US3460342A

US3460342A - Alarm control mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3460342A
Application number: US624328A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Wingler
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1967-03-20
Filing date: 1967-03-20
Publication date: 1969-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1986-08-12

Description

1969 w. c. WINGLER 3,460,342

ALARM CONTROL MEGHANI SM med March 20. 1957 fya 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Anew: kh/vc'w 4 wyw @W W firm wry United States Patent US. Cl. 58-22.7 6 Claims ABSTRACT THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to an arrangement for setting an alarm clock. An enlarged opening 35 is formed in the top wall of an alarm clock for receiving a unique pivotally-mounted actuator 34. The actuator 34 1s connected to a lever arrangement for selectively engaging an audible alarm vibrator 3 to thereby set the alarm or shut off the alarm. When the front portion 36 of the actuator is moved upwardly, the alarm is set and light is permitted to flow through an aperture 45 in the actuator 34 to indicate to an observer that the alarm has been set.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an alarm control mechanism, and more particularly, to an improved alarm indicator and manual touch actuator for an alarm clock.

In a prior United States Patent No. 2,768,332, to Protzmann, Oct. 23, 1956, assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention, there is disclosed an alarm clock including a manually operated shut-off lever which extends through the rear casing of the clock for silencing the alarm vibrator or setting the alarm for actuation at a predetermined time. In order to set the alarm, the actuator is pulled rearwardly to release the vibrator, and in order to shut off the alarm the actuator is pushed inwardly to engage the vibrator to thereby shut off the alarm. The present invention is concerned with an improved mechanism for setting and shutting off the alarm of such an alarm clock.

Summary of the invention It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved reliable alarm clock control arrangement which may be more readily and conveniently set than prior art constructions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm clock with an improved illuminated arrangement for indicating whether the alarm has been set.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a unique manual touch actuator is pivotallyv mounted on the top of an alarm clock. The actuator includesa first manually engageable surface positioned on one side of the pivot means, and a second manually engageable surface positioned on the other side of the pivot means. Reliable linkage structure is connected between the manual touch actuator and the alarm vibrator. With this construction, in the evening when it is desired to set the alarm for actuation at some time the next morning, it is merely necessary to tap the top of the clock to move the actuator downwardly. There is no need to turn on the bedroom lights, and reach around to the rear of the clock to determine which stem to push in or pull out in order to achieve the desired operation. Likewise, in the morning in order to shut off the alarm, it is again merely necessary to tap the manual touch actuator downwardly to shut off the alarm. Thus, a very simple yet effective arrangement for controlling an alarm clock is' achieved.

Brief description of the drawing Further objects and advantages of the invention as well ice as other modifications and uses thereof will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of an alarm clock incorporating the alarm set arrangement of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of the alarm clock illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the parts in the alarm set position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of the alarm clock shown in FIG. 1 with the parts in the alarm off position;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of a portion of the internal linkage between the manual touch actuator and the vibrator of the alarm clock shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the internal structure of the alarm clock shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the internal structure of the alarm clock illustrated in FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings and first, particularly to FIG. 1, the alarm clock in which my improved alarm control mechanism may be used is driven by a timing mechanism including a self-starting synchronous motor. Portions of the motor stator magnet core and energizing coil are shown at. 1 and 2, respectively. A resilient magnetic vibrator 3 operated by leakage flux from the motor is arranged to have its free end portion 4 vibrate against stator portion 5 and produce an audible alarm at all times when the motor is energized unless the vibrator 3 is prevented from vibrating by one of the alarm control parts to be described hereinafter.

A supporting structure including a front mounting plate 6 and a rear mounting plate 7 arranged generally parallel thereto is provided for supporting the clock mechanism. A cam gear member 8 having a projecting cam portion 9 located thereon is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure of the clock framework. The cam portion 9 comprises an abrupt axially-extending surface 10 located on one side thereof, and a sloping surface 11 located on the other. A second cam gear member 12 having abrupt cam surfaces formed by a slot 13 is also rotatably mounted on the clock supporting structure as shown in the drawings and is axially movable to actuate the alarm vibrator 3 in a manner hereinafter described. The angular position of cam gear member 8 is manually adjustable by means of gearing in a manner well-known in the art. In the embodiment shown, cam member 12 is driven by the timing motor of the clock through a suitable gearing arrangement.

