US3085136A - Time switch - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1963 Filed March 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [five/717k Poerf A. Bay/es April 9, 1963 R. BOYLES 3,085,136

TIME SWITCH Filed March 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ji AZ 55* April 9, 1963 R. BOYLES 3,085, 3

TIME SWITCH Filed March 11. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H66. 6. FAQ 2' United States Patent 3,085,136 TIME SWITCH Robert L. Boyles, Wayland, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Fiied Mar. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 14,257 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-38) This invention relates to time controlled devices, and more particularly to switch and alarm means actuated as a function of time.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 605,032, filed August 20, 1956, now US. Patent No. 3,033,948, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention, there is disclosed a time switch and alarm for controlling a radio receiver and an audible alarm vibrator so that operation of the radio receiver will be automatically commenced at a particular preset time, and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval, operation of the audible alarm vibrator will be commenced. The time switch disclosed in the above-mentioned application may also be controlled manually to start or turn off the radio receiver at any time. My invention is concerned with such a time switch and alarm mechanism and the provision of a unique arrangement for controlling an alarm mechanism and a switch.

Correspondingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved reliable time switch and alarm mechanism having a minimum number of parts which may be readily manufactured.

It is highly desirable that time switches in combination with audible alarm means he provided with simplified control mechanisms so that an operator may readily set the time switch and alarm mechanism to perform any one of the plurality of control functions mentioned above without becoming involved in a series of complicated setting operations to arrive at a particular setting he desires. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide an improved time switch and alarm mechanism which may be readily controlled by an easily understood pushbutton arrangement.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a timing device comprises an audible alarm vibrator and a switch. A two part articulated lever means is provided for actuating the switch and for obstructing operation of the audible alarm vibrator. The lever means may be moved in one direction to a plurality of different positions by means driven by the timing device. When the lever means is moved automatically in the above-mentioned direction to one position, the switch is closed and when the lever is moved further in said direction to a different position, operation of the audible alarm is permitted. Thus, the lever means is utilized to sequentially close the switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval, permit operation of the audible alarm vibrator. A manual means is positioned adjacent to one of the lever parts for moving said part in said one direction at any time to close the switch. By this arrangement, a simple reliable mechanism which may include a lowcost two position switch is provided for performing the plurality of functions mentioned above.

Further objects and advantages of my invention as well as other modifications and uses thereof will become apparent as the description proceeds. My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the operating mechanism of the time switch and audible alarm showing the switch in the manual On position;

FIG. 2 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarm with the control mechanism set to automatically close the switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a short time interval permit operation of the audible alarm;

FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarm set in the position shown in FIG. 2, after the switch has been closed automatically at the preset time but before the alarm is released;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the switch and alarm shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarm mechanism set in the position shown in FIG. 3 after the switch has been closed automatically and the alarm has been released;

FlG. 6 is a side elevational view of the switch and alarm mechanism shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarm mechanism showing the switch in the manual Ofif" position;

FIG. 8 is a front eievational view of the pushbutton mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the pushbutton sliders.

Referring now to the drawings and first, particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a time control device comprising a generally square casting 1 suitable for mounting in any desired manner on apparatus such as a radio receiver (not shown). This mechanism comprises a supporting structure including a rear plate 2, and a front plate 3 upon which is mounted a dial plate 4 having the usual clock indicia painted or otherwise generally centrally placed thereon. The clock is provided with hour, minute, and second hands, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, mounted for movement over the dial and driven by a conventional timing device gear train.

The timing device may include any suitable form of timer motor here shown as a self-starting synchronous motor 8, a field coil 9 of which is connected to a source of regulated frequency alternating current. A terminal shaft 10 including a gear 11 fixed thereto extends through the rear plate 2 for driving the hands of the clock and the time switch and alarm mechanism. A resilient magnetic vibrator 12 operated by leakage flux from the motor is arranged to have its free end portion 13 vibrate against a stator nut 14 and produce an audible alarm at all time when the motor is energized unless the vibrator is prevented from vibrating by a lever 15 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

