US3485031A

US3485031A - Alarm control

Info

Publication number: US3485031A
Application number: US565041A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Richmond
Original assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Current assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Priority date: 1966-07-05
Filing date: 1966-07-05
Publication date: 1969-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-23
Also published as: CH494996A; CH361867A4; DE1673698A1; GB1138149A

Description

Dec. 23, 1969 w. mcHMoNVD ALARM CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1966 Arme/Vey Dec. 23, 1969 J. w. RICHMOND ALARM CONTROL 5 SheetsnSheet NMEA/w@ JAMES M/ /F/c//MoA/D ,www N@ @www c@ Arm/Ney VHHHHH IIIIIIJ 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. W. RICHMOND ALARM CONTROL &\ 'Pnl gg mm fm D.

Dec. 23, 1969 Filed July 5, 1966 YFLL .L'IFIIIIHLL rmwgy Dec. 23, 1969 Filed July 5, 1966 y J. W. RICHMOND ALARM CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /M/EA/Ta/Q JAMES W P/cHMa/VD Arrow/EY United States Patent Office 3,485,031 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 Us. ci. 'ss-22.5 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An on-oif control for the alarm sounding mechanism of a clock, the control #being effected by a light linger pressure successively applied in the same direction. A .movable member, partially exposed by the clock housing, is interconnected with the alarm sounding mechanism to restrain or release the sounding mechanism, depending on whether a first or second linger pressure has been applied to the exposed portion of the movable member. Also disclosed is an indicator which is visible from the front of the clock and which cooperates with the movable member to indicate whether the alarm is on or 01T.

This invention relates `to an alarm control, and more particularly, to an improved on and oii alarm control mechanism for the alarm mechanism of a timing movement such as a clock.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved alarm control mechanism which is low cost, easy to operate, has few parts, and readily adaptable to existing clocks.

Briey, the improved alarm control mechanism is one which can be successively turned on and off by a sucessive and simple light touching movement of the same character. For example, in the illustrative form of the invention the touching movement is very similar to successive tapping of a typewriter spacer bar. The alarm control mechanism essentially comprises three parts. In the illustrated form of the invention these parts are a generally L-shaped plate, a toothed wheel, and a biasing means, such as a spring. The plate is movable up and down within the plane of its vertical leg. The spring biases the plate up. The toothed wheel is located in the plane of the vertical leg of the plate within an aperture formed in the plate. Two opposite lugs are formed on the edges of `the plate aperture. One of the lugs engages each of the teeth on the wheel to partially rotate it each time the base leg of the plate is tapped with light finger pressure. Each time the plate is moved down its bias spring moves it up to cause the other lug to enter thel notches on the wheel. This other lug is larger than alternate notches and when it enters the same it partially retains the plate in the down position to shut ott thealarm. However, when it enters the other notches, which are longer,

In the preferred form of the invention the touch bar for the alarm control mechanism is positioned at the front of the clock so as to `be readily accessible. Also, an indicator is provided to show whether the alarm has been set on or off. Since few parts are used the device is low cost, and these parts are readily incorporated into an existing clock movement. The improved on and off touch type alarm control mechanism is shown as being mounted on the rear plate of the compact clock described and claimed in Jepson et al. Patent No. 3,248,867 issued May 3, 1966 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant patent application, said compact clock being cur rently readily available on the market place.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference'to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a clock embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the section line 3- -3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FGI. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the positionl of the alarm control mechanism just after the alarm control plate has been depressed, whereas in FIG. 3 the alarm control mechanism is shown in its alarm on position.

FIG. 7 is another view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6 showing the position of the alarm control mechanism in its alarm off position, whereas FIG. 3 is the alarm on position and FIG. 6 is an intermediate position;

FIG. 8 i-s a sectional view taken along the section line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the position of the alarm contnrol mechanism indicator when the alarm vcontrol mechanism is in oi position, whereas FIG. 2 is the alarm control mechanism on position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective View of the alarm control mechanism indicator;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of 4the bell alarm vibrating hammer used in the form of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1-11; and

FIG. 12 is a modification thereof showing use of the invention with a vibrating reed type audible alarm.

Like reference numerals will be used throughout the various figures to indicate like parts.

