US3710045A

US3710045A - Multiple contact program timer with adjustable conductive brush means and resettable conductive pins

Info

Publication number: US3710045A
Application number: US00096334A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Jochim
Original assignee: TI MIND Inc
Current assignee: TI MIND Inc
Priority date: 1970-12-09
Filing date: 1970-12-09
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09

Abstract

A resettable scheduling device is disclosed which will close an electrical contact at a predetermined time dependent upon the placement of one or more pins in a series of openings in the face plate of the device. When a pin is placed through an opening, it forms an electrical contact with an underlying layer of conductive metal mesh, screening or foil. A second contact point is moved to complete an electrical circuit through the pin in a timed manner. This contact may be completed by moving a conductive brush below an opening containing a pin. Another method of completing the circuit through the pin utilizes two insulated layers of conductive material. In one configuration, the upper face of the device has the indicia of a clock face with openings concentrically located at half-hour intervals. Means for moving the conductive brush with respect to the face plate are disclosed. These means include the rotation of the brush over a grooved disc together with a method for returning the brush to its starting point. In one example a brush is mounted in a slot of a metal coated plastic disc.

Description

United States Patent n 1 Jochim [54] MULTIPLE CONTACT PROGRAM TIMER WITH ADJUSTABLE CONDUCTIVE BRUSH MEANS AND RESETTABLE CONDUCTIVE PINS Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott AttorneyLyon & Lyon [57] ABSTRACT Aresettable scheduling device is disclosed which will close an electrical contact at a predetermined time dependent upon the placement of one or more pins in a series of openings in the face plate of the device. When a pin is placed through an opening, it forms an electrical contact with an underlying layer of conductive metal mesh, screening or foil. A second contact point is moved to complete an electrical circuit through the pin in a timed manner. This contact may be completed by moving a conductive brush below an opening containing a pin. Another method of completing the circuit through the pin utilizes two insulated layers of conductive material. In one configuration, the upper face of the device has the indicia of a clock face with openings concentrically located at half-hour intervals. Means for moving the conductive brush with respect to the face plate are disclosed. These means include the rotation of the brush over a grooved disc together with a method for returning the brush to its starting point. 1;. one example a brush is mounted in a slot of a metal coated plastic disc.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures [75] Inventor: La Vergne C. Jochim, Buena Park,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Ti-Mind Incorporated, Buena Park,

Calif.

{22 Filed: Dec.9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 96,334

[52] US. CL... ..200/37 R, 200/164 R, 200/38 C [51] Int. Cl. ..II01h 43/18 [58] Field of Search..200/35, 37,38,11 TW, 11 DA, 200/164 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,042 10/1949 Lesigne ..200/164 R X ll/I/II/IIIII Jan. 9, 1973 MULTIPLE CONTACT PROGRAM TIMER WITH ADJUSTABLE CONDUCTIVE BRUSH MEANS AND RESETTABLE CONDUCTIVE PINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is signaling devices more particularly those which close an electrical circuit. Such devices are used to turn onand off electrical applicances, sound audible alarms, turn on and off lights set of arms is capable of operating an electrical switch which will turn on an electrical circuit and another type of contact pin will operate only to turn off this switch. More than one arm may be affixed to the outer periphery of the disc so that an appliance may be turned on and off several times during a 24 hour period. Another device utilizes a 24 hour disc with a notched outer edge. The single on and a single off lever may be manipulated to turn on and off an appliance at any one period during the 24 hour cycle. Such devices are not capable of operating on different cyclesfor different days of the week. Further, they require a relatively powerful clockmotor to physically rotate a typical-high voltage on-off switch. This resultsin wear thereby limiting the life of such timers. Still further the number ofon and off operations which may be performed in any 24 hour period is often limited in such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The resettable signaling device of the present invention can be arranged to perform a great number of on and off signals since the member which activates the signal need not be placed on the outer periphery of a rotating disc. The device functions by completing an electrical circuit between a layer of metal or foil, screen or mesh, by use of an insertable pin and a conductive arm which is movable with respect to the pin.

arm holding member and means are provided to raise the lower extension of the groove, the cycle automatically repeats itself. A useful configuration of contact arm for direct contact with the pin point maybe made from a plurality of fine conductive wires which are held together to form a contact brush.

