US3737598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Timing switch mechanism with manual adjustable cam
Assignee: RYTHM WATCH CO Ltd
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Filing: 1972-02-29
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1992-02-29
Abstract
Abstract The mechanism is arranged in a clock driven either by a main spring or a battery, and comprises a manually rotatable switch cam, of insulating material, having three stepped portions of progressively increasing height on its periphery and three pits or dents in its periphery, each related to one of the stepped portions. The timing switch includes two relatively fixed contact springs and a third intermediate and movable contact spring, each of the relatively fixed springs having a contact thereon engagable with a respective contact on the intermediate spring. A spring engagable in the notches releasably retains the switch cam in a selected operated position. A flexible contact arm connected to one of the two relatively fixed contacts engages an annular contact on an unlocking wheel, and a projecting contact finger is secured to an hour wheel of the clock. The annular contact has a radially inwardly projecting extension which is engagable by the contact finger on the hour wheel. The intermediate contact is normally engaged with that fixed contact which is not connected to the contact arm engaging the annular or ring contact. In another embodiment the intermediate contact and one of the fixed contacts are extended for cooperation with another cam forming part of a mechanism whereby a transistor radio, when turned on, may be automatically turned off by the clock after a preset time interval.
Inventors
- 👤 T Kudoh
- 👤 H Koide
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:03
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C21/00; G04C21/16; G04C21/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
450 words
A timing switch mechanism, arranged in a clock driven by spring or battery power and having a dielectric dial base and a clock movement on the dial base including an unlocking wheel and an hour wheel, said mechanism comprising, in combination, a manually operable switch cam secured to an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said dial base, and operable between an intermediate position and first and second end positions; respective step portions on the periphery of said switch cam corresponding to each of said positions thereof; three detent notches in the periphery of said cam each corresponding to an operative position of said cam; a pressing spring having one end secured to said dial base and a free end pressing the periphery of said switch cam to engage in said detent notches to releasably retain said cam in an operated position; three contact plates, including first and second relatively fixed outer contact plates and a resilient intermediate contact plate, having inner ends secured to said dial base and carrying contacts on their free ends; said first oUter contact plate being electrically connected to said clock movement and said intermediate contact plate being biased normally to engage a contact thereon with a facing contact on said first outer contact plate; the free end of said resilient contact plate being cooperable with said cam step portions; a ring contact adhered concentrically in electrically insulated relation to said unlocking wheel, and having a radial extension of a preselected angular extent; a flexible contact arm having one end secured to said dial base and a free end engaged with said ring contact and electrically connected to said second outer contact plate; a projecting contact finger on said hour wheel engageable with said radial extension responsive to rotation of said hour wheel; and leads electrically connected to said resilient intermediate contact plate and to said second outer contact plate for connection to the energizing circuit of a radio to be controlled by said timing switch mechanism; said cam step portions, in a first end position of said switch cam, being disengaged from the free end of said intermediate contact plate so that the latter maintains its position engaging a contact thereon with a facing contact on said first outer contact plate; said cam step portions, in the intermediate position of said switch cam, engaging the free end of said intermediate contact plate to maintain the latter disengaged from both outer contact plates; said cam step portions in the other end position of said switch cam engaging the free end of said intermediate contact plate and biasing said intermediate contact plate to engage a contact thereon with a facing contact on said second outer contact plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
450 words
A timing switch mechanism, arranged in a clock driven by spring or battery power and having a dielectric dial base and a clock movement on the dial base including an unlocking wheel and an hour wheel, said mechanism comprising, in combination, a manually operable switch cam secured to an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said dial base, and operable between an intermediate position and first and second end positions; respective step portions on the periphery of said switch cam corresponding to each of said positions thereof; three detent notches in the periphery of said cam each corresponding to an operative position of said cam; a pressing spring having one end secured to said dial base and a free end pressing the periphery of said switch cam to engage in said detent notches to releasably retain said cam in an operated position; three contact plates, including first and second relatively fixed outer contact plates and a resilient intermediate contact plate, having inner ends secured to said dial base and carrying contacts on their free ends; said first oUter contact plate being electrically connected to said clock movement and said intermediate contact plate being biased normally to engage a contact thereon with a facing contact on said first outer contact plate; the free end of said resilient contact plate being cooperable