US3004380A

US3004380A - Alarm control for time alarm

Info

Publication number: US3004380A
Application number: US821590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip A Sidell; George N Kaniwec; Oscar B Burgeson
Original assignee: Ingraham Co
Current assignee: Ingraham Co
Priority date: 1959-06-19
Filing date: 1959-06-19
Publication date: 1961-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-17

Description

oct. 17, 1961 P. A. SIDELL ET AL 3,004,380

ALARM CONTROL FOR TIME ALARM Filed June 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 17, 1961 P. A. SIDELL ETAL 3,004,380

ALARM CONTROL FOR TIME ALARM Filed June 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 17, 1961 P. A. slDr-:LL ETAL ALARM CONTROL FOR TIME ALARM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1959 arent @thee 3,004,380 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 Sdiddl? ALARM CONTRL FDR TEME ALARM Philip A. Sidell, West Hartford, George N. Kaniwec, Southington, and @scar B. Burgeson, Bristol, Conn., assignors to The Ingraham Company, ristol, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut v Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,590 1S Claims. 15S-2112) f This invention relates yto time alarms in general, and

to on-and-off controls for time alarms in particular.

Prior time alarms of the general type to which the present invention relates have dual actuators which are i independently movable into alarm-on and alarm-olf posialarm is customarily turned olf as desired by the manual shut-off. The available long automatic alarm period,

. while assuredly affording even the longest uninterrupted alarm time or cycle possibly desired by anyone, is further advantageous for the introduction in the time alarm of .the Well-known feature, hereafter simply referred to as deze alarm, which provides for temporary manual alarm shut-olf and automatic resumption of they alarm a predetermined time thereafter, even repeatedly, Within the available automatic alarm period. y

.it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a time alarm of this type which requires only a 'single alarm actuator, yet has any or all of the aforementioned functional features of ther prior time alarms of this type, thereby in any event reducing the number of parts of the time alarm and simplifying its construction and assembly, with ensuing savings in cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a time alarm of this type in which the aforementioned single alarm actuator is movable into an alarm-on position and an alarm-off position and normally urged into its alarm-on position, and to make provisions for arresting the actuator in its alarm-olf position and automatically to release the same at the preset valarm time by the ction of the aforementioned alarm control member, as well as to condition the actuator by the action of this same control member a predetermined time period thereafter for subsequent rearrest on its return at anytime to its alarm-off position. This arrangement will not only permit an uninterrupted alarm cycle the duration of which may be entirely kindependent of the timing mechanism and exclusively controlled manually, but will also permit ready adaptation of the aforementioned doze alarm feature as well as several other alarm cycle features hitherto unattainable with the customary dual alarm actuators.

rlt is a further object of the present inventiony to provide a time alarm of this type in which the single alarm actuator' is during an automatic alarm period movable, manually and in addition to its movability into the aforementioned alarm on and off positions, out of its alarm-on position and into locking engagement with a time-driven holding member for its release therefrom and return to alarm-on position after the lapse of a certain drive period of this holding member. With this arrangement, there are achieved, by the action of the single alarm actuator, not only an automatic start of the alarm at any preset time and its duration for any desired period, but the aforementioneddoze alarm as well.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time alarm of this typerwith a main shut-off member which is manually movable into yan, operative position to cam the single alarm actuator into and lock it in its alarmoif position, and into an inoperative position to unlock the same from the alarm actuator, with this main shut-olf member further acting, on its movement rst into operative position and then into inoperative position, to retract the alarm actuator from locking engagement with the aforementioned holding member and release it for return to its alarm-on position. Thus, the main shut-off member serves not only for the usual purpose` of stopping the alarm at any time and for any length of time, but serves also to defeat any deze alarm when conditioned for operation by resuming the alarm at any time before the doze alarm would start.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a time alarm of this type in which the aforementioned alarm control member may advantageously be a wellknown cam disc which is axially shifted back and forth by the alarm time setting membenand the single'alarm actuator is provided with a fulcrum for its rocking movement in follower cooperation with this cam disc for its release in alarm-off position at the preset alarm time and conditioning for its rearrest on subsequent return toits alarm-off position on the one hand, and for sliding movement on its fulcrum in different directions into its alarm on and off positions as well as into andy from interlocking engagement with the aforementioned holding member on the other hand. v f f lt is another object of the present invention to provide a time alarm of this type in which the single alarm actuator is a longitudinal part with its aforementioned fulcrum extending longitudinally thereof and restingy on an endplate of the time alarm, with one end of the fulcrum having with the endplate a oating pivot connection permitting universal sliding movement of the same on this endplate, without interfering with the rocking movement of the actuator in follower relation with the aforementioned cam disc, and within limits adequate for the aforementioned independent movability of the `actuator into its alarm on and off positions and into and from locking engagement with the holding member. Thus,'the alarm actuator may not only be moved into its numerous positions with av minimum of simple guide structure to that end, but may also be moved into its alarm-olf position from any of its other positions by the aforementioned main shut-ott member which for its most direct and unfailing performance on the actuator in any of its positions is arranged advantageously in cooperative relation with the fulcrum thereof at its floating pivot end.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a time alarm of this type in which the aforementioned holding member may be a cam member in general,

