US3034281A

US3034281A - Alarm clock

Info

Publication number: US3034281A
Application number: US91235A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent P Guidone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-02-23
Filing date: 1961-02-23
Publication date: 1962-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-15

Description

May 15, 1962 v. P. GUIDONE ALARM CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1961 INVENTOR. V/NCfNT P GU/ O 3,034,281 ALARM CLOCK Vincent P. Guidone, 22105 Morton Ave., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Feb. 23, I961, Ser. No. 91,235 7 Claims. (Cl. 58-2115) This invention relates generally to improvements in alarm devices and more particularly to means for activating and deactivating or shutting off the alarm mechanism of an alarm clock.

As illustrated and described herein my improved alarm clock apparatus is incorporated in the base of a table lamp but it will be understood that my alarm clock housing and support means may also be used alone or may be incorporated in other useful or decorative struc tures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alarm clock unit which may easily be set to activate an alarm clock mechanism so that the alarm will go off at the preselected time and, after the alarm rings, it may easily and conveniently be shut ofi. Other objects of my invention include the provision of an improved mounting and housing for an alarm clock, particularly adapted for use as the base of a lamp, which is so arranged that when an alarm clock mounted in the base is swung into position for ready observation by the user the alarm mech anism will automatically be activated and, when the clock is swung back out of observing position, the alarm will be shut oiI or deactivated; and the provision of an alarm clock mechanism whereby a common and more or less standard type of alarm clock device may be mounted and supported in a decorative manner which also facili tates the activating and deactivating of the alarm mecha- The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of several embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an illustrative perspective view of my alarm clock apparatus incorporated in the base of a table lamp;

FIGURE 2 shows the clock housing portion of the lamp-clock unit of FIGURE 1, the clock having been swung out into exposed alarm-on or activated position;

'FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of FIGURE stantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the clock retracted into the housing in its housed alarm off or deactivated position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing a modified alarm control operating mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the lamp and almm clock that are illustrated in the other views of the drawings.

In many present day motels there is no central switchboard connected by phone to the guest rooms. Accordingly a guest cannot leave a call with the operator to be awakened at a particular time in the morning and he must either carry on'his own alarm clock or depend on some other means for getting up on time. My alarm clock device is particularly adapted for, although not limited to, use with and incorporation in a table lamp and such lamp-clock units are especially well suited for use as bedside lamps in homes, motels and the like.

Such a lamp-clock unit is seen in FIGURE 1 in which the base or housing H carries the lamp column 1 which supports a lamp bulb and decorative shade at its upper end in the usual manner. An electric alarm clock C is mounted in the housing H on a vertical axishinge 3 so 2, taken sub- Fa re that it may be swung by the user between its closed or retracted alarm-off position housed within housing H, seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, and its open, alarm-on exposed position seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. A projecting tab 4- on the side of the clock opposite from the hinge 3 facilitates swinging the clock between open and closed position.

The lamp-clock assembly illustrated is particularly adapted for use on a bedside table. When so used it is placed so that when the clock is in the closed, alarm-off position seen in FIGURE 1, it faces lengthwise of the bed. By placing the hinge 3 on the proper side of the clock C the unit may be disposed so that, when the clock is moved into open position substantially at right angles to the front panel 5 of the housing H, the face 20 of the clock will :Eace the occupant of the bed and may be readily observed by him.

As will appear later, when the clock is in its open position as seen in FIGURE 1 the alarm mechanism is activated and the alarm will go ofi at the preselected time. As will also appear later, when the alarm goes off it is only necessary for the user to give the clock C a push so that it will swing on hinge 3 back into its closed position whereupon the alarm will automatically be shut off and deactivated. It will be understood that the time at which the alarm goes off must be preselected in the usual manner by the usual setting device and the present invention is not concerned with the means for making such preselection.

The clock C has an alarm control rod 6 extending out through its rear wall portion 21 thereof in well known manner. This alarm control rod is provided, in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2-5, with an enlarged head 7 of steel or other magnetic material. When the control rod 6 is pulled out into the position seen in FIGURE 2 the alarm mechanism is activated so that it will go oif when the preset time is reached. When the rod 6 is pushed back into the position seen in FIGURE 5 the alarm mechanism is deactivated and, if ringing, the alarm will be shut off, or if the preselected time arrives with the rod 6 pushed in, the alarm will not go off.

