US3733802A

US3733802A - Alarm device

Info

Publication number: US3733802A
Application number: US00165928A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Wisser
Original assignee: Schatz Soehne Jahresuhren
Current assignee: Jahresuhren Fabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1971-07-26
Filing date: 1971-07-26
Publication date: 1973-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-22

Abstract

An alarm device with a double signal arrangement provided by a combination of two chronological movements united by means which initiates operation of the second chronological movement and the alarm mechanism thereof while stopping the alarm mechanism of the other.

Description

0 United States Patent [191 [111 3,733,802 Wisser [45] May 22, 1973 [541 ALARM DEVICE 2,244,924 6/1941 Thorson ..58/21.155 2,548,362 4/1951 Gordon ..58/2l.l55 [75] Inventor mm 7745 schmach 3,039,260 6/1962 Morrison 6! al. ..ss/21.155 many 3,192,699 7/1965 Stout ..'..58/l6.5 Assignee; Jahresuhren-Fabrik Aug. 3,545,196 12/1970 Vazzano 6! a1. ..58/21.l55

i ng Schwarzwald FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed y 26 1971 1,103,837 2/l960 Great Britain ..58/l8 [21] Appl. No.: 165,928 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerStanley A. Wal 52 us. (:1 ..58/l6.5 AmmeYTMWaY Schaffe' [51] Int. Cl. ..G04h 23/06, G04c 21/30 [58] Field Of Search ..58/16, 16.5, 18, [571 ABSTRACT 58/213551 1 An alarm device with a double signal arrangement provided by a combination of two chronological [56] References Cited movements united by means which initiates operation UNITED STATES PATENTS of the second chronological movement and the alarm mechanism thereof while stopping the alarm 537,366 4/1895 Sharpe ..58/2l.ll mechanism of the other. 1,049,914 1/1913 Porter ....58/2l.l1 X 1,057,668 4/1913 Porter ..58/21.l1 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEL 3.733.802-

SHEU 1 BF 2 rm UJJSER IN VEN TOR.

SHEET 2 UP 2 IN VEN TOR.

ALARM DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Alarm devices, such as alarm clocks, in which the clock movement is combined with a starting and stopping signal mechanism are known. Generally, alarm devices of this nature, especially alarm clocks, repeat the alarm signal several times in periodic short time intervals. However, the time interval between separate periodic signals usually cannot be freely chosen and initiation of the alarm signal can be changed only by a new basic setting of the signal mechanism. Consequently, on many of the known devices, it is not possible for the time interval of a signal, following after an initial signal has been initiated, to be varied with respect to periodicity. This lack offlexibility, therefore, in many of the devices, such as alarm clocks, leaves much to be desired. In alarm clocks, for example, if one wants to be aroused by an initial signal or alarm with a relatively long interval of rest between the initial signal and a subsequent signal or alarm, it is not possible. There exists, therefore, a need in alarm devices, such as alarm clocks, for an arrangement which permits a wide degree of chosen periodic time intervals between an initial alarm signal and a subsequent signal.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an alarm device, such as an alarm clock which permits a wide degree of variation of chosen periodic time intervals between an initial alarm signal and a subsequent signal.

It is another object of the invention to provide an alarm device, such as an alarm clock, in which the time interval can be freely chosen within a relatively long time period without changing the basic setting of the signal mechanism.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an alarm device, such as an alarm clock, in which an initial or primary signal is dependent on a basic clock movement and in which a successive signal is initiated within a certain time period after the primary signal and which time period can be selected beforehand.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide in combination an alarm clock and microchronometer in which the movement of the microchronometer is initiated by the cut-off means of the signal mechanism of the alarm clock;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal view in elevation showing the com bination of an alarm clock and microchronometer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 with parts ofthe microchronometer partially broken away and the relationship of the spring disconnector to the clock movement shown in broken lines; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 with the top partially broken away and the major parts of the microchronometer shown in broken lines.

It is to be understood that only those details are illustrated in the drawings which are necessary to understand the alarm device of this invention. Consequently, detailed illustrations and disclosure of the standard parts of the clock movement and microchronometer are omitted in the interest of simplicity and clarity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, an alarm device in accordance with the invention comprises in combination a first chronological movement including an alarm mechanism, a second chronological movement including an alarm mechanism and means for initiating operation of the second chronological movement and for initiation of the alarm mechanism thereof while stopping the alarm mechanism of said first chronological movement which joins the first and second chronological movements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, an alarm device in accordance with the invention comprises an alarm clock, generally referred to by numeral 11 and a microchronometer generally referred to by numeral 13. Both of these elements are provided with a common housing 15. The illustrated alarm clock and microchronometer have known standard movements and it is to be understood that any known chronological movement including an alarm mechanism can be employed in their place in the practice of the invention.