rand either a worm-type member or a spur gear-type member in particular, with the alarm actuator having a suitable follower such as a single tooth or a rack for temtype or spur gear-type holding member.

Other objects and advantages will appear to thosek skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

in the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. l is a fragmentary View, partly in section, of a time alarm embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the time alarm taken sub stantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;y

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary lview of the time alarm as seen in the direction of the arrow 3` in FIG. `1;

FIGS. 4k and 5 are views of the time alarm similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but showing certain operating and control parts of the time alarm in different positions;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the time alarm similar to FIG. 3, but showing certain operating and control parts of the time alarm in different positions;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of the time alarm similar to FIGS. and 4, respectively, but showing certain operating and control parts of the time alarm in still other different positions;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section through a time alarm embodying the present invention in a modified marmer; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section through a time alarm embodying the present invention in a further modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 8 thereof, the reference numeral 20 designates a movement presently of a clock, having a time alarm 22. The movement 20 comprises front and rear plates 24 and 216 which are held spaced apart by pillars 28, and which support the various operating parts of the movement and time alarm. Thus, the prime mover of the movement, presently a synchronous motor 30, is mounted in back of the rear plate 26 through intermediation of the pillars 28 and spacers 32. Mounted in the front plate 24 are a plurality of nested time shafts or sleeves, of which an outermost alarm shaft 34 is directly mounted in the front plate 24 for rotation against a friction washer 36 to set an alarm hand to any desired alarm time on a time dial (neither shown). Independently turnable in the alarm shaft 34 is an hour shaft 38 in which a minute shaft 4t) is independently turnable, the nested shafts being further turnable on a fixed arbor 42 on the rear plate 26. The output shaft 44 of the synchronous motor 30 is operatively connected with the minute shaft 4i) through a suitable reduction gear train 46, including a gear 48, which in the present instance drives the minute shaft 46 through one complete revolution in an hours time. A conventional gear train 50 of twelve-to-one speed reduction operatively connects the minute shaft 40 with the hour shaft 38, this gear train including a loose pinion S2 on a manually turnable alarm-setting shaft S4 and a meshing gear disc 56 which is carried by the hour shaft 38 (FIGS. 1 to 3). Accordingly, the hour shaft 38 is, in the present instance, driven through one-twelfth of a revolution for each complete revolution of the minute shaft 40. |Ihe present movement also includes conventional provisions (not shown) for setting the hour and

minute shafts

38 and 40.

'Ihe alarm shaft 34 carries a gear disc 58, presently of the same diameter as the adjacent gear disc 56 on the hour shaft 38, which is in mesh with a pinion 60 (FIG. 3) on the setting shaft 54 by means of which the customary hand on the alarm shaft 34 may be set to a desired alarm time.

The movement described so far is entirely conventional and forms no part `of the present invention except as it enters into combination therewith.

The time alanm 22 includes a conventional electromagnetically impulsed resilient vibrator or reed 62 which emits an audible alarm sound or buzz on being vibrated against a iield plate 64 of the motor 30 by magnetic leakage ux therefrom. To this end, the vibrator' 62 is presently pivoted at 66 in the rear plate 26 for swinging motion into the alarm-Cif and alarm-on positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively, in which the same does not respond, respectively does respond, to leakage iiux from the motor, the vibrator 62 being normally urged by a spring 68 into its alarm-off position in which it rests against the rear plate 26.. The spring 68 is presently L- shaped and anchored with its shorter leg 7.0 to the rear plate 26, and has an integral leg 72l bearing against a stem 74 to preload the spring. The vibrator 62 has a relatively stiff depending arm 76 with which to swing the vibrator into its alarm-on position.