In the embodiment illustrated, the resilient vibrator 3 is utilized to spring load the axially movable cam gear 12 into engagement with the cam gear 8 through a suitable lever mechanism such as a bell-crank 14 which is pivoted to rear mounting plate 7. As shown in FIG. 1, bell crank 14 transmits the spring force of vibrator arm 3 to the end of a shaft 15 which is attached to cam member 12. Thus, when the timing mechanism of the clock drives cam gear 12 to a position where the abrupt cam surface 10 becomes aligned with the abrupt surface formed by slot 13, the vibrator 3 acting through the bell crank 14 rapidly forces the cam gear member 12 toward the cam gear 8 to the alarm sounding position. In this posltion, the vibrator arm 3 is unrestrained and is free to vibrate against stator portion 5 under the influence of the continuously-applied electro-magnetic forces to give an audible signal. The structure so far described is i1- lustrated and described in greater detail in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,768,332 of Protzmann, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

mechanism for setting the alarm or shutting off the alarm by merely touching downwardly on a readily accessible actuator located at the top of the clock. The improved shut off mechanism includes a vibrator shut off lever for obstructing or permitting vibration of the vibrator arm 3. As shown more particularly in FIG. 5, the vibrator shut off lever may be integrally formed of plastic or other suitable material and is provided with a rearwardly extending lug 21 formed at the right end thereof for cooperation with the end of vibrator arm 3 to obstruct vibration of the arm against the field portion 5. The lever includes a generally cylindrical shaft portion 22 having opposed reduced end portions 23 for pivotally mounting the vibrator shut off lever within complementary apertures formed in the front and rear mounting plates 6 and 7 respectively. By this construction, the plastic vibrator shut off lever is accurately held and guided for pivotal movement between the front and rear mounting plates 6 and 7. Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it can be appreciated that when the lever is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, lug 21 abuts vibrator 3 to prevent it from vibrating against the field portion 5, and thus, the alarm is in the off position. When the lever 20 is rotated clock-wise to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, lug 21 does not restrain the vibrator 3 and therefore the alarm is in the on or alarm set position. In the latter mentioned position, the vibrator 3 is under the control of bellcrank lever 14 and cam gears 8 and 12.

A reciprocating lever 24 and detent arrangement is provided for selectively holding the pivoted vibrator shutoff lever 20 in either the position illustrated in FIG. 2. or the position illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 6, the reciprocating lever 24 is preferably formed from a single piece of flat sheet metal and is provided with a notch 25 for receiving an arm 26 of the vibrator shut off lever 20. The lever is mounted in a pair of vertically arranged lugs 27 which are suitably fixed to the front mounting plate 6 and extend rearwardly therefrom. Complementary vertical slots 28 are formed in the reciprocating lever 24 for cooperating with the lugs to guide the lever 24 for up and down reciprocating movement. As shown in FIG. 4, a strap member 29 and coil springs 30 are sandwiched between the front plate and the reciprocating lever for resiliently urging the lever rearwardly against the head of the lugs 27. It can be appreciated that when the lever 24 is moved downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the alarm vibrator is in the off position, and when the reciprocating lever is moved upwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the vibrator is in the on or set position. With reference to FIG. 6, is can be seen that the lower portion of the upper slot 28 includes a formed circular portion 31, and the upper portion of the lower slot includes a formed circular portion 32. The lugs 27 are provided with rounded inner ends 33, and thus, when the reciprocating lever is moved upwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the rounded head 33 of the upper lug moves into the enlarged portion 31 to act as a detent to prevent unwanted movement of the reciprocating lever out of its upper position. Likewise, the rounded head 33 of the lower lug cooperates with the circular slot 32 to prevent accidental movement of the lever out of the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The vibrator shut off lever 20 and the intermediate reciprocating lever 24 may be selectively actuated to the alarm on or off or set positions by merely touching downwardly on my unique finger-tip actuator 34. As illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2., an enlarged generally rectangular opening 35 is formed in the top wall of the clock for receiving the actuator 34.

