Патент USA US2028973

28, 19360
H. FRHTZ?CH
ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR ALARE? CLOCKS
Filéd Feb. 3, 1932
zymg?wg
Patented Jan. 28, 1936
2,028,973
UNITED ' STATES
PATENT OFFICE
2,028,973
ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR ALARM CLOCKS
Hermann Fritzsch, Buggingen, Baden, Germany
Application February 3, 1932, Serial No. 590,617
In Germany February 11, .1931
6 Claims. (Cl. 200-36)
My invention relates to improvements in time
fastening the cover 2 to the casing I, 4 the switch
controlled electric switches which are operated at shaft which is the rotary portion of the switch by
a predetermined time to open or close an electric turning of which relatively to the stationary por
circuit.
tion the switch is operated, 5 the coupling for the
_ Objects of the invention are:
To provide simple means which permit swift
?tting and removing of a suitable electric switch
to and from any alarm clock with a time-con
trolled alarm winding shaft and without having
in?exible connection of the switch and the alarm- 5
clock, 6 a cap with pointer ‘I for adjustment of
the switch, 8 contacts for the circuit to be con
nected up, 9 contacts for ‘the connection of the
source of current, I0 contacts for the consumer
ing, cutting, soldering, brazing, or any such like
of current (apparatus, engine, heating, relay or 10
such like), I I contacts for the connection of the
process requiring tools;
switch.
to make any change in the alarm-clock as bor
To provide simple means, so as to permit ex
changing the alarm-clock easily for another
alarm-clock, the casing of which can be of any
different shape and size, which alarm-clock is
further ?tted with a different thread on its wind
ing shaft;
To provide simple means in such manner that
20 they permit reversing the switch easily from
“automatic switching-on” to “automatic switch~
ing-off” and inversely;
To provide simple means in such manner that
they permit using the alarm-clock easily in the
ordinary way without use of the switch.
For the attainment of the aforesaid objects and
ends, my invention consists in the novel details
of construction and in the combination, connec
tion and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more
fully described and claimed, the descriptive mat
ter being supplemented by the accompanying
drawing, which constitutes a part of this appli
cation and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an alarm
clock with the invention applied;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section as seen on the
plane of the line 2--2 of the Figs. 3, 4 and 5 look
ing in the direction indicated by the arrows;
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the invention and
40 an elevation of the device for the connection of
the switch to the electric circuit which shall be
influenced by the switch;
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view as seen on the plane of
45 the line 5—5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction
indicated by the arrows.
Figs. 6 and '7 represent a second, and Figs. 8
to 10 a third form of construction of the inven
tion. The kind of view of the invention in these
?gures can easily be ascertained by comparison
with the Figures 1 to 5.
In the drawing, I represents the casing of the
switch, which is here the stationary portion of the
switch and composed of insulation material, 2 the
55 cover of the casing of the switch, 3 screws for
A second automatic switch can be con
nected up to contacts I2, so that in the ?rst
place the one of the switches can cut out auto
matically and that then the second switch can 15
switch on automatically, without any need of a
new adjustment between both the operations.
By means of the screw-nuts I3, the contacts
.8 are held fast in the casing of the switch and
connected with the strips of sheet-metal I4 and 20
I5. Metal strip I4, on its free end, is formed as
?xed switch contact member. The movable
contact member is represented by the sheet
metal strip I6, which is carried round the body
of insulation I1 and fastened with screw I8. 25
Body H, on its circumference, has the two
tongues I9 and 20, which serve to limit the rota
tion of the switch shaft in the “on” and “off”
positions respectively. The middle part 21 of
the switch shaft which is passed through body 30
I1 is of square cross-section to prevent a turn
ing of both parts towards each other.
Men
tioned limits of the rotation of the switch shaft
in the “on” or “oil” position are obtained by
stopping of the tongue I9 or 20 at the switch- 35
casing I.
To insure a rapid switching, the springy metal
strip I4 is provided with bend 22 and with an
insulating body 24 which is secured to the metal
strip I4 at the bend 22 with the rivet 23.
