US3509711A - Alarm condition indicator - Google Patents

Alarm condition indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3509711A
US3509711A US628677A US3509711DA US3509711A US 3509711 A US3509711 A US 3509711A US 628677 A US628677 A US 628677A US 3509711D A US3509711D A US 3509711DA US 3509711 A US3509711 A US 3509711A
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United States
Prior art keywords
alarm
illumination
control
clock
postponement
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Expired - Lifetime
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US628677A
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George N Kaniwec
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Toastmaster Inc
Ingraham Co
Toastmaster Holding Co
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Ingraham Co
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Assigned to TOASTMASTER HOLDING COMPANY reassignment TOASTMASTER HOLDING COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: MCGRAW-EDISON COMPANY
Assigned to TOASTMASTER INC., reassignment TOASTMASTER INC., ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: TOASTMASTER HOLDING COMPANY
Assigned to WALTER E. HELLER & COMPANY reassignment WALTER E. HELLER & COMPANY SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TOASTMASTER INC.
Assigned to CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO AS AGENT reassignment CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO AS AGENT SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TOASTMASTER INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC. reassignment WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC. SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: FAMILY PRODUCTS INC., HOME CREATIONS DIRECT, LTD., ICEBOX, LLC, SALTON HOLDINGS, INC., SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS LLC, SALTON, INC., SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, TOASTMASTER INC.
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/30—Illumination of dials or hands
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
    • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
    • G04B23/03—Alarm signal stop arrangements

Definitions

  • An electric timepiece including alarm set and alarm postponement devices wherein illumination is provided for the timepiece dial face and signal means, including illumination enhancing its visibility, is provided and coordinated with the alarm mechanism to extensively visually indicate the set condition of the alarm mechamsm.
  • This invention pertains to alarm clock signal and illumination apparatus and more particularly to such means for electric alarm clocks having an alarm postponement or arrest feature.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lighting system for alarm clocks.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved visible indicator for alarm clocks to signal the operative condition of the alarm conditioning control.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide illumination for an electric alarm clock which utilizes clock face illumination means and separate alarm condition indicating illumination means entirely isolated from the clock face illumination means, thereby to avoid confusion as to alarm condition.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an illumination system for an electric alarm clock having an alarm postponement control wherein the condition of the alarm is visibly signaled throughout an area generally surrounding the clock while, at the same time, visibly identifying the postponement control under darkened conditions.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, and taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring plan which may be utilized with the device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an inverted perspective view, partly in section and partly cut away, showing the masked dial face illumination assembly of the device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view, partly cut away, showing the switch and actuator for the alarm and alarm condition indicator light of the device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of the alarm arrest control button, the illuminating source therewith associated, and the bracket means positioning the illuminating source directly under the control button, of the device of FIG. 1.
  • the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows an electric clock 26 having a substantially opaque case 1 enclosing a translucent dial face 2 with appropriate indicia spaced therearound and indicated by the usual timepiece hands connected through the dial face to a conventional movement 4 supported within the case 1, the dial face 2 being enclosed with a transparent cover.
  • Motor 5, powered through line cord 6, is mounted within the case, as usual, to drive the movement 4.
  • An illuminator assembly shown generally by 7, pro vides back illumination for dial face 2 and includes neon lamp 8 capped by opaque shield 9.
  • Opaque sleeve 11 encloses the leads for the lamp so that the opaque cap and sleeve combine to prevent leakage of light from the lamp ends.
  • the assembled lamp unit is fitted within an appropriately contoured portion 20 of the edge of a cupshaped illuminator 13 formed from Lucite, Du Ponts acrylic resin molding powder. That face of the illuminator, adjacent the dial, is grooved or otherwise contoured, as shown by 21, to reflect light on to the dial in accordance with known techniques.
  • Opaque tape 10 is secured over the lamp and the adjacent outer periphery of the cup 13 to hold the lamp in position and to preclude leakage of light radially outwardly.
  • a flanged and opaque cup 12, appropriately cut away to admit the assembled lamp unit to the cup 13, is fitted within the cup 13 to preventlight from leaking rearwardly of the clock face.
  • the translucent property of the face 2 precludes any structure behind the same being visible.
  • the push-pull rod 14 is illustrated as the alarm conditioning means which cooperates with the conventional clapper restraining bar (not shown) to control the asso ciated clapper or other alarm means which sounds at the predetermined time selected by the user.
  • This rod is also coupled to light switch 15 which is so wired from the line cord 6 to a second miniature lamp 19 that when the rod 14 is drawn out from the case, the switch is moved to close the circuit shown in FIG. 3, thus illuminating the lamp 19.
  • the aforesaid condition of the rod 14 and its associated mechanism is the alarm set condition.
  • Lamp 19 is mounted on bracket 20 just under the position assumed by the transparent Lucite alarm arrest control button 18.
  • This control button rests upon and is used to control a conventional alarm arrest mechanism including actuator bar 22 which is suitably connected to temporarily restrain the alarm subsequent to initial actuation of the alarm.
  • the control button 18 protrudes through the top panel 24 of the clock case 1. Protruding as it it does, through approximately the center of the top of the opaque case, the control button can be seen readily in lighted surroundings, at least horizontally peripherally for 360 degrees around the case. When in darkened surroundings, the control, when illuminated by lamp 19, is visible to the same extent as it is in lighted surroundings.
  • Control button '18 is remote and isolated from the clock face and never can be seen with the aid of light distributed to the clock face through the assembly 7. Moreover, the transparent control 18 will admit and pass light upward only from the lamp 19. The alarm system of the clock will therefore present a lighted indication through the control 18 if set, and a non-lighted indication if not set. In the dark, a non-lighted status of the control 18 cannot be confused with the dial face illumination to cause a person to imagine a lighted and therefore set condition.
  • the invention thus provides a simple, durable, reliable electric alarm clock having an alarm arrest or postponement feature and signal and illumination means therefor, readily visible from around the clock, at all times, to indicate set condition or posture of the alarm system and isolated and distinct from the clock dial face illumination.
  • the invention thus eliminates the need to manually check the posture of the alarm set control 14, which manual checking often involves fumbling in the dark, or sometimes in failure to effect any check at all.
  • An electrically actuated timepiece comprising an alarm set device, an alarm postponement device, switch means operated by the alarm set device, and illumination means connected to the switch means and associated with the alarm postponement device for illuminating the same when the alarm set device is operated to set condition.
  • An electrically actuated alarm clock including an opaque case, and a translucent dial face, in combination with a transparent illuminator within the easing rearwardly of and adjacent the dial face; a masked bulb fitted within the illuminator to cast its light thereinto, and shield means precluding distribution of light rearwardly into the casing; manually accessible alarm control means to ready the alarm; transparent manually operable alarm postponement means separate from the alarm control means, and protruding through the casing; a second bulb so fitted within the casing and so proximately adjacent the transparent alarm postponement means as to cast its light thereinto for providing extensive visibility of its output; and a switch coupled to the alarm control means and the second bulb for illuminating the second bulb upon operation of the alarm control means to alarm readiness posture, providing constant visual indication of the condition of the alarm control means.
  • an electrically actuated timepiece of the class fitted in a case and having alarm means including an alarm set device, an alarm postponement device protruding through the case, a manually accessible control for each device, and dial face illumination means the improvements in combination with said timepiece of means to preclude light from said dial face illumination means entering the alarm postponement device, second illumination means within the case constituting an alarm illumination means, controlled by the alarm set device, shielding to bar output of the second illumination means from the dial face, said second illumination means disposed to direct its output through the alarm postponement device for providing extensive visibility of and constant visual indication of the condition of the alarm set device, and a switch coupled to the manually accessible alarm set control to illuminate the alarm postponement device simultaneously with operation of the alarm set control to ready the alarm.

Description

May 5, 1970 G. N. KANIWEC 3,509,711
' ALARM CONDITION INDICATOR Filed April 5, 1967 I N VEV TOR GEORGE N. KAN l WEC ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,509,711 .ALARM CONDITION INDICATOR George N. Kaniwec, Southington, C0nn., assignor to The Ingraham Company, Bristol, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 628,677 Int. Cl. G041) 13/00, 25/00; G04c 21/16 US. Cl. 58-22.7 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric timepiece including alarm set and alarm postponement devices wherein illumination is provided for the timepiece dial face and signal means, including illumination enhancing its visibility, is provided and coordinated with the alarm mechanism to extensively visually indicate the set condition of the alarm mechamsm.
This invention pertains to alarm clock signal and illumination apparatus and more particularly to such means for electric alarm clocks having an alarm postponement or arrest feature.
Two distinct developments have enhanced popularity of electric alarm clocks: introduction of an alarm arrest or postponement feature which enables a user to shut down an operating alarm for a fixed time lapse whereafter the alarm will again sound; and lighting of clocks with unohstructive, subdued illumination.
An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lighting system for alarm clocks.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved visible indicator for alarm clocks to signal the operative condition of the alarm conditioning control.
Another object of this invention is to provide illumination for an electric alarm clock which utilizes clock face illumination means and separate alarm condition indicating illumination means entirely isolated from the clock face illumination means, thereby to avoid confusion as to alarm condition.
Another object of this invention is to provide an illumination system for an electric alarm clock having an alarm postponement control wherein the condition of the alarm is visibly signaled throughout an area generally surrounding the clock while, at the same time, visibly identifying the postponement control under darkened conditions.
Other objects and advantages of this invention become apparent in the specification and claims below.
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, and taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring plan which may be utilized with the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an inverted perspective view, partly in section and partly cut away, showing the masked dial face illumination assembly of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view, partly cut away, showing the switch and actuator for the alarm and alarm condition indicator light of the device of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of the alarm arrest control button, the illuminating source therewith associated, and the bracket means positioning the illuminating source directly under the control button, of the device of FIG. 1.
Ice
The preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows an electric clock 26 having a substantially opaque case 1 enclosing a translucent dial face 2 with appropriate indicia spaced therearound and indicated by the usual timepiece hands connected through the dial face to a conventional movement 4 supported within the case 1, the dial face 2 being enclosed with a transparent cover. Motor 5, powered through line cord 6, is mounted within the case, as usual, to drive the movement 4.
An illuminator assembly, shown generally by 7, pro vides back illumination for dial face 2 and includes neon lamp 8 capped by opaque shield 9. Opaque sleeve 11 encloses the leads for the lamp so that the opaque cap and sleeve combine to prevent leakage of light from the lamp ends. The assembled lamp unit is fitted within an appropriately contoured portion 20 of the edge of a cupshaped illuminator 13 formed from Lucite, Du Ponts acrylic resin molding powder. That face of the illuminator, adjacent the dial, is grooved or otherwise contoured, as shown by 21, to reflect light on to the dial in accordance with known techniques. Opaque tape 10 is secured over the lamp and the adjacent outer periphery of the cup 13 to hold the lamp in position and to preclude leakage of light radially outwardly. A flanged and opaque cup 12, appropriately cut away to admit the assembled lamp unit to the cup 13, is fitted within the cup 13 to preventlight from leaking rearwardly of the clock face. The translucent property of the face 2 precludes any structure behind the same being visible.
The push-pull rod 14 is illustrated as the alarm conditioning means which cooperates with the conventional clapper restraining bar (not shown) to control the asso ciated clapper or other alarm means which sounds at the predetermined time selected by the user. This rod is also coupled to light switch 15 which is so wired from the line cord 6 to a second miniature lamp 19 that when the rod 14 is drawn out from the case, the switch is moved to close the circuit shown in FIG. 3, thus illuminating the lamp 19. The aforesaid condition of the rod 14 and its associated mechanism is the alarm set condition. When the switch 15 is in the non-set position, that is, when the rod 14 is pushed to its inmost posture, the lamp 19 is extinguished and the alarm is restrained from operation.
Lamp 19 is mounted on bracket 20 just under the position assumed by the transparent Lucite alarm arrest control button 18. This control button rests upon and is used to control a conventional alarm arrest mechanism including actuator bar 22 which is suitably connected to temporarily restrain the alarm subsequent to initial actuation of the alarm. The control button 18 protrudes through the top panel 24 of the clock case 1. Protruding as it it does, through approximately the center of the top of the opaque case, the control button can be seen readily in lighted surroundings, at least horizontally peripherally for 360 degrees around the case. When in darkened surroundings, the control, when illuminated by lamp 19, is visible to the same extent as it is in lighted surroundings.
Control button '18 is remote and isolated from the clock face and never can be seen with the aid of light distributed to the clock face through the assembly 7. Moreover, the transparent control 18 will admit and pass light upward only from the lamp 19. The alarm system of the clock will therefore present a lighted indication through the control 18 if set, and a non-lighted indication if not set. In the dark, a non-lighted status of the control 18 cannot be confused with the dial face illumination to cause a person to imagine a lighted and therefore set condition.
The invention thus provides a simple, durable, reliable electric alarm clock having an alarm arrest or postponement feature and signal and illumination means therefor, readily visible from around the clock, at all times, to indicate set condition or posture of the alarm system and isolated and distinct from the clock dial face illumination. The invention thus eliminates the need to manually check the posture of the alarm set control 14, which manual checking often involves fumbling in the dark, or sometimes in failure to effect any check at all.
I claim:
1. An electrically actuated timepiece comprising an alarm set device, an alarm postponement device, switch means operated by the alarm set device, and illumination means connected to the switch means and associated with the alarm postponement device for illuminating the same when the alarm set device is operated to set condition.
2. The timepiece of claim 1 wherein the illumination means operates to discharge light through the alarm postponement device to indicate the condition of the alarm set device 3. An electrically actuated alarm clock including an opaque case, and a translucent dial face, in combination with a transparent illuminator within the easing rearwardly of and adjacent the dial face; a masked bulb fitted within the illuminator to cast its light thereinto, and shield means precluding distribution of light rearwardly into the casing; manually accessible alarm control means to ready the alarm; transparent manually operable alarm postponement means separate from the alarm control means, and protruding through the casing; a second bulb so fitted within the casing and so proximately adjacent the transparent alarm postponement means as to cast its light thereinto for providing extensive visibility of its output; and a switch coupled to the alarm control means and the second bulb for illuminating the second bulb upon operation of the alarm control means to alarm readiness posture, providing constant visual indication of the condition of the alarm control means. I
4. In an electrically actuated timepiece of the class fitted in a case and having alarm means including an alarm set device, an alarm postponement device protruding through the case, a manually accessible control for each device, and dial face illumination means, the improvements in combination with said timepiece of means to preclude light from said dial face illumination means entering the alarm postponement device, second illumination means within the case constituting an alarm illumination means, controlled by the alarm set device, shielding to bar output of the second illumination means from the dial face, said second illumination means disposed to direct its output through the alarm postponement device for providing extensive visibility of and constant visual indication of the condition of the alarm set device, and a switch coupled to the manually accessible alarm set control to illuminate the alarm postponement device simultaneously with operation of the alarm set control to ready the alarm.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,081,594 3/ 1963 Atkins et al 5822.7 X 3,195,300 7/1965 Wingler 5822.7 3,220,175 11/1965 Richmond 582l.155 3,308,617 3/1967 Balchunas 5822.7 X
FOREIGN PATENTS 774,735 5/ 1957 Great Britain.
RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5850
US628677A 1967-04-05 1967-04-05 Alarm condition indicator Expired - Lifetime US3509711A (en)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5402396A (en) * 1993-02-18 1995-03-28 Sony Electronics Inc. Sunrise alarm clock radio
US20120092131A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2012-04-19 Sicpa Holding Sa Annular light guide illuminator and optical scanner

