Digital timer

Claim 2

A digital timer comprising means operable generally for indicating digital time and adapted to be reset to a selected time, means for controlling operation of the indicating means, means for driving the controlling means to effect the time indicating operation of the indicating means, means idly driven through the controlling means by the driving means and operable manually for actuating the controlling means to effect the reset of the indicating means to the selected digital time, and the controlling means including means for releasing the drive of the driving means upon the manual operation of the actuating means.

Claim 3

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the releasing means interconnects the driving means and the actuating means generally in parallel mechanical relation.

Claim 4

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means movable in response to an applied force thereon for manually moving the actuating means, the manually moving means being initially movable into engagement with the actuating means and thereafter further movable in response to the applied force to effect the release of the releasing means thereby isolating the driving means and also to effect actuation of the controlling means for resetting the indicating means to the selected digital time.

Claim 5

A digital timer as set forth in claim 6, wherein the releasing means comprises means for conjoint actuation with the controlling means, and means resiliently urged into releasable engagement with at least a part of the drive train, the resiliently urged means being operable generally to normally transmit the drive of the drive train through the controlling means and also to release the drive of the drive train upon the manual operation of the actuating means.

Claim 6

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controlling means further includes a pair of conjointly rotatable gears engaged with the indicating means and the actuating means.

Claim 7

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controlling means further includes a pair of conjointly rotatable gears engaged with the indicating means and the actuating means, the driving means including at least means adapted to be intermittently driven, and the releasing means being releasably coupled between the gear pair and the intermittently driven means to effect conjoint actuation thereof when the intermittently driven means is driven through the driving means.

Claim 8

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controlling means includes a pair of gears respectively engaged with the indicating means and the actuating means, a shaft connected between the gears to effect conjoint rotation thereof, the driving means including at least a mutilated geneva pinion rotatably mounted on the shaft, and means for intermittent driving engagement with the geneva pinion to effect intermittent rotational movement thereof, the Releasing means being carried on the shaft and releasably coupled with the geneva pinion for transmitting the intermittent rotational movement thereof to the gears.

Claim 9

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the releasing means includes means for engagement with at least a part of the driving means for generally maintaining the indicating means against displacement from the driven digital time indicating positions thereof.

Claim 10

A digital timer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes at least means adapted to be intermittently driven, and the releasing means being releasably coupled with the intermittently driven means to effect the driving of the controlling means by the driving means.

Claim 11

A digital timer as set forth in claim 9, wherein the driving means further includes a rotatable impulse segment having means for driving engagement with the intermittent driven means to effect the intermittent movement thereof only during a predetermined portion of each revolution of the impulse segment.

Claim 12

A digital timer having at least one time indicating drum rotatably mounted therein comprising a driven gear for connection with the drum at least one to effect the rotation thereof, a timing motor, a geneva pinion, a drive train connected between the timing motor and the geneva pinion for driving it intermittently in a predetermined time sequence, a clutch device releasably engaged between the geneva pinion and the driven gear for normally effecting conjoint rotation thereof, a resetting train normally idly connected with the driven gear and manually operable to drive the driven gear independently of the drive train to effect resetting of the drum to a selected digital time, the clutch device releasing the drive train upon the manual operation of the resetting train.

Claim 13

A digital timer having at least one time indicating drum rotatably mounted therein comprising a driven gear for connection with the drum at least one to effect the rotation thereof, a timing motor, a geneva pinion, a drive train connected between the timing motor and the geneva pinion for driving it intermittently in a predetermined time sequence, a clutch device releasably engaged between the geneva pinion and the driven gear for normally effecting conjoint rotation thereof, a resetting train normally idly connected with the driven gear and manually operable to drive the driven gear independently of the drive train to effect resetting of the drum to a selected digital time, the clutch device releasing the drive train upon the manual operation of the resetting train.

