Programmable electronic plug-in timer

Claim 2

A combination comprising: contactor means having a pair of electrical terminals and being operable to exist in either of two states: (i) a state wherein electric current is permitted to flow freely between said terminals, and (ii) a state wherein electric current is prevented from flowing freely between said terminals; said contactor means being operable at any given time, on receipt of a mechanical actuation input, to change from one of said states to the other of said states, regardless of the nature of the particular state in which it exists at said given time; actuator means operable each time on receipt of a discrete electrical actuation input to provide said mechanical actuation input; electric energy means operative to supply electric power without having to be connected with an electric utility power line; clock means connected with said electric energy means and operable to provide an accurate clock signal; programming means connected with said electric energy means and with said clock means, and operative to provide said discrete electrical actuation input repeatedly in accordance with a presetable program referenced to time-of-day; and structure means operative to support and hold together in substantially rigid relationship said contactor means, said clock means, and said programming means; whereby said contactor means is at certain selected times caused to permit current to flow freely between said terminals, and at certain other times caused to prevent such flow of current.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said programming means comprises programming input means receptive of programming instructions productive of establishing and/or modifying said program.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said programming means comprises programming input means receptive of manual programming instructions productive of establishing and/or modifying said program.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 having display means productive of providing visually discernible information in respect to said program and/or in respect to current time-of-day.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises DC electric motor means.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 wherein said clock means comprises a quartz element.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 wherein said electric energy means comprises an electric battery.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuator means requires input of electric power for but a brief period each time it provides said mechanical actuation input.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 and auxiliary input means connected with said programming means and operable at any point in time, upon receipt of an auxiliary actuation signal, to cause said discrete electrical actuation input to be provided, thereby causing said contactor means to change from one of said states to the other of said states, regardless of the state in which it exists at said point in time.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 comprised within a housing means that also comprises: (i) electrical prong means electrically connected with one of said pair of electrical terminals and adapted to be inserted into and held by an ordinary household receptacle, and (ii) electrical receptacle means connected with the other one of said pair of electrical terminals and adapted to receive and hold an ordinary electric power plug.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 wherein said housing means additionally comprises auxiliary receptacle means connected with said programming means and operable to receive and hold an auxiliary plug.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 wherein said auxiliary plug is operative during any given period of time to receive an actuation signal productive, by way of said programming means and said actuator means, of causing said contactor means to change from one of said states to the other of said states, regardless of the state in which it existed just prior to said given period of time.

Claim 14

A plug-in programmable timer comprising: substantially rigid housing means; plug means fastened to said housing means, said plug means having a first pair of electric terminals and being operable to be inserted into and held by an ordinary household electrical receptacle, thereby to provide power line voltage between said first pair of terminals; receptacle means fastened to said housing means, said receptacle means having a second pair of electric terminals and being operable to receive and hold an ordinary power plug, said power plug being operable to provide power to a load; contactor means connected in circuit between said pairs of terminals and operable to exist in either of two states: (i) a state wherein electric power is permitted to flow freely between said pairs of terminals, and (ii) a state wherein electric power is prevented from flowing freely between said pairs of terminals; said contactor means being operable at any point in time, on receipt of a discrete mechanical actuation input, to change from one of said states to the other of said states, regardless of the state in which it existed prior to said point in time; actuator means comprising DC electric motor means and being operable each time on receipt of a discrete electrical actuation input to provide said discrete mechanical actuation input; electric energy means disposed substantially within said housing means and operable to supply electric power independently of any voltage that might exist between said first pair of electric terminals; clock means disposed substantially within said housing means, said clock means being connected with said electric energy means and operable to provide an accurate clock signal; and programming means disposed substantially within said housing means, said programming means being connected with said electric energy means and with said clock means, and operative to provide said discrete electrical actuation input repeatedly in accordance with a presetable program referenced to time-of-day; whereby said contactor means is at certain selected times caused to permit electric power to flow freely between said pairs of terminals, and at certain other times caused to prevent such flow of electric power.

