Drive means for a timing mechanism

Claim 1

A timing mechanism comprising (a) a cam means rotatably carried on a shaft and providing a program and electrical switches opening and closing in response to said program, (b) rotatable first ratchet teeth of a first major diameter carried on said shaft and coupled to said cam means for intermittent rotation therewith, (c) rotatable second ratchet teeth coupled to and in axial alignment with said first rotatable ratchet teeth and of a second major diameter which is less than said first major diameter, (d) rotatable third ratchet teeth carried by said shaft in axial alignment with said first and second ratchet teeth and independently rotatable from said first and second ratchet teeth and having a third major diameter which is less than said first major diameter but greater than said second major diameter and further having at least one notch of sufficient depth to provide a minor diameter at least as small as a minor diameter of said second ratchet teeth, (e) a drive pawl selectively engaging said first and third rotatable rachet teeth and said second ratchet teeth when engaged with said notch, and (f) individual stop means engaging said first and third ratchet teeth.

Claim 5

A method of delaying actuation of electrical switches which control functions of an appliance and that are responsive to a rotation of a cam means comprising: (a) providing first ratchet teeth of a first major diameter coupled to said cam means, (b) providing a number of second ratchet teeth of a second lesser major diameter than said first major diameter in working relation to said first ratchet teeth, the number of teeth being proportional to a desired time of said delayed actuation, (c) providing a portion of a perimeter of said cam means that is substantially equal to the arc length of said number of said second rachet teeth and in line therewith which is free of coded indicia which control said functions, (d) providing a third set of ratchet teeth of a third major diameter that is less than said first but greater than said second major diameter and further including a notch having a minor diameter which is at least less than a minor diameter of said second ratchet teeth, and (e) providing a drive means driving said cam means and including drive pawl selectively engaging said first and third ratchet teeth and said second ratchet teeth when engaged with said notch.

Claim 6

A method of delaying actuation of electrical switches which control functions of an appliance and that are responsive to a rotation of a cam means comprising: (a) providing first ratchet teeth of a first major diameter coupled to said cam means, (b) providing a number of second ratchet teeth of a second lesser major diameter than said first major diameter in working relation to said first ratchet teeth, the number of teeth being proportional to a desired time of said delayed actuation, (c) providing a portion of a perimeter of said cam means that is substantially equal to the arc length of said number of said second rachet teeth and in line therewith which is free of coded indicia which control said functions, (d) providing a third set of ratchet teeth of a third major diameter that is less than said first but greater than said second major diameter and further including a notch having a minor diameter which is at least less than a minor diameter of said second ratchet teeth, and (e) providing a drive means driving said cam means and including drive pawl selectively engaging said first and third ratchet teeth and said second ratchet teeth when engaged with said notch.

Claim 9

A method of delaying actuation of electrical switches which control functions of an appliance and that are responsive to a rotation of a cam means comprising: (a) providing first ratchet teeth of a first major diameter coupled to said cam means, (b) providing a number of second ratchet teeth of a second lesser major diameter than said first major diameter in working relation to said first ratchet teeth, the number of teeth being proportional to a desired time of said delayed actuation, (c) providing a portion of a perimeter of said cam means that is substantially equal to the arc length of said number of said second ratchet teeth and in line therewith which is free of coded indicia which control said functions, (d) providing a third set of ratchet teeth of a third major diameter that is greater than said second major diameter and further including a notch having a minor diameter which is at least less than a minor diameter of said second ratchet teeth, and (e) providing a drive means driving said cam means and including a drive pawl selectively engaging said first and third ratchet teeth and said second ratchet teeth when engaged with said notch.

Claim 10

A method of delaying actuation of electrical switches which control functions of an appliance and that are responsive to a rotation of a cam means comprising: (a) providing first ratchet teeth of a first major diameter coupled to said cam means, (b) providing a number of second ratchet teeth of a second lesser major diameter than said first major diameter in working relation to said first ratchet teeth, the number of teeth being proportional to a desired time of said delayed actuation, (c) providing a portion of a perimeter of said cam means that is substantially equal to the arc length of said number of said second ratchet teeth and in line therewith which is free of coded indicia which control said functions, (d) providing a third set of ratchet teeth of a third major diameter that is greater than said second major diameter and further including a notch having a minor diameter which is at least less than a minor diameter of said second ratchet teeth, and (e) providing a drive means driving said cam means and including a drive pawl selectively engaging said first and third ratchet teeth and said second ratchet teeth when engaged with said notch.