with said cam step portions; a ring contact adhered concentrically in electrically insulated relation to said unlocking wheel, and having a radial extension of a preselected angular extent; a flexible contact arm having one end secured to said dial base and a free end engaged with said ring contact and electrically connected to said second outer contact plate; a projecting contact finger on said hour wheel engageable with said radial extension responsive to rotation of said hour wheel; and leads electrically connected to said resilient intermediate contact plate and to said second outer contact plate for connection to the energizing circuit of a radio to be controlled by said timing switch mechanism; said cam step portions, in a first end position of said switch cam, being disengaged from the free end of said intermediate contact plate so that the latter maintains its position engaging a contact thereon with a facing contact on said first outer contact plate; said cam step portions, in the intermediate position of said switch cam, engaging the free end of said intermediate contact plate to maintain the latter disengaged from both outer contact plates; said cam step portions in the other end position of said switch cam engaging the free end of said intermediate contact plate and biasing said intermediate contact plate to engage a contact thereon with a facing contact on said second outer contact plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, in which said step portions comprise three circumferentially adjacent steps including a lower step, an intermediate step and a higher step; said lower step, in the first end position of said switch cam, being aligned with and out of engagement with the free end of said intermediate contact plate, said intermediate step, in the intermediate position of said switch cam, engaging and lightly pressing the free end of said intermediate contact plate to disengage its contact from the facing contact of said first outer contact plate, and said higher step, in the other end position of said switch cam, engaging the free end of said intermediate contact plate and deflecting the latter to engage a contact thereon with a facing contact on said second outer cam plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 5, in which said clock further includes an audible alarm having an alarm limiting lever; spring means biasing said alarm limiting lever to a position maintaining said audible alarm inactive; and a protrusion on the periphery of said switch cam engageable with said alarm limiting lever in the first end position of said switch cam to deflect said alarm limiting lever to a position in which said audible alarm is effective.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
253 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, in which said intermediate and second relatively fixed outer contact plates have respective extensions whose free ends carry facing normally disengaged contacts; a second manually operable operating shaft rotatably mounted in said dial base; a circular sleep cam fixed to rotate with said second shaft, and having a notch in its periphery; the extension of said resilient contact plate having a bent free end engaged with the periphery of said sleep cam, and engageable in said notch; said last-named facing contacts being engaged when said bent free end is engaged with the periphery of said sleep cam and being disengaged when said bent free end engages in said last-named notch; said clock movement including a rotatable friction wheel; and friction means secured to said second shaft and selectively engageable with said friction wheel responsive to angular displacement of said sleep cam from an initial position, in which said bent free end is engaged in said sleep cam notch and said last-nameD facing contacts are disengaged to a position in which said bent free end is engaged with the periphery of said switch cam and said last-named facing contacts are disengaged; engagement of said friction means with said friction wheel effecting rotation of said sleep cam in an angular direction to re-engage said bent free end in said notch to disengage said last-named facing contacts after a predetermined time interval corresponding to the extent of angular displacement of said sleep cam from said initial position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 4, in which said switch cam has a radially outwardly projecting finger; a first stop engageable with said finger in said initial position of said sleep cam; and a second stop spaced angularly from said first stop and engageable with said finger to limit the angular displacement of said sleep cam away from its initial position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 5, in which said friction means comprises a friction plate consisting of two thin closely superposed metallic plates defining a radially outwardly extending sector having a predetermined arcuate extent corresponding to the angular distance between said first and second stops; the outer edges of the two thin plates at said protruding sector diverging slightly to provide for said protruding sector gripping the rim of said friction wheel upon displacement of said sleep cam from its initial position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A timing mechanism, as claimed in claim 6, in which said radially outwardly extending finger extends outwardly from the edge of said sleep cam notch leading in the direction of angular displacement of said sleep cam from its initial position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A timing switch mechanism, as claimed in claim 7, in which said clock further includes an audible alarm having an alarm limiting lever; spring means biasing said alarm limiting lever to a position maintaining said audible alarm inactive; and a protrusion on the periphery of said switch cam engageable with said alarm limiting lever in the first end position of said switch cam to deflect said alarm limiting lever to a position in which said audible alarm is effective.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |