US2651166A - Electric timing device - Google Patents

Description

SePt- 8, 1953 B. D. DORFMAN 2,651,166

ELECTRIC TIMINC DEVICE Filed Jan. 29. 1948 5 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1953 B. D. DORFMAN ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 Sept- 8', 1953 B. D. Dom-MAN ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 779km l wrom/5v5 Sept. 8, 1953 B. D. DORFMAN ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 /Q WM TTRNEYE Sept. 8, 1953 B. D. Do'Rr-MAN ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. [ff/v A l//o o/g FMH/v ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE Ben David Dorfman, Washington, D. C. Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,067

claims. 1

This invention relates to an electrical timing device, such as an alarm clock, and more particularly to a portable alarm clock powered by small dry cells or batteries such as are used in ashlights.

Though the clock is completely self-contained when powered with iiashlight cells, it can also be operated by electric current supplied from non-portable cells or from regular power lines, in either of which circumstances only an additional wired connection is necessary.

In the operation of most alarm clocks, an on and off switch must be operated manually to set the alarm and shut it off. At night, beforev retiring, it is usually switched to the on position. The disadvantage here is that one may forget to switch the alarm to its on position, in which circumstance it will remain inoperative until it is so switched. In addition, the alarm clock must be switched on for each time it is desired that the alarm shall go off.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide an alarm clock which is portable and can be set to sound its alarm any hour of any day or days of the week.

Another object of this invention is, to provide a portable electric alarm clock which may be set to ring at a certain hour, shut itself off and reset itself to ring twenty-four hours later, these operations by the clock being all accomplished automatically.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electric alarm clock which may be set to ring on certain days of the week and remain silent on other days of the sameweek.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide an electric alarm clock which contains a switch capable of stopping the alarm after it has started but which will automatically reset it to ring twenty-four hours later. YAnother switch'is'provided to convert the alarm clock into a non-alarm clock by preventing operation of the automatic re-set feature of the 'rst Aswitch mentioned.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical front View of `a clock embodying my invention, showing the dial indications.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clock of Fig. 1, shown taken along the lines 2-2 ofFigS. l

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a section of the cloc of Fig. 2, taken along the lines k3--3.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational phantom view of the clock of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal side sectional view of the clock of Fig. 4 taken along the lines 5--5.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the automatic re-set switch shown on top of the clock of Fig. 1 in the down or open circuit position.

Fig. 7 is another sectional view of the same switch of Fig. 6, showing the plunger in the up or closed circuit position.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-section of the switch of Fig. 6 taken along the line 8 3.

Fig. 9 is a vertical perspective View of the day selector mechanism shown partially in phantom.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the day selector mechanism of Fig. 9, taken along the lines lll-I0.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of the day selector mechanism of Fig. 9, taken along the line II--IL Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional View of the day selector mechanism of Fig. 11, taken along the lines l2-I2.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged View of the section of the hour selector mechanism shown in the sectional view of the clock of Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional View of the hour selector mechanism of Fig. 13 taken along the lines l4|4.

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of the clock showing the positions of the hour and day selector.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section through the clock, showing the hinged doors through which the battery cells may be replaced.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to the clock shown in Fig. 1, this clock comprises a case l in the front of which is the face 2. In addition to the conventional minute and hour hands 3 and 4, respectively, there is a day hand 5 which indicates the days of the week as shown. Each indicated day 6, is divided into a whiteand dark section, l and 8 respectively, to indicate twelve hours a. m. and twelve hours p xm. On top of the case I is placed the switch button 9 for stopping the alarm.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the clock comprises a frame l0, of any suitable material, which supports the clock mechanism. The movement proper is an electrically energized type designed to operate at low voltage and consume very little power. Such movements are well known in the art.

