US3596460A - Alarm device for a horological instrument - Google Patents

Alarm device for a horological instrument Download PDF

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Publication number
US3596460A
US3596460A US820189A US3596460DA US3596460A US 3596460 A US3596460 A US 3596460A US 820189 A US820189 A US 820189A US 3596460D A US3596460D A US 3596460DA US 3596460 A US3596460 A US 3596460A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
alarm
disk
movement
contact
contact point
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US820189A
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul Wuthrich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3596460A publication Critical patent/US3596460A/en
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C21/00—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means
    • G04C21/16—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means producing the signals at adjustable fixed times
    • G04C21/20—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means producing the signals at adjustable fixed times by closing a contact to ring an electromechanical alarm
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C21/00—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means
    • G04C21/16—Producing acoustic time signals by electrical means producing the signals at adjustable fixed times
    • G04C21/34—Devices on watches or similar portable timepieces

Definitions

  • a horological instrument includes a source of electrical energy and an electrical audible alarm.
  • the circuit between the energy source and the alarm is normally open.
  • a setting stem rotates a geared disc.
  • the disc carries a conductive track and a conductive contact point.
  • the contact point normally twice a day, contacts a portion of the hour whe closing the circuit and allowing the alarm to sound.
  • This invention relates to an alarm device for a horological instrument. More particularly, this invention relates to an alarm-setting device for a wristwatch.
  • Alarm clocks, alarm clock devices, and alarm Wristwatches are well known.
  • Alarm Wristwatches are useful and desirable, but heretofore they have proven generally to be relatively bulky and unattractive in appearance, and cumbersome and awkward to wear.
  • alarm wristwatches are relatively expensive.
  • Watch manufacturers have been forced to sell alarm Wristwatches at a price which places them above the reach of many consumers. in large part, this is attributable to the fact that a large number of additional parts are required to convert a wristwatch to an alarm wristwatch. This makes for increased production cost. Further, the incorporation of these additional parts increase the size of the wristwatch and makes it bulky and unattractive in appearance.
  • an alarm-setting device is provided for a horologieal instrument, which alarm device advantageously contains few parts. This makes for ease of manufacture and decreases production cost. Further, the alarm-setting device of the present invention, in view of its few parts, is suitable for incorporation in a wristwatch.
  • a dial is mounted on an electrically conductive horological movement.
  • An electrically nonconductive rotatable alarm set disk is positioned within the case.
  • the disk has an indicator marking on its top face and, on its bottom face, a contact point and a circular contact track.
  • the contact point is electrically connected to the contact track.
  • the periphery of the disk comprises a toothed ring gear.
  • a resilient member is mounted on the movement to be in contact with the track.
  • a movable alarm set stem having a gear mounted thereon, is movable to mesh the mounted gear with the ring gear and to rotate the disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the face ofa watch 1 incorporating the alarm-setting device of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of the alarm set disk utilized in the alarm-setting device of the present invention.
  • an electrically nonconductivc alarm set disk 1 having a central hole 17 is rotatably mounted on the front frame 5 of a watch movement.
  • the alarm set disk 1 may be made of any electrically intlulstive material but is preferably injection molded of a plastic material as, for stars pic, polystyrene or nylon.
  • the alarm set disk 1 has, as an integral portion, a toothed ring gear 2 at its periphery.
  • the ring gear 2 is preferably integral with the alarm set disk but may be a separate mcmberjoined to the disk.
  • An indicator marking 6 is carried on a portion 11 of the top face of the alarm set disk I.
  • the indicator marking 6, for example, can be etched into the top face portion 11 of the alarm set disk I, mounted thereon with a suitable adhesive, or striped thereon with any suitable marking material.
  • An alarm set stem 3 is movably mounted on the watch case.
  • the stem may be the same stem that is used to set the hands, or a different stem.
  • a circular gear 4 is mounted on the alarm set stem 3, although the gear could be integral with the stem.
  • the alarm set stem 3 is selectively movable to mesh the circular gear 4 with the ring gear 2 when it is pulled outwardly relative to the case.
  • the alarm set stem 3 can be rotated to turn the alarm set disk I so that indicator marking 6 can be selectively matched with any of the time markings 7 on the face of the watch dial 8.
  • the regular hands of the watch namely, seconds hand 18, minute hand 19, and hour hand 20, cooperate with the markings '7 to indicate the time.
  • the alarm set disk 1 has a conductive contact point 9 mounted on a bottom portion 10 of the alarm set disk I.
  • the contact point 9 can be mounted at any point along the line defined between the center point of the rotatable hour wheel 16 and the end of the indicator point 6.
  • a conductive circular contact track i2 is also fixed on the bottom portion 10 of the alarm set disk 1.
  • Track 12 is electrically connected to contact point 9 by path l3. This electrical connection is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • an electrically conductive resilient member 14 is mounted in the plastic insulative block 22.
  • the member i4 is electrically insulated from frame 5 by plastic block 22 and is connected, by wire M, to the electric alarm.
  • Block 22 is fixed to frame 5.
  • Member 14 is normally urged upward and in contact with the track 12.
  • the resilient member 14 rides along the track 12 as the alarm set disk I is rotated by the alarm set stem 3.
  • the resilient member M is a hat spring made of spring steel, but other contact devices, such as a spring-loaded carbon brush or a spring-loaded ball, could crizcly be used.
  • the gears of the watch includes a rotatable hour wheel 16 which carries a protruding conductive contact point 15.
  • An electric audible alarm device and an energy source such as a battery cell (both of which are not shown) constitute the remaining elements of the alarm circuit.
  • the alarm device and energy cell both not shown) the spring 14, track 12, electrical path 13, contact point 9, contact point 15, hour wheel 16 constitute together a normally open circuit.
  • the alarm is set to ring at a desired hour by rotating the alarm set stem 3 to turn the alarm set disk 1.
  • the indicator marking 6 on the portion 11 of the top face of the alarm set disk 1 is caused to coincide with, or point to, the selected hour marking 7 on the face of the watch dial 8.
  • the watchworks (not shown) rotate the hour wheel 16, with its contact point 15, through a circular path until the contact point 15 makes contact with the contact point 9, thereby closing the circuit and activating the alarm device.
  • the circuit will be closed twice a day if the alarm disk is not rotated. it should be noted that the alarm device will be automatically shut off by the continued rotation of the hour wheel.
  • the hour wheel rotation moves the contact point 15 off of the contact point 9, thereby reopening the circuit and shutting off the alarm.
  • An alarm-setting device for a horological movement including an electrically operated alarm, a source of electrical current and a watch dial mounted on the movement, said dial having time markings thereon; said setting evic c mprising:
  • a movable alarm set stem having a gear mounted thereon, said alarm set stem being movable to mesh said mounted gear with said ring gear and to rotate said disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm;
  • said alarm, source of current, resilient member, contact point on the bottom face of the disk and said contact means on the rotatable hour wheel constituting a normally open circuit