The time alarm 22 also includes the

gear discs

56 and 58 on the hour and

alarm shafts

38 and 34, of which the driven disc 56 together with the hour shaft 38 are at the set alarm time shifted axially in conventional manner to start an alarm cycle of the vibrator 62. To this end, the disc 58 on the alarm shaft 34 is provided with cam means, presently two diametrically opposite,

inclined cam lugs

78 and 80 which are struck from this disc at different radial distances from its center axis, and which are adapted to cooperate with

arcuate slots

82 and 84, respectively, in the adjacent driven companion disc 56 on the hour shaft 38. The

slots

82 and 84 are at the same different radial distances from the center axis of the disc F6 as are the respective cam lugs 78 and 8G from the axis of the disc 58, wherefore these slots will operatively align with their respective cam lugs only once during each revolution of the hour shaft 38, i.e., once every twelve hous, and permit the disc 56 with the hour shaft 38 to move from the retracted position in FIG. 1 into the projected position in FIG. 4. With the disc 56 on the hour shaft 38 being driven in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5, it stands to reason that this disc will, on movement into its projected position (FIGS. 4 and 5), remain in this position for a time period depending on the arcuate lengths of its

slots

82 and 84, the cam lugs 78 and 89 on the set alarm disc S8 then camming the disc 56 into its retracted position on the continued drive of the latter with the hour shaft 38. The disc 56 and hour shaft 38 are normally urged into the projected position in FIG. 4 by means described hereinafter.

The alarm disc 58 and the time-driven companion disc 56 with their

cam lugs

78 and 80 and

slots

82 and 84, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the automatic alarm control 88, are adapted to perform the conventional function of controlling the time start of an alarm cycle as well as another function to be described hereinafter. The aforementioned stem 74 is an alarm shut-off plunger manually operable to terminate an alarm cycle at any time and render the automatic alarm control 88 inoperativel or operative for any length of time.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the operating connection which links both, the automatic alarm control 88 and the alarm shut-olf plunger 74 with the vibrator 62, is a single actuator 98 which presently is in the form of a plate having a longitudinal axis x-x (FIG. 2). This plate is formed with integral lug or

leg formations

92, 94, 96 and 98 (FIGS. l to 3), of which the

leg formations

92 and 94 serve as a longitudinal fulcrum for the actuator 90 with which the latter rests, and is also rockable as well as movable, on the front plate 241. The lug formation 96 on the actuator 90 serves as a follower to cooperate with the axially shiftable disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 88 in rocking the actuator on the front plate 24 (FIGS. 3 and 6). Finally, the lug formation 98 on the actuator 90 is part of a device 100 for arresting the actuator in a certain alarm-off position (FIGS. l and 2) and for releasing the same for movement into a certain alarm-on position (FIGS. 4 and 5), this arresting device further providing a lock shoulder 102, presently formed by an edge of a slot 104 in the front plate 24, with which the actuator lug 98 is in locking engagement in the alarm-off position of the actuator (FIGS. 1 and 2). When the actuator 98 is in its alarm-off position, an operating finger 186 thereof is retracted from the arm 76 of the vibrator 62 which is then in its inoperative position. The actuator lug 98 is thus held in locking engagement with the shoulder 162 when the actuator 90, under the control of the retracted disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 88, assumes the rock position in FIG. 3, and the actuator is released in its alarm-off position lfor movement into its alarm-on position when the actuator rocks in follower ator 90 is thus released in its alarm-ofty position by the action of the automatic alarm control 88the actuator will by a spring 108 be advanced into its alarm-on position (FiGS. 4 and 5) in which its operating iinger 106 engages the .arm 76 of the vibrator 62 and rocks the latter into its operative or alarm-sounding position. The alarm cycle may `then be terminated on certain manipulation of theshut-oi plunger 7-4, resulting in retraction of the actuator 90 into its alarm-orf position and, hence, re-

traction of its operatingkinger 106 from the arm 76 of the vibrator 62 and ensuing spring-return of the latter to its inoperative or alarm-off position (FIG. l).

