US3686878A

US3686878A - Radio clock mechanism having drowse feature

Info

Publication number: US3686878A
Application number: US866997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alan E Patrick; Kenneth E Kern
Original assignee: General Time Corp
Current assignee: GENERAL TIME INSTRUMENTS Inc A CORP OF DE
Priority date: 1969-10-16
Filing date: 1969-10-16
Publication date: 1972-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-29

Abstract

An alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a pre-set time and which permits the user, by pressing a drowse button, to have a few minutes of additional silence, if desired, before the radio is again turned on. For controlling the mechanism a selector shaft is provided having a selector arm which operates a switch, the shaft being biased to a central ''''on'''' position and manually rockable in opposite directions into detented ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' positions. When the arm is manually set to the ''''auto'''' position, the arm is interposed in the path of movement of the alarm triggering mechanism, which releases the engaged detent for restoration of the arm to its central ''''on'''' position to turn on the radio. A drowse arm is provided having a pawl which cooperates with the minute wheel of the clock as well as a first stop surface which engages the selector arm, so that when the drowse arm is pressed, the pawl clicks idly over the teeth into engaged position accompanied by movement of the selector arm to the ''''off'''' position, with subsequent gradual restoration of the pawl to a freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a ''''drowse'''' time interval. As the pawl is freed from the minute wheel the selector arm is forceably restored to the central ''''on'''' position for turning on the radio. The stop surfaces are so positioned that the selector arm may move independently of the drowse arm as long as the latter is in its inactive, or non-depressed condition. The construction and operation are such as to permit use of multifunction parts made of flexible plastic.

Description

United States Patent Patrick et al.

[451 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] RADIO CLOCK MECHANISM HAVING DROWSE FEATURE [7 2] Inventors: Alan E. Patrick, Statesville; Kenneth E. Kern, Charlotte, both of NC.

[73] Assignee: General Time Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 866,997

[52] US. Cl. ..58/21.155, 200/38 FB [51] Int. Cl ..G04f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..58/19, 20, 21.155, 22; 200/35 A, 38 B, 38 FB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,432,625 3/1969 Polonsky et al ..58/38 X 3,100,961 8/1963 Bassett ..58/21.155 X Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin AttorneyPennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams [57] ABSTRACT An alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a pre-set time and which permits the user, by pressing a drowse button, to have a few minutes of additional silence, if desired, before the radio is again turned on. For controlling the mechanism a selector shaft is provided having a selector arm which operates a switch, the shaft being biased to a central on position and manually rockable in opposite directions into detented off and auto positions. When the arm is manually set to the auto position, the arm is interposed in the path of movement of the alarm triggering mechanism, which releases the engaged detent for restoration of the arm to its central on position to turn on the radio. A drowse arm is provided having a pawl which cooperates with the minute wheel of the clock as well as a first stop surface which engages the selector am, so that when the drowse arm is pressed, the pawl clicks idly over the teeth into engaged position accompanied by movement of the selector arm to the off position, with subsequent gradual restoration of the pawl to a freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval. As the pawl is freed from the minute wheel the selector arm is forceably restored to the central on position for turning on the radio. The stop surfaces are so positioned that the selector arm may move independently of the drowse arm as long as the latter is in its inactive, or nondepressed condition. The construction and operation are such as to permit use of multifunction parts made of flexible plastic.

6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures RADIO CLOCK MECHANISM HAVING DROWSE FEATURE Alarm clocks for turning on a radio at a predetermined wake-up time, and including the drowse or slumber feature permitting the sleeper by the pressing of a bar or plunger on the clock to have a few more minutes of quiet before the radio again turns on, have been both popular and widely available. It is the object of the present invention to provide a simplified radio alarm clock mechanism having drowse capability which is cheaper to manufacture than devices available heretofore, with a minimum number of parts, and with these formed of flexible plastic, but which is, nevertheless, highly reliable, easily operated and long-lived. It is a related object to provide an alarm clock for integration within a radio housing which is highly compact and which is ideally suited for use with small transistor radio assemblies.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, shown in part by phantom outline, of an alarm clock radio constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the clock mechanism looking along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view, somewhat enlarged and partially in section, of the same mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the main elements of the clock mechanism intended for easy understanding but with some of the parts necessarily distorted;