In front of the pillar plate of the clock mechanism is a gear train designed to drive the hands 3, 5, and 5, in their properly timed ratio. Said gear train comprises gears l2, i3, lli, l5, E6, and l'rl, with gears i5 and I5 arranged concentric with gear l2. Gear IE operates the minute hand E and makes one revolution per hour. Gear l2 drives gear i3 with a ratio of 4:1, while gear i3 in turn drives gear i4, the ratio here being 6:1, so that gear lil revolves once for 24 revolutions of gear l2 and the minute hand 3 and thusrmakes one revolution each '2.4 hours. Gear i3 also drives gear l``but here the ratio is 3:1, so that gear i5 which operates the hour hand ll, ref, volves once in twelve hours. In addition, gear i5 operates gear il with a ratio of legi sothat gear Il rotates once a Week. Gear il', on thel same shaft with gear il, operates gear l-t'wi-th a ratio of 1:1. Day hand 5 is mounted onalhgl; low shaft attached to gear l5.

On each side of the clock frame l0 are located small flashlight cells I8 resting on a metal strip l5." and. held. in place by. clamps Zuwhile metal leaf springs 2l pressure-contact the4 other. end ofy the. cells i8, so that'. the. cellsi8... make. good electrical contacts at. the metalstrip i9 and leaf springs 2l., one of which isgrounde'dtothe frame l0.' and the other. insulated from the. frame. The cells L8. are. so positioned as. to be in series connection. In a compartment 22 at the base of. the. case.. l, is` placed.. the bell.23 or. a. buzzer or any other .l suitable. alarm. device.y Attached.. to. the base of the bell 23 are insulated.A electrical termnal. lugs. 2.4, and 25, to which is. attached the electric. Wiring.

InFig. 3, the dial. plate..2.6. is. shownV in front of thegear train.

Attached-togear..Iliisashaft 2.7i which drives a roller 28.'..around` the .day selector.. mechanism4 25. which will be described in detail hereinafter, while. gear. I4..driv.es.an arborlllwithin theA hour selector` mechanism 3l which also will be de,- scribed below. Knob 32 is attachedthrough a shaft33 to. the gear,` train sothat the hands of the cloclcmay, be adjustedto the. correct. time, Pin heads 34 control the day selector, while knob 35 controls the hour selector.

Referring nowto. Eig. 4, projectingfrom the back plate 36, which.. isremovable bymeansef screwsl, arethe. hourI selector knob, 35y and the. day. selectorA pin .lneaustti` A dialplate. having two sets of twelve numbers, isaiixed to or engraved upon the back platett,` the upper twelvenumbers,indicating a. m. and-the lower twelvenumbers..indicating p-A m-v as, ShQWn by the. black balad 35,1 A.panter/writ.attaghedto knob 35 for indicationpurposes, The` day selector `indicator compris,es the days of the, week nirkd'in a irclerith, aseriespf. Crescent .Shaped slots 4I ,arrangedalong theperipheryof a circlev within'fthe marked days of the week. Protruding from leachy of theslots f4 I are pin` heads A3 il. The box 22..,'whichenclos`es lthe alarm bellfor buzzer 231.1has'.screenedlsoulridr holes*` 42 A "for emission. o f the alarmlsig'nalf' l "frojff'aeiutateremoval. qf the baapiate 3e,- knobs 32`and 35,- which yare connected .to shafts 33 and 44. respectively. are removable., 1H10b-32 being fitted onlyfrictionltight and 35 being `held in place by.. a. set. Screw.. With .reference to theday indicator, they pin lheads 34 n eed not .be removed when opening the backplatel 36, inasmuch as one opening in. each crescent. slot 4l is made large enough to permit said .pin .heads 34 to pass there# through when said back plate 36 is removed.`