Claim 15

A plug-in programmable timer comprising: substantially rigid housing means; plug means fastened to said housing means, said plug means having a first pair of electric terminals and being operable to be inserted into and held by an ordinary household electrical receptacle, thereby to provide power line voltage between said first pair of terminals; receptacle means fastened to said housing means, said receptacle means having a second pair of electric terminals and being operable to receive and hold an ordinary power plug, said power plug being operable to provide power to a load; contactor means connected in circuit between said pairs of terminals and operable to exist in either of two states: (i) a state wherein electric power is permitted to flow freely between said pairs of terminals, and (ii) a state wherein electric power is prevented from flowing freely between said pairs of terminals; said contactor means being operable at any point in time, on receipt of a discrete mechanical actuation input, to change from one of said states to the other of said states, regardless of the state in which it existed prior to said point in time; actuator means comprising DC electric motor means and being operable each time on receipt of a discrete electrical actuation input to provide said discrete mechanical actuation input; electric energy means disposed substantially within said housing means and operable to supply electric power independently of any voltage that might exist between said first pair of electric terminals; clock means disposed substantially within said housing means, said clock means being connected with said electric energy means and operable to provide an accurate clock signal; and programming means disposed substantially within said housing means, said programming means being connected with said electric energy means and with said clock means, and operative to provide said discrete electrical actuation input repeatedly in accordance with a presetable program referenced to time-of-day; whereby said contactor means is at certain selected times caused to permit electric power to flow freely between said pairs of terminals, and at certain other times caused to prevent such flow of electric power.

Claim 16

The timer of claim 13 having display means connected with said programming means and operable to provide visually discernible information in respect to said program and/or in respect to current time-of-day.

Claim 17

The timer of claim 13 wherein said programming means has programming input means receptive of programming instructions operative to establish and/or modify said program.

Claim 18

The timer of claim 15 having manual means for receiving said programming instructions.

Claim 19

A combination comprising: contactor means having a pair of electrical terminals and being operable to exist in either of two states: (i) a state in which electric current is permitted to flow freely between said terminals, and (ii) a state in which electric current is prevented from flowing freely between said terminals; said contactor means being operable at any point in time, on receipt of a mechanical actuation input, to change between said states; actuator means operable on receipt of a discrete electrical actuation input to provide a mechanical actuation input to said contactor means; battery means operative to supply electric power without having to be connected with an electric utility power line; clock means connected with said battery means and operable to provide an accurate clock signal; programming means connected with said battery means and with said clock means, and operative to provide said discrete electrical actuation input repeatedly in accordance with a presetable program referenced to time-of-day; and structure means operative to support and hold together in substantially rigid relationship said contactor means, said clock means, and said programming means; whereby said contactor means is at certain selected times caused to permit current to flow freely between said terminals, and at certain other times caused to prevent current from flowing freely between said terminals.

Claim 20

A combination comprising: contactor means having a pair of electrical terminals and being operable to exist in either of two states: (i) a state in which electric current is permitted to flow freely between said terminals, and (ii) a state in which electric current is prevented from flowing freely between said terminals; said contactor means being operable at any point in time, on receipt of a mechanical actuation input, to change between said states; actuator means operable on receipt of a discrete electrical actuation input to provide a mechanical actuation input to said contactor means; battery means operative to supply electric power without having to be connected with an electric utility power line; clock means connected with said battery means and operable to provide an accurate clock signal; programming means connected with said battery means and with said clock means, and operative to provide said discrete electrical actuation input repeatedly in accordance with a presetable program referenced to time-of-day; and structure means operative to support and hold together in substantially rigid relationship said contactor means, said clock means, and said programming means; whereby said contactor means is at certain selected times caused to permit current to flow freely between said terminals, and at certain other times caused to prevent current from flowing freely between said terminals.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 17 wherein said actuator means comprises DC electric motor means.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 17 with the addition of a display means connected in circuit with the clock means and the programming means.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 17 wherein said programming means has manual input means operative to accept manual instructions productive of establishing at least part of said presetable program.