The actuator 90 is guided 'for linear movement into its alarm-on and alarm-ott positions. To this end, an extension or detent 110 on the fulcrum leg 92 of the actuator projects into a presently linear slot 1.12 in the front plate 24, and the other fulcrum leg 94 of the actuator is urged by the action of the spring 108 against a guide lug 114 which is conveniently struck from the front plate 24. To hold the resilient vibrator 62 in proper operating position for a satisfactory buzzing sound (FIG. 4), the actuator 90 in its alarm-on position bears with its fulcrum leg 9'4 against a stop 116 which is conveniently struck from the front plate 24 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The action spring 108, which is preloaded, is anchored with its ends to a bent-up finger 118 on the actuator 90 and in a slot 120 in the front plate 24. This spring 108 is so inclined to the longitudinal actuator axis x-x as well as to the front plate 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that it has componentrforces urging the actuator 90 into its alarm-on position and against the guide lug 114, as well as into follower relation with the disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 88 and also into rest on the front plate 24.

The alarm shut-oft plunger 74 is guided in the rear plate 26 and in a ledge 122 conveniently struck from the front plate 24 and overlying the fulcrum extension 110 on the actuator 90. The shut-off plunger` 74, when in its retracted position (FIGS. l and 4) in which it is yieldingly held by the spring leg 72, does not in any way interfere with the movement of the actuator 90 into its alarm-on position. However, when the actuator 90 is in its alarm-on position (FIG. 4), the plunger 74 will, on manual inward movement into a projected position in which its annular shoulder 124 bears against the ledge 122, cam the actuator from its alarm-on position into its alarm-H position and lock the same in this position, the fulcrum extension 110` on the actuator 90 being to this end provided with a cam edge 126, and the end of the plunger 74 being preferably peripherally groovedfat 128 for releasable interlock with the rounded edge 129 of the fulcrum extension 110 of the actuator in the alarm-olf position of the latter. j

Withy the movement 20 in operation and the disc 58 of the automatic alann control 8S set for a certain alarm time, and with the actuator 90 arrested in its alarm-oit" position and the shut-off plunger 74 in its retracted position (FIGS. l to 3), everything is set for the ala-rm to sound at the present time. At that time, the slots 82 and S4 in the driven disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 88 will come into full alignment with the respective cam lugs 78 and 80 in the set alarm disc 58 (FIG. 5), with the result that the disc 56 will, under the urgency of the action spring 108 and through intermediation of the actuator 90, be movedfaxially into its projected position with the actuator following for retraction of its lug 98 from locking engagement with the shoulder 102 (FIG.

6). The now released actuator 90 will quickly be springadvanced `into its alarm-on position, bringing the vibrator 62 into and holding it in its operating position (FIG. 4) for an audible buzz alarm. The alarm cycle may at any time be terminated by simply pushing the shut-oli plunger 74 into its aforementioned projected position with ensuo ing retraction of the actuator into its alarm-oit position. If at that time the driven disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 88 has not yet been shifted back into its retracted position by the cam lugs 78 and 80 on the set alarm disc `58 (FIG. l), the actuator 90 will on its return to alarm-off position not become arrested by the described arresting device since the actuator lug 98 is then still clear of the front plate 24 (FIG. 6). However, with the shut-olf plunger 74 in its inner or projected position holding the actuator 90 locked in t its alarm-olf position, the actuator lug 98 will be returned into locking engagement with the shoulder i102 when the actuator follows the disc 56 on its subsequent return into retracted position (FIGS. l and 3). Should the shut-olf plunger 74 not be pushed into its projected position by the time the disc I56 of the automatic alarm control 88 is returned into its retracted position, the alarm willcontinue to sound until the plunger 74 is pushed into its projected position. This is due to the fact that the prior return of the disc 56 into its retracted position will merely rock the actuator with its arresting lug 98 against the front plate (FIG. 5), but not into the slot 104 therein with which it is then rout of alignment, and will thus `merely condition the kractuator for arrest by the shoulder 102 on its subsequent return into alarm-oft` position.