The microchronometer is provided with a dial 17 equipped with a time scale 19 claibrated in minutes although it may be suitably calibrated in other time intervals such as seconds or hours or portions thereof. Moreover, the dial is rotatable with respect to pointer 21 fixed to the housing 15. Turning of the dial also winds the movement of the microchronometer in the usual way unless it is electrically operated in which case it only is employed to set the desired interval.

As may be seen more specifically in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the alarm clock is provided with a stopping button 23 for the alarm mechanism, a directional button 25 for the alarm setting and an adjustment button 27 for the pointer setting of the clock movement which may be either a standard mechanical movement or an electrical movement.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the clock movement includes a release wheel 29 for the alarm mechanism. The release wheel has a groove 31. The clock movement also includes an hour wheel 33 equipped with a cam 35 which engages in the groove 3, being springbiased by means 37 which functions to initiate operation of the microchronometer and the alarm mechanism thereof while acting to stop the alarm mechanism of the clock movement, the means 37 thus unites the clock movement and microchronometer.

Means 37, as shown, is a generally elongated spring disconnector fixed on a post 39 of the alarm clock at one end and which is bent at the opposite end to form a detent or warped end 41. As shown, in full lines in FIG. 3 the detent 41 rests against the balance wheel 43 of the standard chronological movement of the microchronometer preventing operation of it and its alarm system generally, referred to as 45 and at the same time bearing against the hour wheel 33 of. the clock movement. When, however, the cam 35 falls in groove 31 the disconnector means 37 assumes the dotted line position freeing the wheel 43 and permitting its operation.

The microchronometer 13 is capable of being operable independently of the clock movement. For this purpose a slide 47 is provided in the housing of the microchronometer below dial 17. The slide is associated with a suitable means such as vertical switching pin 49 which can be moved into and out of contact with the uniting means or spring disconnector 37 by moving the slide I (in) and (out), respectively. By making two separate housings rather than the single housing shown for the alarm clock and the microchronometer, they may, of course, be separated and employed independently. v

In operation the device of this invention operates as follows. The alarm clock which is in motion and which may be driven by mechanical or electrical power, as mentioned above, is manipulated by directional button 25. Next the microchronometer 13 is set by rotating dial 17 to wind it if it is not electrically operated and the dial is set at a given time, such as for example 40 minutes by adjusting the dial with respect to pointer 21. After the clock movement has run its course, the standard alarm release thereof stopping the alarm is activated according to the setting. Thereafter the hours wheel 33 of the clock movement by means of cam 35 engages the groove 31 of the alarm release wheel 29 and the alarm mechanism of its own clock movement is activated. During engagement of the hour wheel 33 and the release wheel 29, the spring disconnector means 37, changes its position to that shown by the dotted lines 51 in FIG. 3 and the detent 41 moves away from balance wheel 43 of the microchronometer 13 so that the clock movement thereof begins to run till the set time expires and the alarm thereof sounds. The alarm of the clock movement may be stopped manually by means of the stopping button 23 but that of the microchronometer will only be automatically silenced after expiration of the clock movement thereof by repositioning of the means 37 as seen in full lines.

In those cases where it is desired to operate the microchronometer independently of the clock, the slide 47 is simply moved in the direction 0 thus moving switching pin 49 against means 37 and releasing balance wheel 43 and allowing independent setting and operation of the microchronometer.

It is to be understood that many variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An alarm device comprising in combination a first chronological movement including an alarm mechanism, a second chronological movement including an alarm mechanism and means for joining said first and second chronological movements for initiating operation of the second chronological movements and thereafter initiation of the alarm mechanism thereof while stopping the alarm mechanism of said first chronological movement.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for joining said first and second chronological movement comprises a spring arm fixed at one end and provided with a detent movable into and out of contact with the second chronological movement at the other end and means for biasing said spring into engagement with the alarm mechanism of said first chronological movement.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the first chronological movement includes an alarm release mechanism provided with a groove and an hour wheel provided with a cam adapted to project into said groove, the second chronological movement includes a balance wheel, said means for joining the first and second chronological movements comprises a spring arm adapted to bear against said hour wheel and being movable into and out of contact with said balance wheel by said cam.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 including means for initiating the second chronological movement independently of said first chronological movement.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for initiating the second chronological movement independently of the first chronological movement is a slide located in the housing of the second chronological movement and which has a switching pin located internally of said housing and movable into and out of contact with the means for initiating operation of the second chronological movement and the alarm system thereof.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first chronological movement is an alarm clock and the second chronological movement is a microchronometer.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microchronometer is independently operable from the alarm clock.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microchronometer includes a rotatable time scale.