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US820189A 1969-04-29 1969-04-29 Alarm device for a horological instrument Expired - Lifetime US3596460A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82018969A 1969-04-29 1969-04-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3596460A true US3596460A (en) 1971-08-03

Family

ID=25230127

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US820189A Expired - Lifetime US3596460A (en) 1969-04-29 1969-04-29 Alarm device for a horological instrument

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3596460A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH541827A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2040380B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1296272A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3832843A (en) * 1974-02-20 1974-09-03 Timex Corp Electric alarm timepiece
US3838563A (en) * 1973-06-01 1974-10-01 E Safir Timing device
EP0060215A1 (fr) * 1981-02-26 1982-09-15 Ebauches Electroniques S.A. Pièce d'horlogerie à mécanisme de déclenchement modulaire
EP0343494A1 (fr) * 1988-05-26 1989-11-29 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Dispositif d'alarme pour pièce d'horlogerie
US5305291A (en) * 1993-09-22 1994-04-19 Timex Corporation Alarm setting and actuating mechanism for analog timepiece
US5933391A (en) * 1997-07-18 1999-08-03 Lux Products Corporation Timer
US6584040B1 (en) * 1997-04-25 2003-06-24 Seiko Instruments Inc. Electronic timepiece
US6582118B1 (en) * 1997-04-25 2003-06-24 Seiko Instruments Inc. Electronic timepiece having transmission wheel rotational position detecting apparatus

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4199930A (en) * 1978-01-19 1980-04-29 The Gillette Company Alarm switch for an alarm circuit in a horological device
CH662465GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1984-01-14 1987-10-15

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US371696A (en) * 1887-10-18 Electric alarm-clock
US1037130A (en) * 1911-12-27 1912-08-27 A J Hanford Time-controlled circuit-closer.
US1383560A (en) * 1921-07-05 Henbi osieck
US1521600A (en) * 1924-02-06 1925-01-06 Florance P Crowe Electric-alarm device for clocks
US1529852A (en) * 1924-02-21 1925-03-17 William M Tanglin Alarm watch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US371696A (en) * 1887-10-18 Electric alarm-clock
US1383560A (en) * 1921-07-05 Henbi osieck
US1037130A (en) * 1911-12-27 1912-08-27 A J Hanford Time-controlled circuit-closer.
US1521600A (en) * 1924-02-06 1925-01-06 Florance P Crowe Electric-alarm device for clocks
US1529852A (en) * 1924-02-21 1925-03-17 William M Tanglin Alarm watch

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3838563A (en) * 1973-06-01 1974-10-01 E Safir Timing device
US3832843A (en) * 1974-02-20 1974-09-03 Timex Corp Electric alarm timepiece
DE2503949A1 (de) * 1974-02-20 1975-08-21 Timex Corp Uhr mit elektrischer weckvorrichtung
EP0060215A1 (fr) * 1981-02-26 1982-09-15 Ebauches Electroniques S.A. Pièce d'horlogerie à mécanisme de déclenchement modulaire
EP0343494A1 (fr) * 1988-05-26 1989-11-29 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Dispositif d'alarme pour pièce d'horlogerie
CH672704GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1988-05-26 1989-12-29
US5003519A (en) * 1988-05-26 1991-03-26 Eta S.A. Fabriques D'ebauches Alarm arrangement for a timepiece
US5305291A (en) * 1993-09-22 1994-04-19 Timex Corporation Alarm setting and actuating mechanism for analog timepiece
GB2282243A (en) * 1993-09-22 1995-03-29 Timex Corp Alarm setting mechanism
US6584040B1 (en) * 1997-04-25 2003-06-24 Seiko Instruments Inc. Electronic timepiece
US6582118B1 (en) * 1997-04-25 2003-06-24 Seiko Instruments Inc. Electronic timepiece having transmission wheel rotational position detecting apparatus
US5933391A (en) * 1997-07-18 1999-08-03 Lux Products Corporation Timer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2040380B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-19
CH635870A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-05-30
FR2040380A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-01-22
DE2020291A1 (de) 1970-11-12
GB1296272A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-11-15
DE2020291B2 (de) 1973-02-08
CH541827A (de) 1973-05-30

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331