Referring nowy to Fig'sJQ'?, and 8, showing the electric switch for controlling the alarm,

this switch comprises a cylinder casing 41 into which fits a piston 48 composed of a disc 49 made of leather or some other suitable material. This disc ts tightly against the inside walls of the casing il and is mounted between two metal or composition washers, 5i which is of slightly smaller diameter than disc 49, and 5l! which is of slightly smaller diameter than washer 5I. A Smell Washer, made Of insulating materiel 52, in which is pressed a hat concentricmetal ring 52a, is placed on the top washer 56.' These parts are fastened to the narrow end 53 of the plunger rod 55 by means of a screw 55 which threads through the center of the plunger rod 56. A cover 56, made o f suitable insulating material, is fastened tothe top of the casing lil by means of screws 5.1.. Electric terminal lugs 58 are attached to the top of the insulated cover 56 by means of screws 58 andy S5, respectively, while to the underside of cover 56 are attached two metal springs 6| and t2. by. meansk or. the same screws 59; and 6.0. so that electrical Contact is made between, the lugs 56 and the metal snr-ings 5| and-@2f throushthe insulated4 cover 5,6. Theouter ends of. springs (it and 62 are bent to t into recesses fis-'and 6,4!k of,l the cover. 55. 'Ijhe underside ofl the, innerends of 'Springs t! and 6.2.- cantanmetal tips.- medecimaterial suited te. make. and; elettriqa1--wntact with metall ring. 5.2:- I-nthese illustrations. Cas.' me 4l is assumedtO. be. made.. of; insulating mae. terial. If made ofan electrical conductor, springs @i and 62am tebaiesuletgd;frere; easing-i 41;-

In the centerI of. the bottom ofl casing d?! isa raised portion 55. A. coiled spring isheldbe.- tween the head of screw 55.anathistaisedgpertion A hollowI bolt 67,* externally, threaded andhaving a pair. of notches. 5 8 cutinopposing sides, isplaced through centrally. located holes. in the casingy cover 5,6` and.the.top,o f the clockcase l. Nut, 555, tightenssaid bolt, toIthe cover, 56 while nut 'lll tightens s aidfboltftothe top,.of the clock case. l.v Theplunger rod. 5B passes throughy the..holl,ow,V in.. the bolt 5'! andthe. button 9'y isthreaded.. onto thethreadedfendfof rod 55. A slidable fork 'il is .attached I'to' .theunderside. of the, top portionl of the., cloclg.A case. I alongside. thev alarmn switch.v A. knurled knob 52, is. attaches. te, the fark ri. by means. ef a. 'screwl '83. which7 tightens against the tension of spring washer 14., Agroove 7 5 iscut in the case Vl to permit horizontal movement. of the knob .72, screw.. 'i3 andthe. for);` 'l l l. The-,fork 'il is adaptedl to` lock .into .the ,notchesfuof the holte? Yand the notch 45, cut in theplunger rod.5 4.

Two holes. l5 and 'il arecutthrough the..bot-- tompfthecylinder casing 4l'. Hol'efl'lipass'es throughY the centerofa tube lwhich projects through thebottom of. thecylinder casing- 4l', A small balllf-)jis heldin place within thex open-V ing i1 which has a widened-area te aceomiedate saidvballl5. A coiledspring V8G)- compresses said ball 'i9 upward inV saidhole lli.y Threadedcap 8| having a hole 82, at the bottom, threads upon the externally. threaded y.projecting tube =`l8 .whereby said coiled;springfismaintainedunder-compression against'saidball-l1'9..y

