US3596460A

US3596460A - Alarm device for a horological instrument

Info

Publication number: US3596460A
Application number: US820189A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Wuthrich
Original assignee: Timex Corp
Current assignee: Timex Group USA Inc
Priority date: 1969-04-29
Filing date: 1969-04-29
Publication date: 1971-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-03
Also published as: FR2040380B1; DE2020291A1; GB1296272A; FR2040380A1; CH635870A4; CH541827A; DE2020291B2

Abstract

A horological instrument includes a source of electrical energy and an electrical audible alarm. The circuit between the energy source and the alarm is normally open. A setting stem rotates a geared disc. The disc carries a conductive track and a conductive contact point. The contact point, normally twice a day, contacts a portion of the hour wheel, closing the circuit and allowing the alarm to sound.

Description

United States Patent Paul Wuthrich Woodbury, Conn. 820,189

Apr. 29, 1969 Aug. 3, 197 1 Time: Corporation Waterbury, Conn.

inventor Appl. No. Filed- Patented Assignee ALARM DEVICE FOR A HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl

Field 01 Search 58/19, 58/57.S G04c 21/20 58/19. 19 A, 19 B, 57.5

t I I I s [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 371,696 10/1887 Meads 58/19 1,037,130 8/1912 Christianson... 58/19 1,383,560 7/1921 0sieck..... 58/19 1,521,600 1/1925 Crowe..... 58/19 1,529,852 3/1925 'langlin 58/57.5

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Richard A. Joel ABSTRACT: A horological instrument includesa source of electrical energy and an electrical audible alarm. The circuit between the energy source and the alarm is normally open. A setting stem rotates a geared disc. The disc carries a conductive track and a conductive contact point. The contact point, normally twice a day, contacts a portion of the hour whe closing the circuit and allowing the alarm to sound.

PATENTED AUG 319m SHEET 1 BF 2 ALARM DEVICE FOR A HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION This invention relates to an alarm device for a horological instrument. More particularly, this invention relates to an alarm-setting device for a wristwatch.

Alarm clocks, alarm clock devices, and alarm Wristwatches are well known. Alarm Wristwatches are useful and desirable, but heretofore they have proven generally to be relatively bulky and unattractive in appearance, and cumbersome and awkward to wear. Compared to ordinary watches, alarm wristwatches are relatively expensive. Watch manufacturers have been forced to sell alarm Wristwatches at a price which places them above the reach of many consumers. in large part, this is attributable to the fact that a large number of additional parts are required to convert a wristwatch to an alarm wristwatch. This makes for increased production cost. Further, the incorporation of these additional parts increase the size of the wristwatch and makes it bulky and unattractive in appearance.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a setting device for an alarm in a horological instrument, which setting device uses relatively few parts, is relatively inexpensive, and does not add to the size of the horological movement.

The present device is intended to overcome the above-men tioned defects of the prior art. According to the present invention, an alarm-setting device is provided for a horologieal instrument, which alarm device advantageously contains few parts. This makes for ease of manufacture and decreases production cost. Further, the alarm-setting device of the present invention, in view of its few parts, is suitable for incorporation in a wristwatch.

A dial is mounted on an electrically conductive horological movement. An electrically nonconductive rotatable alarm set disk is positioned within the case. The disk has an indicator marking on its top face and, on its bottom face, a contact point and a circular contact track. The contact point is electrically connected to the contact track. The periphery of the disk comprises a toothed ring gear. A resilient member is mounted on the movement to be in contact with the track. A movable alarm set stem, having a gear mounted thereon, is movable to mesh the mounted gear with the ring gear and to rotate the disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm. An electric audible alarm, an energy cell, a

rotatable hour wheel having a contact means thereon, the

spring and the contact point on the bottom face of the disk, constitute a normally open circuit. Means are provided for rotating the hour wheel to bring the contact means thereon into contact with the contact point on the alarm set disk, thereby closing the circuit and activating the alarm.

Other objectives of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, the drawings being for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting same. t

in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the face ofa watch 1 incorporating the alarm-setting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of the alarm set disk utilized in the alarm-setting device of the present invention.

According to preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, an electrically nonconductivc alarm set disk 1 having a central hole 17 is rotatably mounted on the front frame 5 of a watch movement. The alarm set disk 1 may be made of any electrically intlulstive material but is preferably injection molded of a plastic material as, for stars pic, polystyrene or nylon. The alarm set disk 1 has, as an integral portion, a toothed ring gear 2 at its periphery. The ring gear 2 is preferably integral with the alarm set disk but may be a separate mcmberjoined to the disk. An indicator marking 6 is carried on a portion 11 of the top face of the alarm set disk I. The indicator marking 6, for example, can be etched into the top face portion 11 of the alarm set disk I, mounted thereon with a suitable adhesive, or striped thereon with any suitable marking material.

