Sequential signal producing means

Claim 2

In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a manually movable actuator control means for movement between distinct positions and for association with a housing having a sensing means mounted thereto for sensing a respective distinct position of the actuator control means when the actuator control means is in such a respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means, the improvement comprising: means for movably mounting the actuator control means to the housing in association with the sensing means for movement in at least two modes, the actuator control means moving in one mode between distinct positions, and in the other mode between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a nonaligned position, out of alignment with the sensing means, said actuator control means being movable in the one mode to a preselected distinct position while in the non-aligned position and then being movable in the other mode from the non-aligned position to the aligned position for actuating the sensing means, said actuator control means then being movable in the other mode, back to the non-aligned position and being movable in the one mode to another preselected position for actuating the sensing means again, these movements being repeated as many times as necessary, to produce the preselected sequential signal.

Claim 3

The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising: means mounted in the housing for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member and for producing the preselected sequential signal in response to the presence of the properly patterned member.

Claim 4

The means as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a back wall mounting the sensing means and a mating open-backed cover for mounting the actuating means.

Claim 5

The means as in claim 3 wherein the back wall is divided into a first and second portion for mating with the cover and with each other to close the open backed cover, said first back wall portion mounting the sensing means and said second back wall portion mounting a means for sensIng the presence of a properly patterned member.

Claim 6

The means of claim 4 wherein the back wall portions are matingly notched along the adjoining edges.

Claim 7

The means as in claim 1 wherein the sensing means includes: a receiver of energy for each distinct position of the actuating means, a source of energy at each distinct position of the actuating means, said source and said receiver for each respective distinct position being operatively joined by the alignment of the actuator control means therewith, when in said respective distinct position.

Claim 8

The means as in claim 1 wherein the source is light, each receiver is a photo-electric cell and the actuator control means includes a wall between the light and the cell, said wall having a port therethrough which is aligned between a respective light and cell when the actuator control means is in the respective distinct position and aligned with the sensing means.

Claim 9

The means as in claim 7 wherein a single light is provided, wherein the wall is cylindrical about said single light, and wherein a photo-electric cell is provided for each distinct position to receive light from the single source when the port in the wall is aligned therebetween.

Claim 10

The means as in claim 8 wherein the actuator control means includes a dial member with the wall extending therefrom, and wherein the mounting means mounts the dial member for rotative movement in the one mode and for axial movement in the other mode.

Claim 11

The means as in claim 1 additionally comprising guide means for guiding the movement of the actuator control means in the one mode to the closest distinct position, while being moved in the other mode to the aligned position, to insure that the control means is in one of the distinct positions when in the aligned position.

Claim 12

The means as in claim 10 wherein the guide means is additionally adopted for preventing movement of the control means in the one mode while in the aligned position.

Claim 13

The means as in claim 10 wherein the guide means is additionally adopted for moving the control means in the other mode to the non-aligned position, upon attempted movement of the control means in the one mode while in the aligned position.

Claim 14

The means as in claim 10 wherein the blocking means includes mating ratchet teeth on the housing and on the actuator control means, the number of said mating ratchet teeth equally the member of the distinct positions.

Claim 15

The means as in claim 1 wherein the mounting means mounts the actuator control means to the housing for rotative movement in the one mode and for axial movement in the other mode.

Claim 16

The means as in claim 14 wherein the actuator control means includes a dial member having indicia associated therewith indicating the distinct positions and wherein illuminating means is additionally provided for illuminating the indicia.

Claim 17

The means as in claim 15 wherein the mounting means includes an aperture in the housing, surrounded by an annular groove, the dial member includes a protruding axle for extension through the aperture in the wall and a knob on the end of the axle to provide for rotating and sliding movement of the dial member relative the housing.

Claim 18

The means as in claim 2 wherein the means for sensing the presence of a properly patterned member includes: a source of energy mounted in the housing; a plurality of receivers mounted in the housing; a reflector mounted in the housing for reflecting energy from the source to the receivers along individual paths, said patterned member interrupting these paths in a preselected pattern to produce the signal.

Claim 19

In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a housing, a dial control member associated with the housing, and a sensing means mounted to the housing for association with the dial control member and for sensing when the dial control member is aligned thereWith to generate a signal, the improvement comprising: means mounting the dial control member for rotation in a plane between a plurality of distinct positions and for movement normal to said plane between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a non-aligned position out of alignment with said sensing means, said dial control means being rotatable to a preselected distinct position while in the non-aligned position and movable to the aligned position to actuate the sensing means, these movements being repeated to produce the preselected signal.