The provision of a flexible plastic sheet beneath the foil which in turn is beneath the face plate, permits the reinsertion of a pin in the same opening a large number of times without any decrease in electrical contact between the pin and the conductive metal, foil, screen or mesh. The flexible plastic sheet is pierced by the first insertion of the pin and is deformed downwardly. This deformation due to the physical properties of plastics tending to return to the unpierced state, serves to hold the pin in the hole and furthermore serves to hold the conductive layer against the pin. A particularly simple device can be made with a sandwich having a relatively This circuit is completed by a pin such as a map pin which pierces the foil and extends below the foil and eithertouches the conductive arm directly when the arm passes beneath that hole or contacts a second layer' of foil which in turn is touched by the arm. By moving the arm-in a generally spiral path, a larger number of openings may be provided.

A particularly effective means for moving a contact arm beneath a face plate containing a plurality of openings is also disclosed. This method utilizes a slotted opening'in a rotating disc which may be either entirely conductive or' coated with a conductive layer. The electrical contact arm is slidably mounted in the slot and the contact arm-holding member has a lower extension which fits in agroove located below this rotating disc. The groove is in a generally spiral shape and thus the rotation of the disc with the contact arm causes the brush to move slowly either inwardly or out- "wardly as the lower extension is held. in the groove thick face place with a plurality of openings, an underlying layer of metal or foil, a layer of flexible plastic sheeting below the foil and a second relativelythick plastic plate having openings matching those openings in the face plate and aligned therewith. When this sandwich is held together at the edges and at the middle, it has been found that pins can be inserted in the holes many hundreds of times and a good electrical contact will be made with the metal or foil and the pin ill be held securely in the opening. I

The provision of a brush-like lower contact member made of wire bristles has been found to form a particularly effective combination when the conductive member is a relatively sharp pin such as the common map pin as the brush may move in any direction without fouling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken of 'the area 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the grooved disc portion of the scheduling device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the contact arm and the groove disc of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the movable disc of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the movable disc contact arm taken along lines 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan viewpartially in cross section'ofthe device ofFlG. s. f

FIG. 10 isan enlarged cross sectional view of the pin contact member of FIG. 9;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a face plate 10 having a series of openings 11 together with clock nu--1 meral indicia. The openings 11 are located on two con-.

centric circles and are spaced at half-hour intervals. Two terminal pins, l2and 13 are located on the outside of the scheduling device. A minute hand 14 and an hour hand 15 extend through the face plate 10. A transparent protective covering not shown may be placed over minute hand 14 and hour hand 15 and this should be located inside of the interior circle of openings 11 to provide free access to these openings.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is depicted the details of a first embodiment of the present invention. A pin having an enlarged head 16 and a shank portion 17 is shown inserted through one of the openings 11 in the face plate 10. The details of the means of holding and forming an electrical contact at this point will be discussed below. A clock motor 18 is attached to the scheduling device base 19 and drive gears 20 and 21. Gear 20 in turn drives hour gear 22 which is connected through hour shaft 23 to hour hand 15. Similarly, gear 2] drives minute gear 24 which in turn is attached to minute hand 14 through minute shaft 25.