Referring now `to,` the, day selector .mechanism shown in ligs.lv 9, 10,I 11, and1, 21, said day selector consists of a seven pointed? metalcrownv 83- attached to the rim of -a circular metal baseS having a hole inv thecenterthereof. A cup Inadeof insulating. material, is fitted within vvsaid crown s3. A shallow metal Cup et is ette@ within said insulating cupmwith a wirelead 8T electrically connectedltoythemetal ,cup gand passing through a hole in the wall of the`insulatin'g cup 85 and through an insulated-hole in the crown 83 to the outside and thus to the hour selector, as will be described hereinafter. To the inside upper portion of the insulating cup 85 are attached seven metal pieces 88 (resembling the shape of paint brush handles) so that each piece 88 is set adjacent to each prong 89 of the crown 83. Each metal piece 88 is separated from each adjacent piece 88 by a small gap 90 (either of air or insulating material) and all the pieces 88 are separated by a small gap 9| from the top of the shallow metal cup 86.` The pieces 88 are held in place by riveting, as shown in Fig. 11, or by other suitable means. 'I'he lower edges of the seven metal pieces and the upper edges of the shallow metal cup 86 are beveled to make a track for the revolving contact roller 28. Roller 28 revolves on an axis which is fitted to spring wire 92 which is attached to a metal collar 93 which ts friction tight around insulating collar 93a which in turn ts tightly around the end of arbor 21. A nipple 95, situated on the inside of each crown prong 8:3, and a similar nipple 96, located on the outside of each metal piece 88, are provided at the same height, so that nipples 95 and 96 can make good electrical contact when the crown prongs 89 are in their closed circuit position. Thus, there are pairs of oppositely disposed nipples for each of the prongs and metal pieces. The circular metal base 84 of the crown" 83 is firmly attached to the metal pillar plate 91 of the clock works where it makes good electrical contact. A hollow bolt 98 passes through a collar 99 made of insulating material which in turn passes through the aligned central holes in the shallow metal cup 86, the insulating cup 85 and the metal base 84 of the crown 83. The bolt 98 projects its threaded end |00 through a hole in the metal pillar plate 91. A nut threads into the bolt 98 and secures the hole day selector mechanism assembly to the pillar plate 91. The arbor 21 passes through the hollow center of the bolt 98 and is attached to gear I1. At the top of each crown prong 89 is afiixed a small ball 34. A dust proof insulator |02, perforated to accommodate the seven pin head prongs 89, is attached on the inside of the back plate 36 to prevent dust from getting into the works through the crescent openings 4| which permit the crown prongs 89 to protrude outside of the back plate 36.

Referring now to the hour selector mechanism shown in Figs. 13 and 14, said hour selector consists of the control knob 35 having a pointer 49 thereon. A 2li-hour dial plate 38 is either fastened to or engraved on the back plate 36 of the clock case An eccentric pin |03 and a straight pin |04 are set near each other in a thick washer |05 made of any suitable insulating material. 'I'he washer |05 has a centrally located hole therethrough. The underside of said washer |05 has two concentric recessed tracks in which thin flat metal rings |06 and |01 are placed and to which pins |03 and |04, respectively, are fastened and make good electrical contact therewith. Straight pin |04 is welded to its metal ring |01 while eccentric pin |03 is fitted to its metal ring |01 only with friction tight engagement, so that said eccentric pin |03 may be rotated by moving regulator pin |08, which pierces eccentric pin |03 at right angles at a point slightly above that where the pin enters washer |05. Tubular shells |09 and ||0 contain metal balls and ||2 which are compressed by coil springs ||3 and ||4 held within said tubular shells |09 and ||0 by a suitable closure. The top. ofthe metal ball makes electrical contact with the inside recessed metal ring |06, while the other metal ball ||2 contacts the outside recessed metal ring |01. Washer |05 is fastened to the back plate 36 by means of a hollow bolt ||5, spring washer ||6 and nut ||1. Shaft 44 is connected to gear |4 as hereinbefore described (see Fig. 5). To the other end of the shaft is attached an assembly consisting of a collar ||8 made of insulating material, and a metal collar ||9 which is concentric with insulating collar ||8 and fitted frictionally thereto. This assembly is fastened to the shaft 44 after said shaft is thrust through the hollow center or" the ybolt ||5. The assembly is held in place by means of a set screw ||8a which is threaded into the portion of insulating collar |8 which projects through metal collar ||9 in such a manner that set screw ||8a is insulated from metal collar ||9. To the collar ||9 is fastened a Wire whip 20 bent so that it will come in contact with pins |04 and |03 with a slight sweeping motion when the shaft 44 rotates the whip |20 past said pins 04 and |03. Control knob 35 is attached to the insulating washer |05 by means of a set screw |2I, so that rotation of said knob 35 will cause the insulating washer |05, in which pins |03 and |04 are inserted, to rotate in the same direction. Leaf springs |22 and |23 are attached to the frame of the clock but are electrically insulated from it. The ends of said springs |22 and |23 are so positioned that they are in electrical contact with the lower ends of the tubular shells |09 and ||0 respectively. Said springs |22 and |23 are part of the electrical circuit, as will be hereinafter described in connection with the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 15. In the foregoing description, it is -assumed that the clocks back 36 is made of insulating material. If non-insulating material is used, tubular shells |09 and ||0 are to be electrically insulated from said back.