Referring now to the drawings, shown therein is a clock having a generally Lshaped hollow casing 10. The front sidev 11` of the upright leg 12 of case 10 has a spaced front bezel 13 and between the front face 11 and bezel 13 are positioned a plurality of rotary hands 14-17'. Hands 14-16 are the second sweep, minute and hour hands respectively, and hand 17 indicates at what time an audible alarm mechanism will sound. A knob 18 is provided on a shaft 19 which protrudes through an aper? ture 20 formed'in the rear side 21 of the upright leg 12. This knob is for the purpose of setting the hands 15-17 and the time at which the alarm mechanism will sound. When' knob 18 is in the in position it is operative to set the alarm mechanism and hand 17 by rotating the knob, and when it is pulled out and rotated the hands 15 and v16 are set. The upright leg 12 contains a combination compa-ct motor and timing movement indicated general ly by reference numeral 22. The combination motor and movement 22 and its operation as well as its alarm mechanism and set shaft 19 are described in detail in the mentioned Jepson et al. Patent No. 3,248,867 and only those parts will be mentioned or described herein which are necessary for a complete understanding of the instant invention. However, as will be more clear hereinafter, the invention is not restricted in its use to the specific clock which is shown, but has utility with other clocks.

The alarm mechanism comprises a bell 23 which is struck intermittently by a hammer mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 24. The hammer mechanism 24 comprises a pivoted lever 25 having mounted on one end thereof a slug of metal or hammer head 26. The metal slug 26 is mounted on lever 25 by an elongated spring 27. The lever 25 is caused to vibrate lor pivot up and down slightly by virtue of a tab 28 formed on the lever 25 which rides on 'a toothed wheel 29 'during the alarm sounding period. During the period for which the alarm has not been set by shaft 19 for sounding the tab 28 is retained clear of the toothed wheel 29 in a manner which will be described shortly.

The lever is pivoted on a rear plate 30 of the clock 22 on an axis 31. The clock mechanism 22 also has"a front plate 32. The

plates

30 and 32 actually are two combination motor eld and timing movement mounting plates. They are spaced from e'ach other and contain the motor and timing movement of the clock mechanism 22. They are vertically disposed in generally parallel relationship to the front and

rear sides

11 and 21 respectively of the upright leg 12 of clock case or housing 10. The dial indicia or hour markings shown in FIG. 1 can be formed on the front face 11 or the bezel 13. The clock mechanism 22 is supported in the case 10 in upright position by screws 33 or the like passing through attachments 34 on the front plate 32 into bosses 35 formed on the rear case side 21.

The inner end of set shaft 19 has a gear 36 thereon. Shaft 19 is axially guided by a bushing 37 or the like positioned in an aperture 38 `formed in rear plate 30. A spring 39 on the shaft 19 biases the gear 36 to its in position in which it is engaged with an alarm gear 40. The alarm gear 40 has are like lugs 41 or the like formed thereon. The lugs 41 are adapted to enter not shown arc like notches formed in an hour gear 42. The alarm and hour gears 40 and 42 are disposed on a common axis with the hour gear 42 positioned behind the alarm gear 40. When the time for sounding the alarm arrives the not shown notches in hour gear 42 register with the lugs 41. Such registration permits the hour gear 42 to move towards the alar-m gear 40. When this happens the alarm sounds unless it has been turned off by the improved manually operated alarm on and off control mechanism to be described shortly. The alarm continues to sound for a short duration. Ultimately, if it is not manually shut off, it will automatically turn itself olf. This is because after a short rotation of the hour gear 42 the lugs 41 which are suitably contoured with respect to their registering notches, will ride out of the notches to again space the alarm and hour gears 40 and 42.

The relative yposition of the

gears

40 and 42, which determines the specific time at which the alarm mechanism istripped to give an audible signal, is adjusted by turning thek knob 18 whichresults in gear 36 rotating engaged alarm gear 40. When the lugs 41 are aligned with the notshown notches therefor in hour gear 42 the hour gear 42 is pushed toward the alarm gear 40 by a spring biased pivoted alarm trip element indicated generally by reference numeral 43. It has a main part 44 and an integral resilient or spring finger part 45. These two parts 44 and 45 are positioned in compressed relationship between and against two offset pivots or fulcrum points 46 and 47 respectively. The pivots 46 and 47 are provided by a plastic piece 48 mounted on the front plate 32. Thus, when the lugs 41 are aligned with their corresponding notches in the hour gear 42 the ele-ment 43 can pivot counterclockwise or from its full line position to its dotted line position when viewing FIG. 5. The inner end of part 44 is slotted to straddle the shaft 49 of the minute hand 15. Therefore, its inner end will urge the hour gear 42 against the alarm gear 40 when the lugs 41 are registered with the notches in hour gear 42. The outer end of the alarm trip element or lever 43 has an integral ear 50 or the like formed thereon. This ear 50 protrudes through a slot 51 formed in the left hand edge of rear plate 30, when viewing FIGS. 3 and 7, toladjacent a tab 52 formed on the left hand end of hammer lever 25. When the alarm sounding time has not arrived the tab 50' protrudes through the slot 51 in a manner such as to engage the tab 52 so as to raise the hammer lever 25 slightly so that its tab 28 is clear of the toothed alarm ringing wheel 29. However, when the preset time for sounding the bell 23 arrives the tab 50 moves from its full to its dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 to allow the hammer lever 25 to fall slightly so that the tab 28 engages the wheel 29 so as to ride up and down on the alternated teeth and notches thereof to cause the hammer head 26 to intermittently strike the bell 23.

The improved on and off alarm control mechanism will now be described. It comprises essentially three parts indicated generally by

reference numerals

53, 54 and 55.

Part 53 is a generally L-shaped plate. Part 54 is a toothed wheel, and part 55 is a coil spring or biasing means for continually biasing the plate 53 in an up direction. Plate 53 has an upright leg 56 and a base leg 57. The upright leg 56 is positioned behind the rear plate 30 in generally parallel relationship to the rear plate 30. Its base leg extends from beneath the clock movement 22 into the hollow base leg 58 of housing or casing 10. Actually, the plate 53 is mounted for vertical up and down movement on the rear plate 30. This is accomplished by suitable means such as vertical guide slots 59 on the upright leg 56 and mounting studs 60 or the like on rear plate 30. The gear 29 is positioned outside upright leg 56 on a second sweep hand shaft 61. A slot 62 is provided in upright leg 56 to clear the shaft 61. The spring 55 is connected at its opposite ends to the upright leg 56 and a portion of rear plate 30 to bias the alarm control mechanism plate 53 up.

The on and off alarm control mechanism toothed wheel 54 is disposed parallel to plate 30 and its teeth are actually in the vertical plane of the upright leg S6. Actually, wheel 54 comprises an integral part of the bushing 37 of set shaft 19, see FIG. 2. The bushing 37 is rotatable in its mounting hole 38 formed in the rear plate 30. The teeth on Wheel 54 are alternated with short and long slots or notches 63 and 64 respectively. In the disclosed embodiment the short or shallow notches 63 in the wheel 54 are simply the clearance spaces between the teeth 70, while the long or deep notches 64 are radially extending slots positioned where alternate clearance spaces or short notches 63 would have otherwise occurred. A clearance opening 65 is formed in the upright leg 56 of control plate 53 for the toothed part of wheel 54. On diametrically opposite top and bottom edges of the opening 65 are formed top and bottom lugs 66 and 67 respectively integral with control plate 53. The control plate 53 has a tab 68 integrally formed thereon which is adapted t0 coopcrate with another tab 69 integrally formed on the hammer lever 25. The

tabs

68 and 69 are located in the vicinity of the previously described ear and slot 50 and 51 and tab 52 for tripping the bell ringing hammer into ringing condition or to retain it in non-ringing position in accordance with the relative position of the alarm and hour gears 40 and 42 which in turn is adjusted or set by the set shaft 19 and thereafter determined by laps of time and consequent rotation of the hour gear 42 of the timing mechanism. Now to turn the alarm control mechanism on, assuming it is in the off position shown in FIG. 7, the base leg 57 of the control plate 53 is tapped once lightly with finger pressure to move the control plate 53 down a short distance against its bias spring 55. This will cause the upright leg 56 to move down. This results in the lug 66 engaging one of the teeth 70 on wheel 54 to partially rotate it in a counterclockwise direction to position one of the long slots 64 adjacent lug 67 for entry of the lug 67 into the long slot. This change in position is shown by comparing FIGS. 7 and 3. The lug 67 is longer than the notches 63 so it only partially enters the same. However, it essentially fully enters the long slots 64. The lug 67 is moved into the notches 63 and 64 after the plate 53 is depressed to partially rotate the wheel 54 by the bias spring 55. It will be noted that after finger depression of the plate 53, the plate 53 does not go as far up when the lug enters the notches 63 as when it enters the notches 64. When it enters the notches 64 the plate 53 is raised suiciently to cause the tab 68 to clear the tab 69 so that the hammer 24 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction to ring the alarm. If at this time the alarm and hour gears 40 and 42 have moved towards each other, the hammer will ring the alarm. If not, then it will do so when the lugs 41 on alarm gear 40 register with the notches in hour gear 42 since there is nothing restraining the hammer from engaging the bell other than the ear 50. Now if the base leg 57 is again depressed the parts 53, S4 will go from the on position shown in FIG. 3, and through the intermediate position shown in FIG. 6 to the alarm otf position shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 shows partial rotation of the Wheel 54 in a counterclockwise direction to position one of the shorter slots 63 adjacent the lug 67 for readiness to receive the same. The lugs 66 and 67 are spaced from each other sufficiently so that the lug 67 will leave the slots before the lug 66 engages the teeth so that the wheel 54 is free to rotate upon pushing down on the teeth by the lug 66. Actually, after a partial rotation of the wheel 54 by the lug 66 the slots 63 and 64 are not aligned perfectly with the lug 67, as shown in FIG. 6. Entry of the lug `67 into the notch 63 is completed by the lug 67 riding on the curved surface 71 of the tooth which just passed by the lug 67. When it does this it really completes the partial rotation of wheel 54. This is desirable to move the next tooth opposite the lug 66 in readiness for engagement by the lug 66 upon a subsequent depression of the plate 53. From FIG. 6 the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 7 which is the alarm control mechanism off position. In this condition of the parts the spring 55 has not moved the plate 53 up suciently to cause the tab 68 to clear the tab 69. Rather, it is still in engagement with the tab 69 to retain the hammer lever 25 raised slightly in a counterclockwise direction so that the bell will not ring regardless of the position of the parts Sil-52. That is to say, the alarm will not ring when the hour gear 42 has moved towards the alarm gear 40 to disengage the ear 50 from the tab 52. Of course, if the alarm is in fact ringing depression of the base leg 57 to cause the parts to go from the FIG. 3 position through the FIG. 6 position to the FIG. 7 position shuts the alarm off. This is what happens when the alarm is shut oif upon arising in the morning. The following evening before going to bed the clock user will tap the base leg 57 again in the same manner to move the parts from the FIG. 7 to the FIG. 3 position so that the alarm will sound the following morning.

Access to finger operation of the on and off alarm control mechanism is provided by an opening 72 formed in the upper facing surface of the hollow base leg 58 of the clock case 10. Actually, the outer end of the base leg 57 of the control plate 53 has a thin flexible strip of metal 73 superposed over it. The strip 73 is nested in opening 72 and suspended on its opposite ends otf a pair of casing lugs 74, see FIG. 4. It is resilient similar to a very thin and easily flexed leaf spring. Pushing down on it causes it to bottom on the outer end of base leg 57 to move the upright leg 56 down. The strip 73 will move back up even though the base leg 53 is retained partly down by engagement of the lug 67 with one of the shorter slots 63. Subsequent depression of the strip 73 will place the lug 67 in one of the longer slots 64. The on-oif alarm control mechanism is successively operated in this manner of tapping the strip 73 directly and therefore, also, the outer end of the base leg S7 indirectly by light iinger pressure. The action of successfully turning the alarm on and olf is similar to tapping a typewriter spacer bar. In other words, there is no pushing and pulling on a control, or rocking of a control in opposite directions. Rather, the manual action or movement is always of the same character and in the same direction. It is always a light tap in essentially a vertically down direction.

