Self-contained miniature timer

Claim 2

A telephone set timer comprising: a housing having a display aperture in the front surface thereof, display means mounted within said display aperture for displaying multiple digits, a bracket having a base surface connected to upwardly extending arms, pivot means on said arms for connecting said housing between said arms for enabling the attitude of said housing to be adjusted pivotally to any one of a number of fixed positions relative to the telephone set to facilitate viewing of said display by a telephone user, means for attaching said base surface to a surface of a telephone set such that said display means may be observed by the telephone user, timing circuitry within said housing for generating periodic timing signals and for driving said display means to display time intervals to the telephone user, and switch means positioned on said housing for actuation by the telephone user to start and stop operation of said circuitry in order to provide an indication of the time of telephone calls by the user.

Claim 3

The telephone set timer of claim 1 wherein said base surface is adapted to be horizontally disposed adjacent the telephone set, said means for attaching comprises adhesive disposed between said base surface and the telephone set.

Claim 4

The telephone set timer of claim 2 wherein said adhesive comprises suction cup means.

Claim 5

The telephone set timer of claim 2 wherein said adhesive comprises a double sided foam tape.

Claim 6

The telephone set timer of claim 1 and further comprising: audio means in said housing for generating an audible signal in a periodic manner.

Claim 7

The telephone set timer of claim 1 and further comprising means for accumulating and displaying the total time intervals between plural operations of said switch means.

Claim 8

A timing unit comprising: a housing, display means on said housing for displaying indications of time intervals, timing circuitry within said housing for driving said display means, structure forming a fixed axis, a support wall member within said housing supporting said fixed axis, a rocker arm mounted in said housing and pivotable between a first position and a second position about said fixed axis, plunger means attached to said rocker arm and pivoting between the first position and the second position through an arc about said fixed axis, a conductive spring member comprising two offset planar parallel portions connected end to end by an inclined portion of the spring, said spring member connected at one end to said wall member and having a free end movable by said plunger means between open and closed positions, and a conductive pin mounted through said wall member and having an end portion mounted adjacent said free end of said spring member, wherein said spring member is normally spaced from said pin in said open position and is pressed against said pin with a wiping action in said closed position.

Claim 9

A timing unit comprising: a housing, display means on said housing for displaying indications of time intervals, timing circuitry within said housing for driving said display means, structure forming a fixed axis, a support wall member within said housing supporting said fixed axis, a rocker arm mounted in said housing and pivotable between a first position and a second position about said fixed axis, plunger means attached to said rocker arm and pivoting between the first position and the second position through an arc about said fixed axis, a conductive spring member comprising two offset planar parallel portions connected end to end by an inclined portion of the spring, said spring member connected at one end to said wall member and having a free end movable by said plunger means between open and closed positions, and a conductive pin mounted through said wall member and having an end portion mounted adjacent said free end of said spring member, wherein said spring member is normally spaced from said pin in said open position and is pressed against said pin with a wiping action in said closed position.

Claim 10

The timing unit of claim 7 wherein said display means comprises seven-segment display units for displaying minutes and tenths of minutes.

Claim 11

The timing unit of claim 7 wherein said circuitry comprises a ceramic resonator operable as a frequency source to provide timing.

Claim 12

The timing unit of claim 7 wherein said display means generates minute and tenth of minute indications separated by a decimal, and means for blanking the display of the most significant digit when it is zero.

Claim 13

A timing unit comprising: a housing, a plurality of seven-segment light emitting diodes for displaying digits indicating a time interval, one of said diodes operable to display a decimal, means for generating a digit driver signal for said one diode, a pair of series connected inverters for receiving said digit driver signal at the input thereof, said one diode coupled to the junction of said inverters, a digit select signal for being applied to the output thereof, a switch mounted in said housing and pivotable between first and second positions, a support wall member within said housing, a conductive spring member connected at one end to said wall member and having a free end movable by said switch between open and closed positions, and a conductive pin mounted through said wall member and having an end portion mounted adjacent said free end of said spring member, wherein said spring member is normally spaced from said pin in said open position and is pressed against said pin with a wiping action in said closed position.

Claim 14

A timing unit comprising: a housing, a plurality of seven-segment light emitting diodes for displaying digits indicating a time interval, one of said diodes operable to display a decimal, means for generating a digit driver signal for said one diode, a pair of series connected inverters for receiving said digit driver signal at the input thereof, said one diode coupled to the junction of said inverters, a digit select signal for being applied to the output thereof, a switch mounted in said housing and pivotable between first and second positions, a support wall member within said housing, a conductive spring member connected at one end to said wall member and having a free end movable by said switch between open and closed positions, and a conductive pin mounted through said wall member and having an end portion mounted adjacent said free end of said spring member, wherein said spring member is normally spaced from said pin in said open position and is pressed against said pin with a wiping action in said closed position.

Claim 15

A timer display unit comprising: a housing having a display screen, said display screen having multi-segment display units and a decimal display unit, timing circuitry for generating timing signals, circuitry responsive to said timing signals for generating a digit driving signal and segment select signals for driving said display screen to display a plurality of numerical digits representative of elapsed time, a pair of series connected inverters, said decimal display unit coupled between the junction of said inverters and the output of said inverters, said digit driving signal being applied to the input of said inverters, said digit select signals being applied to the output of said inverters, and switch means on said housing for actuating and terminating operation of said timing circuitry in order to display representations of elapsed time.

Claim 16

A timer display unit comprising: a housing having a display screen, said display screen having multi-segment display units and a decimal display unit, timing circuitry for generating timing signals, circuitry responsive to said timing signals for generating a digit driving signal and segment select signals for driving said display screen to display a plurality of numerical digits representative of elapsed time, a pair of series connected inverters, said decimal display unit coupled between the junction of said inverters and the output of said inverters, said digit driving signal being applied to the input of said inverters, said digit select signals being applied to the output of said inverters, and switch means on said housing for actuating and terminating operation of said timing circuitry in order to display representations of elapsed time.

Claim 17

The timer display unit of claim 12 wherein said display means comprises seven-segment display units for displaying minutes and tenths of minutes.

Claim 18

The timer display unit of claim 12 and further comprising: circular polarized lens over said display means.

Claim 19

The timer display unit of claim 12 wherein said switch means comprises a pivotable rocker switch, said switch including a flexible switch arm movable against a stationary conductor pin to complete an electrical circuit to actuate said timing circuitry.

Claim 20

The timer display unit of claim 12 wherein said circuitry comprises a ceramic resonator operable as a frequency source to provide timing.