A time set cam gear 16 having a projecting cam portion 17 located thereon is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure. The angular position of cam gear 16 is manually adjustable in a conventional manner by a knob 18 which extends through the rear of the casing. A hand 19 is connected to cam gear 16 for rotation therewith in order to indicate the time setting of cam gear 16. A second rotatable cam gear 20 having a cam surface 22 is also rotatably mounted on the supporting structure as shown, and is axially movable to actuate the time switch and alarm mechanism in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. Cam gear 20 is driven by motor 8 at one revolution every 12 hours through a suitable gearing arrangement in a manner well known in the art. Hour hand 5 and cam gear 24 may both be fixed to a common shaft 21 so that earn gear 20 may rotate the hour hand 5 at one revolution in every 12 hours. In a manner known in the art, at the time set by cam gear 16, cam surfaces 17 and 22 cooperate with each other to move gear 20 axially away from cam gear 16. The background structure so far described is also illustrated and described in my abovernentioned co-pending application, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

A simple low cost two-position switch which may be utilized to control an apparatus such as a radio receiver is provided for actuation by my improved mechanism. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the switch comprises a resilient movable switch blade 24 provided with a contact 25 for cooperation with a fixed switch contact 26. Switch blade 24 is normally self-biased downwardly to the closed position with the movable contact 25 in abutting relation with the fixed contact 26, and an insulated plate 27, is provided for moving resilient blade 24 upwardly to open the switch.

A uniquely designed means is provided for automatically moving switch blade 24 to the closed position and for automatically releasing alarm vibrator 12. This automatic means comprises a two part lever arrangement including the lever and a latch lever 28, both lever parts being pivoted on the same axis. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lever 15 is fixed to a shaft 29 which is pivotally mounted in apertures formed in the front and rear supporting plates. In order to loosely mount lever 28 on shaft 29 for movement in a plurality of directions, the shaft 29 is provided with a reduced portion 31 and the lever 28 is provided with an aperture 32 which is greater than the reduced portion of shaft 29 but smaller than the major portion of the shaft. With this arrangement, lever 28 may be rotated in one direction or the other with respect to lever 15 about the axis of shaft 29, and in addition the lever 28 may be pivoted in an axial direction with respect to the shaft for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1, lever 15 is generally L- shaped and is provided with an outwardly extending arm 33 for cooperating with insulated plate 27 to actuate the switch. An upper portion of arm 33 of the lever is provided with a rearwardly extending lug 34 for cooperating with a forwardly extending lug 35 which may be formed on vibrator 12 in order to obstruct operation of the vibrator 12. Preferably, the parts are arranged so that upon clockwise rotation of lever 15, lever 15 first lifts the alarm vibrator 12, and then both vibrator 12 and switch actuator plate 27.

Latch lever 28 cooperates with the twelve-hour cam gear for automatically moving lever 15 in one direction to sequentially close the switch at a preset time, and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval, permit operation of alarm vibrator 12. As shown more particularly in FIG. 4, latch lever 28 is provided with a forwardly extending lug 36 for contacting a side portion of the axially movable twelve hour cam gear 28. Thus, cam gear 20 may move the lower portion of latch lever 28 rearwardly at the preset times. The lower portion of latch lever 28 is provided with a forwardly extending tab 37 having a plurality of steps 39 and 40 formed thereon for cooperating with a hole 41 which may be cut in front plate 3. In the position shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that step 39 cooperates with an edge 46 of hole 41 to prevent counterclockwise rotation of latch lever 28 about shaft 29.

