Timer utilizing spring clutch

Claim 2

In a timer having electrical switch means responsive to rotation of a cam programming means, said cam programming means responsive to manual drive means and motor drive means: a clutch means permitting said cam programming means to be manually rotated independent of said motor comprising a coil spring frictionally carried by a member of said motor drive means, said coil spring including a distal end extending from a coil of said coil spring and engaging said cam programming means.

Claim 3

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said distal end engages a cam of said cam programing means.

Claim 4

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said cam programming means includes a shaft and said distal end engages said shaft.

Claim 5

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said cam programming means includes a shaft and said distal end engages said shaft and a cam carried by said shaft.

Claim 6

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said cam programming means includes a shaft and said member includes a gear carried by said shaft and said spring is frictionally carried by a hub of said gear.

Claim 7

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said cam programming means includes a shaft and said member includes a gear carried by said shaft, and said spring is frictionally carried by a hub of said gear, said distal end engaging a slot in a hub of a cam of said cam programming means and an aperture in said Shaft.

Claim 8

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said coil spring carried by said member is flat.

Claim 9

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said coil of said coil spring is square in cross-section.

Claim 10

In a timer according to claim 1 wherein said coil of said coil spring is rectangular in cross-section.

Claim 11

A timer comprising: a. a housing including a cup-shaped member and a cover adapted to close the same, b. a cam programming means including a shaft means carrying at least one cam, c. retaining means integrally found with said housing, d. at least two contact blades carried by said retaining means so as to cantilever said contact blades, electrical contacts carried by said contact blades and adapted to engage one another, e. cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades responsive to said cam programming means, f. stop means disposed at the free ends of said blades, g. motor drive means including gear train means applying power driven rotation to said shaft, h. means coupled to said shaft for manual rotation thereof, and i. clutch means comprising: a gear of said gear train means independently rotatably carried by said shaft, a coil spring frictionally carried by said gear and having a distal end extending from a coil of said coil spring, the distal end of said spring coupled to said shaft.

Claim 12

A timer comprising: a. a housing including a cup-shaped member and a cover adapted to close the same, b. a cam programming means including a shaft means carrying at least one cam, c. retaining means integrally found with said housing, d. at least two contact blades carried by said retaining means so as to cantilever said contact blades, electrical contacts carried by said contact blades and adapted to engage one another, e. cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades responsive to said cam programming means, f. stop means disposed at the free ends of said blades, g. motor drive means including gear train means applying power driven rotation to said shaft, h. means coupled to said shaft for manual rotation thereof, and i. clutch means comprising: a gear of said gear train means independently rotatably carried by said shaft, a coil spring frictionally carried by said gear and having a distal end extending from a coil of said coil spring, the distal end of said spring coupled to said shaft.

Claim 13

A timer according to claim 10 wherein said contact blades include elongated centrally disposed apertures.

Claim 14

A timer according to claim 10 wherein said contact blades are L-shaped, and include elongated centrally disposed apertures extending past said bend.

Claim 15

A timer according to claim 10 wherein said distal end of said spring engages a slot in a cam of said cam programming means.

Claim 16

A timer according to claim 10 wherein saod distal end of said spring engages an aperture in said shaft.

Claim 17

A timer according to claim 10 wherein said distal end of said spring engages a slot in a cam of said cam programming means and a aperture in said shaft.

Claim 18

In a timer according to claim 10 wherein at least a portion of said coil spring carried by said member is flat.

Claim 19

In a timer according to claim 10 wherein said coil of said coil spring is square in cross-section.

Claim 20

In a timer according to claim 10 wherein said coil of said coil spring is rectangular in cross-section.

Claim 21

A timer comprising: a. a housing including a cup-shaped member and a cover adapted to close the same, b. a cam programming means including a shaft means carrying at least one cam, c. retaining means integrally formed with said housing, d. at least two contact blades carried by said retaining means so as to cantilever said contact blades, electrical contacts carried by said contact blades and adapted to engage one another, e. cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades responsive to said cam programming means, f. stop means disposed at the free ends of said blades, g. motor drive means including gear train means applying power driven rotation to said shaft, h. means coupled to said shaft for manual rotation thereof, and i. clutch means comprising: a gear of said gear train means independently rotatably carried by said shaft, a coil spring frictionally carried by said gear and having a distal end, the distal end of said spring coupled to said shaft, and j. said blade retaining means comprising: an L-shaped seat formed in said cup shaped member, an L-shaped seat and a rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, and notches formed in said cup shaped member adapted to receive said L-shaped seat and said rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, insertion of said seat and said rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, insertion of said seat and said rectangular shaped member in said notches providing slots receiving said contact blades to cantilever the same; and wherein said stop means comprises a stepped sEating member extending from said cover, and notches and an L-shaped seat member formed on said cup shaped member, insertion of said stepped seating member into said notches providing a slot between said stepped seating member and said L-shaped seat member, said stepped seating member disposed to receive and stop at least one free end of said contact blades, and said slot adapted to receive an additional contact blade.

Claim 22

A timer comprising: a. a housing including a cup-shaped member and a cover adapted to close the same, b. a cam programming means including a shaft means carrying at least one cam, c. retaining means integrally formed with said housing, d. at least two contact blades carried by said retaining means so as to cantilever said contact blades, electrical contacts carried by said contact blades and adapted to engage one another, e. cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades responsive to said cam programming means, f. stop means disposed at the free ends of said blades, g. motor drive means including gear train means applying power driven rotation to said shaft, h. means coupled to said shaft for manual rotation thereof, and i. clutch means comprising: a gear of said gear train means independently rotatably carried by said shaft, a coil spring frictionally carried by said gear and having a distal end, the distal end of said spring coupled to said shaft, and j. said blade retaining means comprising: an L-shaped seat formed in said cup shaped member, an L-shaped seat and a rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, and notches formed in said cup shaped member adapted to receive said L-shaped seat and said rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, insertion of said seat and said rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, insertion of said seat and said rectangular shaped member in said notches providing slots receiving said contact blades to cantilever the same; and wherein said stop means comprises a stepped sEating member extending from said cover, and notches and an L-shaped seat member formed on said cup shaped member, insertion of said stepped seating member into said notches providing a slot between said stepped seating member and said L-shaped seat member, said stepped seating member disposed to receive and stop at least one free end of said contact blades, and said slot adapted to receive an additional contact blade.