Theactuator 34 is preferably formed from a single piece of molded plastic. It includes a forward generally horizontal top wall 36 which extends slightly more than the full width of the enlarged 'opening 35 and a second generally horizontal top wall 37 positioned .at an angle of approximately degrees with respect to the wall 36. The integrally formed actuator also includes generally vertical front, side and

rear Walls

38, 39, 40 and 41, respectively. A pivot rod 4-2 extends through suitable openings formed in the

sidewalls

39 and 40 for pivoting the actuator with respect to the top wall of the clock. Downwardly extending fingers 43 are also integrally formed with my unique actuator 34 for insertion within apertures 44 which are formed in reciprocating lever24. With this construction, it can be appreciatedthat light finger-tip downward movement on the top surface of horizontal wall 36 will cause fingers 43 to move reciprocating lever 24 downwardly until the lever 24 is in the detent position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the reciprocating lever 24 will have rotated vibrator shut off lever 20 to the position illustrated thereby restraining the vibrator 3 in its alarm off position. It can also be seen that light downward fingertip movement on the top surface of horizontal wall 37 will cause the actuator to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 thereby moving the fingers 43 to lift the reciprocating lever 24 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Naturally, in this position recirprocating lever 24 will have rotated the vibrator shut 01f lever 20 in a clockwise direction to release lug 21 from vibrator 3 to thereby move the control mechanism to the alarm set or alarm on position.

In accordance with my invention, the unique alarm control mechanism includes a lighted alarm set indicator without the provision of additional parts. As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 2, an aperture 45 is formed in the front wall 38 of the actuator in the vicinity of lamp 19. Thus, when the actuator is moved to the alarm set position illustrated in FIG. 2 light will flow through the aperture 45 to indicate to an observer that the alarm has been set. If desired, a suitable translucent lens 46 may be inserted within aperture 45 to achieve any desired indicator light appearance. In addition, if it is desired to use my unique construction in a clock which does not include a source of illumination, a suitable piece of colored opaque plastic may be inserted in the aperture 45 for indicating when the actuator is moved to the set position.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that my improved alarm control mechanism may be readily incorporated in an alarm clock by the use of only three easily formed parts, namely, plastic vibrator shutoif lever 20, flat sheet metal reciprocating lever 24 and a unique plastic fingertip actuator 34. Moreover, a lighted alarm set indicator is achieved without the use of additional parts by merely placing an aperture 45 in actuator 34. Thus, an exceedingly simple, yet reliable alarm control arrangement is achieved.

Operation One of the most significant advantages of my improved construction is that it may be more readily and conveniently actuated than prior-art arrangements. There is no need to fumble in the back of a clock with a small difiicult to gripalarm set plunger. Instead, light fingertip pressure downwardly on enlarged surface 36 is all that is necessary to shut off the alarm. Likewise, light downward fingertip pressure on surface 37 moves the alarm control mechanism to the alarm set position and uncovers indicator opening 45 so that an observer can tell that the alarm has been set. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having an opening fromed therein;

(b) an alarm vibrator;

(c) a vibrator shut off lever having an alarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator;

(d) a manual touch actuator positioned above the opening formed in said clock casing;

(e) pivot means mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock;

(f) said actuator having a first manually engageable surface positioned on one side of said pivot means and a second manually engageable surface positioned on the other side of said pivot means for selectively rotating said manual touch actuator in one direction or in an opposite direction about said pivot means;

(g) means connecting said manual touch actuator with said vibrator shut-off lever so that when said first manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to rotate said manual touch actuator in one direction about said pivot means said vibrator shutoff lever is moved to the alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator, and when said second manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to pivot said manual touch actuator in a second direction about said pivot means said vibrator shutoff lever is moved in an opposite direction away from said vibrator for permitting the vibrator to sound.

2. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having an opening formed therein;

(b) an alarm vibrator;

(c) a vibrator shut-oft lever having an alarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator, and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator;

(e) pivot means mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock;

(f) said actuator having a first manually engageable surface positioned on one side of said pivot means, a second manually engageable surface positioned on the other side of said pivot means, and a translucent lens connected to and positioned downwardly from said first manually engageable surface;

(g) a source of illumination positioned within said clock casing behind and below said translucent lens;

(h) means connecting said manual touch actuator with said vibrator shut-oft lever so that when said first manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to rotate said manual touch actuator in one direction about said pivot means, said vibrator shut-oft lever is moved to the alarm off position and said lens is covered within the clock casing, and when said second manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to pivot said manual touch actuator in a second direction about said pivot means said vibrator shut-01f lever is moved in an opposite direction to an alarm set position and said lens is moved above said clock casing to permit light from said illuminating means to flow through said lens to indicate that the alarm has been set.

3. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having an opening formed therein;

(b) an alarm vibrator;

(c) a vibrator shut-off lever having an alarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator, and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator;

(e) pivot means mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock;

(f) said actuator having a first manually engageable surface positioned on one side of said pivot means,

a second manually engageable surface positioned on the other side of said pivot means, and a piece of indicator plastic connected to and positioned downwardly from said first manually engageable surface;

(g) means connecting said manual touch actuator with said vibrator shut-01f lever so that when said first manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to rotate said manual touch actuator in one direction about said pivot means, said vibrator shut-01f lever is moved to the alarm off position and said indicator plastic is covered within the clock casing, and when said second manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to pivot said manual touch actuator in a second direction about said pivot means said vibrator shut-off lever is moved in an opposite direction to an alarm set position and said indicator plastic is moved above said clock casing to indicate that the alarm has been set.

4. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having an opening formed therein;

(b) an alarm vibrator;

(e) pivot means mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock;

(f) said actuator having a first manually engageable surface positioned on one side of said pivot means, a second manually engageable surface positioned on the other side of said pivot means for selectively rotating said manual touch actuator in one direction or in an opposite direction about said pivot means and a surface extending downwardly from said manually engageable surface, said downwardly extending surface having an aperture formed therein,

(g) a source of illumination positioned within said clock casing;

(h) means connecting said manual touch actuator with said vibrator shut-oif lever so that when said first manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to rotate said manual touch actuator in one direction about said pivot means, said vibrator shutoff lever is moved to the alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator, and when said second manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to pivot said manual touch actuator in a second direction about said pivot means said vibrator shutoff lever is moved in an opposite direction away from said vibrator for permitting the vibrator to sound and to permit light to flow through said aperture to indicate that the alarm has been set.

5. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having an opening formed therein; a front mounting plate and a rear mounting plate positioned within said clock casing;

(b) an alarm vibrator;

(c) a vibrator shut-ofif lever having an alarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator, and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator;

(d) a manual touch actuator positioned above the opening fromed in said clock casing;

(e) pivot means mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock;

(g) a vibrator shut-off lever pivotally mounted between said front and rear plates, said vibrator shutoff lever having an alarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator arm, and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator arm;

(h) a reciprocating lever connecting said manual touch actuator to said vibrator shut-ofif lever, said reciprocating lever having a pair of guiding slots and detent means formed thereon for resiliently holding the vibrator shut-off lever in the alarm set position or the alarm on position.

6. An alarm clock comprising:

(a) a clock casing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a translucent dial forming a front wall;

(b) a front mounting plate and a rear mounting plate positioned within said clock casing;

(c) an alarm vibrator fixed to said rear plate;

(d) a vibrator shut-01f lever pivotally mounted between said front and rear plates, said vibrator shutoif lever having analarm on position out of engagement with said vibrator, and an alarm off position in engagement with said vibrator arm;

(e) an enlarged generally rectangular opening formed in the top wall of said clock casing;

(f) a manual touch actuator positioned on top of and extending within said enlarged rectangular opening;

(g) pivot means for mounting said manual touch actuator on said clock casing;

(h) said manual touch actuator including a first generally horizontal Wall extending the full width of said enlarged opening positioned in front of said pivot means for rotating said manual touch actuator in one direction;

(i) a second manually engageable wall integrally formed with said first manually engageable wall positioned on the other side of said pivot means;

(j) said manual touch actuator including a generally vertical wall integrally formed with said first gen- '8 erally horizontal wall and extending downwardly therefrom through said enlarged opening;

(k) atranslucent lens positioned in an opening formed in said generally vertical wall, said translucent lens and said generally vertical wall being moved within said clock casing and covered by said clock casing when said first manually engageable Wall is moved downwardly to rotate said manual-touch actuator in said one direction about said pivot means;

(1) a source of illumination positioned Within "said clock casing behind and below said translucent lens;

(m) means connecting said manual touch actuator with said vibrator shut-off lever so that when said first manually engageable surface is moved downwardly to rotate said manual touch actuator in one direction about said pivot means said vibrator shutoff lever is moved to the alarm off position and said lens is covered within said clock casing, and when said second manually engageable wall is moved downwardly to pivot said manual touch actuator in a second direction about said pivot means said vibrator shut-off lever is moved in an opposite direction to an alarm set position and said lens and generally vertical wall are moved above the top wall of said clock casing to permit light from said illuminating means to flow through said lens to indicate that the alarm has been set.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,039,260 6/1962 Morrison et al. 58-2l.15 X

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner 5 JOHN F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner