US3524314A

US3524314A - Intermittent alarm mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3524314A
Application number: US741802A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Morton; James W Richmond; Robert H Houf Jr
Original assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Current assignee: Sunbeam Corp
Priority date: 1968-07-01
Filing date: 1968-07-01
Publication date: 1970-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1987-08-18
Also published as: GB1202860A

Description

g 1970 J. E. MORTON ETAL 3,524,314

INTERM-ITTENT ALARM MECHANI SM Filed July 1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6.9\ ("61 1 20 Aug. 18, 1970 E, MORTON ET AL 3,524,314

INTERMITTENT ALARM MECHANISM Filed July 1-, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m IIIIIIIIII llllllllllllllllllll fin/M5" g m a 011m aw Md a United States Patent 3,524,314 INTERMITIENT ALARM MECHANISM James E. Morton, Lombard, James W. Richmond, Bensenville, and Robert H. Houf, Jr., Addison, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 1, 1968, Ser. No. 741,802 Int. Cl. G041) 19/30, 23/10; G04c 21/36 US. CI. 58-18 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In an alarm clock, an intermittent alarm mechanism which allows the alarm to sound intermittently and an alarm selector member which permits the selective disengagement of the intermittent alarm mechanism to free the alarm to sound continuously during the alarm period. The intermittent alarm mechanism comprises a disc with at least one notch in its periphery driven by the clock movement at a constant speed and an alarm restraining member having a fixed end and a free end. The alarm restraining member having a projecting finger that rides against the periphery of the driven disc to position the free end to hold the vibrator in the alarm restraining position except for those intervals of the discs rotation that the projection falls into one of the discs notches. The fixed end of the restraining member being rotatably mounted on the'alarm selector member. The alarm selector member including an eccentric cam member to permit the shifting of the fixed end such that the free end is shifted away from the alarms vibrator to free it to sound continuously. The alarm selector member further including (1) an alarm selector knob to permit the user to select either the repeat or steady alarm positions, (2) a stop member to limit the selector members movement between these two positions, and (3) a hold member to insure the selector member will only be in one or the other of these two positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, clock manufacturers have been providing an alarm interrupting mechanism in alarm clocks whereby the sounding of the alarm is temporarily interrupted to permit the user to go back to sleep for a selected interval of time. After the expiration of this interval of time, the alarm is again permitted to sound. The mechanism for providing these temporary interruptions can be designed to be either manually actuated by the user or operate automatically. The present invention relates to the automatic alarm interrupting mechanism.

One of the features of the present invention is an intermittent alarm mechanism. This mechanism permits the sounding of the alarm intermittently until the alarm shutoff lever is pushed off by the user. Previously intermittent alarm systems have been quite complicated in design and, consequently, expensive to manufacture. The intermittent alarm mechanism of the present invention is considerably more simple and has functional advantages when compared with these previous systems.

Another important feature of the present invention is an alarm selecting member which permits the user to alternatively set the alarm to sound continuously or intermittently. This alarm selecting member is also simple in construction and cooperates with the intermittent alarm mechanism in a unique manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of an alarm clock having a novel intermittent alarm mechanism and alarm seice lecting member that cooperate together in a unique manner.

The alarm selecting member can be manually set by the user to either of two positions-steady alarm or repeat alarm. When set in the steady alarm position, the alarm selecting member functions to prevent the intermittent alarm mechanism from interfering with the sounding of the alarm to provide a continuous sounding of the alarm. When set to the repeat alarm position, the alarm selecting member shifts the intermittent alarm mechanism into its operating position to provide an intermittent sounding of the alarm.

The intermittent alarm mechanism consists of two cooperating parts-a driven disc and an alarm restraining member. The disc is pressed on the end of the seconds gear shaft and has one or more notches cut into its periphery. The alarm restraining member is pivotally mounted to the back of the clock at its fixed end. An integral finger extends from its middle portion and rides against the cam to press the free end of the lever against the alarms vibrator. The finger falls into each of the discs notches as they rotate past, permitting the force of the levers free end against the vibrator to be relieved momentarily and allowing the alarm to sound. Thus, the disc and alarm restraining member cooperate to provide an intermittent sounding of the alarm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved intermittent alarm mechanism for use With an alarm clock.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an intermittent alarm mechanism which may easily be added to a conventional alarm movement.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an alarm selecting member for choosing the sounding of the alarm to be either continuous or intermittent.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric alarm clock embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the intermittent alarm mechanism and alarm selecting member mounted on the rear of the clock motor and movement and with the alarm converting member in the steady alarm position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but with the alarm selecting member in the repeat alarm position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the clock and motor movement with the intermittent alarm mechanism and the alarm selecting member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 with the alarm shutoff lever in the oli position and the alarm selector member in the steady alarm position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational perspective view of the alarm restraining member lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an electric clock generally indicated at 20 comprising a suitable casing 21, the front of which includes a transparent crystal 22 which shields and exposes to view a clock face or dial 23. Disposed between transparent crystal 22 and clock face 23 are conventional sweep second hand 24, minute hand 25, hour hand 26 and alarm indicator 27. The

elements

24, 25, 26 and 27 are rotatable about a common axis and are supported on an arrangement of concentric shafts.

Clock has three posts 31 extending forwardly of its rear wall 32 from which is supported a clock motor and movement 29 by means of three rearwardly extending cup members 30 being secured to post 31.

The details of the clock motor and movement 29 form no part of the instant invention and are fully disclosed in Jepson et a1. Pat. No. 3,248,867 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Briefly, however, the clock motor and movement 29 includes front and rear supporting

plates

41 and 42, respectively. The

plates

41 and 42 are steel stampings which serve as field members for the clock motor as well as supporting members for the various portions of the movement and the alarm mechanism associated with the clock. The clock motor and movement 29 is provided with a vibrator 43 which is secured at its lower end to plate 41 by means of rivets 44 and extends in space relation upwardly to the plate 42. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the upper end of the vibrator is formed with an enlarged end portion 45 which serves as an armature for moving the vibrator 43 in the magnetic field produced adjacent the vibrator 42 by a motor field coil 46.

As is more completely explained in the above-identified Jepson et al. patent, field coil 46 cooperates with the

plates

41 and 42 to deliver magnetic flux to field pole pieces 47 shown in FIG. 2. The pole pieces 47 are positioned around a permanent magnet rotor (not shown). As is well understood in the clock art, the pulsating magnetic field produced adjacent the supporting plates 42 will cause the vibrator 43 to move in and out rapidly against the plate 42 producing an audible alarm indication.

Approximately midway between the ends of the armature portion 45 of the vibrator 43, there is provided an alarm lever 48 which is mounted for pivotal movement into wedging engagement between the vibrator 43 and the support plate 42. In such wedging position, the vibrator is restrained from moving and produces no sound. The alarm lever 48 is normally positioned in restraining or wedging engagement with the vibrator 43 and is rotated out of engagement with the vibrator when the alarm mechanism included in the clock motor and movement 29 pivots the alarm lever 48 at the preselected time for the alarm to sound. The mechanism for accomplishing this pivotal movement of the alarm lever 48 as well as the details of the alarm lever 48 and its mounting are completely shown in the above-cited Jepson et a1. patent.

To permit the holding or retaining of alarm lever 48 in the vibrator retained position, clock, 20 includes a manual shutoff 49 (FIG. 6). Shutoif 49 consists of a stamped sheet metal member 50 which extends diagonally across plate 42 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 and is mounted for vertical sliding movement on back plate 42 and a triangular-shaped member 60 that is slidably mounted on rear wall 32.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the metal stamping member 50 of shutoff 49 in the on and off positions, respectively. Member 50 moves vertically in shifting between these two positions. This vertical motion is caused by the coaction of slot 51 and trackway 52 with the enlarged heads of

screws

53 and 54, respectively. Trackway 52 is defined by two

parallel rails

55 and 56. Rail 56 is rigid and rail 55 is somewhat flexible and has a small detent 57 on its inside surface which cooperates with screw 54 to hold member 50 in the off position as shown in FIG. 7.

To move the manual shutofi' 49 to either the on or off position, the triangular member 60 is provided with a handle 61 which extends above the top of casing 21 and is convenient for manual actuation to move it either up or down. Metal stamping member 50 is caused to reciprocate vertically with triangular member through the connection of flat piece 58 and slot 62 as is best shown in FIG. 6. Flat piece 58 is an integral projection that extends perpendicularly from the member 50 and fits into slot 62 that is formed in a boss 63 extending forwardly of triangular member 60. The triangular member 60 is guided in its vertical motion by the three slots 64, and 66 formed therein cooperating with three members extending forwardly of rear wall 32 as can best be seen in FIG. 1. Slot 64 cooperates with the upper post 31, slot 65 cooperates with an integral cylindrical hub 67 that extends forwardly from rear wall 32, and slot 66 cooperates with a screw 67 that is mounted to rear wall 32. To prevent any horizontal or forward motion by triangular member 60 at its upper end, handle 61 is seated in a U-shaped opening 70 in the top plate 69 of casing 21 and the lower end of member 60 is secured against forward or lateral movement by the enlarged head of screw 68 that holds the slot 66 in place.

To adjust the intensity of the alarm sounds, a sound control is provided as illustrated in FIG. 1. Sound control 75 consists of an eccentric cam member 76 that is adjusted by sound knob 77 to vary the force applied by spring member 78 against vibrator 43. Referring to FIG. 1, as the eccentric cam 76 is rotated counterclockwise, short arm 79 is moved to the left to exert a counterclockwise force around screw 80 to provide through long arm 81 a gradually increasing force against vibrator 43. Thus, this simple mechanism of sound control 75 provides the user with the ability to select the desired sound intensity by varying knob '77 that extends from the front face of clock 20.

To enable the clock 20 to be viewed during the night, dial face 23 is continuously lit by lamp 82. Lamp 82 is placed behind the translucent dial 22 in a manner well known in the art. The user may vary the light intensity of the dial face 23 by rotating the light control knob 83 that extends from the front face of casing 21. Light control 83 is mechanically coupled to a potentiometer 84. P0- tentiometer '84 could be any of the well known commercial potentiometers and is electrically connected to lamp 82 and varies the voltage applied to lamp 82 to selectively vary the light intensity of lamp 82. Potentiometer 84 is electrically connected to appliance cord 85 which is also connected to clock motor movement 29 to energize it. The connections are not shown in FIG. 1 but are well known in the art.

Mounted on the rear face of support plate 42 is an intermittent alarm mechanism which functions'to intermittently interrupt the sound of the alarm vibrator 43. The intermittent alarm mechanism 100 consists of only two parts which have been added to convert the conventional alarm movement into one equipped with the intermittent mechanism. These parts are an alarm restraining member 102 and a driven disc 103. By the addition of one part, an alarm selector member 105, means are provided for selecting the sounding of the alarm to be either intermittent or continuous.

The alarm restraining member 102 is essentially a flat metal piece as illustrated in FIG. 8. It has a projecting finger 106 which cooperates with driven disc 103 as will be described hereafter. Alarm restraining member 102 is connected to alarm selector member 105 at its lower or fixed end 107 in a manner that will be described hereinafter. The upper or free end 108 of restraining member 102 shifts between the positions shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2. Free end 108 is prevented from swinging beyond the position of FIG. 2 by the cooperation of its C-shaped recess 109 with the shank of screw 53. When the alarm restraining member 102 is in the restraining position as shown in FIG. 3, nose piece 110 of member 102 would prevent any movement of vibrator 43 whenever the alarm lever 48 is pivoted away from the vibrator 43 due to the arrival of the preselected time for the alarm to sound.

The driven disc 103 is rotatably mounted behind rear plate 42 by a shaft 140 that is supported in an opening in plate 42 by a plastic insert 111 (FIG. 4). Shaft 140 is driven at a constant speed by the seconds gear of motor and clock movement 29. Pinion 113 is secured to gear 112 and it drives minute gear 114 in the same manner as is described in the above-mentioned Jepson et a1. patent.