FIG. 4a is a face view of one of the step-down gears looking along the line 4a4a in FIG. 4 and showing the associated frictiom FIG. 5 is a stop motion view of the selector arm, drowse arm, and cooperating gears, with the selector arm, and switch, in the off position;

FIG. 6 is a stop motion view showing the selector arm manually rotated to the auto position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the selector arm, and switch, in the on" position;

Turning now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, there is disclosed a radio alarm clock having a clock portion C and a radio portion R. The clock mechanism 20 is mounted between a pair of frame plates 21, 22 bridged by pillars 23. Mounted on plate 22 is a synchronous AC. motor 25 having an output pinion 26 which meshes with a set of reduction gears 27, 28 serving to drive a seconds wheel 30. The latter has a shaft 31, at the forward end of which is mounted a seconds hand 32. The seconds wheel 30 has a pinion 33 which meshes with a step-down gear 34 having a pinion 35. The pinion is rotatable with respect to the gear and is drivingly coupled to it by means of a friction, illustrated inFIG. 4a, which includes a star wheel 36, which is directly coupled to the pinion 35, and pawls 37, three in number, and each of which is anchored to the gear at 38 so as to bias the top 39 resiliently inward into engagement with the star wheel. The result is a detent or click type of friction, in which the parts are made of suitable plastic, and which provides sufficient torque for normal driving but which may be readily overpowered during manual setting of the hands.

Meshing with the pinion 35 is a minute wheel 40 connected to a shaft 41 having a minute hand 42. A further 12:1 reduction is brought about by a pinion 43 on the minute wheel meshing with a step down gear 44 having a pinion 45 driving an hour wheel 50. The latter has a forwardly projecting shaft 51 which mounts the hour hand 52.

For the purpose of triggering the alarm, the hour wheel is slidable axially and has cams 53 formed on the face thereof. Arranged adjacent the hour wheel is an alarm set wheel 60 having a hollow shaft 61 and hand 62 and carrying a corresponding set of cams 63 opposed to the cams 53. It will sufiice to say, referring FIG. 9 is a stop motion view showing the drowse arm depressed to establish a drowse interval;

FIG. 10 is a stop motion view showing the parts nearing the end of the drowse interval;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section looking along the line I 1-11 in FIG. 10 showing the forceable release of the off detent;

FIG. 12 is a stop motion view showing the position of the parts at the end of the drowse interval and with the radio again turned on; and

FIG. 13 is a fragment showing the reverse yielding of the pawl member in the event the drowse arm is depressed while the selector switch is in the off position.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intent to limit the invention to the embodiment shown but intend on the contrary to cover the various alternative and equivalent constructions included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

to FIG. 7, that when the earns 53, 63 ride up upon one another at a pre-set alarm time, the inward axial movement of the hour wheel 50 serves to trigger an alarm by means to be shortly described. To change the phase position of the alarm set wheel 60, a setting shaft 65 is provided having a spade lug 66 thereon which, when the shaft 65 is pushed inwardly, engages a slot 67 formed in an alarm set pinion 68 (see FIG. 3). The alarm set pinion rotates the alarm set wheel 60 which repositions the cams 63 and the alarm set hand 62.

For setting the indicated time, the pinion 35 on the reduction gear 34 is provided with a slot 69 which may be engaged by the lug 66 when the shaft 65 is pulled outwardly prior to rotation. Idle clicking occurs at the star wheel 36 so that the gear train leading to the motor remains stationary during setting of the time.

In accordance with he present invention, a selector shaft is provided having a selector arm, with the shaft being biased into a central on" position and manually rockable in opposite directions into detented off and auto positions, the detents being releasable by axial movement of the arm. A switch is coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central on position and the arm is so constructed that when manually set to the auot position, the arm is interposed in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that upon movement of the hour wheel occ ur ring at the preset time, the arm is crowded endwise to free the auto detent for return of the selector shaft to its central on position under the force of bias thereby completing an electrical circuit to the associated radio. Thus turning to FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, a selector shaft 70 is employed having a settable knob 71 and formed, at its rear end, with a flat 72 which cooperates with a spring contact 73 in the form of a length of spring wire. The spring, bearing in the direction of the shaft, and acting against the corners 72a, 72b, of the flat, tends to cause the shaft to rotate into its central on position in which the spring is aligned with the flat and in which position the contact spring bears against a stationary contact 74.