Briefly, the operation of the device results from the rotation of hour disc 25 which is attached to hour shaft 23. A conductive brush 26 makes an electrical contact with pin shank 17 for the duration of the time which the conductive brush is under the pin shank. The means by which this is used to complete an electrical circuit is described below.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown an enlarged cross sectional view showing the pin head 16 resting against the tapered opening in face plate 10. The pin shank 17 has pierced first a layer of metal foil 30 and secondly a layer of flexible plastic 31. The plastic should be chosen so that a pin may be readily pushed through and yet the plastic must be stiff enough to hold the pin in the opening and further to hold the metal foil against the pin shank 17. It has been found that cellulose acetate film is particularly effective for this use and other plastics of similar hardness can also be used such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride, A backup plate 32 has a series of openings 33 which are located under each opening in the face plate 10. These openings are preferably ofa larger diameter then the openings in the face plate to permit some deformation of flexible plastic 31 into opening 33. This improves the electrical contact between metal foil 30 and pin shank 17. The conductive brush 26 is shown forming an electrical Turning now to FIG. 5, the cooperation between the hour disc 25 and the grooved disc 35 is more clearly shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the hour disc 25 is attached to the hour shaft 22 which thus rotates disc 25 once each 12 hours. Disc 35, once set is stationary. Conductive brush 26 is soldered or otherwise electrically connected to arm 40 which in turn is electrically connected to arms 41 and 42 which in turn are connected to contact slides 43 and 44 which make an electrical contact with conductive layer 45. The hour disc 25 may thus be readily fabricated from circuit board material which contact with pin shank 17 and brush 26 is further electrically connected to the hour disc 25 in a manner described below.

A grooved disc 35 is shown in FIG. 4. Disc 35 has the generally spiral groove whichis made from two concentric circles of different diameter. These two concentric circles are not complete however and, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner circle is broken and moves outwardly to join the outer circle which in turn is broken and is moved outward still further at the outward terminus of the groove. The groove disc 35 may be made circular which will permit its movement which can be utilized to change the time at which the conductive brush will move from the inner circle to the outer circle of groove 36. This adjustment is not necessary for the basic operation of the device and an operative device will result from the use of a square plate having the same generally spiral groove therein. As can be most clearly seen in FIG. 2, the disc 35 is held in base 19 by a pair of

protrusions

37 and 38 in the side of the base.

has an upper conductive layer of copper or the like and a lower insulative layer of phenolic or similar plastic. An elongated H-shaped opening 46 is cut in hour disc 25. Opening 46 has an inner enlarged section 47 and an outer enlarged section 48. Arms 40-42 are attached to a rider 49 which has two pegs such as peg 50 which serve to hold the rider in the groove 36. The rider 49 has a lower extension 51 which ridges in groove 36. A spring 52 is attached to rider 49 and passes through rider stop 53. Spring 52 is attached to a peg 54 shown in FIG. 6. The spring 52 is chosen so as to provide a slight yet steady pressure against rider 49 which would tend to pull it inwardly were it not for lower extension 51 being heldin groove 36.

In operation disc 25 rotates once every 12 hours with respect to grooved disc35. As can be seen by the shape of the groove 36 in FIG. 4 the lower extension will be forced from the inner circle of groove 36 to the outer circle of groove 36 as disc 25 rotates with respect to disc 35. When the lower extension 51 nears the outer terminus of groove 36 it is forced outwardly by groove 36. As can be seen from the direction of pull of spring 52 as compared with the point of retention of lower extension 51 a resulting turning force is existent in rider 49. Thus, when peg 50 reaches the outer enlarged section 48 it will pass upwardly through the outer enlarged section and the spring 52 will pull the rider 49 inwardly until it hits rider stop 53. The lower extension 51 will then fall by gravity and spring action into the inner terminus of groove 36 and will again be guided by groove 36.