In the diagram of Fig. l5, a battery of cells |8 is connected in the circuit of the clock mechanism |24, with the clock frame acting as ground for one terminal. The terminals of the battery are in contact with spring terminals 2| (Fig. 3), both of which are fastened to frame |0. One of the spring terminals 2| is grounded to the frame but the other is insulated from the frame. The insulated terminal is electrically connected both to the ungrounded terminal of the clock movement and to one terminal of the alarm element as hereinafter explained. In the alarm circuit, one terminal of the alarm bell 23 is connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery I8 while the other terminal of bell 23 is connected to the alarm switch 41. From there, the circuit continues through the hour selector, to the inside metal cup 86 of the day selector. The base 84 of the crown 83, indicated by the outer ring of the day selector, is grounded and thus completes the circuit back to the grounded terminal of the battery I8.

The manner of removal and replacement of the battery cells is illustrated in Fig. 16, showing, in sectional detail, operation of the two hinged doors for the two cell compartments shown in Fig. 4. Two doors |25 and |26 are supported by hinges |21, so that they may be swung outwardly Iagainst the tension of springs |28, to permit the replacement of battery cells |8.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The rotating gear train when activated by the clock mechanism, in addition to rotating the minute, hour, and day hands3, V 4, and 5,'also i causes arbor 44 of the hour'se'lector and its attached metal,v whip I20Yto-rot`ate at lthe rate of one revolution inV twentyefou'r hours, and roller 2% within the day selectonat therate of one revolution per week,

lf the operator wished to set the alarm to ring at, say, l2 oclock noon, as it is shown in Fig. 14, then he would.Y rotate control knob 35 which causes ther insulating washer' E95 to move' with the knob 35 until the `pointer 40' is opposite the numberulZ. The pointer 4t and the two pins H13 and. itil'L are shown opposite the l2 in Fig. 14, but there need beA no correlation between the positions to which pointer 46 andthe two pins are initially adjusted.V Pointer 40 is fastened to washer |05 in such a position that the time to which itvv points will coincide with the time indicated on' the dial o the clock whenever whip comes. in simultaneous contact with pins ID3 and H04. When said, whip l2() contacts both pins E03 and |04, the alarm circuit will be closed at this point and the4 alarm will ring, provided the circuit is not open. at the day selector, or alarm switch, or elsewhere.y rThe duration of the alarm will depend onl the curvature of whip l2!! and upon they spacing of the pins E03' and i641 Since the eccentric` pin m3 can .be moved away from or brought closer to the other pin ltd by means of the regulator pin |08,... the ringing interval can be varied to suit the needs of the individual. When the whip I2!) `sweeps past the point where it makes simultaneousv contact with the pins m3 and |04-, the circuit' is brokeriand thealarm will stop automatically. Ifl it is desired that the alarm shall ring at thev samel hour every twenty-four hours and turn itself 0E automatically each time, no further adjustment is made. But if the user wishes the alarm to sound at the same hour every dayexcept, sayV Saturday and Sunday, then in addition to setting the hour selector for the desired hour, he will also set the day selector as follows:

He moves the pin heads 34 locatedat Saturday and Sunday on the dial, so that said pin heads 34 move from one endl of the crescent shaped slot 4| to the other end, where the pin head 34 and its attached prong 89 will be held. This movement will pull the nipple 95 on the inside of the prong 89 away from thenipple 96v located on the outside of the metal pieces 8S, so that the circuits on Saturday and Sunday are open, thus preventing the alarm from going 01T even though the whip of the hour selector continues to contact the pins H93 and i64- onthose days. The remainder of the pin heads' 34 are'left inA position so that the alarm circuit will be closed the other five days of the week, since the nipples 95- and 96 are in contact when the prongs 39 are in the contact end of theV crescent shaped slot 4i.

