Audio-visual signal device

Claim 2

An audio-visual signal device, comprising first electrical coil means, second electrical coil means, a core, said first and second coil means being wound generally concentrically about said core, a switch assembly having a first stationary and second movable contact means, said first and second contact means being in series circuit with said first electrical coil means and effective for at times completing a first electrical circuit from said first electrical coil means to an associated source of electrical potential, armature means operatively carrying said second movable contact means and responsive to a magnetic field created by said first coil means and said core in response to current flow through said first electrical coil means, said armature means being effective whenever said magnetic field attains a predetermined force for moving said second movable contact means away from said first stationary contact means in order to thereby open said first electrical circuit, a bulb having a first terminal thereof electrically connected in series circuit with one end of said second electrical coil means, said bulb having a second terminal thereof electrically connected to one end of said first coil means, an other end of said second coil means being electrically connected to an other end of said first coil means as well as adapted for electrical connection to said associated source of electrical potential whereby said bulb is made to experience ignition and energization thereof during a major portion of the time that said contact means are closed as well as experience ignition and energization during a major portion of the time that said contact means are opened, and said armature means and said contact meaNs being effective to create an audio signal in response to the opening and closing movement of said contact means.

Claim 3

An audio-visual signal device according to claim 1, wherein said bulb comprises a neon bulb, and wherein said predetermined voltage is the firing or ignition voltage of said neon bulb.

Claim 4

An audio-visual signal device according to claim 1 wherein said armature means is resiliently deflectable, and wherein said second movable contact means and said armature means collectively have a mechanical time constant which is in the order of magnitude of the charging time constant of said first coil means.

Claim 5

An audio-visual signal device, comprising a housing assembly, said housing assembly comprising first and second housing sections, a first bracket member situated within said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section, said first bracket member having a generally upwardly disposed first bracket portion, a field generating coil assembly having a primary coil and a secondary coil wound generally about a medially disposed core, said coil assembly and said core being situated within said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section in a manner having one end of said core directed upwardly, a second bracket member situated in said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section in a manner as to be disposed generally on a side of said coil assembly opposite to said first bracket member, said second bracket member having a generally laterally extending second bracket portion carrying a first electrical contact in an operationally fixed position, a resiliently deflectable armature secured at one end to said first bracket portion in a manner so as to be disposed generally above and in relatively close proximity to said one end of said core, a second electrical contact member carried by said armature as to be movable therewith and disposed generally below said first electrical contact, said armature including resilient means normally resiliently urging said second electrical contact into engagement with said first electrical contact, a neon bulb, first conductor means electrically connecting a first electrical lead of said primary coil of said coil assembly to a first terminal of said neon bulb and to said first electrical contact, second conductor means electrically connecting a second electrical lead of said secondary coil of said coil assembly to a second terminal of said neon bulb, first and second input terminals adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential, said first and second input terminals being spaced from each other and secured to said first housing section externally of said housing assembly, said first input terminal being electrically connected to said second electrical contact through said first bracket member and said second input terminal being electrically connected to a third electrical lead common to both of said first and second primary coils of said coil assembly, and aperture means formed in one of said housing sections for permitting the viewing of light emanating from said neon bulb.

Claim 6

An audio-visual signal device, comprising a housing assembly, said housing assembly comprising first and second housing sections, a first bracket member situated within said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section, said first bracket member having a generally upwardly disposed first bracket portion, a field generating coil assembly having a primary coil and a secondary coil wound generally about a medially disposed core, said coil assembly and said core being situated within said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section in a manner having one end of said core directed upwardly, a second bracket member situated in said housing assembly and secured to said first housing section in a manner as to be disposed generally on a side of said coil assembly opposite to said first bracket member, said second bracket member having a generally laterally extending second bracket portion carrying a first electrical contact in an operationally fixed position, a resiliently deflectable armature secured at one end to said first bracket portion in a manner so as to be disposed generally above and in relatively close proximity to said one end of said core, a second electrical contact member carried by said armature as to be movable therewith and disposed generally below said first electrical contact, said armature including resilient means normally resiliently urging said second electrical contact into engagement with said first electrical contact, a neon bulb, first conductor means electrically connecting a first electrical lead of said primary coil of said coil assembly to a first terminal of said neon bulb and to said first electrical contact, second conductor means electrically connecting a second electrical lead of said secondary coil of said coil assembly to a second terminal of said neon bulb, first and second input terminals adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential, said first and second input terminals being spaced from each other and secured to said first housing section externally of said housing assembly, said first input terminal being electrically connected to said second electrical contact through said first bracket member and said second input terminal being electrically connected to a third electrical lead common to both of said first and second primary coils of said coil assembly, and aperture means formed in one of said housing sections for permitting the viewing of light emanating from said neon bulb.

Claim 7

An audio-visual signal device according to claim 6 and further comprising audible sound increasing means, said sound increasing means comprising striker means operatively carried by said armature assembly, said striker means being adapted to intermittently strike said second housingsection as said armature assembly cyclically moves toward and away from said core.

Claim 8

An audio-visual signal device according to claim 6 and further comprising audible-sound increasing means, said sound increasing means comprising striker means operatively carried by said armature assembly, second aperture means formed through said second housing section, and a vibratory member operatively carried by said housing assembly externally thereof, said striker means being adapted to intermittently strike said vibratory member through said second aperture means as said armature assembly cyclically moves toward and away from said core thereby causing said vibratory member to in turn strike the outer surface of said housing assembly.

Claim 9

An audio-visual signal device effective for creating an apparent continuous and non-intermittent light signal as well as an auditory signal to indicate the attainment of a predetermined condition by associated means, said device comprising first electrical coil means having first and second electrical terminal means, second electrical coil means having third and fourth electrical terminal means, a core having said first and second electrical coil means wound generally cylindrically thereabout, said first and third electrical terminal means being electrically connected to each other and to first electrical conductor means leading to an associated source of electrical potential, a bulb, second electrical conductor means electrically connecting said fourth electrical terminal means to a first terminal of said bulb, a fixed first electrical contact, resiliently deflectable armature means positioned in relatively close proximity to said core and said first and second electrical coil means as to be directly acted upon and responsive to the magnetic flux density generated thereby, a movable second electrical contact carried by said armature means for intermittent engagement with said fixed first contact, third electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said movable second contact to said associated source of electrical potential, fourth electrical conductor means electrically connecting a second terminal of said bulb to said fixed first electrical contact, and fifth electrical conductor means electrically connecting said second electrical terminal means of said first electrical coil means to said fourth electrical conductor means, said first and second contacts being effective when closed against each other and when in closed circuit with said associated source of electrical potential for causing a primary current flow through said first coil means and said first electrical conductor means, said primary current flow having a first magnitude of varying value so as to initially have a relatively low value and to thereafter increase to a relatively high value, said second coil means and said core being continuously acted upon by a magnetic field developed by said primary current flowing through said first coil means so as to thereby develop a voltage potential across said second coil means, said bulb remaining in an unenergized state while said first and second contacts are closed and until said voltage potential across said second coil means attains a first predetermined magnitude sufficient to ignite and energize said bulb into illumination, the resilience of said armature means being of such magnitude as to prevent movement of said armature means toward said core and thereby prevent the opening of said first and second contacts until after said voltage potential attains said first predetermined magnitude, said first and second contacts being effective when opened to terminate further supply of primary current to said first coil means and thereby initiate collapse of said magnetic field in turn developing a second voltage potential across said second coil means of a magnitude to again ignite and energize said bulb with a second current flow through said bulb and said second coil means in a direction opposite to the current flow through said bulb when said bulb was first fired and energized when said first and second contacts were closed against each other, said fifth electrical conductor means being effective to provide a path for said second current flow passing through said bulb said second coil means and said first coil means.

Claim 10

An audio-visual signal device effective for creating an apparent continuous and non-intermittent light signal as well as an auditory signal to indicate the attainment of a predetermined condition by associated means, said device comprising first electrical coil means having first and second electrical terminal means, second electrical coil means having third and fourth electrical terminal means, a core having said first and second electrical coil means wound generally cylindrically thereabout, said first and third electrical terminal means being electrically connected to each other and to first electrical conductor means leading to an associated source of electrical potential, a bulb, second electrical conductor means electrically connecting said fourth electrical terminal means to a first terminal of said bulb, a fixed first electrical contact, resiliently deflectable armature means positioned in relatively close proximity to said core and said first and second electrical coil means as to be directly acted upon and responsive to the magnetic flux density generated thereby, a movable second electrical contact carried by said armature means for intermittent engagement with said fixed first contact, third electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said movable second contact to said associated source of electrical potential, fourth electrical conductor means electrically connecting a second terminal of said bulb to said fixed first electrical contact, and fifth electrical conductor means electrically connecting said second electrical terminal means of said first electrical coil means to said fourth electrical conductor means, said first and second contacts being effective when closed against each other and when in closed circuit with said associated source of electrical potential for causing a primary current flow through said first coil means and said first electrical conductor means, said primary current flow having a first magnitude of varying value so as to initially have a relatively low value and to thereafter increase to a relatively high value, said second coil means and said core being continuously acted upon by a magnetic field developed by said primary current flowing through said first coil means so as to thereby develop a voltage potential across said second coil means, said bulb remaining in an unenergized state while said first and second contacts are closed and until said voltage potential across said second coil means attains a first predetermined magnitude sufficient to ignite and energize said bulb into illumination, the resilience of said armature means being of such magnitude as to prevent movement of said armature means toward said core and thereby prevent the opening of said first and second contacts until after said voltage potential attains said first predetermined magnitude, said first and second contacts being effective when opened to terminate further supply of primary current to said first coil means and thereby initiate collapse of said magnetic field in turn developing a second voltage potential across said second coil means of a magnitude to again ignite and energize said bulb with a second current flow through said bulb and said second coil means in a direction opposite to the current flow through said bulb when said bulb was first fired and energized when said first and second contacts were closed against each other, said fifth electrical conductor means being effective to provide a path for said second current flow passing through said bulb said second coil means and said first coil means.

Claim 11

An audio-visual signal device, comprising first electrical conductor means, first coil means having first and second ends, second coil means having third and fourth ends, a core, said first and second coil means being formed about said core, said first end of said first coil means being electrically connected to said firsT electrical conductor means, said second end of said first coil means being electrically connected to said fourth end of said second coil means, a bulb having first and second electrical terminals, said first electrical terminal being electrically connected to said third end of said second coil means, said second electrical terminal being electrically connected to said first electrical conductor means thereby defining a closed loop sub-circuit comprised of said bulb and said first and second coil means, second conductor means electrically connecting said second and fourth ends of said first and second coil means to a first emitter-collector circuit of a first transistor, third electrical conductor means electrically connected to said emitter-collector circuit, said second and third electrical conductor means each having other ends adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential through associated switch means, a second transistor having a second emitter-collector circuit, one side of said second emitter-collector circuit being electrically connected to said third conductor means, the other side of said second emitter-collector circuit being electrically connected through selected first resistance means to said first electrical conductor means, a first R-C circuit electrically connected to a base terminal of said first transistor, and a second R-C circuit electrically connected to a base terminal of said second transistor, said first and second R-C circuits being effective to control and determine the respective times during which said first and second emitter-collector circuits are ''''on'''' or conductive as well as the respective times during which said first and second emitter-collector circuits are ''''off'''' or non-conductive, said first and second R-C circuits also being effective to control the respective conductivities of said first and second emitter-collector circuits so that said first emitter-collector circuit is conductive only when said second emitter-collector circuit is non-conductive and said second emitter-collector circuit is conductive only when said first emitter-collector circuit is non-conductive, said first emitter-collector circuit being effective when made conductive to cause a primary current flow through said first coil means and said first coil means and said first electrical conductor means, said primary current flow having a first magnitude of varying value so as to initially have a relatively low value and to thereafter increase to a relatively high value, said second coil means and said core being continuously acted upon by a magnetic field developed by said primary current flowing through said first coil means so as to thereby develop a voltage potential across said second coil means, said bulb remaining in an unenergized state while said first emitter-collector circuit is conductive and until said voltage potential across said second coil means attains a first predetermined magnitude sufficient to ignite and energize said bulb into visible illumination, the said R-C circuits having time constants such as to maintain said first emitter-collector circuit conductive for some time after said first predetermined magnitude of said voltage potential has been achieved and said bulb has been ignited and energized due to the discharging of said first predetermined magnitude of said voltage potential, said R-C circuits being effective after said bulb has been ignited and energized to cause said first emitter-collector circuit to become non-conductive and said second emitter-collector circuit to become conductive thereby causing said magnetic field to collapse and induce a second voltage potential in said second coil means, said second voltage potential being effective to ignite and energize said bulb by a second current flow through said bulb in a direction opposite to the current flow through said bulb which caused energization of said bulb during the time that said first emitter-collector circuit wAs conductive, and said armature means being effective whenever said magnetic field attains a predetermined magnetic force for moving associated auditory sound generating means in order to thereby create an auditory signal.

Claim 12

An audio-visual signal device, comprising first electrical conductor means, first coil means having first and second ends, second coil means having third and fourth ends, a core, said first and second coil means being formed about said core, said first end of said first coil means being electrically connected to said firsT electrical conductor means, said second end of said first coil means being electrically connected to said fourth end of said second coil means, a bulb having first and second electrical terminals, said first electrical terminal being electrically connected to said third end of said second coil means, said second electrical terminal being electrically connected to said first electrical conductor means thereby defining a closed loop sub-circuit comprised of said bulb and said first and second coil means, second conductor means electrically connecting said second and fourth ends of said first and second coil means to a first emitter-collector circuit of a first transistor, third electrical conductor means electrically connected to said emitter-collector circuit, said second and third electrical conductor means each having other ends adapted for connection to an associated source of electrical potential through associated switch means, a second transistor having a second emitter-collector circuit, one side of said second emitter-collector circuit being electrically connected to said third conductor means, the other side of said second emitter-collector circuit being electrically connected through selected first resistance means to said first electrical conductor means, a first R-C circuit electrically connected to a base terminal of said first transistor, and a second R-C circuit electrically connected to a base terminal of said second transistor, said first and second R-C circuits being effective to control and determine the respective times during which said first and second emitter-collector circuits are ''''on'''' or conductive as well as the respective times during which said first and second emitter-collector circuits are ''''off'''' or non-conductive, said first and second R-C circuits also being effective to control the respective conductivities of said first and second emitter-collector circuits so that said first emitter-collector circuit is conductive only when said second emitter-collector circuit is non-conductive and said second emitter-collector circuit is conductive only when said first emitter-collector circuit is non-conductive, said first emitter-collector circuit being effective when made conductive to cause a primary current flow through said first coil means and said first coil means and said first electrical conductor means, said primary current flow having a first magnitude of varying value so as to initially have a relatively low value and to thereafter increase to a relatively high value, said second coil means and said core being continuously acted upon by a magnetic field developed by said primary current flowing through said first coil means so as to thereby develop a voltage potential across said second coil means, said bulb remaining in an unenergized state while said first emitter-collector circuit is conductive and until said voltage potential across said second coil means attains a first predetermined magnitude sufficient to ignite and energize said bulb into visible illumination, the said R-C circuits having time constants such as to maintain said first emitter-collector circuit conductive for some time after said first predetermined magnitude of said voltage potential has been achieved and said bulb has been ignited and energized due to the discharging of said first predetermined magnitude of said voltage potential, said R-C circuits being effective after said bulb has been ignited and energized to cause said first emitter-collector circuit to become non-conductive and said second emitter-collector circuit to become conductive thereby causing said magnetic field to collapse and induce a second voltage potential in said second coil means, said second voltage potential being effective to ignite and energize said bulb by a second current flow through said bulb in a direction opposite to the current flow through said bulb which caused energization of said bulb during the time that said first emitter-collector circuit wAs conductive, and said armature means being effective whenever said magnetic field attains a predetermined magnetic force for moving associated auditory sound generating means in order to thereby create an auditory signal.

Claim 13

An audio-visual signal device according to claim 8 wherein said bulb comprises a neon bulb, and wherein said first predetermined magnitude of the first mentioned voltage potential is the firing or ignition voltage of said neon bulb.