An alarm set stem 3 is movably mounted on the watch case. The stem may be the same stem that is used to set the hands, or a different stem. A circular gear 4 is mounted on the alarm set stem 3, although the gear could be integral with the stem. The alarm set stem 3 is selectively movable to mesh the circular gear 4 with the ring gear 2 when it is pulled outwardly relative to the case. When the circular gear 4 is meshed with the ring gear 2, the alarm set stem 3 can be rotated to turn the alarm set disk I so that indicator marking 6 can be selectively matched with any of the time markings 7 on the face of the watch dial 8. The regular hands of the watch, namely, seconds hand 18, minute hand 19, and hour hand 20, cooperate with the markings '7 to indicate the time.

The alarm set disk 1 has a conductive contact point 9 mounted on a bottom portion 10 of the alarm set disk I. The contact point 9 can be mounted at any point along the line defined between the center point of the rotatable hour wheel 16 and the end of the indicator point 6. A conductive circular contact track i2 is also fixed on the bottom portion 10 of the alarm set disk 1. Track 12 is electrically connected to contact point 9 by path l3. This electrical connection is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4.

As is shown in FIG. 3, an electrically conductive resilient member 14 is mounted in the plastic insulative block 22. The member i4 is electrically insulated from frame 5 by plastic block 22 and is connected, by wire M, to the electric alarm. Block 22 is fixed to frame 5. Member 14 is normally urged upward and in contact with the track 12. The resilient member 14 rides along the track 12 as the alarm set disk I is rotated by the alarm set stem 3. The resilient member M is a hat spring made of spring steel, but other contact devices, such as a spring-loaded carbon brush or a spring-loaded ball, could alternativcly be used.

The gears of the watch includes a rotatable hour wheel 16 which carries a protruding conductive contact point 15. An electric audible alarm device and an energy source, such as a battery cell (both of which are not shown) constitute the remaining elements of the alarm circuit. The alarm device and energy cell (both not shown) the spring 14, track 12, electrical path 13, contact point 9, contact point 15, hour wheel 16 constitute together a normally open circuit. The alarm is set to ring at a desired hour by rotating the alarm set stem 3 to turn the alarm set disk 1. The indicator marking 6 on the portion 11 of the top face of the alarm set disk 1 is caused to coincide with, or point to, the selected hour marking 7 on the face of the watch dial 8.

in operation, the watchworks (not shown) rotate the hour wheel 16, with its contact point 15, through a circular path until the contact point 15 makes contact with the contact point 9, thereby closing the circuit and activating the alarm device. The circuitwill be closed twice a day if the alarm disk is not rotated. it should be noted that the alarm device will be automatically shut off by the continued rotation of the hour wheel. The hour wheel rotation moves the contact point 15 off of the contact point 9, thereby reopening the circuit and shutting off the alarm.

lciaim:

1. An alarm-setting device for a horological movement, the movement including an electrically operated alarm, a source of electrical current and a watch dial mounted on the movement, said dial having time markings thereon; said setting evic c mprising:

marking on its top face, and a contact point and circular contact rack on its bottom face, said contact point being electrically connected to the contact track, said disk also having a periphery which comprises a toothed ring gear;

an electrically conductive resilient member mounted on the movement and in contact with the track;

a movable alarm set stem having a gear mounted thereon, said alarm set stem being movable to mesh said mounted gear with said ring gear and to rotate said disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm;

a rotatable hour wheel having a contact means thereon;

said alarm, source of current, resilient member, contact point on the bottom face of the disk and said contact means on the rotatable hour wheel constituting a normally open circuit;

movement has a front frame and a back frame, said resilient member being mounted on said from frame.

3. An alarm device as described in claim 2 wherein said disk has a central hole and is positioned between the dial and the front frame of the movement. j

4. An alarm device as described in claim 3 wherein said dial is generally washer shaped and has a large central hole through which the top ofthe disk may be viewed.

5. An alarm device as described in claim 1 wherein said resilient member is a flat strip of spring metal mounted in an insulative block, said block being fixed to said movement.

Claims

1. An alarm-setting device for a horological movement, the movement including an electrically operated alarm, a source of electrical current and a watch dial mounted on the movement, said dial having time markings thereon; said setting device comprising: an electrically nonconductive rotatable alarm set disc positioned within the movement, said disk having an indicator marking on its top face, and a contact point and circular contact rack on its bottom face, said contact point being electrically connected to the contact track, said disk also having a periphery which comprises a toothed ring gear; an electrically conductive resilient member mounted on the movement and in contact with the track; a movable alarm set stem having a gear mounted thereon, said alarm set stem being movable to mesh said mounted gear with said ring gear and to rotate said disk so that the indicator marking on its top face can be selectively matched with any of the time markings on the watch dial to set the alarm; a rotatable hour wheel having a contact means thereon; said alarm, source of current, resilient member, contact point on the bottom face of the disk and said contact means on the rotatable hour wheel constituting a normally open circuit; means for rotating the hour wheel to bring the contact means thereon into contact with the contact point on the alarm set disk, thereby closing the circuit and activating the alarm.

2. An alarm device as described in claim 1 wherein said movement has a front frame and a back frame, said resilient member being mounted on said front frame.

3. An alarm device as described in claim 2 wherein said disk has a central hole and is positioned between the dial and the front frame of the movement.

4. An alarm device as described in claim 3 wherein said dial is generally washer shaped and has a large central hole through which the top of the disk may be viewed.