Secured to the shaft 70 is a selector arm 80 having a detent striker 83 formed on one side thereof cooperating with an off detent 81 and an auto detent 82 on the adjacent frame plate 21. Molded on the arm 80 is a protuberance 84 which is so positioned as to be clear of the hour wheel 50 when the selector arm is in its off" position but located in the path of axial movement of the hour wheel when the selector shaft and arm are in the auto position. In carrying out the present invention, resilient detenting force and the endwise move! ment of the arm 80 required to clear the detents is achieved by molding the selector arm and its shaft integrally using flexible plastic material and by making the arm 80 quite thin, or waferlike, in its axial dimension. Thus is will be noted in FIG. 5, which shows the off condition, shaft 70 has been rotated, counterclockwise as viewed in this figure, into a position where the detent striker 83 on the arm is hung up" behind the detent 81. When the shaft is in this position the contacts 73, 74 are separated and the circuit to the radio R is broken. To turn the radio on, the knob 71 is turned causing the detent striker 83on the arm to ride up over the detent 81, the motion being accommodated by the flexure of the arm.

For automatic operation, that is, for turning on the radio at the pre-set time, the shaft 70 is rotated beyond the on position to the auto position illustrated in FIG. 6. This causes the corner 72b of the flat 72 on the shaft to pry the spring contact 73 upwardly away from the contact 74 so that contact to the radio is broken. The arm 80 is held in this position by the engagement of the detent striker 83 on the arm with the detent 82. At the pre-set time, when the cams 53 on the hour wheel ride upwardly upon the cams 63 on the alarm set wheel, resulting in axial force being applied to the protuberance 84 for flexure of the selector arm 80, a point is reached where the detent striker 83 leaves the detent 82 (FIG. 7). The shaft 70 is thus free to rotate to its central on position by reason of the biasing force applied by the spring member 73 (FIG. 8), accompanied by contact with the fixed contact 74. This completes the circuit to the radio R which turns on to awaken the sleeper. Subsequently, when it is desired to turn off the radio, the knob 71 may be turned to the off position where it is held by engagement with the detent 81.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the clock is provided with a drowse arm having a pawl which is biased to a position clear of the minute wheel but which is mounted for manual pressing to move the pawl into overlapping engagement with the teeth on the minute wheel accompanied by idle clicking of the pawl over the teeth. An off stop is provided on the drowse arm for engaging the selector arm so that the latter is moved forceably into the off position to achieve temporary silence, the pawl and drowse arm however being gradually restored to the disengaged position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval which may be on the order of 10 minutes. The drowse arm is, in addition, provided with an on stop facing in the opposite direction so as to engage the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute arm, thereby to forceably overcome the off detent so that the selector arm is restored to on position to turn the radio back on. It is one of the features of the construction that the drowse arm is of L shape, with the long leg of the L forming an actuating surface and the short leg mounting the pawl and stops, all formed integrally as a single piece of flexible plastic material.

Thus referring to FIG. 5, a drowse arm 100 is provided having a pivot 101 and biasing spring 102 which urges the arm into a normal upper position against a stop 103. As will be seen, the arm 100 is of L shape having a long horizontal leg in the path of movement of an operating button or plunger 104. At the tip of the short leg of the L is a pawl 105 mounted on an integral neck 106 of reduced cross section, the pawl being positioned in the same plane as the minute wheel For the purpose of engaging the selector arm to turn the switch off an off, stop surface 107 is provided at the end of the horizontal portion of the drowse arm. Arranged in the path of movement of the stop surface 107 is a stop 108 on the selector arm in the form of an integrally molded and axially extending post. As a result, when the actuating button 104 is depressed, as shown in FIG. 9, to produce downward rocking of the arm 100, two things occur. The first is that the pawl 105 clicks idly over the teeth of the minute wheel 40 into a position where the pawl overlaps the teeth by an amount, expressed in units of time, on the order of 10 minutes, the degree of overlap being determined by the position of a fixed stop 109 mounted in the path of movement of the arm 100. Simultaneously, the stop surface 107 on the drowse arm engages the post 108 on the selector arm, forcing the latter down to a point where the detent striker 83 rides over the stationary detent 81. The accompanying rocking of the shaft causes the corner 72a of the flat to raise the contact spring 73, separating it from the fixed contact 74 to turn the radio off.