The location of conductive brush 26 is such that it passes under the center of each of the openings 11 in the face plate. It is located at a distance below the face plate such that the pin point contacts only the brush bristles and not the arm 40. i

The electrical circuit is completed by a contact member 55 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This contact member 55 rides along the upper surface of conductive layer 45 and makes a continual electrical contact with this layer. If it is desired to have a flashing signal, the conductive layer 45 near the outer periphery of hours disc 25 may be segmented so that the electrical contact is intermittent. t

To summarize the operation of this scheduling device a series of pins such as map pins having a conductive shank and an enlarged head portion are placed through selective openings 11 in face plate 10. The inner circle of openings ll could represent the A.M. hours and the outer circle of openings could represent the P.M. hours. Thus, if signals were desired at 6 and 7 A.M. and 9:30 P.M. one pin would be placed in the opening 1 l in the inner circle opposite the clock indicia 6. A second pin would be placed in the inner circle of openings opposite the clock indicia 7 and a third pin would be placed in the outer circle of openings between the clock indicia 9 and 10. The grooved disc 35 would be set so as to move from the inner circle to the outer circle between 12 and 12:30. An electrical signal would then be completed during the time the brush was passing under each of the pins which time 4 would be dependent upon the size of the brush and/or as further limited by use of another commutator affixed tothe minute gear.

Of course, the number of concentric circles of openings is not limited to two. Seven sets of circles may be utilized so that an entire weeks events may be prescheduled. Conversely, seven circles may be utilized at a row spacing twice that of the grooves in disc 35,

thus causing the brush to pass between rows of pins on alternate revolutions thus permitting a 12 hour active 12 hour passive operation. The electrical signal may be connected to a device which operates a l 10 volt circuit so that any normal household electrical appliance may be operated thereby. The voltage differential across the pin and brush should be kept low to prevent arcing and consequent corrosion which could result in poor electrical contact. It has been found that a voltage of 6 volts permits long-term operation without noticeable decrease in electrical conductivity.

This same invention may be utilized to complete an electrical circuit without moving brush contact with the metal pin.'This application is shown in FIGS. 8 through 10.

Turning now to FIG. 8 there is shown two

conductive rings

60 and 61. Conductive ring 60 is electrically connected to signal A and conductive ring 61 is electrically connected to signal B. Located below and insulated from

conductive rings

60 and 61 are a series of sectors such as 62,63 and 64. A contact arm 65 is attached to the hour hand of the clock and thus rotates once every 12 hours. As arm 65 rotates it makes an electrical contact with each of the sectors and is shown in FIG. 8 making electrical contact with sector 64.

The relationship between ring 60 and sector 64 is more clearly shown in FIG. 10. A map pin having an enlarged head 66 and a conductive shank 67 has been inserted through face plate 10. This causes an electrical contact to be made through conductive shank 67 from ring 60 to sector 64. Ring 60 and sector 64 are insulated from one another by an insulative plastic layer 68. A flexible plastic layer 69 performs the same function as described above, that is to hold the pin in the opening and also to improve the electrical contact between sector 64 and conductive shank 67.

When contact arm 65 is touching a sector which in turn has a pin inserted therethrough, an electrical circuit may be completed. As shown in FIG. 8, there is a complete circuit from terminal 70 of signal A through ring 60, sector 64 and contact arm 65. 1f contact arm 65 is grounded and a voltage is impressed at terminal 70, then there is a resulting voltage across signal A which can be utilized to perform a useful function.

The movement of contact arm 65 is shown more clearly in FIG. 9. As described above, clock motor 18 turns gears 20 and 21 which in turn drive minute gear 24 and hour 22. Hour gear 22 is attached to hour shaft 23 to which contact arm 65 is also attached. Minute gear 24 is attached to minute shaft 25 which in turn drives minute hand 14.

In practice a large number of rings and corresponding openings in the face plate may be utilized in the practice of this invention. The ring need only be wide enough to insure electrical contact with a pin inserted through a face plate opening and need only be spaced enough to be insulated from a neighboring ring. The signals may be adapted to perform a number of functions such as operating electrical appliances and the like. It is preferable that the voltage impressed at the terminals be relatively low so that arcing and resulting corrosion will be minimized. We have found that 21 voltage of 6 volts gives no noticeable corrosion problems.