An indicator is provided for telling the clock user whether the alarm has been set to on or olf position. It comprises a cross shaped piece 75 shown in perspective in FIG. 10. Its upper end 76 is colored red and is adapted to move within an opening 77 formed in the top surface of base leg 58 between the tap or touch bar part, comprising element 73 and the underlying outer end of base leg S7, and the bezel 13. Its bottom leg 78 is located in an opening 79 formed in base leg 57 beneath and in alignment with opening 77. Its side wings 80 retain the bottom part 78 seated in opening 79 since they overhang the edges of opening 79. In FIG. 2, the alarm control mechanism is in on position which is the up condition of plate S3. Therefore, the red part 76 is exposed through opening 77 to tell the user the clock is set in the alarm on position. In FIG. 9, the red part 76 is hidden from view by being withdrawn into the hollow base leg 58 since the plate 53 is retained partly down since the alarm is set in o position.

The modification shown in FIG. 12 is the same as that just described except that the bell and hammer type alarm 2324, 29 has been replaced by a vibrating reed type alarm, It comprises a vibratory reed 81 mounted on the clock mechanism by means such as rivets 82 fastening thelower end of reed 81 to front plate 32. Also, the upright leg 56 of the control plate 53 has an ear 83 formed at its upper left hand corner for cooperation with the upper end of the reed 81. When the time for sounding the alarm arrives, as determined by the preset of

gears

40 and 42 by set shaft 19, the ear 50 will be so disposed in slotl 51 as to permit the reed to hit the left hand edge of rear plate 30 as it vibrates. It is vibrated by the magnetic attraction of the adjacent magnetic eld coil 22', see-FIG. 8, of the motor of clock 22. The

plates

30 and 32 actually comprise part of the magnetic field structure of the motor for the clock as more particularly described in the mentioned Jepson et al. patent. When the time for sounding the alarm has not arrived the reed 81 is prevented from vibrating by ear 50. To manually turn the alarm off or position the alarm control in off condition the base leg 57 is tapped to cause the upright leg 56 to move down to place the previously described lug 67 in a short slot 63. This position of the parts retains the upright leg 56 down part way so that the ear 83 is in the Way of vibration of the reed 81 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 12. To set the alarm on the

touch bar

73, 57 is tapped again to place the lug 67 in a long slot 64. This permits the bias spring 55 to raise the upright leg 56 so that ear 83 is out of the way of vibratory movement of reed 81 against the plate 30 when the ear 50 is tripped to alarm ringing position. Thus, besides having few parts and being easyto operate and readily adaptable to existing clock movements the improved manually operated onoff alarml control mechanism is also useful with different type alarm mechanisms of existing clocks,

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a clock, said clock comprising a housing, a motor, a timing movement driven by said motor, a dial, and an audible alarm mechanism, said motor, timing movement and alarm mechanism being positioned inside said housing and said dial being mounted on the front of said housing, an improved on-off control for said alarm mechanism, said control comprising a movable member movably mounted on said clock in exposed relationship with respect to said housing, said movable member being manually movable by light finger pressure, and means intei-connecting said movable member and said alarm mechanism for successively setting said alarm mechanism on and off by successive movement of said movable member in the same direction.

2. In a clock as in claim 1, said means interconnecting said movable member and said alarm mechanism comprising a vertically positioned movable slide plate in said housing, said slide plate being positioned behind said dial in generally parallel relationship therewith, means guiding said slide plate for movement in opposite directions within the plane of said plate, a spring biasing said slide plate in one of said directions, an aperture formed in said plate, a toothed rotatably mounted wheel, said wheel being positioned in said opening in the plane of said slide plate, said wheel having a fixed axis of rotation, said 'wheel having teeth separated from each other by first and second alternate notches, said first alternate notches having the same size and being deeper than the second alternate notches which have the same size as amongst themselves, and a pair of lugs on the diametrically opposite sides of said aperture for engagement with said wheel, one of said lugs being adapted to successively engage each of said teeth each time said plate is moved in its other direction of movement against its spring bias to partially rotate said -wheel in a single direction, and the other lug being adapted to thereafter successively enter each of the said first and second alternate notches to successively retain said slide plate in said other direction against its spring bias and free said plate for spring biased movement in its one direction.