Further in accordance with the invention, an on" stop is provided on the drowse arm for engaging the post on the selector arm for forceably moving the selector arm upwardly into its central on" position at the end of the drowse interval. Such on stop surface, indicated at 111 in the drawings (see especially FIGS. 9 and 10 is spaced from the stop surface 107 so as to engage the opposite side of the post 108. Upon passage of time, during which the minute wheel 40 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 10, the pawl 105 is propelled upwardly to a point where the stop 111 engages the underside of the post 108. Continued upward movement of the pawl against the post 108 serves to force the detent striker 83 over the stop detent 81, thereby freeing the selector arm for movement to its central on position under the force of the spring 73 which then makes contact with the fixed contact 74 to turn on the radio. At about the same time, the pawl 105 on the drowse arm becomes clear of the minute wheel 40, springing upwardly under the urging of the biasing spring 102 back to its initial position illustrated in FIG. 12.

It is one of the features of the present construction that while the stop surfaces 107, 1 1 1 on the drowse arm are active at the beginning and end of the drowse interval for turning the switch respectively off and on, the geometry is such that when the drowse arm is in its upper inactive position, the selector arm 80 is free to be rocked manually without any interference from the drowse arm. This condition is achieved by mounting the selector arm and drowse arm so that their respective points of pivoting (axes of 70, 101) are remote from one another and by positioning the stop surfaces 107, 111 so that they are, when in inactive position, substantially spaced from a line 112 (see FIG. 5) connecting the two pivots. Thus it will be noted that the stop surfaces 107, 111 have an inactive position which is sufficiently offset with respect to the selector arm 80 that the selector arm may be rotated manually through its extremes of movement from the off position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the auto position illustrated in FIG. 6 without any interference between the stop surfaces and the post 108 on the selector arm. Moreover, to increase this functional isolation, the on stop surface 111 preferably has a shorter effective radius, as measured from pivot 101, than the off stop surface 107. As a result it is possible to operate the drowse arm even when the selector arm 80 occupies the off position illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, referring to the fragmentary view, FIG. 13, with the selector arm swung downwardly, the projection which defines the stop surface 111 simply wipes yieldingly by the post 108. To facilitate this yielding movement, the short leg of the L is preferably necked down, as indicated at 106a, similarly to the necking down at 106, and with the two necks both contributing to the flexibility of the pawl mounting.

It is one of the practical advantages of a clock constructed as described above, that the gears and most of the other structural elements may be molded of plastic. The gears and arms, for example, may be molded of the formaldehyde condensation products known in the trade as Celcon or Delrin which have exceptionally good dimensional stability and wear characteristics combined with adequate strength and flexibility. For the purpose of augmenting the area available between the stop surface 107 a the post 108 when the drowse button is depressed, the drowse arm 100 preferably has a post 107a molded immediately adjacent the stop surface 107.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that certain modifications may be made in the structure described above without departing from the present invention. Thus while the term arm has been applied to the drowse arm 100 because of its rocking movement about the pivot 101, it will be apparent that the member 100, if desired, may be mounted for vertical movement in translation without substantially affecting the mode of operation. Also, while the singular term arm has been applied to the arm 80, it will be understood that such arm, if desired, need not be unitary and may be a composite of several arms. Also while a protuberance 84 is provided on the arm 80 for engagement by axial movement of the hour wheel it will be apparent that such protuberance may be dispensed with if the portion of the arm 80 which is shown overlapping the gear 50 is omitted, and with the arm spaced axially closer to the gear, although use of the protuberance, with overlap, is preferred to prevent a possible obstructing condition between the arm and the gear. Moreover, while the drowse interval is achieved in the present construction by overlapping engagement between the pawl 105 and the minute wheel 50, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited thereto and that the latter term includes any convenient associated gear provided a convenient drowse interval. Finally, while the switch is intended for turning on and off a radio, it will be apparent that the switch in not limited to use with a radio and that any other suitable electrical load serving an alarm purpose may be employed. I