As the` roller 28 revolves inthe track 9| made by the beveled edges ofthe seven metal pieces 83 and the shallow metal cup 86, it closes the circuit between each of the seven pieces 88, in turn, with said metal cup 36. The spaces 9i) between metal pieces 38 preventv them from coming in `electrical contact with one another except during the Very short intervals when the roller 2B simultaneously contacts adjacent pieces 88. The movement of the roller 28 isso geared: that each metal piece 83. isv contacted for'twentyefour hours by said roller 23. In this mannenthe alarm can be set to ring at -any'hour and on any dayor combinations of days off the week'.

'Should the user wish to stop theV alarm after it hasv begun to. sound, he presses down the buta ton 9 on the top of the clock case l. Should he dornothingelse, then the alarm circuit will be broken for a short period of time; but it will automatically rclose itself so that the alarm will again ringtwenty-four hours later. The manner'in which this alarm switch operates can .be understood by referringto Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

When the stop button 9 is pushed down, it forces the plunger rod 54 and its piston 49 downward, breaking the circuit between the terminal strips El and 62 and the metal ring 52a which is Seton top of the piston 49. At the same time, coi-l spring B6 is compressed and the air in the cylinder 4l is forced out through hole lli and holel Tl where the ball 'i9 is forced down against the spring and the air ilows out through hole 82 inthe bottom of the threaded cap 8 I Now the compressed spring 66 pushes the piston 49 back to` its original position, but this movement is slow since the spring' 80 and the ball 19 nowclo'se the opening I1 so that air from the outside can enter the cylinder 4l only through the singleA small opening 16. The upward movement of the piston-48- is thus retarded. This de layed action will holdy the circuit open for a period greater than that during which the whip 2li will bein simultaneouscontact with the pins m3 and H34. When the piston 49 reaches the top again,A the metal washer 52d makes contact again with terminal springs 6I and 62 and the alarm circuit isf-again closed and the alarm set to ring twenty-four hours later- The tension oi spring 66 andzthe'size of opening 'i8 are so designed that the interval required for the return of piston 49 from a fully depressed'position to its normal rest position will exceed the longest interval that whip I'Zi will be in simultaneous contact with pins ID3 and 154 when they aremost widely separated.

Shouldthe user wishto render the alarm inoperative when hewpresses down the button ii, then he' simply slides button 'i2 within recess 'l5 toward theV electric` switch so that the fork li engages the groovev 45v inthe plunger rod 54. The'Y plunger rod 54 may be pushed down rst and ythen the fork 'H slid into the groove 45, or the' order may be reversed. In either case, the forkvv ll' will snap into the groove 45 provided for it. To release the electric switch, the fork 'H is moved -away from the electric switch and the circuit will be closed by the rising piston 48 in' the manner described above.

As will be seen from the' above description, the invention discloses a portable alarm clock operated by batteries;` preferably small dry cells such as arecommonly used in hashlights.

The clocli may bey operated in any position, islight weight yand has aniv alarm mechanism which can beset to sound for a'period of time, stop, reset itself vand repeat this performance at 24 hour intervals for whatever days of the'week the alarm maybe'set.

In addition, the clock contains two switches for controlling'. the alarm. Operation ofV one switch stops the" alarm as'it is sounding' but automatically resets it to sound again 24 hours later. The other switch can convert the alarm into a nonalarm clockor nullify' the automatic reset feature of the irstv switch mentioned.

If desired, the dial of the clock.y may be illuminated'by any suitable means, such as, for example, av ashlight bulb and a sliding switch. The intensity of illumination of the bulb would also serve'as a means of indicating the condition of the battery. However, suicient advance no- L' 9 tice of the need to replace the battery is also given by a weakening of the alarm signal.