3. In a clock as in claim 2, means on said plate for disenabling said alarm mechanism, said means comprising an alarm stop element on said slide plate, said stop element being adapted to engage said alarm mechanism to stop the same from operating when said other lug enters one size of said notches but not the other, said movable member being connected to said slide plate to impart movement thereto in its other direction against its spring bias, and said movable member being adapted to move said slide plate in said other direction by direct and light finger pressure on said movable member.

4. In a clock as in claim 3, said movable member comprising a finger touch bar, said touch bar being positioned in front of said dial adjacent the bottom of said clock, said touch bar being successively depressible by light finger pressure to successively move said slide plate in said other direction against its spring bias, said one direction of movement of said slide plate by its bias spring being an up direction and its other direction of movement being a down direction, and said bias spring raising said touch bar slightly after each depression thereof.

5. In a clock as in claim 1, said movable member comprising a finger operated touch bar, said touch bar being positioned in front of said dial adjacent the bottom of said housing, and a visual indicator for indicating the on and off setting of said alarm mechanism, said visual indicator having an on and ofi position corresponding to the on and off setting of said alarm mechanism, said visual indicator being visible from in front of said clock, and means responsive to successive movement of said touch bar by direct and light finger pressure in the sarne direction for successively moving said visual indicator to its on and off position.

6. In a clock as in claim 5, said means interconnecting said touch bar and said alarm mechanism comprising a vertically positioned spring biased slide plate in said housing behind said dial in generally parallel and spaced arrangement with respect thereto, said slide plate being adapted to move down and up in its plane in response to successive depression of said touch bar, said plate having lug means thereon, a rotary but fixed wheel adjacent said slide plate, said wheel having alternate teeth and notches formed on its circumference, said lugs being adapted to engage said teeth and notches to rotate said wheel and alternately set said alarm mechanism on and off in response to successive linger depression of said touch bar.

7. The clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable member comprises a movable `slide plate in said housing, said slide plate being positioned behind said dial in generally parallel relationship therewith, means guiding said slide plate for movement in opposite directions within the plane of said plate, and means connected to said alarm control plate for disabling said audible alarm mechanism.

8. The clock as defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting said movable member and said alarm mechanism comprises means biasing said movable member in one of said directions, a toothed rotatably mounted wheel, said wheel having a fixed axis of rotation, said wheel having teeth separated from each other by first and second alternate notches, said first alternate notches having the same size and being deeper than the second alternate notches which have the same size as amongst themselves, said movable member having a pair of lugs for engagement with said Wheel, one of said lugs being adapted to successively engage each of said teeth each time said plate is moved in its other direction of movement against the force of said bias means to partially rotate said wheel in a single direction, and the other lug being adapted to thereafter successively enter each of the said first and second alternate notches to successively retain said slide plate in said other direction against said bias force and free said plate for biased movement in said one direction.

9. In a timing device having an alarm mechanism, means for setting said alarm mechanism on and off, said means comprising an exposed and manually movable element on said device, said element being movable in opposite directions and means interconnecting said element and said alarm mechanism for successively setting said alarm mechanism on and off by movement of said element always in the same single direction.

10. In a timing device as in claim 7, said movable element comprising an exposed finger touch element on said device, said touch element being movable in said single direction by light direct finger contact with said touch element, and said touch element being positioned on said device whereby it is accessible for finger operation from in front of said device.

11. In a clock, a housing said housing having a generally hollow L-shape, a motor driven timing movement including an audible alarm mechanism positioned in the upright leg of said housing, a dial positioned ahead of said movement 0n the front facing side of said upright leg, and an alarm control mechanism for setting said alarm mechanism on and off, said alarm control mechanism comprising a generally L-shaped alarm control plate, said alarm control plate having its upright leg positioned in said housing upright leg and having its base leg extending into the base leg of said housing, means mounting said alarm control plate for vertically -guided movement in an up and down direction, means biasing said alarm control plate in an up direction, and an opening formed in said housing base leg for operating said alarm control mechanism, and means interconnecting said alarm control plate and said alarm mechanism for successively setting said alarm mechanism on and off by successive movement of said alarm control plate in the same direction.