Although the overall operation of the alarm clock mechanism will be apparent in vie of the above description, it may be helpful to summarize the operation with respect to FIGS. 5-12 inclusive. Thus, under standby conditions, the parts occupy the position shown in FIG. 5, with the selector shaft manually set in the off position, where it is retained by the detent 81, and with the radio switch being held open.

To operate the device as an alarm clock, the knob 71 on the shaft is manually rotated to the auto position in which the selector arm is held in position by detent 82 and in which a protuberance 84 is in the path of axial movement of the hour wheel. When the set time is reached as illustrated in FIG. 7, the axial movement of the hour wheel 50 bends the arm 80 in the axial direction, thus unseating the detent striker 83 from the detent 82 which frees the selector arm to rotate into its central on position under the urging of the spring 73 accompanied by making of contact with stationary contact 74 thereby to turn on the radio.

If the user of the device wishes approximately 10 minutes of additional silence, pressing the plunger 104 at the top of the clock rotates the drowse arm downwardly causing overlapping of the pawl 105 thereon with the teeth of the minute wheel 40 until the arm is bottomed on the stop 109. Simultaneously engagement between the stop surface 107 and the post 108 causes the arm 80 to be crowded downwardly into its off position where the detent striker 83 is caught by detent 81.

The passage of time walks the pawl 105 on the drowse arm upwardly accompanied by engagement between the on stop surface 111 and the post 108 on the selector arm (FIG. 10). Sufficient torque is transmitted to the pawl so that the detent striker 83 overcomes the detent 81 (FIG. 11), restoring the selector arm to its central on position (FIG. 12) to turn on the radio, it being understood that the drowse button 104 may be depressed as often as desired for additional short periods of silence.

The term minute wheel as used herein refers to any wheel in the timing train which completes a revolution in a matter of minutes rather than, as contrasted with the hour wheel, in a matter of hours.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning 011 the radio temporarily during a drowse interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a preset time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto, said selector arm and shaft being biased into a central on position and manually rockable in opposite directions into off and auto positions, off and auto detents for holding the arm in such respective positions, the detents being releasable by axial movement of the arm, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central on position, said arm being so constructed that when manually set to the auto position the armis interposed in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that upon movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time the arm is crowded'endwise to free the auto detent for return of the selector shaft to its central on position under the force of bias to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a disengaged position, said drowse arm having an off stop for engaging the selector arm spaced so that when the drowse arm is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for movement of the selector arm into the off position to turn the radio off and (b) the pawl overlappingly engages the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having an on stop facing in the opposite direction so as to engage the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to forceably overcome the off detent so that the selector arm is restored to on position to turn'on the radio.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the selector arm and drowse arm are rockable on pivots remote from one another and in which the drowse arm occupies a normal position in which the off and on stops are spaced laterally from a line interconnecting the pivots thereby permitting movement of the selector arm between its settable positions free of interference with the off and on stops.

3. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a drowse interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a preset time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto, said selector am and shaft being biased into a central on position and manually rockable in opposite directions into off and auto positions, means including 011 and auto detents for holding the arm in such respective positions, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central on position, the selector arm being of thin axially flexible construction and so arranged that when manually set to the auto position the arm is interposed in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that upon relative movement of the hour wheel at the pre-set time the arm is flexed thereby to free the auto detent for return of the selector shaft to its central on position under the force of bias to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse am having a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a disengaged position, said drowse arm having a connection with the selector arm defined by two spaced stops so that when the drowse arm is depressed (a) the selector arm is engaged by one of the stops for movement of the selector arm into the off position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl overlappingly engages the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the disengaged position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, the other of the spaced stops being so positioned as to engage the selector arm as the pawl is freed, thereby to forceably overcome the off detent so that the selector arm is restored to on position to turn on the radio.

4. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a drowse interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a preset time, a selector shaft having a selector arm integral therewith, said selector arm having a spring for biasing the same into a central on position and mounted for manual rocking in opposite directions into off and auto positions, means including a pair of detents and a detent striker for holding in the respective positions, said selector arm being so constructed and arranged as to release the engaged detent upon movement of the arm in the axial direction, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central on position, means on the selector arm positioned in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time causes the arm to be axially moved thereby to free the arm from the auto detent for return of the selector shaft to its on position thereby to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pivot at one end and formed of L shape providing a pawl portion at the other end presenting a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a freed position, said pawl portion being formed of flexible material to permit idle clicking of the pawl over the gear teeth incident to engagement, said drowse arm providing a first stop so that when the drowse bar is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for forceable movement of the selector arm into the off position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl is overlappingly engaged with the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having a second stop thereon spaced from the first stop for engaging the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to forceably overcome the off detent permitting the selector arm to resume its central on position to turn on the radio, the second stop being resiliently mounted on the pawl portion of the drowse arm.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the selector arm and drowse arm have mutually remote pivots, in which the second stop on the drowse arm has a maximum radius which is less than that of the first stop and in which the drowse arm occupies a normal position spaced to one side of a line connecting the pivots so as to permit unimpeded rocking of the selector arm when the drowse arm is in its normal position while producing interference between the second stop and the selector arm following manual pressing of the drowse arm into active position.

6. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a preset time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto and movable into on",' off, and auto positions, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its on position, means positioned in the path of relative endwise movement of the hour wheel and coupled to the selector arm so that movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time causes the selector arm to move from the auto position to its on position thereby to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pivot at one end and a pawl portion at the other end presenting a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a freed position, said pawl portion being formed of flexible material to permit idle clicking of the pawl over the gear teeth incident to engagement, said drowse arm providing a first stop so that when the drowse bar is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for forceable movement of the selector arm into the off position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl is overlappingly engaged with the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having a second stop thereon spaced from the first stop for engaging the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to restore the selector arm to its on position to turn on the radio.

* 'l III I a I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,686,878 Dated August 29, 1972 Inventor) Alan E. Patrick and Kenneth E. Kern It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 64, change "intent" to intend Col. 2, line 18, change "top" to tip Col. 2, line 55, change "he" to the Col. 2, line 63, change "AUOT" to "AUTO" Col. 5, line 53, change "a" to and Col. 6, line 18, change "in" to is Col. 6, line 23, change "vie" to view Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attesc:

EDWARD I-I.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK Aztesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F URM IO-IUFJO (IO-69} -nc 50375 2 h u GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O- 36$-33A Patent No. 3,686,878 Dated August 29, 1972 Inventor s Alan E. Patrick and Kenneth E. Kern It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 64, change "intent" to intend Col. 2, line 18, change "top" to tip Col. 2, line 55, change "he" to the Col. 2, line 63, change "AUOT" to "AUTO" g Col. 5, line 53, change "a" to and Col. 6, line 18, chanqe "in" to is Col. 6, line 23, change "vie" to view Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attegtl;

EDI/JARD T-LFLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK ALtesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F' \IRM I 0-1050 10-69? USCOMM'DC 60376-PO9 U 5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0"355334

Claims

1. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a ''''drowse'''' interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a pre-set time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto, said selector arm and shaft being biased into a central ''''on'''' position and manually rockable in opposite directions into ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' positions, ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' detents for holding the arm in such respective positions, the detents being releasable by axial movement of the arm, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central ''''on'''' position, said arm being so constructed that when manually set to the ''''auto'''' position the arm is interposed in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that upon movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time the arm is crowded endwise to free the ''''auto'''' detent for return of the selector shaft to its central ''''on'''' position under the force of bias to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a disengaged position, said drowse arm having an ''''off'''' stop for engaging the selector arm spaced so that when the drowse arm is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for movement of the selector arm into the ''''off'''' position to turn the radio off and (b) the pawl overlappingly engages the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having an ''''on'''' stop facing in the opposite direction so as to engage the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to forceably overcome the ''''off'''' detent so that the selector arm is restored to ''''on'''' position to turn on the radio.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the selector arm and drowse arm are rockable on pivots remote from one another and in which the drowse arm occupies a normal position in which the ''''off'''' and ''''on'''' stops are spaced laterally from a line interconnecting the pivots thereby permitting movement of the selector arm between its settable positions free of interference with the ''''off'''' and ''''on'''' stops.

3. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a ''''drowse'''' interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a pre-set time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto, said selector arm and shaft being biased into a central ''''on'''' position and manually rockable in opposite directions into ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' positions, means including ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' detents for holding the arm in such respective positions, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central ''''on'''' position, the selector arm being of thin axially flexible construction and so arranged that when manually set to the ''''auto'''' position the arm is interposed in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that upon relative movement of the hour wheel at the pre-set time the arm is flexed thereby to free the ''''auto'''' detent for return of the selector shaft to its central ''''on'''' position under the force of bias to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a disengaged position, said drowse arm having a connection with the selector arm defined by two spaced stops so that when the drowse arm is depressed (a) the selector arm is engaged by one of the stops for movement of the selector arm into the ''''off'''' position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl overlappingly engages the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the disengaged position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, the other of the spaced stops being so positioned as to engage the selector arm as the pawl is freed, thereby to forceably overcome the ''''off'''' detent so that the selector arm is restored to ''''on'''' position to turn on the radio.

4. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a ''''drowse'''' interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of The latter upon achieving a pre-set time, a selector shaft having a selector arm integral therewith, said selector arm having a spring for biasing the same into a central ''''on'''' position and mounted for manual rocking in opposite directions into ''''off'''' and ''''auto'''' positions, means including a pair of detents and a detent striker for holding in the respective positions, said selector arm being so constructed and arranged as to release the engaged detent upon movement of the arm in the axial direction, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its central ''''on'''' position, means on the selector arm positioned in the path of endwise movement of the hour wheel so that movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time causes the arm to be axially moved thereby to free the arm from the ''''auto'''' detent for return of the selector shaft to its ''''on'''' position thereby to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pivot at one end and formed of ''''L'''' shape providing a pawl portion at the other end presenting a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a freed position, said pawl portion being formed of flexible material to permit idle clicking of the pawl over the gear teeth incident to engagement, said drowse arm providing a first stop so that when the drowse bar is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for forceable movement of the selector arm into the ''''off'''' position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl is overlappingly engaged with the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having a second stop thereon spaced from the first stop for engaging the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to forceably overcome the ''''off'''' detent permitting the selector arm to resume its central ''''on'''' position to turn on the radio, the second stop being resiliently mounted on the pawl portion of the drowse arm.

6. In an alarm clock mechanism for turning on a radio at a predetermined time and for turning off the radio temporarily during a ''''drowse'''' interval, the combination comprising a frame, a motor, a timing train including a minute wheel and an hour wheel coupled to a set of hands, an alarm set wheel having cam surfaces cooperating with the hour wheel to produce relative endwise movement of the latter upon achieving a pre-set time, a selector shaft having a selector arm secured thereto and movable into ''''on'''', ''''off'''', and ''''auto'''' positions, a switch coupled to the selector shaft for making contact when the shaft is in its ''''on'''' position, means positioned in the path of relative endwise movement of the hour wheel and coupled to the selector arm so that movement of the hour wheel occurring at the pre-set time causes the selector arm to move from the ''''auto'''' position to its ''''on'''' position thereby to turn on the radio, said clock mechanism including a drowse arm having a pivot at one end and a pawl portion at the other end presenting a pawl overlappingly engageable with the teeth of the minute wheel and biased toward a freed position, said pawl portion being formed of flexible material to permit idle clicking of the pawl over the gear teeth incident to engagement, said drowse arm providing a first stop so that when the drowse bar is pressed (a) the selector arm is engaged for forceable movement of the selector arm into the ''''off'''' position to turn off the radio and (b) the pawl is overlappingly engaged with the teeth of the minute wheel for subsequent gradual restoration to the freed position as the minute wheel rotates to define a drowse time interval, said drowse arm having a second stop thereon spaced from the first stop for engaging the selector arm as the pawl is freed from the minute wheel thereby to restore the selector arm to its ''''on'''' position to turn on the radio.