ALARM TIMEPIECE

• US 3,783,599 A
• Filed: 07/14/1972
• Issued: 01/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazuo Tanaka
• Original Assignee: Kazuo Tanaka
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Application Number:
  US05/271,727
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 58/16.5,19,38,57.5
• US Class Current: 368/74
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/30 with provision for a number of operations at different times, e.g. ringing the bells in a school

Abstract

An alarm mechanism having an improved presetting device for use in a small timepiece, especially an alarm watch. A multi-point presetter is provided comprising a unique memory device comprising in turn a stationary preset ring having a number of substantially inwardly extending elongated resilient spring contact arms, on the one hand, and an alarm switch disc which is arranged to rotate in unison with the hour hand of the watch movement, on the other. When a manipulating crown or knob is turned so as to bring the alarm switch disc to a certain predetermined position corresponding to a first alarm time point, and it is pulled in. Then, a corresponding one of the spring contact arm is forcibly transferred from below to the top of the disc, so as to occupy a preset memory position. Second and further presetting operations can be performed in the similar way as above. When the hour hand arrives at the earlier preset position, a conductive layer or member provided on the disc is brought into electrical connection with the preset one of the contact arms, so as to energize an electrical alarming buzzer.

Claims

1. An alarm timepiece, comprising a timepiece movement, a switching mechanism operatively connected with said timepiece movement, a setting means for presetting said mechanism to a plurality of alarm time points and an alarm mechanism adapted for being controlled in its operation by said switching mechanism, the latter being characterized by that said switching mechanism comprises a number of substantially inwardly extending spring contact arms carried by a preselector ring, a rotatable switch disc carrying a switch contact and driven from said timepiece movement in unison with the hour hand thereof, each presetting being brought about by transferring a selected one of said contact arms from one side to another side of said disc and when each of the preselected alarm time points arrives, said switch contact and the related one of the preselected contact arms are brought into engagement with each other for energization of said alarm mechanism.

2. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said preselector ring is a stationary member which is mounted on the pillar plate of said movement.

3. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that in close to said contact arms, a concentric transparent or semi-transparent viewing window is provided, preferably on the dial plate of the timepiece movement.

4. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein a multi-point of mechanical memory is provided by the combination of said preselector ring and said switch disc.

5. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said contact arms is formed with a radially and inwardly directing contacting end portion.

6. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact arm is formed with a branch arm directing substantially parallel to the main part of said arm for demonstrating difference between the preset and non-preset position of said arm.

7. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 6, wherein said branch arm is brought nearer to or more remote from said window for showing its preset position therethrough.

8. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said setting means comprises a set ring movable up-and-down relative to the pillar plate of the timepiece, and an actuating member adapted for follow after the up-and-down position of said set ring for presetting the contact arm.

9. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a holder ring carrying said actuating member, and an outer manipulatable member, preferably a settable crown, a selector ring and said holder ring rotatable in unison with each other by manipulation of said manipulatable member.

10. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 9, wherein said set ring is formed with a plurality of tongues adapted for cooperation with respective recesses or openings for alteration of its upand-down position.

11. Alarm timepiece as set forth in claim 10, wherein said set ring is partially rotatable and movable in the axial direction thereof by push-in operation of said manipulatable member.