Extending up through the housing H is a tubular support member 8, which preferably also extends up through the column I of the lamp assembly and contains the electrical wires leading to the lamp. Mounted on the support member 8 is a permanent magnet 9 which may conveniently be housed in a bracket member'10' which is clamped to the tubular member 8 as by screws 11. The magnet 9 (which with the head 7 constitutes an alarm control and energizing and retarding means) is so positioned that, when the clock C is swung on hinge 3 into its closed position as seen in FIGURE 5, the steel head 7 of the alarm control will engage magnet 9. As previously noted, when the clock is in open position the control rod 6 is extended. When the clock is moved to closed position the engagement of the head 7 with the magnet 9 during the final part of such movement pushes the control rod 6 inwardly into alarm-01f position as seen in FIGURE 5.

Now, if the user wishes to activate the alarm, all he needs to do is swing the clock C out into open position. During the initial part of this opening movement the magnet 9 will exert a holding action on the head 7 of the alarm control so thatduring the first movement of the clock C in opening direction the alarm control rod 6 will be moved out into alarm-on position. The clock mechanism includes means for limiting outward movement of rod 6 when the alarm-on position is reached and, when this occurs, the head 7 of the alarm control Will'be pulled away from the magnet 9 and the clock will continue to swing out into full open position as seen in FIGURE 4 with the alarm control rod 6 in its extended or alarm-on position.

As previously noted, if my alarm clock support is incorporated in the base of a lamp or other housing which is placed on a bedside table with the face of the clock facing lengthwise of the bed, when the clock is moved out into open, alarm-on position as seen in FIGURE 4, the face 2% of the clockwill face the occupant of the bed so that it may .be readily observed. When the alarm rings the user need merely give the clock a pusinthus swinging it about its hinge 3 so that the impact of the head 7 of the alarm control rod 6 against the magnet 9 pushes the alarm control rod 6 into alarm-elf position as seen in FIGURE 9. The attraction between the head 7 and the magnet 9 then retains the clock in closed alarm-ofi position. It will be understood that the strength of the magnet 9 will be such that it is sutlicient to pull out the alarm rod 6 during the initial opening movement of the clock but not suiiicient seriously to resist movement of the clock into full open position.

A modified means for activating the alarm control rod 6 of the clock C is seen in FIGURE 6. In this form of my invention the outer end of the control rod 6 is enlarged in the form of a rounded knob or ball 12. Mounted on the supporting bracket 13 is a pair of opposed spring clip members 14 and 15. Bracket 13 is mounted on the support 8 by screws 16 in the same manner as magnet carrying bracket 10. The outer ends 14' and 15 of the spring members '14 and 15 are bent back to permit entry of the rounded knob -12 therebetween during closing movement of the clock C.

When the clock is swung into open position from the closed position seen in FIGURE 6, the pressure of the springs 14 and 15 hold back the knob 12 and control rod 6 until the control rod has been pulled out into alarmon position where it stops. Further movement of the clock C in opening direction will pull the knob 12 through between the reversely curved end portions 14' and 15 of the springs 14 and 15, with accompanying flexing of said springs, and the clock may then be swung into full open position as previously described. When in this position the alarm will be activated.

When it is desired to deactivate or shut off the alarm the clock C is pushed back into closed position in the housing H. When the knob 12 first engages the ends 14' and 15 of the spring clip 14-15 sufiicient resistance is imposed to move the alarm control rod into the body of the clock C and into alarm-off position. Further movement of the clock into its final closed position will force the knob 12 through between the springs 14 and 15 into the position seen in FIGURE 6 where these springs serve to hold the clock in closed position.

I have illustrated the clock C as being of the usual electrio type and a preferred electrical connection to the combined clock-lamp structure is seen in FIGURE 7 where the clock C and the lamp L are connected in parallel, a switch S being provided in the lamp circuit. With this arrangement the clock C will operate whenever the plug P is connected to a source of. supply of electric current and the lamp L will be lighted when the switch S is closed. Thus the operation of the lamp is independent of the clock C. it will be understood that a spring wound clock may be used in place of an electric clock if desired and that types of alarm control rod engaging and retarding mechanisms other than those illustrated may be used. 7 Accordingly, although I have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact arrangements and constructions herein shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An alarm clock having an alarm control means movable between alarm-on and alarm-off positions, a housing, means for supporting said clock for movement relative to said housing between an alarm-on position and an alarm-off position, alarm control engaging means supported by said housing in position to move said alarm control means into alarm-off position during movement or said clock into said alarm-off position, and alarm control retarding means supported by said housing in position to restrict movement of said alarm control means during movement of said clock from said alarm-cit position into said alarm-on position whereby said alarm control means will be moved into alarm-on position.