A tension spring 42 is provided for urging latch lever 28 forwardly as viewed in FIG. 1, and for biasing a curved stop portion 43 of the latch lever into engagement with a stop lug 44 formed on the lever 15 so that the two lever parts 15 and 28 may act as a unit or as if made in one piece. To achieve this, one end of spring 42 may be connected to a tab 45 which is struck forwardly out of latch lever 28 while the other end of the spring is connected to the forwardly extending lug 44 fixed to lever 15. Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the spring 42 forces the curved stop portion 43 of latch lever 28 into engagement with lug 44 so that the latch lever 28 and lever 15 may rotate as a unit about the axis of shaft 29. It can also be seen that spring 42 pivots lever 28 forwardly about the reduced portion of lug 44 and pivot 31 to hold lug 36 in contact with the twelve hour cam gear 20. With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 2, step 39 of the latch lever 28 cooperates with a step 46 formed at hole 41 to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the latch lever, and spring 42 holds levers 15 and 28 together against the force of switch blade 24 and vibrator arm 12. Thus, lever 15 holds vibrator 12 above field nut 14 and also holds the switch contacts 25 and 26 in the open position. As the time preset by cam gear 16 is approached cam surface 22 will engage cant surface 17 to slide cam gear 20 rearwardly, thereby pivoting latch lever 28 rearwardly about pivot 31 and the reduced portion of lug 44 to allow vibrator 12 and switch blade 24 to move latch lever 28 from step 46 to a lower step 47 as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, resilient switch blade 24 and resilient vibrator 12 rotate the articulated lever means 15, 28 as a unit, an increment in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, insulated switch actuator 27 is moved downwardly by the spring force of switch blade 24 until contact 25 abuts contact 26 to close the switch; however, such slight rotational movement of the articulated lever means .15, 28 does not move lug 34 downwardly far enough to enable the end portion 13 of vibrator 12 to contact field nut 14 to sound the alarm. As shown in FIG. 5, continued rotation of cam gear 20 will cause cam surface 22 to move further up on cam surface 17 in order to slide gear 20 still further rearwardly. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, latch lever 28 is pivoted about shaft 29 and lug 44 far enough rearwardly so that step 40 becomes disengaged from edge 47 of hole 45. This completely disengages latch lever 28 from hole 45 and therefore resilient vibrator 12 pivots lever means 15, 28 as a unit in a counterclockwise direction to lower lug 34 sufiiciently far enough so that vibrator 13 may contact field nut 14 to thereby sound the audible alarm.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pushbutton arrangement is pro vided for manually operating the switch and for setting the switch and vibrator control mechanism for automatic operation at preset times. Very briefly, this arrangement includes an On pushbutton slider 48 for closing switch contacts 25 and 26, an Auto pushbutton slider 49 for setting the switch and vibrator control mechanism for automatic operation at preset times, and an Off pushbutton slider 50 for opening contacts 25 and 26. Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the pushbutton sliders 48, 49 and 50 comprise pieces of sheet metal suitably stamped for receiving an end of one of the coil springs 52, 53 and 54, respectively, for biasing the sliders upwardly. As shown, the other ends of the springs may be connected to a top portion 64 of the front plate 3. In order to reciprocally guide each of the sliders, tabs 55, 56 and 57 may be forwardly bent from front plate 3 for cooperating with slots 58, 59, and 60, respectively, formed in the sliders. In addition, the upper portion of each of the sliders may be conveniently guided within slots 61, 62 and 63 which may be readily stamped out of the forwardly extending top portion 64 of the front plate.

A horizontally slidable latch bar 51 is provided for latching one of the sliders 48, 49 or 50 in a depressed position while simultaneously releasing any of the other sliders than may have been depressed. Latch bar 51 may be conveniently guided for horizontal motion by tabs 65, and 6-6 which may be forwardly struck out of the front plate. As shown, the tabs 65 and 66 cooperate with complemental slots 67 and 68, respectively, formed in the latch bar, and a spring 69 is provided for urging the latch bar 51 to the right. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in order to hold slider 48 in a depressed position, the slider is provided with a latch notch 70 for receiving a rearwardly bent latch tab 71 formed on the spring urged latch bar 51. For similar purposes, the Auto slider 49 is provided with a latch notch 72 for receiving a rearwardly bent latch tab 73 formed on the slider bar 51, and the Off slider 50 is provided with a latch notch 74 for cooperating with a latch tab 75 formed on the slider bar 51 to hold the Off slider depressed.

Cam means is provided for moving latch bar 51 to the left against the force of spring 69 to release the pushbutton sliders from the latch bar tabs. As shown, slider bars 48, 49 and 50 are provided with cam surfaces 76, 77 and 78 respectively. These cam surfaces cooperate with tabs 71, 73 and 75, respectively, to move the latch bar 51 to the left as viewed in FIG. I. With this arrangement, when either the "On" or Auto pushbutton slider is depressed, its cam surface moves the latch bar 51 to the left to release any one of the other pushbutton sliders which may have been depressed, and further movement of the pushbutton slider downwardly permits its latch bar tab to engage with its locking notch to hold the pushbutton slider in a depressed position.