While, in disclosing the principles of my invention and its preferred embodiment, I have described various detailed structure and relationship, it will be understood that such embodiment and details are given by way of example only and not as limiting the scope of my invention.

For example, the same device with an electric relay substituted for the alarm element could be used to close or to open electric circuits at any time on all or selected days of the week. Two such devices (or a clock mechanism which operates two sets of hour and day selectors like the one employed in the alarm clock described above but each set controlling a separate circuit) could be employed to close and to open, or to open and to close, circuits on a pattern which would permit selection of the interval of the day on each or al1 days of the week during which an electrically controlled device would operate or would be out of operation.

Furthermore, while I have described, in detail, the application of my inventive structure to an alarm clock, it will be understood that the principles of my device may be applied in fields other than alarm clocks. The substitution of a relay for the alarm element, for example, or the use of a pair of relays as above set forth, would make possible the utilization of my structure as a circuit breaker serving all manner of electrical devices, such as radios, private power plants, and washing machines, and electrically controlled gas ranges, water heaters, and thermostats.

I claim:

l. An electric timing device comprising an electric circuit, a battery in said circuit for powering said circuit, an electrically responsive device further in said circuit, a plurality of time indicating means, a time selector mechanism including a pair of separated contact points both arranged on an arc of the same circle and in series with said circuit and arranged when conductively bridged to complete said circuit, a rotating electrically conductive resilient whip for bridging said contacts at a predetermined point in its rotation, means for adjustably positioning said contacts in the path of said conductive whip, a plurality of gears for rotating said indicating means and said whip in synchronism, and an auxiliary manual switch mechanism for breaking said circuit at will, and selectively permanently and for a predetermined period.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein is provided means for predetermining the spacing of said separated contact points.

3. A portable electric alarm clock comprising a support, a plurality of time indicating elements, an alarm element responsive to current ow, a source of electric current, a circuit including said alarm element and said source of electric current, a day selector switch connected in said circuit for making and breaking said circuit, an hour selector switch connected in said circuit for making and breaking said circuit, means for visually indicating the hour and days selected by said switches, said day selector switch having a plurality of contact pairs, one for each day of a week, means for opening any selected one or more of said contact pairs, said day selector switch iurther comprising a selector arm for connecting said contact pairs in said circuit in sequence, one contact pair for each day of a Week, and a gear 10 train for rotating one of said time indicating elements and said selector arm in synchronism.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said hour selector switch comprises a rotatably positionable insulating element, two concentric rings secured to said insulating element and rotatable therewith, a first contact pin contacting one of said rings, a second Contact pin contacting the other of said rings, a pair of terminal springs, means for making continuous contact between each of said rings and a diierent one of said terminal springs during rotation of said concentric rings and in any position thereof, a flexible rotatable metallic whip positioned to bridge said rst and second contact pins at a predetermined point in its rotation, and means for rotating said rotatable metallic whip in synchronism with another of said indicating elements.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein one of said contact pins is straight and the other of said Contact pins is eccentric and rotatable.

6. An electrical timing system, comprising: an electric circuit, a source of current connected in series with said electric circuit for powering said circuit, a device operative in response to flow of current in said electric circuit, a rotatable time indicating device, a time selector comprising a plurality of spaced contacts positionable about the arc of a common circle and connected in series with said circuit for closing said circuit when said spaced contacts are conductively bridged, said time selector further comprising a rotatable resilient electrically conductive arcuate Whip for bridging said contacts, and means for rotating said rotatable whip, in synchronism with said rotatable time indicating device, about said arc of a common circle, wherein is further pror vided a manually operative switch device for opening said circuit at will, said switch device comprising means for automatically re-closing said circuit in a predetermined time following said opening.

7. 'Ihe combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein is further provided means for visually indicating the position of said spaced contacts relative to the position of said time indicating device.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein is further provided means for varying the spacing of said spaced contacts.