Claim 14

A digital timer as set forth in claim 11, wherein the clutch device includes means connected with the driven gear for conjoint rotation thereofoperable therewith, and means for releasably coupling the geneva gear and the driven gear to effect the conjoint rotation thereof, the releasably coupling means being operable generally to release the geneva gear thereby to interrupt the conjoint rotation therewith of the driven gear upon the manual operation of the resetting train.

Claim 15

A digital timer as set forth in claim 11, wherein the driving train includes at least an impulse segment rotatably driven by the timing motor and having means for driving engagement with the geneva gear to effect the intermittent driving thereof in the predetermined time sequence only during a predetermined portion of each revolution of the impulse segment.

Claim 16

A digital timer as set forth in claim 11, wherein the clutch device further includes a resilient arm releasably coupled with the geneva gear to effect the conjoint rotation of the driven gear therewith, the resilient arm being operable generally to release the geneva gear thereby to interrupt the conjoint rotation thereof with the driven gear upon the manual operation of the resetting means.

Claim 17

A digital timer as set forth in claim 11, futher comprising another gear operably engaged with the resetting train, and means for connecting the driven gear and the other gear to effect conjoint rotation thereof.

Claim 18

A digital timer as set forth in claim 15, wherein the clutch device includes means mounted to the connecting means wherein the clutch device is conjointly rotatable with the driven gear and the other gear.

Claim 19

A digital timer comprising a support, a rod rotatably mounted to the support, at least a pair of digital time indicating drums rotatably mounted to the rod, one of the drums being connected to the rod for conjoint rotation therewith, a geneva gear mounted to the support and engaged between the drums, the geneva gear being driven by the one drum upon the conjoint rotation thereof with the rod for effectng relative rotation of the other of the drums on the rod in a predetermined time Sequence, and means for effecting rotation of the rod including a driven gear, a timing motor, a geneva pinion adapted to be intermittently driven, a drive train between the driving motor and the geneva pinion for effecting the intermittent driving movement of the geneva pinion in another predetermined time sequence, a clutch device releasably engaged between the geneva pinion and the driven gear for normally effecting conjoint rotation thereof, a resetting train normally idly connected with the driven gear and adapted to be manually operable for driving the driven gear independently of the drive train to effect resetting rotation of the rod and drums to a selected digital time, the clutch device releasing the drive train upon the manual operation of the resetting train, and another gear on the rod and engaged with the driven gear for translating the rotation thereof into conjoint rotation of the rod.

Claim 20

A digital timer comprising a support, a rod rotatably mounted to the support, at least a pair of digital time indicating drums rotatably mounted to the rod, one of the drums being connected to the rod for conjoint rotation therewith, a geneva gear mounted to the support and engaged between the drums, the geneva gear being driven by the one drum upon the conjoint rotation thereof with the rod for effectng relative rotation of the other of the drums on the rod in a predetermined time Sequence, and means for effecting rotation of the rod including a driven gear, a timing motor, a geneva pinion adapted to be intermittently driven, a drive train between the driving motor and the geneva pinion for effecting the intermittent driving movement of the geneva pinion in another predetermined time sequence, a clutch device releasably engaged between the geneva pinion and the driven gear for normally effecting conjoint rotation thereof, a resetting train normally idly connected with the driven gear and adapted to be manually operable for driving the driven gear independently of the drive train to effect resetting rotation of the rod and drums to a selected digital time, the clutch device releasing the drive train upon the manual operation of the resetting train, and another gear on the rod and engaged with the driven gear for translating the rotation thereof into conjoint rotation of the rod.

Claim 23

The method as set forth in claim 18, comprising the preliminary step of connecting with the indicating means a means for controlling the operation therof, the drive train and resetting train each driving through the controlling means for driving the indicating means.

Claim 24

The method as set forth in claim 18, comprising the preliminary step of disposing a clutch device generally in parallel mechanical relation between the drive train and the resetting train, the clutch device being operable for releasing the drive train from the indicating means upon the manual operation of the resetting train.

Claim 25

The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the releasing step comprises applying a force to the resetting train for manually operating it thereby to effect the release of the drive means and the driving of the indicating means to the selected digital time.