ALARM DEVICE FOR A HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 3,596,460 A
• Filed: 04/29/1969
• Issued: 08/03/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wuthrich Paul
• Original Assignee: Wuthrich Paul
• Inventors: WUTHRICH PAUL
• Application Number:
  US04/820,189
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• US Class Current: 368/252
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/20 by closing a contact to ring an electromechanical alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/34 Devices on watches or similar portable timepieces

Abstract

A horological instrument includes a source of electrical energy and an electrical audible alarm. The circuit between the energy source and the alarm is normally open. A setting stem rotates a geared disc. The disc carries a conductive track and a conductive contact point. The contact point, normally twice a day, contacts a portion of the hour wheel, closing the circuit and allowing the alarm to sound.

Claims

1. An alarm-setting device for a horological movement, the movement including an electrically operated alarm, a source of electrical current and a watch dial mounted on the movement, said dial having time markings thereon;

said setting device comprising;

an electrically nonconductive rotatable alarm set disc positioned within the movement, said disk having an indicator marking on its top face, and a contact point and circular contact rack on its bottom face, said contact point being electrically connected to the contact track, said disk also having a periphery which comprises a toothed ring gear;

an electrically conductive resilient member mounted on the movement and in contact with the track;

a movable alarm set stem having a gear mounted thereon, said alarm set stem being movable to mesh said mounted gear with said ring gear and to rotate said disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm;

a rotatable hour wheel having a contact means thereon;

said alarm, source of current, resilient member, contact point on the bottom face of the disk and said contact means on the rotatable hour wheel constituting a normally open circuit;

means for rotating the hour wheel to bring the contact means thereon into contact with the contact point on the alarm set disk, thereby closing the circuit and activating the alarm.

2. An alarm device as described in claim 1 wherein said movement has a front frame and a back frame, said resilient member being mounted on said front frame.

3. An alarm device as described in claim 2 wherein said disk has a central hole and is positioned between the dial and the front frame of the movement.

4. An alarm device as described in claim 3 wherein said dial is generally washer shaped and has a large central hole through which the top of the disk may be viewed.

5. An alarm device as described in claim 1 wherein said resilient member is a flat strip of spring metal mounted in an insulative block, said block being fixed to said movement.