The -
turning of the switch-casing as prevented by
means presently explained. The turning of the
switch-shaft causes a tension in the contacts
I4 and I6 (by means of the bend 22), so that the
contact I6 snaps on or snaps o?.
45
To further ensure the “off” position, the
metal strip I5 also has a bend 25 over which the
contact I6 glides. Metal strip I5 touches metal
strip I6 in every position of the switch-shaft,
see Fig. 5, so that metal strip I6 is always elec- ~50
trically connected with one of the contacts 8.
To prevent ‘the turning of the stationary por
tion of the switch with the rotary portion under
the action of the alarm winding shaft, said sta
tionary portion is connected with the clock cas- 55
2,028,978
ing. Because the connection of the alarm wind
ing shaft with the rotary portion of the switch
is in?exible, the stationary portion of the switch
can be supported through the rotary portion by
the alarm winding shaft and for that reason there
is no need that the connecting element between
the stationary portion of the switch and the
clock - casing supports the stationary portion.
This is of great importance because the alarm
10 clocks are not constructed for the attachment
of an element in such a manner that it can sup
port the switch and therefore in such a case
the construction or at least the manipulation of
the switching device would be very complicated.
V15 It is important for example, that the switch can
be removed from the rear side of the clock and
attached again in a,‘ simple and rapid manner
since the clock mechanism has generally to be
wound up daily and when doing so the said re
20 moving of the switch is preferable or even neces
sary in order to obtain convenient access to the
The hook 26 can for instance be attached to a
leg of the clock or according to Fig. 1 fastened
to the handle of the clock and cord 27' drawn
through plug 28, which is mounted on switch
casing I, so far that switch-casing l, in regard CR
to the clock, is turning only within close limits.
Then the switch-shaft and alarm-winding-shaft
has to be turned to the right as far as possible
by means. of the switch-cap 6, so that the pointer
1 points to “on”, which is the case when cap 5 is
fastened correctly to shaft '5.
This can be man
aged by marking shaft ii accordingly.
The moment the set time on the alarm mecha
nism has arrived, the alarm-winding-shaft and
the switch-shaft will rotate to the left until the 15
“off” position is reached. Further revolving of
the shaft‘ is prevented by means of the catch l8
and cord 21.
In order to obtain the automatic switching
on, the end 32 of the switch-shaft has to be en 20
gaged with the coupling and the cap 6 to ‘be
attached to the end Si of the switch-shaft. By
turning the cap 6 to the right the switch reaches
objects of this invention above-mentioned the 7 the “off” position and the automatic running
25 connection between the stationary portion and down of the alarm-winding-shaft brings the 25
the clock casing in the new switching device is switch to the “on” position. 7
From the foregoing description can easily be
effected by a catch member attached to said sta
tionary portion and constructed so as to prevent seen the necessary arrangement for automatic
or limit the rotation of the stationary portion switching on or off when the alarm-winding
30 with the rotary portion under the action of the shaft is turning automatically to the right and 30
setting knobs of the clock.
.
With regard to these re?ections and the other
alarm winding shaft only by bearing against the
clock casing under the action of the alarm wind
ing shaft and to permit on all alarm clocks a
movement of the switch in the direction of the
35 alarm winding shaft and vertically thereto for
uncoupling the switch from the alarm winding
shaft and removing the switch from the rear side
of the clock without alteration of its (of the
not to the left.
.
The changing from “switching automatically
on” to “switching automatically off” may neces
sitate the disconnecting of the cord 21 between
the clock and the switch. In order to free the
cord-connection remove hook 26 from the alarm
clock or simply withdraw plug 28 from switch
casing l. The squared ends of the coupling and
catch member) adjustment and--setting aside of the switch shaft permit an easy disconnection
40 the said uncoupling—without alteration of the’ of these two parts.
40
clock.
When the removing of the switch shall effect
In Figs. 1-3 of the drawing this catch member only convenient access to the setting knobs of
comprises a hook 26 which is fastened to cord
Zl. .. The cord 27 is attached to the switch-casing
by being passed through plug 28 and secured by
set-screw 29. The pin 36, square and conical,
serves to hold the plug 28 in place in the recess
of the switch-casing 1, yet permits the removal
iof the plug, which simpli?es the operating of the
50 switch, which will be shown presently. The ends
31 and 32 of the switch-shaft are of square sec
tion and have equal dimensions, so that the shaft
end 3! or theshaft-end 32 fits into the square
channel 33 of the coupling 5. There is the same
square channel 34 in the switch-cap 6 which also
has a pin 35 that can ?t into the channel 33.
At the places marked 4, the switch-shaft is
mounted in the switch-casing‘, permitting re
volving of the shaft.
60
The switch is attached to the clock by unscrew
ing the cap of the alarm-winding-shaft and
mounting the coupling 5 with the thread 36 on
the alarm-winding-shaft. Thus, thread 36 must
be the same as the thread ‘of the alarm-winding
It is necessary to choose a ?tting coupling
to the switch or else the alarm-winding-cap can
65 cap.
be ?tted to the coupling 5.
V -
Suppose for instance the alarm-winding-shaft
is turning to the left, while the alarm is running
70 down, looking at the back of the'clock, thus, in
.order to wind up, the winding-shaft must be
turned to the right. Further suppose that the
switch is expected to switch off automatically,
in this case the switch must be mounted as shown
75
in Fig. 2.,
‘
.
the clock, it is not necessary to free the cord
connection, since by the movability of the hook as
well as by the ?exibility of the cord the switch
can be uncoupled and removed from the rear side
of the clock without alteration of the adjust
ment and attachment of the cord-connection,
whereat it is assumed that the cord, when it is
adjusted, is not pulled on quite tightly. The
?exibility of the cord also makes the adaptation
of the switch-device to thershape and size of the
clock particularly easy.
When it is desired to'use the clock without
the switch it is unnecessary to unscrew the »
coupling. ,The coupling can. serve’ as alarm
winding cap, or else use the cap 5 by inserting
the pin 35 into the coupling.
Figs. 6 and 7 differ from they foregoing arrange
ment only in respect to the catch, the latter .60
resting on the clock-casing. In this case (Figs.
6 and 7) the catch member consists of the arm 31
secured to plug 28 by the set-screw 29 in .such
a manner, that by the running down of the
alarm-winding-shaft the movement of the arm
31 is arrested, for example by stopping on a leg
of the clock and thus preventing the turning of
the switch-casing l. The free end of .the arm 3'!
extends parallel or substantially parallel to the
alarm-winding-shaft and has such a length that
it can reach the casing of all the usual alarm
clocks
without
special
adjustment
thereto,
whereby it can ?t all shapes and sizes of the
clocks only by adjustment of said free end to
different distances from the alarm-winding shaft 75
3
2,028,973
by aid of the set-screw 29. Furthermore the free
end of the arm 31 is preferably forked (see Fig. 6)
thus embracing for instance a leg of the clock
and herewith simplifying the operating of the
UK switch.
By changing from “switching automatically on”
to “switching automatically off” and vice versa,
it is useful not to disturb the position of the
arm 3‘! in the plug 28, but disengage plug 28 and
10 replace the same when the switch-casing has its
new position.
Figs. 8-10 show a third catch-device.
alarm clock casing.
3. Switching means for controlling an electric
circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a normal Ul
alarm clock, comprising a complete electric
switch, said electric switch having a casing and
a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for
effecting the switching, the latter shaft being
adapted to be coupled to the alarm winding shaft
so as to turn therewith and, when so coupled, to
Arm 38
be supported upon the alarm winding shaft and
is secured to the switch-casing I by the pin 39
to carry the entire switch, and an arm attached
to the said casing and having a free end extend
ing in the direction of the alarm winding shaft
and adapted to bear against a projecting por
tion of the clock casing under the action of the
which is of square section.
Arm 38 ends in a
fork 40 extending parallel to the alarm winding
shaft as the fork of the arm 31.
