Alarm switch and alarm set device

• US 4,157,646 A
• Filed: 12/19/1977
• Issued: 06/12/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Wuthrich, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US05/861,590
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 58/16 R, 58/16 D, 58/19 R-19 B, 58/57.5, 58/152 B
• US Class Current: 368/253
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/205 by the hand(s) or handlike members closing the contact

Abstract

An electric alarm timepiece includes an alarm switch and alarm time set device wherein the alarm ringing circuit is closed when the hour hand contacts an alarm set indicator/switch contact extending above the tip of the hour hand. The outer portion or tip of the hour hand is guided by a formed ridge on an alarm set insulator ring and moves about the inner periphery of the insulator ring, thereby assuring proper contact closure with the alarm set indicator/switch contact. The alarm set indicator/switch contact is mounted at one end to a rotatable crystal and is rotatable therewith for purposes of setting. The crystal is rotatably mounted on the timepiece housing by means of a slip ring which provides spring pressure against the crystal to thereby hold the crystal in rotatable engagement with a face plate or the housing member and provides function under spring pressure from the slip ring contacts to enable electrical connection between the alarm set indicator/switch contact and the internal alarm circuitry. Ridges on the alarm set insulator ring assure the alignment of the alarm set indicator and the tip of the hour hand to insure switch contact.

Claims

1. An alarm timepiece including a switch and an alarm time set mechanism to activate an electric alarm circuit at a predetermined time interval comprising:

a manually rotatable crystal;

an hour hand comprising one contact of the switch;

an electrically conductive alarm set ring extending circumferentially about the time piece and affixed to said crystal and rotatable therewith;

an alarm set indicator comprising the other switch contact, said indicator being mounted at one end to the alarm set ring and contacting the hour hand with the other end as said hour hand is rotated into contact therewith;

a slip ring extending circumferentially about the timepiece and having biasing means for engaging the alarm set ring and exerting bias on the alarm set ring for providing spring bias mounting and assembly of the crystal and the alarm set ring inside a housing member by spring pressure against the housing member and for maintaining electrical connection between the alarm set ring and the alarm circuit.

2. An alarm clock including an electric alarm device having a switch and an alarm time set mechanism to activate the alarm circuit at a predetermined time interval comprising:

a case;

a manually rotatable crystal having gripping means at its outer periphery for purposes of rotating said crystal;

an hour hand comprising one contact of the switch;

an electrically conductive alarm set ring extending circumferentially about the clock and affixed to said crystal for rotation therewith including an alarm set indicator extending inwardly from the inner periphery of the alarm set ring for contacting the hour hand with its inner end portion as said hour hand is rotated into contact therewith;

guide means extending circumferentially about the clock and having an inner peripheral guide for guiding the hour hand into positive contact with an end portion of said alarm set indicator;

biasing means for engaging the alarm set ring and exerting spring bias on the alarm set ring for providing spring bias mounting of the crystal and the alarm set ring inside the case and for maintaining electrical connection between the alarm set ring and the alarm circuit.

3. An alarm clock as in claim 2 wherein:

the crystal includes surface deformations about its periphery to be gripped for purposes of alarm time setting.

4. An alarm clock as in claim 2 wherein:

the alarm set indicator ring and alarm set indicator comprise a unitary stamped electrically conductive ring having an outer circumferential periphery contoured for being received within a circumferencial groove in the crystal for mounting thereto.

5. An alarm clock as in claim 2 wherein:

the guide means comprises a transparent electrically insulator ring extending circumferentially about the clock and having raised portions forming a plurality of ridges at the internal end thereof to guide the hour hand into positive contact with the alarm set indicator.

6. An alarm clock as in claim 2 wherein:

the biasing means comprises an electrically conductive slip ring extending circumferentially about the clock and having a plurality of protruding prongs forming spring means for engaging the alarm set ring and exerting spring bias thereto for urging the crystal outwardly against the case for providing spring bias mounting of the crystal and the alarm set ring.