Programmed timer

Claim 2

A programmed timer comprising, in combination, a clock, a source of electrical power, an appliance connection point, a plurality of normally open time interval switches disposed in a circular pattern, continuously rotating switch closing means including an electrically energizable contact arm driven by the clock for sequentially engaging each of the interval switches in sequence and maintaining contact therewith to define a fractional time segment of an operational cycle corresponding to one revolution of the rotating means, a plurality of manually operable selector switches each being associated with an individual one of said time interval switches and capable of conduction only during the fractional time segment defined by said one switch and being disposed on a common panel, circuit means connecting said source through each of said associated time increment switches and selector switches to said appliance connection point, means for generating an audible alarm, timesetting means for triggering said alarm at a predetermined time in a 24 hour interval cycle, and shutoff means for silencing said alarm.

Claim 3

A programmed timer as defined in claim 1 having switch means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said appliance connection point independently of said time interval switches.

Claim 4

A programmed timer as defined in claim 1 in which the rotating switch closing means completes one revolution during a 24 hour interval cycle, and 48 individual time increment switches and associated manually operable selector switches are disposed on said panel to provide 48 individually selectable half-hour time segment intervals.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 having a radio connected to said appliance connection point and having circuit selection means for alternately selecting operation of said radio and said alarm means in response to actuation of said 24 hour cycle switch.

Claim 6

A programmed timer comprising, in combination, a clock, a source of electrical power, an appliance connection point, 48 normally open time interval switches disposed in a circular pattern, first rotary switch closing means driven by the clock for sequentially closing each of the interval switches in sequence to define a fractional time segment of a 24 hour operational cycle corresponding to one revolution of said rotating means, 48 manually operable selector switches each being associated with an individual one of said time interval switches and disposed on a common panel to provide 48 individually selectable half-hour time segment intervals, a second rotary switch closing means driven by the clock in a 7 day operational cycle, seven normally open day interval switches disposed in a circular pattern for operation by the second rotary switch closing means each for a 1 day interval, seven additional manually operable selector switches each associated with an individual day interval switch and disposed on said panel, and circuit means connecting said source through said day interval switches each in series with its selector switch and through said half-hour time interval and selector switches to said appliance connection point.

Claim 7

A programmed timer comprising, in combination, a clock, a source of electrical power, an appliance connection point, 48 normally open time interval switches disposed in a circular pattern, first rotary switch closing means driven by the clock for sequentially closing each of the interval switches in sequence to define a fractional time segment of a 24 hour operational cycle corresponding to one revolution of said rotating means, 48 manually operable selector switches each being associated with an individual one of said time interval switches and disposed on a common panel to provide 48 individually selectable half-hour time segment intervals, a second rotary switch closing means driven by the clock in a 7 day operational cycle, seven normally open day interval switches disposed in a circular pattern for operation by the second rotary switch closing means each for a 1 day interval, seven additional manually operable selector switches each associated with an individual day interval switch and disposed on said panel, and circuit means connecting said source through said day interval switches each in series with its selector switch and through said half-hour time interval and selector switches to said appliance connection point.

Claim 8

A programmed timer comprising, in combination, a clock, a source of electrical power, an appliance connection point, a plurality of normally open time interval switches disposed in a circular pattern, rotary switch closing means driven by the clock for sequentially closing each of the interval switches in sequence to define a fractional time segment of an operational cycle corresponding to one revolution of the rotating means, a plurality of manually operable selector switches each being associated with an individual one of said time interval switches and beinG disposed on a common panel, circuit means connecting said source through each of said associated time increment switches and selector switches to said appliance connection point, means for generating an audible alarm, time-setting means for triggering said alarm at a predetermined time in a 24 hour interval cycle, alarm shutoff means including alarm relay means for deenergizing said alarm and associated with a holding circuit, and a normally open momentary contact pushbutton switch connected in series with said holding circuit and having a first and second set of contacts, said first set of contacts of said pushbutton switch being effective to energize said relay and holding circuit to open the circuit to said alarm means, and said second additional set of contacts being effective to energize said alarm means independently of said relay.

Claim 9

A programmed timer comprising, in combination, a clock, a source of electrical power, an appliance connection point, a plurality of normally open time interval switches disposed in a circular pattern, rotary switch closing means driven by the clock for sequentially closing each of the interval switches in sequence to define a fractional time segment of an operational cycle corresponding to one revolution of the rotating means, a plurality of manually operable selector switches each being associated with an individual one of said time interval switches and beinG disposed on a common panel, circuit means connecting said source through each of said associated time increment switches and selector switches to said appliance connection point, means for generating an audible alarm, time-setting means for triggering said alarm at a predetermined time in a 24 hour interval cycle, alarm shutoff means including alarm relay means for deenergizing said alarm and associated with a holding circuit, and a normally open momentary contact pushbutton switch connected in series with said holding circuit and having a first and second set of contacts, said first set of contacts of said pushbutton switch being effective to energize said relay and holding circuit to open the circuit to said alarm means, and said second additional set of contacts being effective to energize said alarm means independently of said relay.

Claim 10

A programmed timer according to claim 1 wherein said common panel comprises a frame panel, a face panel spaced from the frame panel, said panels having a plurality of axially aligned holes therethrough disposed in linear array, each hole defining a station for one of said selector switches, and each selector switch including a hollow contact lug carried by said frame panel, a contact pin engageable with said lug and having an insulating handle protruding through the hole in the face panel, said pin having a detent groove, and a spring wire contact disposed in serpentine fashion alternately on one side and the other of each successive contact pin in the array, said spring wire contact being secured at one end in a terminal post, and being disposed in line with each of the detent grooves of said pins when said pins are in the engaged position within said hollow contact lugs.

Claim 11

A programmed timer according to claim 1 further including manually actuable means for generating said audible alarm independently of said clock and said selector switches, whereby said timer can at a given time be used as a signalling device.