2. An alarm clock having an alarm control means movable between alarrn-on and alarm-off positions, a housing, means for supporting said clock for swinging movement on said housing between an alarm-on position and an alarm-off position, and stationary alarm control engaging and retarding means supported by said housing in position to engage said alarm control means during the final movement of said clock into said alarm-off position and move said alarm control means into said alarm-off position, said engaging and retarding means being adapted to hold said alarm control means stationary during initial movement of said clock from said alarm-oil position toward said alarm-on position, and to then be disengaged from said alarm control means during further movement of said clock in the same direction.

3. An alarm clock having an alarm control means projecting from the rear wall portion thereof and movable between alarm-on and alarm-oil positions, a housing, hinge means for supporting said clock for swinging movement on said housing between an open alarm-on position substantially out of said housing and a closed alarm-oil? position wherein the rear portion of said clock is within the housing, and stationary alarm control engaging and retarding means supported within said housing in position to engage said alarm control means during the final movement of said clock into said closed position in said housing and move said alarm control means into alarmoii" position, said engaging and retarding means being adapted to hold said alarm control means stationary during initial movement of said clock from said closed position toward said open position, whereby said alarm control means will be moved into alarm-on position, and to then be disengaged from said alarm control means during further opening movement of said clock.

4. An alarm clock having an alarm control rod projecting from the rear wall portion thereof and movable between alarm-0n and alarm-oft" positions, said control rod having an outer end of magnetic. material, a housing,

hinge means for supporting said clock for swinging movement on said housing between an open alarm-on position substantially out of said housing and a closed alarmoff position wherein said rear wall portion of said clock is within the housing, and a magnet supported within said housing in position to engage said outer end of said alarm control rod during the final movement of said clock into said closed position in said housing, said magnet being adapted to hold said alarm control rod stationary during initial movement of said clock from said closed position toward said open position and to then be separated from said outer end of said alarm control rod uponfurther movement of said clock toward said open position.

5. In combination with an alarm clock having an alarm control rod extending from the rear wall thereof and adapted to be moved between retracted alarm-off and 6X- tended alarm-on positions, said rod when in retracted position being disposed to deactivate the alarm mechanism of said clock and when in extended position to activate said alarm mechanism, a housing for said clock, means for supporting said clock on said housing for movement between a housed position in said housing and an exposed position outside of said housing, a headportion of magnetic material at the outer end of said alarm control rod, and a permanent magnet supported in said housing and positioned to be engaged by said head portion when said clock is in said housed position, the magnetic attraction of said magnet being sufiicient to hold said head portion and said alarm control rod stationary during initial movement of said clock from said housed toward said exposed position, and whereby said rod will be moved into said alarm-on position, said magnet being located in said housing whereby, when the clock is moved into said housed position, said alarm control rod will be moved into said alarm-off position by engagement of said head portion thereof with said magnet.

6. In combination with an alarm clock having'an alarm control rod extending from the rear wall thereof and adapted to be moved between retracted alarm-otf and extended alarm-on position, said rod when in retracted position being disposed to deactivate the alarm mechanism of said clock and when in extended position to activate said alarm mechanism, a housing for said clock, means for supporting said clock on said housing for movement between a housed position in said housing and an exposed position outside of said housing, a head portion at the outer end of said alarm control rod, and spring gripper means supported in said housing and positioned to engage and releasably grip said head portion when said clock is in said housed position, said spring gripper means being adapted to hold said head portion and said alarm control rod stationary during initial movement of said clock from said housed toward said exposed position, and whereby said rod will be moved into said alarmon position, said gripper means being located in said housing whereby, when the clock is moved into said housed position, said alarm control rod will be moved into said alarm-05f position by engagement of said head portion thereof with said spring gripper means.

7. In combination with an alarm clock having an alarm control rod extending from the rear wall thereof and adapted to be moved between retracted alarm-off and extended alarm-on positions, said rod when in retracted position being disposed to deactivate the alarm mechanism of said clock and when in extended position to activate said alarm mechanism, a housing for said clock, hinge means for supporting said clock on said housing for swinging movement of substantially 90 between an open position outside of said housing and a closed position inside of said housing, a head portion of magnetic material at the outer end of said alarm control rod, and a permanent magnet supported in said housing and positioned to be engaged by said head portion when said clock is in said closed position, the magnetic attraction of said magnet being suflicient to hold said head portion and said alarm control rod stationary during initial movement of said clock from its said closed toward its said open position whereby said rod will be moved into its said alarm-on position, said magnet being located in said housing whereby, when the clock is moved into its closed position in said housing, said alarm control rod will be moved into its said alarm-off position by engagement of said head portion thereof with said magnet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,409 Maier Mar. 21, 1922 1,636,678 Benson July 26, 1927 7 1,992,209 Herbster Feb. 26, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,895 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1891