Acceleration/deceleration actuating mechanism for wrist instruments

• US 3,946,173 A
• Filed: 01/06/1975
• Issued: 03/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terry M. Haber
• Original Assignee: Terry M. Haber
• Inventors: Haber, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/538,743
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.46, 200/61.52, 200/61.53, 200/DIG. 29, 200/52 R, 200/61.83, 58/23 R, 58/50 R, 58/85.5, 58/1 M, 335/205, 224/28 R, 224/28 C, 224/28 W, 235/92 T
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/002 Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/016 Application timepiece
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002

Abstract

Terminals within a digital wristwatch which normally require closure by pressing a button on the side of the watch in order to render visible the display are arranged to be automatically closed by a magnetic inertial device within the watch casing. The magnetic inertial device includes a guide tube and a conducting ball held at one end of the tube by a permanent magnet. The terminals to be closed and thus render visible the display on the watch are positioned in the other end of the guide tube so that by flicking the wrist, the ball is shaken loose from the magnet and will make momentary contact with the terminals, thereby rendering the display visible. A reading can thus be taken without requiring use of the other hand to operate the normal manual press-button switch on the side of the watch.

Claims

1. In combination:

a. an instrument adapted to be worn on the wrist and including a casing incorporating a power source, a display and electrical means for rendering the display visible when actuated; and

b. an actuating means incorporated in said casing for actuating said electrical means in response to a deliberate, rapid acceleration and/or deceleration of the wrist, said actuating means including;

3. The combination of claim 1, in which said conducting body incorporates a second magnet embedded therein with an exposed face on said inclined surface of less strength than said first mentioned magnet such that said ball will be held by said second magnet to maintain said circuit until the wrist is accelerated and/or decelerated deliberately sufficiently to shake the ball loose from said second magnet and have it captured and held by the first magnet.

2. an elongated tube of electrically conductive material secured in the casing with its longitudinal axis generally at a right angle to the direction of the wrist when the instrument is worn, said casing being electrically connected to one terminal of said power source;

2. a resilient conducting means bearing against one end of said tube, the other end of said resilient conducting means engaging said casing to provide an electrical connection between said elongated tube and casing;

3. a magnet secured in said tube at said one end portion of the tube;

4. a conducting ball normally held in said one end portion of the tube by said magnet;

5. an insulating sleeve in the other end portion of said tube; and

6. a conducting body in said other end portion held in said insulated sleeve so as to be electrically isolated from said tube, said conducting body being connected to said electrical means and having an inclined surface facing said one end of said tube such that said body and lower interior wall of the tube define a V-shaped entrance into which said ball seats to effect electrical contact between the body and tube whereby

when said deliberate, rapid acceleration and/or deceleration of the wrist is effected, said ball is shaken free of said magnet to travel to said other end of said tube and make at least one momentary contact with said conducting body so that a circuit is completed from said one terminal through said casing, tube, ball and said conducting body to said electrical means.