The number of sectors is similarly limited only by space considerations and the time interval for which scheduling is desired. One particularly useful function which can be performed by the scheduling device of this invention is to control and schedule one days television programs for invalids, children, institutions and other audiences where a predetermined schedule is useful. The number of rings then should correspond to the number of television channels to be used and the number of sectors should preferably be at 30 minutes intervals. Each ring is connected to a different signal which sends a message to the television set which corresponds to a particular channel.

Another important feature of this invention may be 'derived by the use of different colored pins. For instance, if the scheduling device were used to serve as a reminder for medication schedule in a hospital, the scheduling device could not only sound a signal at a predetermined time, but could be combined with the use of different colored pins to serve as a reminder which medication should be given at the time the signal is sounded. Of course, the number of available colors is almost limitless which gives a great deal of flexibility for a scheduling device. Although the scheduling devices have been described in turns of a 12 or 24 hour clock, it is of course possible to alter the speed of rotation of the contact arm so that events may be scheduled over longer or shorter time intervals. The devices have been shown having a horizontal face place but they are readily adaptable to function in any plane.

While the thickness of the face plate 10 and the backup plate 32 may be varied dependent upon the strength of the plastic used and the pin size, to relative size of the holes in these two plates has been found important when a large number of pin insertions is desired. With a map pin having a shank length of 5/16 inches and a shank diameter of 0.035 inches, we have found a hole diameter in the face plate of 0.037 inches, combined with a hole in the backup plate of 0.054 inches, to be particularly effective.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising:

a frame;

a face plate attached to said frame, said face plate having a plurality of openings therethrough;

a layer of piercable conductive material mounted on the back of said face plate, said conductive material being electrically connected to a first terminal;

a layer of flexible plastic affixed to said layer of conductive material;

a conductive brush movably affixed to said frame and electrically connected to a second terminal, said brush being located close enough to said face plate so as to touch the shank of conductive members placed through the openings in the face plate;

means for moving said brush in a timed manner under the openings in the face plate, whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said brush contacts a conductive member inserted through an opening in said face plate.

2. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said brush is rotated about a center axis and the openings in said face plate are located concentrically about said center axis.

3. The scheduling device of claim 2 wherein additional openings are located in said face plate and said brush is also moved axially with respect to said center axis wherebysaid brush will contact conductive members placed in any openings in saidface plate.

4. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said brush is rotated generally spirally about a center axis and the openings in said face plate are located on concentric circles about said center axis.

5. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said conductive members comprise pointed metal pins having a head larger than the openings in said face plate, the length of said pin and location of said movable brush being such that a fully inserted pin will contact said movable brush.

6. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said face plate is marked with 12 hour indicia, said rotatable disc rotates once each 12 hours and there are two openings in said face plate for each interval of time whereby events can be scheduled for a 24 hour period.

. 7. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said layer of conductive material is foil.

8. A scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising:

a frame;

a layer of flexible plastic affixed to said layer of conductive material;

a conductive brush movably affixed to said frame and electrically connected to a second terminal, said brush being located close enough to said face plate so as to tough the shank of conductive members placed through the openings in the face plate;

a grooved disc affixed to said frame below said face plate and having a generally spiral groove means in the upper surface thereof;

a rotatable disc mounted above said grooved disc and having a generally radial slot therein; and

a brush holder rider slidably mounted in said slot and having a conductive brush affixed thereto and further having a lower extension thereon said lower extension extending into the groove in the grooved disc whereby the rotation of said rotatable disc will cause a generally spiral movement of said brush.

9. The scheduling device of claim 8 wherein said rotatable disc is an insulating disc and has a metallic coating thereon; said brush has a first slidable contact member which contacts said metallic coating and a second slidable contact member affixed to said frame and touching said metallic coating near the outer edge of said disc said second contact member being electrically connected to said second terminal.