My uniquely designed *On" pushbutton mechanism is provided for simultaneously closing switch contacts 25 and 26 and resetting latch lever 28 so that step 39 of the latch lever is placed over step 46 of hole 41. This mechanism includes a rearwardly extending rod 79 fixed to slider 48 for moving lever 15 downwardly to close switch contacts 25 and 26, but not far enough to permit vibration of vibrator 12. A pivoted lever 80 is arranged for engagement by rod 79 for forcing lever 15 upwardly against rod 79 and for resetting the latch lever 28 when the On pushbutton is depressed. As shown more particularly in FIG. I, reset lever 80 may be pivotally mounted on a stud 81 fixed to front plate 3. One side 82 of the lever is provided with a surface 83 for engagement with rod 79, while the other side of the lever is provided with a lug 84 fixed thereto for cooperation with a slot 85 formed in the latch lever. With this arrangement when the On" slider 48 is moved downwardly, rod 79 simultaneously moves lever 15 downwardly to close switch contacts 25 and 26 and rotates lever 80 counterclockwise about pivot 81 to rotate latch lever 28 clockwise about shaft 29 in opposition to spring 42 to thereby reset the latch lever and hold lever 15 up to obstruct vibration of vibrator 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, step 39 of the latch lever 28 is rotated beyond step 46 of hole 41, and spring 42 pivots latch lever 28 forwardly to hold step 39 over step 46 when spring 69 moves latch tab 71 into engagement with notch 70 to hold the On slider in the down position.

A unique Ofl' pushbutton arrangement is designed for simultaneously opening contacts 25, 26 obstructing operation of the alarm vibrator 12, and resetting the latch lever 28. The arrangement for opening contacts 25 and 26 after the On pushbutton slider has been depressed will be described first. When the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed, cam surface 78 moves the latch bar 51 to the left to release the On pushbutton slider 48 or any other pushbutton slider that may have been depressed. In releasing the On" pushbutton slider, rod 79 moves unwardly away from lever 15. Thus, with the reset lever 28 in its reset position with step 39 on step 46 of hole 41, as shown in FIG. 7, spring 42 may rotate lever 15 clockwise to move plate 27 upwardly against the force of vibrator 12 and switch blade 24 to open contacts 25 and 26. During such movement, stop 44 on lever 15 is brought into contact with the curved stop 43 on the latch lever 28.

Of course, with the Oil pushbutton arrangement thus far described, should the earns 17 and 22 be in the posi tions shown in FIG. 6 with the latch lever 28 released, spring 42 could not move lever 15 upwardly to open the switch contacts when the Oil slider is depressed. Accordingly, I provide a simple unique means for resetting the latch lever and lever 15 to the alarm Off and switch Off positions when the Oil pushbutton slider is depressed. As shown in FIG. 1, the Oil pushbutton slider 58 is provided with a rearwardly extending rod 86 fixed thereto. The rod may be conveniently guided by a side surface 87 formed on the rear plate. With this arrangement, when the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed, rod 86 moves into engagement with a curved surface 88 of latch lever 28 to rotate latch lever 28 clockwise about shaft 29 to the Off position shown in FIG. 7. During this movement, spring 42 rotates lever 15 clockwise to move insulated plate 27 upwardly against the force of vibrator 12 and switch blade 24 to open contacts 25 and 26. In addition, during such movement lug 35 is moved upwardly far enough so that vibrator 12 is held above field nut 14 in the alarm Oil position. Accordingly, rod 86 simultaneously opens switch contacts 25, 26, prevents operation of the vibrator and resets latch lever 28.

Referring now to FIG. 1, when the Auto pushbutton slider 49 is depressed, it releases any other pushbutton slider previously depressed. This is accomplished by cam surface 77 which abuts latch bar tab 73 to move the latch bar to the left against the force of spring 69. As previously described, rod 86 on the Off pushbutton slider cooperates with surface 88 to reset latch lever 28, and rod 79' fixed to the On" pushbutton slider functions through lever 80 to reset latch lever 28. Thus, when either the On pushbutton slider or the Off pushbutton slider is released by the Auto slider, step 39 of the latch lever 28 is located on step '46 of hole 41 in position to be automatically operated by cam gear 20 in the manner previously described. Obviously, when the 0:1" and Off sliders are in their up positions, rods 79 and 86 cannot influence automatic operation of lever 15 and latch lever 28.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that my improved time switch and alarm mechanism comprises a relatively simple and uniquely arranged articulated two part lever means 28, 15 for actuating an alarm and a low cost two position switch. The lever means 15, 28 rotates in one direction as a single lever during the automatic operation of the time switch and alarm, and during such operation, latch lever 28 is also pivoted axially with respect to lever 15 by the time cam mechanism. When the On or Oil pushbuttons are depressed, rod 79 or 86, respectively, resets the latch lever 28. Thus, an exceedingly simple yet effective time switch and alarm mechanism is achieved.

Operation From the foregoing description it will also be appreciated that my improved pushbutton time switch and alarm may be readily set without becoming involved in a series of complicated setting operations. If it is desired to have the switch for operating apparatus such as a radio receiver closed at some time in the future, say 5 oclock, and after the lapse of a short time interval sound the alarm vibrator, knob 18 at the rear of the timing mechanism is rotated to set hand 19 to the 5 oclock position illustrated in FIG. 1 in a conventional manner to thereby set the angular position of cam gear 16, and the Auto pushbutton slider 49 is depressed. In pushing slider 49 downwardly, the On and Off sliders are released so that rods 79 and 86 cannot influence automatic operation of the time switch and alarm.

The mechanism can now operate to trip latch lever 28 and lever 15 to the position shown in FIG. 3 to close the switch at 5 oclock. The timing device rotates the clock hands toward 5 oclock and at the same time, the timing mechanism rotates cam gear 20 clockwise. As the preset time is approached the cam portions on gears 16 and 20 come into contact with each other and cam portion 22 rises on cam portion 17, thereby pivoting latch lever 28 rearwardly about pivot 31. At 5 oclock, latch lever 28 is moved far enough rearwardly to allow step 39 to become disengaged from step 46 as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, vibrator 12 moves articulated lever means 15, 28 in a counterclockwise direction until step 40 on latch lever 28 engages step 47 of hole 41. This slight counterclockwise movement of articulated lever 28, 15 allows switch blade 24 to move contact 25 into abutting relation with respect to fixed contact 26 to close the switch. As the timing mechanism continues to rotate gear 20, cam surfaces 22 and 17 on gears 16 and 20, respectively, move further into alignment with each other to thereby move gear 20 further rearwardly to approximately the position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, step 40 of latch lever 28 is disengaged from step 47 of hole 41. This allows vibrator 12 to move the articulated lever 15, 28 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 5. Vibrator 12 snaps down on field nut 14 and starts buzzing. The buzzing will continue and the switch will remain closed until either the On or the Off pushbutton slider is depressed. If the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed rod 86 will pivot latch lever 28 clockwise about pivot 31 and spring 42 will rotate lever 15 clockwise to move lug 35 far enough upwardly to shut off the alarm and to move insulated plate 27 upwardly to open contacts 25 and 26. If the On" pushbutton slider 48 is depressed, rod 79 will act through lever 80 to pivot latch lever 28 and lever 15 clockwise to shut oil the alarm, but rod 79 will also act against the top portion of lever 15 to hold the lever down far enough to keep the switch closed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made therein Without departing from the invention, and therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a plural position two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving said lever means in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual means for moving one of said lever parts in said one direction at any time to close said switch.

2. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a plural position two-part lever means for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, spring means for yieldingly holding the parts of said lever means in engagement with each other, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving said lever means as a unit in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual means for moving one of said lever parts in said one direction in opposition to the force of said spring means at any time to close said switch.

3. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a plural position two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving said lever means in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual means for simultaneously moving one of said lever parts in said one direction at any time to close said switch and for moving the other one of said lever parts in an opposite direction to set said lever means for automatic operation.

4. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a plural position two-part lever means for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving said lever means in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarm vibrator, a manually operable pushbutton slider, and a rod fixed to said pushbutton slider for moving one of said lever parts in said one direction at any time to close said switch but not far enough to permit operation of the alarm vibrator.

5. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a plural position two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving said lever means in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarm vibrator, a manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said pushbutton slider for moving one of said lever parts in said one direction at any time to close said switch, and a pivoted lever arranged for engagement by said rod for moving the other one of said lever parts in an opposite direction to set said lever means for automatic operation when said pushbutton slider is depressed.

6. In a timing device, an audible alarm, a switch, a pivoted lever means for operating said switch and said audible alarm, a latch lever means pivoted on the same axis as said pivoted lever means for holding said pivoted lever means in one position to maintain said switch open and to prevent operation of said alarm, two steps formed on said latch lever means, means driven by said timing mechanism for disengaging one step of said latch lever means to thereby allow said pivoted lever means to move to a second position to close said switch at a preset time, said means driven by said timing mechanism being operable to disengage the other step of said latch lever means to allow said lever means to move to a third position to thereby maintain said switch closed and permit operation of said audible alarm, and manual means movable into engagement with said pivoted lever means for rotating said pivoted lever means with respect to said latch lever means to close the switch.

7. A time switch comprising a timing mechanism, an audible alarm vibrator, a resilient movable contact biasing the switch to a closed position, a pivoted lever in operative relation with said movable contact for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, a latch lever arranged for rotational and pivotal motion with respect to said pivoted lever, spring means for connecting said latch lever to said pivoted lever and for moving said pivoted lever to open the switch when said latch means is held in one position, means driven by said timing mechanism for automatically moving said pivoted lever and said latch as a unit in one direction to sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time interval to permit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual means movable nto engagement with said pivoted lever means for rotating said pivoted lever means with respect to said latch lever in opposition to said spring means when said latch is in said one position to permit said resilient movable contact to close the switch.

8. In combination with a clock, a switch, an audible alarm vibrator, time control means operated by said clock for automatically controlling said switch and said vibrator, manual means for closing and opening said switch independently of said time control means, a twopart articulated pivoted lever means through which said controls operate on said switch, and vibrator control means provided on one of said lever parts for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, stops on the lever parts for limiting relative rotation of said lever parts in opposite directions, a spring connected between the lever parts for yieldingly holding the stops in engagement but allowing the lever parts to rotate relative to each other when the spring is tensioned, said two-part lever means acting as a single lever without relative rotation between its parts when the switch is closed automatically and the vibrator is caused to sound automatically in response to the time control means, and one of said parts acting alone without movement of the other part when the switch is closed by said manual means.

9. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch a lever for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven by said timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to thereby move said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarm vibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at any time to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement by said rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold said latch in one position when said first manually operable pushbutton slider is depressed, and a second manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in said opposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when said second pushbutton slider is depressed.

10. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven by said timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to thereby move said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarm vibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at any time to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement by said rod for moving said latch lever in an opposite direction to hold said latch in one position when said first manually operable pushbutton slider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider a rod fixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in said opposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when said second pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said first pushbutton slider in its depressed position, and cam means formed on said sec ond manually operable pushbutton slider for releasing said first manually operable pushbutton slider from its depressed position when said second pushbutton slider is depressed.

11. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever means driven by said timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to thereby move said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarm vibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at any time to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement by said rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when said first manually operable pushbutton slider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in said opposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when said second pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said first and second pushbutton sliders in their depressed positions, a third manually operable pushbutton slider, and cam means formed on said third manually operable pushbutton slider for releasing said first and said second pushbutton sliders, from their depressed positions.

12. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven by said timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to thereby move said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarm vibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said first pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at any time to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement by said rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold said latch in one position when said first manually operable pushbutton slider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when said second pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said first and second pushbutton sliders in their depressed positions, cam means formed on said second manually operable pushbutton slider for releasing said first manually operable pushbutton slider when said second pushbutton slider is depressed, a third manually operable pushbutton slider, means for retaining said third slider in its depressed position, cam means formed on said third pushbutton slider for releasing said first and said second manually operable pushbutton sliders, and cam means formed on said first manually operable pushbutton slider for releasing said second and third manually operable pushbutton sliders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,441 Boyles Oct. 25, 1955 2,782,274 Powers et al Feb. 19, 1957 2,977,433 Beiser et al. Mar. 28, 1961 2,994,183 Dimond et al. Aug. 1, 1961

Claims (1)

1. IN A TIMING DEVICE, AN AUDIBLE ALARM VIBRATOR, A SWITCH, A PLURAL POSITION TWO-PART LEVER MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCH, AND FOR OBSTRUCTING OPERATION OF SAID ALARM VIBRATOR, MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID TIMING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID LEVER MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION TO SEQUENTIALLY CLOSE SAID SWITCH AT A PRESET TIME AND AFTER THE LAPSE OF A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL PERMIT OPERATION OF SAID ALARM VIBRATOR, AND MANUAL MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF SAID LEVER PARTS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AT ANY TIME TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH.

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