Claim 20

In a means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, said mechanism including a housing, a dial control member associated with the housing, and a sensing means mounted to the housing for association with the dial control member and for sensing when the dial control member is aligned thereWith to generate a signal, the improvement comprising: means mounting the dial control member for rotation in a plane between a plurality of distinct positions and for movement normal to said plane between an aligned position, aligned with the sensing means, and a non-aligned position out of alignment with said sensing means, said dial control means being rotatable to a preselected distinct position while in the non-aligned position and movable to the aligned position to actuate the sensing means, these movements being repeated to produce the preselected signal.

Claim 21

A means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, comprising: a hollow housing for mounting on a wall or other structure, said housing having a back wall and an open-backed cover for matingly receiving said back wall, said back wall being secured to said cover to form said housing, a source of energy mounted to the back wall, switch means mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the source of energy for energizing the source in response to operation of the switch means, a plurality of receivers of energy mounted to the back wall, each of said receivers being located in a distinct position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy, a dial member for location between the source and each receiver, said dial having a unitary energy path for operatively connecting the source to a respective receiver when the path is located in the respective distinct position and is operatively aligned between the source and the respective receiver, said dial member having indicia for indicating each of the distinct positions, means mounting the dial member to the housing between the source and the receivers for rotational movement of the dial member and therefore the path thereof, in a plane between the distinct positions and for sliding movement between an aligned position where the path is aligned between the source and the receivers, and a non-aligned position wherein the path is out of alignment between the source and the receivers, biasing means between the dial member and the housing for biasing the dial member to the non-aligned position, guide means on said dial member and on the housing for guiding the dial member to the closest distinct position as the dial is slid to the aligned position, for preventing rotation of the dial member between distinct positions when in the aligned position and for cammingly sliding the dial member to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation of the dial member in the aligned position, and illuminating means on the housing and energized by the switch means for illuminating the respective indicia corresponding to the distinct position of the dial member, said switch means being manually operated to energize the source and the illuminating means, said dial member being manually rotated to a preselected distinct position, and being manually slid to the aligned position against the biasing of the biasing means, to align the path between the source and the respective receiver to produce a signal whereupon the biasing means slides the dial member back to the non-aligned position and so on until the preselected sequential signal has been produced.

Claim 22

A means for generating a preselected sequential signal to be sent to a means for discriminately receiving a sequential signal, comprising: a hollow housing for mounting on a wall or other structure, said housing having a back wall and an open-backed cover for matingly receiving said back wall, said back wall being secured to said cover to form said housing, a source of energy mounted to the back wall, switch means mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the source of energy for energizing the source in response to operation of the switch means, a plurality of receivers of energy mounted to the back wall, each of said receivers being located in a distinct position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy, a dial member for location between the source and each receiver, said dial having a unitary energy path for operatively connecting the source to a respective receiver when the path is located in the respective distinct position and is operatively aligned between the source and the respective receiver, said dial member having indicia for indicating each of the distinct positions, means mounting the dial member to the housing between the source and the receivers for rotational movement of the dial member and therefore the path thereof, in a plane between the distinct positions and for sliding movement between an aligned position where the path is aligned between the source and the receivers, and a non-aligned position wherein the path is out of alignment between the source and the receivers, biasing means between the dial member and the housing for biasing the dial member to the non-aligned position, guide means on said dial member and on the housing for guiding the dial member to the closest distinct position as the dial is slid to the aligned position, for preventing rotation of the dial member between distinct positions when in the aligned position and for cammingly sliding the dial member to the non-aligned position upon attempted rotation of the dial member in the aligned position, and illuminating means on the housing and energized by the switch means for illuminating the respective indicia corresponding to the distinct position of the dial member, said switch means being manually operated to energize the source and the illuminating means, said dial member being manually rotated to a preselected distinct position, and being manually slid to the aligned position against the biasing of the biasing means, to align the path between the source and the respective receiver to produce a signal whereupon the biasing means slides the dial member back to the non-aligned position and so on until the preselected sequential signal has been produced.

Claim 23

The means as in claim 19 wherein the back wall includes two portions matingly joined to form the back wall, one of said portions mounting the source and receivers, and wherein the cover has an opening therethrough for receiving a properly patterned member, and additionally comprising: a second source of energy mounted on the other of said portions and energized by the switch means; a second plurality of receivers mounted on the other of said portions, each of said receivers being located in an individual position for receiving energy from the source and for producing a signal in response to the receipt of energy; a reflectoR member over said second source for reflecting energy from the second source to the receivers; means mounting the receivers and the reflector to the back wall for receiving the properly patterned member between the reflector member and the receivers when inserted in the opening, said properly patterned member passing energy from said source to preselected receivers to produce the sequential signal independently of the dial member.