9. An electric alarm clock comprising: an alarm device responsive to flow of electric current, a circuit for said current, a time period selector mechanism for selecting a predetermined time during the 24 hours of any day of the week, and further selecting any predetermined one or more days of the week at will, said time period selector mechanism comprising a time selector for selecting a time during the 24 hours of a day and a day selector for selecting one or more days of the week, said time selector comprising a pair of normally open contacts in series with said circuit, means for conductively bridging said contacts comprising a wiper arm, means for selectively positioning said pair of contacts at any predetermined position along a predetermined path, in accordance with a selected time during the 24 hours of the day, time controlled means for actuating said wiper arm along said path for conductively bridging said pair of contacts at said selected time of day, said day selector comprising seven normally closed switches, means for at will opening any one or more of said normally closed acclusa 1i switches, means for inserting said switches in said circuit in succession, and each for the entire duration of a different day of the week, and means for connecting said alarm device, said time selector and said day selector in lseries in said electric circuit.

10. 1n combination, an alarm device responsive to flow of electric current to provide an alarm, a i'lrst normally open time controlled switch settable to close at any predetermined time during 24 hours of a day, a second normally closed time controlled switch settable at will to remain open during any preselected one or more days of the week, a source of electric power, and a circuit for connecting said alarm device, said source of power, said iirst time controlled switch and said second time controlled switch in series, said first normally open time controlled switch comprising a pair of separated and mutually insulated contacts, and means for bridging said pair of contacts conductively at any predetermined time during 2e hours of a day for a time period determined by the separation of said separated contacts.

11. The combination in accordance with claim wherein is further provided vmeans for adjustably presetting said separation of said contacts to predetermine said time period.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein is further provided a normally closed switch in series with said circuit, means for manually actuating said normally closed switch to open position, and means for thereafter automatically reclosing said normally closed switch after a predetermined time interval.

13. The combination in accordance with claim l0 wherein said second normally closed time controlled switch comprises a pointed crown having a plurality of flexible points, a plate having a plurality of slots, each of said flexible points extending` through a different one of said slots, each of said slots comprising means for retaining one of said points in flexed position, and Operative when any of said points is in said flexed position for setting said second time controlled switch to remain open during a corresponding day of the week.

14. An electrical time control device, comprising, an electric circuit, a device responsive-'to current iiow in said electric circuit, means for controlling the times of current flow in said electric circuit, said means comprising a time control switch connected in series with said electric circuit for closing said electric circuit at predetermined times and for an adjustably predeterminable interval of time at said predetermined times, a manual switch in said electric circuit for opening said electric circuit at will, said manual switch normally closed and comprising automatic means for re-closing in a further predetermined time interval after opening thereof, said further predetermined time interval longer than predeterminable interval of time.

l5. An electrical time control device comprising, an electric circuit, a source of electric power for powering said circuit, an electric alarm operative in response to current ilow in said electric circuit, a iirst switch connected in series with said circuit, a second switch connected in series with said rst switch in said circuit, said iirst switch normally open and comprising means for closing at any predetermined time during 24 hours of a day, and fora predetermined time interval at said predetermined time, said Asecond switch normally closed for all times during a seven day period, and means for maintaining said second switch open at will for any entire one or days of said seven day period.

BEN DAVID DORFMAN.

.References cited in the me of this patent v UNITED sTATEsPA'rENTs Number Name Date 711,568 Heeter Oct. 21, 19V/2 898,648 Higuchi Sept. 15, 1966 1,042,696 Eldred Oct 22, .1.912 1,157,960 Post Oct. 26, 1915 1,233,559 Darche July 1'?, 191'? 1,311,424 Spargo July 29, 1919 1,521,600 Crowe Jan. 6, 1925 1,841,746 Lindsey Jan. 19, 1932 1,974,409 Brower Sept. 25, 1934 2,094,989 Kohlhagen Oct. 5, 1937 2,215,842 Thomsen Sept. 24, i90

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