Alarm clock timer with manually operable reset mechanism

Abstract

An alarm clock timer mechanism having a pair of coaxially mounted gear driven cam members with one of the cam members being axially movable to actuate an alarm or other form of control mechanism at a preset alarm time. One of the cam members is provided with a resiliently mounted cam follower which moves axially toward the other cam member at the alarm time. The resilient mounting allows the follower to ride smoothly on a lower surface of the other cam after the alarm time, thus precluding any high torque resetting loads on a timing motor. A manually operable reset mechanism is provided for axially moving the cam members away from each other to move the control mechanism to its off position and to simultaneously reset the resiliently mounted cam follower on an upper surface of the other cam.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. In an alarm clock mechanism the improvement comprising: a. a timing mechanism;   b. a supporting structure;   c. a first cam member rotatably mounted on said supporting structure;   d. a second cam member rotatably mounted on said supporting structure in coaxial relationship with said first cam member and axially movable with respect thereto.Iadd., said second cam member having a longitudinal axis and being mounted for rotation about said axis, said second cam member having a first side facing generally toward said first cam member and another side facing generally away from said first cam member, said first side including a generally flat raised surface, a generally flat lower surface longitudinally spaced from said raised surface away from said first cam member, and a generally curved surface with a radially indented portion positioned between said lower surface and said raised surface.Iaddend.;   e. one of said cam members being caused to rotate by said timing mechanism;   f. means for manually adjusting the relative angular position of said cam members;   g. an on-off control mechanism having a resilient member exerting a spring force urging said second cam member axially toward said first cam member;   h. said second cam member being disposed to move axially under the influence of said spring force to permit said control mechanism to be moved to its on position upon relative rotation of said cam members through a predetermined relative angular position;   i. .[.one of said cam members.]. .Iadd.said first cam member .Iaddend.including a cam follower .[.which is.]. rotatable with said .[.one of said cam members.]. .Iadd.first cam member .Iaddend.for cooperation with .Iadd.said .Iaddend..[.raised and lower cam.]. surfaces of .[.the other.]. .Iadd.said second .Iaddend.cam member to permit said resilient member to move said second cam member toward said first cam member to permit the control mechanism to be moved to its on position; and   j. said cam follower being mounted for movement with respect to the .[.cam member on which it is supported.]. .Iadd.first cam member .Iaddend.for permitting said cam follower to remain on the .[.lower cam surface of said other cam member.]. .Iadd.curved surface of said second cam member .Iaddend.so that said timing mechanism is not required to move said cam follower from a lower cam surface on said .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member to a higher cam surface of said .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member against the force of said resilient member.   
     
     
       2. An alarm clock timer mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein a manually operable control shut-off mechanism is provided for moving the second cam member axially away from the first cam member to move the control mechanism to its off position and to permit said cam follower to be moved from a lower cam surface of the .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member to a higher cam surface of the .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member. 
     
     
       3. An alarm clock timer mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam follower includes a cam finger which is inserted within a slot formed in the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.cam member on which it is mounted and is arranged for pivotal movement within the slot. 
     
     
       4. An alarm clock timer mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein a leaf spring is fixed to .[.one of the cam members.]. .Iadd.the first cam member .Iaddend.for resiliently .[.olding.]. .Iadd.holding .Iaddend.the cam finger. 
     
     
       5. An alarm clock timer as defined in claim 4 wherein a manually operable control shut-off mechanism is provided for moving the second cam member axially away from the first cam member to move the control mechanism to its off position and to permit said cam follower to be moved from a lower cam surface .[.to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.the .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member to a higher surface of the .[.other.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.cam member under the resilient force of said resilient member. 
     
     
       6. An alarm clock timer mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient member .[.is.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said on-off control mechanism is a resilient switch blade having a contact formed thereon which is normally biased toward a fixed switch contact, and said manually operable control shut-off mechanism rapidly moves said switch blade and its contact away from the fixed contact when the .[.cam members are moved axially away from each other.]. .Iadd.second cam member is moved axially away from the first cam member .Iaddend.thereby minimizing arcing between the switch contacts.