12. In a clock as in claim 11, said timing movement being mounted in said housing upright leg between a pair of spaced front and rear plates, said alarm control plate being mounted on said rear plate, said alarm control plate extending into said housing base leg from beneath said timing movement, and said interconnecting means comprising a toothed Wheel rotatably mounted on said rear plate, an aperture formed in said alarm control plate upright leg, said toothed wheel being disposed in said apertures, a pair of lugs formed on the top and bottom edges of said aperture, said wheel having teeth spaced from each other by first and second alternate notches, said first alternate notches being deeper than said second alternate notches, said bottom lug being longer than the depth of said second alternate notches, said top lug being adapted to successively engage each of said teeth to partially rotate said wheel and said bottom lug being adapted to successively enter each of said first and second alternate notches each time said alarm control plate is moved down against its biasing means, and means connected to said alarm control plate for disabling said audible alarm mechanism when said bottom lug is positiond in said second alternate notches.

13. In a clock as in claim 12, a visual indicator for indicating whether said alarm control mechanism has been actuated to on or off position, said indicator comprising another opening formed in said housing base leg, and an indicator member mounted on said alarm control plate in alignment with said another opening, both of said openings being formed in the upper facing side of said housing base leg.

14. In a clock as in claim 12, said wheel being disposed in the plane of said alarm control plate upright leg, said timin-g movement including a set shaft for setting the hands of said clock and the time at which said audible alarm mechanism will give an audible signal, said set shaft extending through said wheel and an aligned aperture formed in the rear facing side of said housing upright leg, a finger grip knob mounted on the outer end of said set shaft for operating the same, and a exible finger operated touch bar mounted in the first mentioned opening in overlying relationship with respect to said alarm control plate base leg for pushing down on the alarm control plate base leg by linger touching said flexible touch bar.

15. In a clock as in claim 14, said audible alarm mechanism comprising a movable sound producing member which is adapted to be driven by said clock at a time preselected in accordance with the position of said set shaft, said disabling means comprising another lug on said alarm control plate which is adapted to block movement of said sound producing member when said bottom lug is positioned in said second alternate notches, and said biasing means comprising a coil spring connected to said rear and alarm control plates.

16. In an audible alarm mechanism for a timing movement, an on and off control mechanism for said alarm mechanism, said control mechanism comprising essentially three parts, a movable control plate, a rotary toothed wheel, and biasing means, said plate having an aperture formed therein, said Wheel being positioned in said aperture, lugs formed on the opposite edges of said aperture, said wheel having teeth spaced from each other by first and second alternate notches, said first alternate notches in said toothed wheel being deeper than the second alternate notches, one of said lugs being adapted to engage said teeth to partially rotate said wheel upon movement of said plate in one direction, said biasing means biasing said plate for movement in the opposite direction, and the other lug being adapted to enter said first and second alternate notches when said plate is -moved in said opposite direction by said biasing means to control the extent said plate is moved in said opposite direction, said other lug being longer than the depth of said second notches and said control plate having means to disable said alarm mechanism whenever said other lug enters said second alternate notches.

17. In the audible alarm mechanism of claim 16, said control plate having a generally L-shape, said control plate being movable to an up and down direction within the plane of its upright leg, said biasing means biasing said plate in an up direction, and said plate being moved in a down direction by linger pressure on its base leg, down movement of said plate causing rotation of said wheel by said one lug, up movement of said plate causing said other lug to enter said first and second alternate notches, and said wheel being disposed in the plane of said control plate upright leg.

18. In the audible alarm mechanism of claim 17, an alarm set shaft for said alarm mechanism for presetting the time at which said alarm mechanism is activated to give an audible signal, said set shaft extending through an aperture formed in said wheel at the axis thereof, a finger grip knob on said set shaft, and a visual indicator member mounted on said control plate base leg for indicating the on and off position of said control mechanism.

19. In a clock, said clock comprising a housing, a motor, a timing movement driven by said motor, a dial, and an audible alarm mechanism, said motor, timing movement and alarm mechanism being positioned inside said housing and said dial being mounted on the front of said housing, an improved on-off control for said alarm mechanism, said control comprising a movable member movably mounted on said clock means to shift said movable member between two positions, said shifting means being manually movable by light nger pressure, and means interconnecting said movable member and said alarm mechanism for successively setting said alarm mechanism on and off by successive movement of said movable member in the same direction between said two positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,352,101 11/1967 Michael et al 58-21.15

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