As already mentioned, the time period in each twelve hours during which the driven disc 56' of the automatic alarm control SS'will remain in its projected position depends on the arcuate lengths of the slots S2 and 84 in this disc, and this time period, :hereinafter referred to as the automatic alarm period, may for present practical purposes vary from a few minutes to half an hour, for eX- almple. With each alarm :cycle presently terminated solely by the action of the shut-off plunger 74, the latter will have to remain in its projected or actuator-locking position for over twelve hours following each alarm in order to prevent a repeat alarm every twelve hours, as will be readily understood. Hence, it is only after the lapse of the rst twelve hours from the shut-olf of the last alarm, and usually at bedtime, that the shut-oil plunger 74is retracted to condition the alarm for its next cycle, under the automatic control 88, twenty-four hours after the ,start of the last alarm cycle plus or minus such time as is involved if the alarm has been set for a different time in the meantime. l

Another important aspect of the present invention is the incorporation in the present movement of a doze alarm the control of which is also operatively linked with the vibratorv 62 solely by the same single ,actuator 90. VThis doze alarm control 130 includes a holding member 132 for the actuator 90, the holding member 132 being presently in the form `of a time-driven wormwith which a single tooth 134 on the actuator 90 is adapted to mesh for its ride thereon for a predetermined length of time and then run-off therefrom, for resumption of the alarm afterthe same length of time from its last manual shutolf by means other than the main shut-oit plunger 74. To this end, the holding worm 132 is freely turntable, and presently also axially slidable, on a shaft 131 which is mounted in the front and

rear plates

24 and 26, and

this worm is also provided with a pinion 136 for its drive k24k for movement, presently radially of the nested

shafts

34, 38 and 40. To this end, the inner slotted end 144 of the s1ide'142 is guided on a collar formation 146 on the ralarm shaft 34, and the slide 142 further has a pin and

slot connection

148, 150 with the front plate 24, the pin 143 being presently projecting from the front plate 24 and the slot 150 being provided in the slide 142. A spring 152, presently anchored with its ends to the pin 148 and to a struck-up lug 154 on the slide 142, normally urges the latter into the retracted or home position shown in 'lf-1G. 2. The slide 142, which for its manual inward motion into the operative position shown in FIG. 7 has a terminal end 156 for the reception of a suitable handle or knob (not shown), is also provided with a `conveniently upturned shoulder 158 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) which in any rocking position of the actuator 90 is in operative alignment with an arm 160 on the latter.

Assuming now that the operating and control parts of the alarm system assume the positions shown in FIGS. l to 3, it is apparent that the alarm, presently solely under the automatic control 88, is a few minutes olf the set alarm time due to the near alignment of the slots 82 and S4 in the disc 56 with the cam lugs 78 and 80 on the companion disc 53 (FIG. 2). After the lapse of these few minutes, the slots S2 and 84 in the driven disc 56 will come into full alignment with the respective cam lugs 78 and 80 on the set alarm disc 58 (FIGS. 4 and 5), with the result that the alarm will go on, the vibrator 62 then being swung to its operative position. The user of the time alarm, on awakening soon after the start of the alarm at the preset time, may wish to avail himself or herself of the doze alarm rather than terminate the alarm cycle by pushing in the shut-off plunger 74. In that case, the user merely depresses the slide 142 momentarily, and in so doing shifts the actuator 90 from its alarm-on position into meshing engagement with the holding worm 132 in which the actuator is held in an alarm shut-off position (FIGS. 7 and 8). The worm 132 then being in its starting position (FIGS. l and 4), the same will by the meshing actuator tooth 134 be gradually cammed axially until it reaches the end position in FIG. 8, at which time the actuator tooth 134 will ride off the worm, permitting the action spring S to return the actuator 90 to its alarm-on position (FIG. 5) for a resumption of the alarm. The user of the time alarm may, in the present instance, repeat this doze alarm cycle as often as is permissible within the automatic alarm period afforded by the automatic alarm control 88. That the number of possible doze alarm repeat cycles is necessarily limited and depends on the automatic alarm period follows fro-m the fact that the actuator 90, while in mesh with the worm 132, is in the present instance also in operative alignment with the arresting slot 104 in the front plate 24\(FIGS. 7 and 8), so that on or after the next return of the time-driven disc 56 to its retracted position the actuator will in any event become locked to the arresting shoulder 102, if not during a doze alarm cycle then at the start of one. For example, the arrangement may be such that the automatic alarm period aorded by the automatic alarm control 88 is somewhat over half an hour, and the running time of the actuator tooth 134 on the worm 132 is approximately 10 minutes, in which case three successive doze alarm cycles would be possible if each alarm were interrupted fairly elogi after its start by momentary depression of the slide It follows from FIGS. 5 and 7 that the actuator 90, in its movement from alarm-on position into mesh with the holding worm '132, is shifted not only longitudinally of its axis x-x but additionally transversely thereof, the shoulder 158 on the slide I142 being disposed accordingly. In order to permit this additional motion of the actuator 90, even in any of its rocking positions on the front plate 24, its floating detent and

slot connection

110, 112 with the front plate is additionally in the form of a universal connection by providing adequate clearance between the detent 110 and the slot 112 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7). Also, in order securely to retain the actuator tooth 134 in meshing or locking engagement with the worm 132 for its full ride thereon despite the component pull-off force of the action spring y108 and even in case of shock or vibration, the worm 132 is riven counterclockwise (FIG. 7) so that the friction to which it subjects the actuator tooth 134 will more than counteract this component pull-off force ofthe action spring 108. Moreover, the actuator tooth 234 is preferably curved in outline and arranged so that it will hook to the worm 132 while in mesh therewith (FIG. 7). Also, while the return spring 113S of the worm 132 may be relatively weak, its force will never be permitted to rock the actuator out of follower relation with the axially movable 1disc 56 by preferably arranging the tooth 134 of the actuator in close proximity to its fulcrum leg 94 (FIGS. 7 and 8).Y To control the contact pressure between the actuator tooth 134- and the worm 132, an edge 133 of the actuator bears against a roller on a iixed stud 137 when the actuator tooth 134 is in mesh with the worm 132 (FIG. 7).

The present time alarm has a further feature, namely manual defeat or cancellation at any time of any started doze alarm cycle. Thus, with the actuator 90 in mesh with the holding worm 132, the former may be retracted from the latter into its alarm-0E position and locked therein on simply pushing the shut-off plunger 74 from its retracted position (FIG. 8) inwardly into camming and finally locking relation with the actuator detent 110. On the other hand, if it is desired for any reason to resume the alarm at any time within the silent period of a doze alarm cycle, it is merely necessary to move the retracted Shut-off plunger 74 partially inwardly Suiciently to cam the actuator 90 out of mesh with the worm 132, and then immediately return this plunger to its retracted position for release of the actuator for return to its alarm-on position under the urgency of the action spring 10S.

Reference is now had to FIG. 9 which shows a modiiied time alarm in which the arresting lug 98 on the actuator 90 is out of operative alignment with the slot 104 in the front plate 24 when the actuator is in mesh with the holding worm 132'. With this arrangement, the doze alarm cyclemay be repeated as often as desired and even for any length of time beyond the automatic alarm period, as will be readily understood. The only way in which the alarm may be permanently stopped is by pushing in the previously described shut-off plunger. With this arrangement, it is also possible to defeat or cancel any started doze alarm cycle, to the end of either preventing the alarm at, or resuming the alarm at any time priorV to, the end of the silent period of the doze alarm cycle, on appropriate back and forth manipulation of the shut-off plunger.,

Reverting back to the time alarm of FIGS. 1 to 8, the same may, on obvious modification, be used as an automatic twenty-four hour repeat alarm. Thus, with the disc 56 of the automatic alarm control 38 driven through one revolution every twenty-four hours instead of every twelve hours, and with theV holding worm 132 arranged to mesh with the actuator tooth 134 for a length of time equal to, and preferably somewhat in excess of, the automatic alarm period, the alarm system will, on shut-off of an alarm as a result of momentary depression of the slide 142 and ensuing mesh of the actuator 90 with the worm 132, be conditioned for an automatic repeat alarm after a time lapse of twenty-four hours plus or minus such time as is involved if the alarm time setting should be changed in the meantime. `In thus shutting-olf the alarm at anytime during the automatic alarm period, with the shut-olf plunger 74 left in its retracted position, the arresting lug 98 of the actuator 90 is, by virtue 0f the mesh of the latter with the worm 132, in operative alignment with the slot 104 in the front plate 24 (FIG. 7), and the same will on the following return of the disc 56 into its retracted position be moved into full registry with this slot 104 so that it will lock with the shoulder 102 when the actuator tooth 134- rides olf the Worm 132. If perchance the alarm is by momentary depression of the slide 142 shut-off after the lapse of they automatic alarm period, the alarm system will nevertheless be conditioned for an automatic repeat alarm twenty-four hours after the start of the alarm'thus shut-off, since in that case the actuator is prior to the alarm shut-off conditioned for arrest on the return of the disc 56 to its retracted position, with the actuator becoming actually arrested on the shoulder 102 simultaneously with the shutsotf of the alarm. r

While in the described time alarm 20 the holding member or elements 132 of the doze alarm control 130 is in the form of a worm and the cooperating element 134 on the actuator 90 is a single tooth, these elements of the doze alarm control may take other forms. Thus, FIG. l0. shows a modified time alarm Z" of which the holding member 132 is a time-driven pinion which cooperates with a rack part i134 of the actuator 90". The pinion i132 is in this instance axially immovable and turns with the shaft 131", the pinion being time-driven, presently in clockwise direction, for shifting the meshing actuator rack `134V in the direction of the arrow 170 for its run-off fromthe pinion and return of the actuator to its alarm-on position.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivaiency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is: n

l. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising an alarm actuator movable into and from an alarm-on position and normally urged into said position; a device for arresting said actuator in an alarm-off position away from said alarm-on position; presettable alarm-time means adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism to release said actuator from arrest by said device at the preset alarm time and to condition said device a predetermined time period thereafter for arrestingsaid actuator insaid alarm-off position only; means operable to return said actuator to said Aalarm-ofi. position; and means other lthan said return means manually operable to return said actuator into, and lock and uniock the same in, said alarm-off position.

2. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising a support plate; an alarm actuator having a fulcrum resting on said plate for rocking motion of said actuator into and from a first position as well as for sliding vmovement of the same on said plate into alarm-on and alarm-off positions, with said actuator normally urged into said alarm-on position; means operative to arrest said actuator only when in both, said rst position and said alarm-off position; presettable alarm time means, adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism and including a member moved toward and away from said plate with said actuator in follower relation therewith, for rocking said actuator from said first position at the preset alarm time and into said rst posi- 'tion a predetermined time period thereafter; and means operable to return said actuator to its alarm-off position.

3. An alarm control as set forth in claim 2, in which said arresting means is a detent on said actuator and shoulder means on said plate.

4.*An alarm control as set forth in claim 3, in which said shoulder means is a wall of a slot in said plate.

5. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising an alarm actuator movable into and from an alarm-on position and normally urged into said position; a device for arresting said actuator in an alarm-off position away )from said alarm-on position; presettable alarm-time means adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism to release said actuator from arrest by said device at the preset alarm time and to condition said device a predetermined time period thereafter for arresting said actuator in said alarm-off position only; a holding member adapted to be constantly driven by said timing device; manual means for moving said actuator from said alarm-on position into locking relation with said member for release therefrom` for return to said alarmon position after aceitain drive period of said member; and means operable to return said actuator to said alarm-olf position. f

6. An alarm control as set forth in claim 5, in which said actuator return means is also manually operable to release said actuator from locking relation with said member.

7. An alarm control as set forth in claim 5, in which said return means is manually operable to return said` actuator into, and lock and unlock'the same in, said alarm-off position, and also to release said actuator from locking relation with said member.

8. An alarm control as set forth in claim- 5, in which said holding member is a worm, and said actuator is provided with a tooth adapted for mesh with said worm and run-ofi therefrom after said certain drive period of said worm. n

9. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising an alarm actuator movable into and from an alarm-on position and normally urged into said position; a device for'arresting said actuator in an alarm-o position away from said alarm-on position; presettable alarm-time means adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism to release said actutor from arrest'by said device at the preset alarm time and to condition said device -a predetermined time period thereafter for arresting said actuator in said alarm-off position only; `a holding member adapted to be constantiy driven by said timing device; and manual means for moving said actuator from said alarm-onl position into locking relation with said member for release therefrom for return to said alarm-on position after a certain drive period of said member, said actuator being in` said alarm-od position when in locking engagement with said member.

l0. An alarm control as set forth in claim 9, further comprising means manually operable to release said actuator from locking relation with said member.

ll. An alarrnxcontrol as set forth in claim 9, further comprising means manually operable to return said actu ator into, and lock and unlock the same in, said kalarmoff position, and also to release said actuator from locking relation with said member. f

12. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising a supportplate; an alarm actuator having afulcrum resting on said plate for rocking motion of said actuator into and from a iirst position as well as for sliding movement of the same on said plate in any direction into an alarm-on position and into second and third alarm-eti? positions, with said actuator norrrially urged against said plate and into said alarm-on position; means operative to arrest said actuator only when in both, said first and second positions; presettable alarm time means, adapted to -be operated by said timing mechanism and including a part moved toward and away from said plate with said actuator in follower relation therewith, for rocking said actuator from said first position at the ypreset alarm time and into said rst position a predetermined time period thereafter; a holding member adapted to be driven by said timing device; manual means for sliding said actuator from said alarm-on position into said third position in which it is in locking relation with saidgmember for release therefrom for return to said alarm-on position after a certain drive period of said member; and means operable to return said actuator to said second position. f

13. An alarm control as set forth in claim 12, in which said holding member is an axially slidable worm having its rotary axis extending transversely of said plate and being yieldingly urged toward the latter, and said actuator 1 l has a tooth adapted to mesh with said worm and force it away from said plate for its run-'oli from said worm after said certain drive period thereof.

14. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising a support plate; a longitudinal alarm actuator having a longitudinal fulcrum resting on said plate for rocking motion thereon of said actuator into and from a first position, said fulcrum having near one end thereof a iioating universal connection with said plate for sliding movement in any direction of said actuator in any of its rocking positions into an alarm-on position and into second and third alarm-oit positions, with said actuator being normally urged against said plate and into said alarm-on position; means operative to arrest said actuator only when in both, said first and second positions; presettable alarm time means, adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism and including a part moved toward and away from said plate with Said actuator in follower relation therewith, for rocking said actuator from said rst position at the preset alarm time and into said iirst position a predetermined time period thereafter; a holding member adapted to be driven by said timing mechanism; manual means for moving said actuator from said alarm-on position into said third position in which it is in locking relation with said member for release therefrom for return to said alarm-011 position after a certain drive period of said member; and means operable to return said actuator to said second position.

l5. An alarm control as set forth in claim 14, in which said floating universal connection is provided by a detent on said fulcrum and a slot in said plate into which said detent projects with clearance in any of said actuator positions.

16. An alarm control as set forth in claim 14, in which said actuator' returning means is a plunger axially reciprocable transversely of said plate into and from the iloat path of said floating universal connection of said fulcrum with said plate for camming said actuator from either of said third position and alarm-on position toward and into said second position and for releasing the same in any of its cammed positions, respectively.

17. An alarm control for a time alarm with a timing mechanism, comprising a support plate; a longitudinal alarm actuator having a longitudinal fulcrum resting on said plate for rocking motion thereon of said actuator into and from a first position, said fulcrum having near one end thereof a linearly floating universal connection with said plate for sliding movement on the latter in any direction and about said connection lof said actuator in any of its rocking positions, and said actuator being slidable in the floating direction of said connection into alarm-on and alarm-off positions and normally urged against said plate and into said alarm-on position; means operative to arrest said actuator only when in both, said rst and alarm-ofi positions; presettable alarm time means, adapted to be operated by said timing mechanism and including a part mfoved toward and away from said plate with said actuator in follower relation therewith, for rocking said actuator from said first position at the preset alarm time and into said first position a predetermined time period thereafter; a holding member adapted to be driven by said timing mechanism; manual means for sliding said actuator from said alarm-on position simultaneously toward said alarm-oit position and laterally of said floating direction into locking relation with said member for release therefrom for return to said alarm-on position after a certain drive period of said member; and means operable to return said actuator to said alarm-ott position.

18. An alarm control as set forth in claim 17, in which said manual means is an element guided on said plate for movement in a direction inclined to said floating direction and normally yieldingly retracted and projectible into engagement with said actuator for its movement from alarm-ofi position into locking relation with said member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,052 B'orgfeldt Oct. 18, 1938 2,216,523 Schlenker Oct. 1, 1940 2,541,817 Gordon Feb. 13, 1951 2,721,441 Boyles Oct. 25, 1955