10. The scheduling device of claim 8 wherein said brush holding rider has a spring means attached thereto said spring means urging said member along one direction along said slot said groove means guide said member in the opposite direction along said slot as said rotatable disc is rotated,

said member further having peg means for holding the lower extension of said member in said nonconcentric groove and v said slot having enlarged portions at each end which permit said peg means to pass vertically therethrough whereby the rotation of said rotatable disc causes a movement of said brush holding rider along said slot in one direction until the peg means are located under said enlarged portion in said slot and said member is raised out of the groove means and moved in the opposite direction by the spring means and then lowered through the inner enlarged portion to again engage said groove means.

11. A resettable scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising:

aframe; 1

a face plate attached to said frame, said face plate having a plurality of openings therein;

a piercable conductive layer affixed to said face plate;

at least one conductive pin member capable of passing through said openings and piercing said conductive layer;

a conductive contact means attached to said frame and movable with respect to said face plate and located so that said contact means periodically completes an electrical circuit through that portion of said pin member which has passed through said openings so that said contact means periodically completes an electrical circuit through the shank of said conductive pin member; and means for moving said contact means with respect to said face plate in a timed manner. 12. The device of claim 11 wherein said contact means is a conductive brush.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said brush is composed of a plurality of conductive bristles.

* i l l

Claims

1. A scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising: a frame; a face plate attached to said frame, said face plate having a plurality of openings therethrough; a layer of piercable conductive material mounted on the back of said face plate, said conductive material being electrically connected to a first terminal; a layer of flexible plastic affixed to said layer of conductive material; a conductive brush movably affixed to said frame and electrically connected to a second terminal, said brush being located close enough to said face plate so as to touch the shank of conductive members placed through the openings in the face plate; means for moving said brush in a timed manner under the openings in the face plate, whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said brush contacts a conductive member inserted through an opening in said face plate.

3. The scheduling device of claim 2 wherein additional openings are located in said face plate and said brush is also moved axially with respect to said center axis whereby said brush will contact conductive members placed in any openings in said face plate.

7. The scheduling device of claim 1 wherein said layer of conductive material is foil.

8. A scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising: a frame; a face plate attached to said frame, said face plate having a plurality of openings therethrough; a layer of piercable conDuctive material mounted on the back of said face plate, said conductive material being electrically connected to a first terminal; a layer of flexible plastic affixed to said layer of conductive material; a conductive brush movably affixed to said frame and electrically connected to a second terminal, said brush being located close enough to said face plate so as to tough the shank of conductive members placed through the openings in the face plate; a grooved disc affixed to said frame below said face plate and having a generally spiral groove means in the upper surface thereof; a rotatable disc mounted above said grooved disc and having a generally radial slot therein; and a brush holder rider slidably mounted in said slot and having a conductive brush affixed thereto and further having a lower extension thereon said lower extension extending into the groove in the grooved disc whereby the rotation of said rotatable disc will cause a generally spiral movement of said brush.

10. The scheduling device of claim 8 wherein said brush holding rider has a spring means attached thereto said spring means urging said member along one direction along said slot said groove means guide said member in the opposite direction along said slot as said rotatable disc is rotated, said member further having peg means for holding the lower extension of said member in said non-concentric groove and said slot having enlarged portions at each end which permit said peg means to pass vertically therethrough whereby the rotation of said rotatable disc causes a movement of said brush holding rider along said slot in one direction until the peg means are located under said enlarged portion in said slot and said member is raised out of the groove means and moved in the opposite direction by the spring means and then lowered through the inner enlarged portion to again engage said groove means.

11. A resettable scheduling device for electrically activating a signal at a predetermined time comprising: a frame; a face plate attached to said frame, said face plate having a plurality of openings therein; a piercable conductive layer affixed to said face plate; at least one conductive pin member capable of passing through said openings and piercing said conductive layer; a conductive contact means attached to said frame and movable with respect to said face plate and located so that said contact means periodically completes an electrical circuit through that portion of said pin member which has passed through said openings so that said contact means periodically completes an electrical circuit through the shank of said conductive pin member; and means for moving said contact means with respect to said face plate in a timed manner.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said contact means is a conductive brush.