Driven disc 103 is rotated at a constant speed to provide a uniform intermittent sounding of vibrator -43. Fnger projection 106 of alarm restraining member 102 rides against the outer periphery of disc 103. As the disc rotates clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, finger projection 106 drops into the notches 115 and the free end 108 is rotated clockwise away from the vibrator to permit it to sound as is illustrated in FIG. 3. The finger member is, within a few seconds, driven out of the notch 115, and once again the free end 108 is positioned to hold the vi brator in a restraining relationship. As can be readily appreciated, the frequency of the intermittent sounding of the alarm can be readily chosen in accordance with the number of notches 115 made in the periphery of the driven disc 103.

To prevent undue wear on the gears of clock motor and movement 29 and the parts of intermittent alarm mechanism 100, the alarm lever 48 is designed to hold the vibrator 43 when in the restraining position just a few degrees away from the nose portion 110 of the restraining member 102. The reason for this design feature is that the intermittent alarm mechanism 100 operates continuously twenty-four hours a day and if permitted to engage the vibrator 43, it would exert a reaction force against the restraining member 102 and disc 103, thereby causing wear introducing unwanted noises.

In order to provide the user of clock 20 with the choice of either having an intermittent sounding of the alarm or a continuous sounding, an alarm selector member 105 cooperates selectively with the intermittent alarm mechanism to disengage it from effecting the sounding of the alarm. All the parts of the alarm selector member 105 are secured to a shaft 120 which is supported by the front and

rear plates

41 and 42.

Mounted directly behind plate 42 on shaft 120 is a cam member 121 which has eccentric piece 122 extending from its forward end. To hold the eccentric piece 122 flush against outer surface of plate 42, a flat metal piece 124 is secured to the shaft 120 and is positioned adjacent to the inner surface of plate 42. Also mounted on shaft 120 between

plates

41 and 42 are two stop members 125. These stop members 125 cooperate with sides of cup member 30 as shown in FIG. 4 to limit the rotation of shaft 120 between the steady alarm position and the repeat alarm position.

To permit the user to select either the steady alarm or repeat alarm positions, a selector knob 123 is provided on the end of shaft 120. In order to hold alarm selector member 105 in one of these two positions, a locking means is included on shaft 120. This locking means consists of a C-shaped piece 126 secured to shaft 120. As shown in sectional view of FIG. 5, piece 126 consists of two

flat portions

128, 129 and rounded portion 130. An integral plastic projection 127 extending from insert 30 biases against C-shaped piece 126 and holds shaft 120 from movement whenever it bears against either

flat portion

128 or 129. The engagement of these

flat portions

128, 129 coincides with one of the stop members 125 contacting the side of plastic insert 30 to secure- 1y hold selector member 105 in either the steady or repeat alarm position.

To deactivate the intermittent alarm mechanism 100, the user would turn selector knob 123 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 3) to move the alarm selector memher 105 from the repeat alarm position of FIG. 3 to the steady alarm position of FIG. 2. The counterclockwise rotation of selector knob 123 causes the cam member 121, as shown in FIG. 3, to rotate counterclockwise. The eccentric movement of eccentric piece 122 of cam member 121 moves the fixed end 107 of the alarm restraining member 102 to the left and downward. The stop member prevents the cam member 121 from moving beyond the position shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the alarm restraining member 102 has been shifted out of position from that shown in FIG. 3, such that the free end 108 is separated from the vibrator 43 at all times and the finger member 106 no longer rides against the disc 103. Consequently, the vibrator 43 is permitted to sound continuously during the alarm period.