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB774735A (en) * 1955-02-15 1957-05-15 Smith & Sons Ltd S Improvements in or relating to clocks
US3081594A (en) * 1960-10-28 1963-03-19 Tung Sol Electric Inc Touch controlled electric alarm clock
US3195300A (en) * 1962-02-14 1965-07-20 Gen Electric Alarm set indicating means
US3220175A (en) * 1963-11-08 1965-11-30 Sunbeam Corp Alarm delay mechanism
US3308617A (en) * 1965-06-15 1967-03-14 Gen Electric Repeat alarm with condition indicator

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB774735A (en) * 1955-02-15 1957-05-15 Smith & Sons Ltd S Improvements in or relating to clocks
US3081594A (en) * 1960-10-28 1963-03-19 Tung Sol Electric Inc Touch controlled electric alarm clock
US3195300A (en) * 1962-02-14 1965-07-20 Gen Electric Alarm set indicating means
US3220175A (en) * 1963-11-08 1965-11-30 Sunbeam Corp Alarm delay mechanism
US3308617A (en) * 1965-06-15 1967-03-14 Gen Electric Repeat alarm with condition indicator

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5402396A (en) * 1993-02-18 1995-03-28 Sony Electronics Inc. Sunrise alarm clock radio
US20120092131A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2012-04-19 Sicpa Holding Sa Annular light guide illuminator and optical scanner
US8894260B2 (en) * 2009-03-31 2014-11-25 Sicpa Holding Sa Annular light guide illuminator and optical scanner
TWI488125B (en) * 2009-03-31 2015-06-11 Sicpa Holding Sa Annular light guide illuminator and optical scanner

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AS Assignment

Owner name: CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPA

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TOASTMASTER INC.;REEL/FRAME:004034/0599

Effective date: 19820818

AS Assignment

Owner name: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC., MASSACHUSETTS

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:SALTON, INC.;TOASTMASTER INC.;SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016345/0348

Effective date: 20050630