Interval timer mechanism

Claim 2

In an interval timer having a spring motor, rotatable means for first winding the spring thereof to a condition for driving said timer during a predetermined full runout of said spring, output means, and a control mechanism responsive to said motor driving means for actuating said output means at one or more phases of said full runout; the improvement comprising: means for preventing said control mechanism from actuating said output means, and means for disabling said preventing means only upon said spring being wound to condition said spring for said predetermined full runout.

Claim 3

The interval timer of claim 1; further comprising: means for reenabling said preventing means effective upon the conclusion of said spring runout.

Claim 4

An interval timer as defined in claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes a movable member, means for biasing said movable member to perform said output function, and a control element for controlling the movement of said movable member, whereby to perform said output function; said preventing means comprising: a blocking element movable into and out of blocking relation with said movable member.

Claim 5

The interval timer safety mechanism of claim 3; further comprising: means responsive to the winding displacement of said spring-winding means to condition said spring for said full runout for moving said blocking element out of blocking relation with said movable member; and means responsive to said drive means near the conclusion of said spring runout for moving said blocking element into blocking relation with said movable member.

Claim 6

The interval timer safety mechanism of claim 3, wherein: said control element is a cam connected with said driving and winding means and rotatable therewith; and a cam follower in cooperative relation with said control cam and operatively connected to said movable member for controlling the movement of same.

Claim 7

The interval timer safety mechanism of claim 5; wherein: said driving and winding means comprises a rotatable shaft connected to said spring motor; said control cam is affixed to said shaft; said blocking element is freely rotatable on said shaft and capable of obstructing said cam follower when rotated to a preselected operative angular position thereon; and said disabling means comprises a disabling element connected to said control cam and engageable with said blocking element for rotating said blocking element out of said operative angular position when said control cam is rotated with said shaft to condition said spring for said full runout.

Claim 8

The interval timer safety mechanism of claim 6, wherein: said disabling element is also said reenabling means, and is engageable with said blocking element as said control cam rotates with said shaft near the conclusion of said spring runout for restoring said blocking element to said operative angular position.

Claim 9

The interval timer safety mechanism of claim 7, wherein: said output means comprises a lever pivoted on said timer; said cam follower is a tongue struck from said lever; and said biasing means urges said lever angularly about its pivot to press said cam follower tongue against said control cam and said blocking element.

Claim 10

An interval timer comprising: at least one movement plate; a spring motor including an output shaft for driving said timer through a predetermined full runout; a control cam on said output shaft; an output lever pivoted on said movement plate; biasing means anchored to said movement plate and connected to urge said output lever pivotally toward said control cam; cam follower means on said output lever biased into engagement with said control cam by said output-lever-biasing means; and output means opErative in response to movement of said output lever; a blocking element freely rotatably mounted on said shaft and engageable with said cam follower for holding said cam follower out of engagement with said cam when said blocking element is in a given angular position on said shaft; and a disabling element operatively connected to said cam and engageable with said blocking element for moving said blocking element out of said given angular position when said output shaft is rotated to condition said motor for said predetermined full runout.

Claim 11

An interval timer comprising: at least one movement plate; a spring motor including an output shaft for driving said timer through a predetermined full runout; a control cam on said output shaft; an output lever pivoted on said movement plate; biasing means anchored to said movement plate and connected to urge said output lever pivotally toward said control cam; cam follower means on said output lever biased into engagement with said control cam by said output-lever-biasing means; and output means opErative in response to movement of said output lever; a blocking element freely rotatably mounted on said shaft and engageable with said cam follower for holding said cam follower out of engagement with said cam when said blocking element is in a given angular position on said shaft; and a disabling element operatively connected to said cam and engageable with said blocking element for moving said blocking element out of said given angular position when said output shaft is rotated to condition said motor for said predetermined full runout.

Claim 12

An interval timer as in claim 9 wherein: said cam follower is a tongue struck from said output lever.

Claim 13

An interval timer as in claim 9 wherein said output means comprises: a bell adjacent said movement plate; a striker mounted on said movement plate for movement from a normal position in the path of movement of said operating lever to an operated position in engagement with said bell; whereby when said operating lever moves under the influence of said control cam, it causes said striker to strike said bell to produce at least one audible output ring.

Claim 14

An interval timer as in claim 9 wherein said output means comprises: a first electrical contact mounted upon said movement plate; and a second electrical contact operatively connected to said output lever and movable in response to movement thereof to engage said first electrical contact when said output lever is moved under the control of said control cam.