To permit an
adaptation of the part 40 to the form of the
clock, a joint 4| is provided.
In order to adapt the switch to big and small
clocks, i. e. to be able to change the distance
alarm winding shaft.
All shown catch members are constructed to
4. Switching means for controlling an elec
tric circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a
normal alarm clock, comprising a complete elec
tric switch, said electric switch having a casing
and a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for
effecting the switching, a coupling member hav
bear against the projections which are usually
situated on the periphery of the clock casing,
such as for instance, the legs of the alarm clock
or the handle at the top of the clock casing.
the alarm winding shaft and having the other
end squared for application of the mentioned
switch shaft and carrying the entire switch, and
of the fork to the switch-shaft, the arm 38 can
be bent as shown in Fig. 10, which process will
be facilitated by the bend 42 provided.
Such a connection with the alarm clock casing is
easier to control than in the case of a connection
with the setting knobs on the back wall of the
clock. In the latter case, owing to the close
proximity of the setting knobs to the alarm wind
ing shaft, a considerable abutment pressure is
set up which it is desirable to avoid in order to
spare the clockwork mechanism as much as pos
sible.
In regard to speci?ed matter I wish it to be
understood that I do not desire to be limited to
the exact details of construction shown and de
scribed, for obvious modi?cations will occur to a
person skilled in the art.
I claim:
1. Switching means for controlling an electric
45 circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a normal
alarm clock, comprising a complete electric
switch, said electric switch having a casing and
a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for ef
fecting the switching, the latter shaft being
adapted to be coupled to the alarm winding shaft
ing a screw thread at one end for connection to
a catch member attached to the said casing and
constructed so as to prevent or limit the rotation .'
of the casing with the mentioned switch shaft
under the action of the alarm winding shaft only
by bearing loosely against the clock casing under
the action of the alarm winding shaft.
5. Switching means for controlling an electric <
circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a normal
alarm clock, comprising a complete electric
switch, said electric switch having a casing and
a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for
effecting the switching, both ends of the latter 40
shaft being of square cross section and having
the same dimensions, a coupling member hav
ing a screw thread at one end for connection to
the alarm winding shaft and having the other
end squared so that it can fit each of the ends 45
of the said switch shaft to carry the entire switch,
and a catch member, attached to the said casing
and constructed so as to prevent or limit the
rotation of the casing with the mentioned switch
shaft under the action of the alarm winding shaft
so as to turn therewith and, when so coupled, to
only by bearing loosely against the clock casing
be supported upon the alarm winding shaft and
under the action of the alarm winding shaft.
6. Switching means for controlling an electric
circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a normal
alarm clock, comprising a complete electric
switch, said electric switch having a casing and
a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for ef
to carry the entire switch, and a catch member
attached to the said casing and constructed so
as to prevent or limit the rotation of the casing
with the mentioned shaft under the action of
the alarm winding shaft only by bearing loosely
against the clock casing under action of the
alarm winding shaft.
60
casing and a hook fastened to the free end of
said cord and adapted to be fastened on the
2. Switching means for controlling an electric
circuit by the alarm winding shaft of a normal
alarm clock, comprising a complete electric
switch, said electric switch having a casing and
a shaft mounted rotatably in said casing for
effecting the switching, the latter shaft being
adapted to be coupled to the alarm winding shaft
so as to turn therewith and, when so coupled, to
be supported upon the alarm winding shaft and
to carry'the entire switch, and a catch mem
ber consisting of a cord attached to the said
fe-cting the switching, this shaft being adapted
to be coupled to the alarm winding shaft so as
to turn therewith and, when so coupled, to be
supported upon the alarm winding shaft and to
carry the entire switch, and a catch member
attached to the said casing and constructed so
as to prevent or limit the rotation of the casing
with the mentioned switch shaft, under the ac 65
tion of the alarm winding shaft, only by bearing
against the projections on the periphery of the
clock casing under the action of the alarm wind
ing shaft.
HERMANN FRITZSCH.
70