of 200-250 ohms and should draw a current of about milliamperes. The condenser. 45 has a capacity of 500 microfarads, which is particularly indicated when the signal B is a chime, and should be much smaller when a hell or buzzer is utilized. As above explained, the resistance 46 should be in the nature of 80,000100,000 ohms.

It is importantrto note that the capacity of the condenser 45 should be properly correlated with the current which the relay coil 49'draws. The size of the resistance 46 determines the time it takes the condenser to discharge, and thus the time during which it is impossible to activate the signal.

The reason for short-circuiting the push button P by the'contact 0 when the coil 40 is energized is to make certain that the bell is rung once, and only once, and for the proper time period. When a chime is employed, it is particularly important that the circuit through be of proper duration.

It will be understood that the foregoing potentials, currents, capacities, and resistances are given purely by way of example and are subject to variation depending tems, circuits, anddevices illustrated and described, be

From the hell 8 the circuit is' through the line Z2 totheswitch terminal 23 and from the latter through lines 24 and 56, across the contact C, and then through lines 51, 53, and to the terminal 13 of the transformer T. Thus the circuit through the bell B is completed and rendered efiective only so long as sufficient current flows through the relay coil 49. The current will so flow until the condenser 45 is charged to that point where insuflicient current flows through the relay coil 40 to maintain the contacts C and C closed, whereupon contact C is opened to interrupt the circuit-through the bell B.

At this same time that the relay coil 41 is energized, the contact C closes, which short-circuits the push butcause various modifications of these'details may be provided in putting the invention into practice Within the purview of the appended claims. a

.What is claimed is:

1. In a door signal regulator, an electrical system comprising: a transformer having a primary adapted to be connected to a source of current supply and asecondary; a four-way bridge rectifier including opposite first and third AC terminals and opposite second and fourth D.C. terminals, a line connecting one end of said secondary' to said first terminal, a three-pole double-throw switch includingfiveeffective switch terminals and three switch-bladepolesfa line extending from the other end of said secondary to said third rectifier terminal and inof said switch, said lines providing an AC. circuit through saidgre'ctifier; arelay-coil, a push-button switch, acondensenand shunt resistor with a D.C. circuit from one rectifier DIG; terminal to the other rectifier D.C. terminal including said relay coil, said push-button switch, said condensennandlshunt, and twoswitch-blade poles and the signal two switch terminals of said three-pole double-throw switch; and an AC. circuit across said secondary and including a signal, one switch terminal of said three-pole double-throw switch, and a pair of relay contacts.

2. In a door signal regulator, an electrical system comprising: a transformer having a primary adapted to be connected to a source of current supply and a secondary; a four-way bridge rectifier including opposite first and third A.C. terminals and opposite second and fourth D.C. terminals, a line connecting one end of said secondary to said first terminal, a three-pole double-throw switch including five efiective switch terminals and three switchblade poles, a line extending from the other end of said secondary to said third rectifier terminal and including one switch-blade pole and one switch terminal of said switch, said lines providing an AC. circuit through said rectifier, a relay coil, a push-button switch, a condenser, and shunt resistor with a DC. circuit from one rectifier D.C. terminal to the other rectifier D.C. terminal including said relay coil, said push-button sw-itch, said condenser, and shunt, and two switch-blade poles and two switch terminals of said three-pole double-throw switch; an AC. circuit across said secondary and including a signal, one switch terminal of said three-pole doublethrow switch, and a pair of relay contacts; and a relay contact included in said D.C. circuit for shunting said push-button switch.

3. In a door signal regulator, an electrical system comprising: a transformer having a primary adapted to be connected to a source or" current supply and a secondary; a four-way bridge rectifier including A.C. terminals and DC. terminals, a line connecting one end of said secondary to one of said A.C. terminals; a three-pole doublethrow switch including five elfective switch terminals and three switch-blade poles; a line extending from the other end of said secondary to the other of said A.C. terminals and including one switch-blade pole and one switch terminal of said switch; said lines providing an AC. circuit through said rectifier; a relay coil, a push-button switch, a condenser, and shunt resistor with a D.C. circuit from one of said rectifier D.C. terminals to the other of said rectifier D.C. terminals and including said relay coil, said push-button switch, said condenser, and shunt, and two switch-blade poles and two switch terminals of said threepole double-throw switch; and an AC. circuit across said secondary and including a signal, one switch terminal of said three-pole double-throw switch, and a pair of relay contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,432 Vonopel Aug. 9, 1938 2,203,907 Hines June 11, 1940 2,263,051 Rittenhouse et al Nov. 18, 1941 2,659,074 Alexander et al. Nov. 10, 1953

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