In view of the foregoing description, the improvements and advantages of the intermittent alarm mechanism of the present invention should be obvious. The mechanism is structurally simple, requiring little more than a onepiece metal stamping and cooperating driven disc to provide an intermittent sounding of the alarm. In addition, this invention provides a means to selectively disengage the intermittent alarm mechanism to provide a choice of either a steady alarm or a repeat alarm. It is noted that no additional parts are necessary to the basic construction of the clock motor and movement. The driven disc is mounted to the same shaft as the second gear. The simplicity in design and operation of the alarm mechanism and alarm selector member premits the addition of an intermittent alarm mechanism feature to a standard alarm clock movement with a small additional amount of expense and without the necessity of redesigning the whole clock motor and movement mechanism.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that changes and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

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

1. In an electric alarm clock, a motor and clock movement, a frame for said motor and clock movement, an alarm vibrator attached at one end to said frame and having a free end positioned for alternate magnetic attraction by said motor to produce an audible alarm, a first alarm vibrator restraining member for releasing said vibrator at a preselected time and an intermittent alarm mechanism comprising a disc carried by said clock frame and driven at a constant speed by said clock movement, said disc having at least one notch cut into its periphery and a second alarm restraining member comprising a rigid one-piece member having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end being pivotally mounted to said clock frame, said second restraining member also having a projecting finger extending from its middle portion, said finger being adapted to ride against the periphery of said disc such that said free end is positioned to press against said alarm vibrator to prevent the sounding of said alarm after said vibrator is released by said first vibrator restraining member until said projection drops into said notch to thereby free said vibrator to sound for that interval (if time that it takes said projection to ride out of said notc 2. The device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an alarm selector member that includes a means for shifting said fixed end in such a manner that said free end is swung out of engagement with said vibrator at all times to free the vibrator to sound continuously.

3. In an alarm clock having an intermittent alarm mechanism for providing for the intermittent sounding of the alarm, said mechanism comprising an alarm restraining member having a fixed end, a free end and a means for periodically pressing said free end against the alarms vibrator for a fixed period of time and then momentarily releasing this pressure to free the vibrator to sound, and

said alarm clock having an alarm selector member to permit the alarm to be set to sound either continuously or intermittently, said alarm selecting member comprising a shaft rotatably mounted to the clock frame, an eccentric cam member supported on and carried by said shaft, said fixed end of said restraining member being carried by said cam member, said shaft being rotatable between a first and second stop position by an alarm selector knob secured to one end of said shaft, whereby said fixed end is rotated eccentrically to the axis of said shaft as said selector knob is rotated from said first position to said second position to shift said free end away from said vibrator to remove the restraining action against said vibrator and thereby provide for a continuous sounding of said alarm.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for holding said alarm selector member against rotation when in either said first or second positions.

5. In an electric alarm clock, a motor and clock movement, a frame for said motor and clock movement, an alarm vibrator attached at one end to said frame and having a free end positioned for alternate magnetic attraction by said motor to produce an audible alarm, a first alarm vibrator restraining member for releasing said vibrator at a preselected time and an intermittent alarm mechanism comprising a disc mounted on one end of a shaft that is continuously driven by the seconds gear of said clock movement, said disc having at least one notch cut into its periphery and a second alarm vibrator restraining member comprising a rigid one-piece member, said second vibrator restraining member having a fixed end, a free end and an integral projecting finger extend- 8 ing from its middle portion, said fixed end being rotatably mounted to said clock frame, said finger being adapted to ride against the periphery of said disc such that said free end presses against said alarm vibrator to prevent the sounding of said alarm after said vibrator is released by said first vibrator restraining member until said projection drops into said notch to remove the pressure exerted by said free end against said vibrator and to free said vibrator to sound for that interval of time it takes said projection to ride out of said notch.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 further comprising an alarm selector member to permit the selective setting of the alarm to sound either intermittently or continuously, said selector member including a shaft rotatably mounted to said clock frame and means to rotate said fixed end of said restraining member eccentrically about the axis of said shaft such that said free end and said projection are shifted, respectively, away from engagement with said vibrator and said disc to thereby free the vibrator to sound continuously.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,963 5/1937 Moskal 5818 X 2,979,885 4/ 1961 Jaccarcl 58l8 3,166,887 1/1965 Jaccard 58l8 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner 'J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5821.12, 5O