Door actuated message device

• US 4,100,581 A
• Filed: 09/30/1976
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Slack, Jay D. Talley
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Slack, Jay D. Talley
• Inventors: Talley, Jay D., Slack, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US05/728,048
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 360/12, 360/71, 360/74, 179/100.1 C, 340/274 R, 200/61.7, 200/61.62, 200/61.44
• US Class Current: 360/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/32 through the reels or cores on to which the record carrier is wound
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/06 using web-form record carriers, e.g. tape

Abstract

A door actuated message device includes a quick attach-detach mounting bracket for installation of a self-contained message unit adjacent a door of a business establishment or the like for actuation of an adjustable lever arm connected to a microswitch unit. The microswitch unit is mounted on a rotatable disc set into the bottom of the integral unit. This permits the position of the trigger arm of the microswitch to be adjusted relative to the door by which it is actuated. The switch will initiate a cycle of the tape containing the recorded message thereon for broadcast to desired persons coming through the door. A notch provided on the magnet record tape together with a second microswitch having a feeler arm thereon stops the action of the player mechanism after a single cycle of the tape.

Claims

1. In combination, an improved actuation mechanism for actuating a message device capable of reproducing a recorded message on opening of a door, the message device having a housing with an aperture extending through one wall thereof, the improvement comprising:

a switch mounted on the message device;

circuit means for electrically connecting the switch to the message device, actuation of the switch actuating the message device;

an actuating arm member connected to the switch and extending therefrom, an inner end portion of the arm member being stationarily mounted to the switch, a distal end portion of the arm member being mounted to the outer end of said inner end portion for movement relative thereto;

a disc having a flange disposed perimetrically thereabout, a portion of the disc being rotatably received within the aperture in the wall of the housing, the flange being of a diameter greater than the aperture, surface portions of the flange abutting surface portions of the wall adjacent the aperature, the switch being mounted to the disc on a surface portion thereof extending externally of the housing through said aperture, the switch extending externally of the housing;

means for retaining the disc in the aperture for rotation therewithin, whereby the position of the switch can be adjusted relative to the housing on rotation of the disc; and

,

means for adjusting the position of said distal end portion relative to said inner end portion of the arm member, the distal end portion of the arm member being positioned to contact a portion of the door as the door is opened, thereby to actuate the switch and thus the message device.

2. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the arm member is a flexible rod.

3. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprising spring-biased clips mounted to the housing and biasing against surface portions of the flange.

4. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the message device is a magnetic tape player unit, the improvement further comprising a switch mounted on the message device, the switch having a feeler arm mounted thereto for contact with a notch formed in the magnetic tape, contact between the feeler arm and notch stopping the operation of the message device after a message has been reproduced.

5. In the combination of claim 4, wherein the circuit means comprise an electric relay actuable by the first and second-mentioned switches.

6. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the arm member is mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner end portion of said arm member.

7. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the adjusting means comprise:

a sleeve member having a threaded aperture formed therein, the outer end of the inner end portion and the inner end of the distal end portion of the arm member being received within the sleeve member from opposite ends thereof respectively;

a threaded screw matingly received within the threaded aperture, the portion of the screw being adjustable within said aperture to be contactable with said arm member to allow adjustment of the position of the distal end portion of the arm member relative to the inner end portion thereof.

8. In the combination of claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises bracket means mounted to the wall and attachment means on the message device for mounting to the bracket means, the message device being thereby rapidly mountable to and dismountable from the wall.