Abstract: A watch includes a striking mechanism, including an attached gong (4) and a hammer (15), as well as a battery (6) and an integrated circuit (7) powered by the battery and configured to produce current pulses, and an electrodynamic actuator (17) which is connected to the integrated circuit and configured to receive said pulses, the actuator being integral with the hammer or connected to the hammer to generate in response to the pulses a movement of the hammer from a rest position thereof, the movement being able to actuate an impact of the hammer on the gong. The mechanism also includes a spring (27) connected to the hammer so as to return the hammer to its rest position after the impact. Depending on particular embodiments, the hammer undergoes one or more pre-oscillations before reaching the impact. The hammer and the gong may be provided with attracting magnets.

Abstract: A single-hand or single-indicator timepiece that can simultaneously identify both the hour and minute portion of a given time is present herein. The timepiece includes an indicator structured to rotate about the face of the timepiece and point to the hour element of the time via a distal end thereof. In addition, the same indicator includes a minute identifying portion disposed along a length thereof that will align with a rotationally disposed minute disc. The minute disc includes indicia representative of the minutes evenly spaced radially about its surface in a clockwise ascending order. As the minute disc rotates counterclockwise and the indicator rotates clockwise, the indicator will simultaneously identify the hour element at its distal end and the minute element via the relative position of the minute identifying portion and the minute disc.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance including a housing and a switch wafer mounting in the housing used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers. The switch wafer mounting includes first and second locating features for receiving first and second switch arm wafers. The first switch arm wafer rests against the first locating feature, and the second switch arm wafer is stacked atop the first switch arm wafer and rests against the second locating feature.

Abstract: A timer for controlling an appliance includes a bell chime assembly having a striker, a torsion spring, and a bell. The striker is secured to the torsion spring. The timer further includes a cam follower operatively coupled to the torsion spring. The cam follower is operatively associated with a cam assembly which includes a first cam and a second cam. The first cam and the second cam are configured such that during manual setting of the timer, the torsion spring is prevented from deflecting by an amount sufficient to cause the striker to contact the bell whereby relatively quiet manual setting of the timer is enabled.

Abstract: A time setting control mechanism mounted in a mechanical timer and driven to automatically start or stop a machine at a given time, including, a hollow time counting wheel, a dial mounted in the time counting wheel, the dial having a center through hole, a disk mounted between the time counting wheel and the dial and supported on the time counting wheel by springy projecting strips thereof, the disk having an upward flange raised around the periphery, and a press portion raised from the center and protruding over the center through hole on the dial for pressing by hand, and a time setting control pin detachably mounted on the periphery of the time counting wheel, the time setting control pin having a mounting base detachably coupled to the periphery of the time counting wheel, a springy hook extended from the mounting base and inserted into an annular space defined between the upward flange of the disk and the periphery of the dial and hooked on a bottom edge of the dial, and a trigger rod adapted for trigger

Abstract: A circular plate used in a time setting device has a through-hole, a plurality of arched protrusions extending downward from the bottom of the same and a pair of arched projections extending upward from the periphery of the through-hole. Each arched protrusion has a first edge spaced parallelly apart from the bottom of the circular plate and a pair of second edges which converge to the free ends of the first edge.

Abstract: A battery-powered alarm and reset circuit for a conventional electromechanical countdown timing mechanism which drives a set of cam-actuated main contacts. The circuit renders both a visual and an audible alarm at zero countdown time. The rotation of a timer knob closes the main contacts which readies the digital NAND gate logic of the circuit to a state preliminary to oscillation. At zero countdown time, one of the NAND gates goes into oscillation to generate a sequence of relatively low-frequency pulses in response to the opening of the main contact at zero countdown time. The low-frequency pulses activate an LED light to render a visual blinking alarm and an electrical horn to render an audible beeping alarm. Both alarms continue indefinitely until momentary manual closure of a reset switch stops the NAND gate from oscillating.

Abstract: An indexing unit in the form of a disc or an endless tape for switching chronometers has a number of programmable switch tabs disposed at an edge of the element forming a unitary structure, the switch tabs being depressable against the influence of a restoring force for positioning selected tabs in at least one programming position for actuating a separate switch device for switching a chronometer. The indexing element is comprised of flexible foil having a number of uniformly spaced incisions at an edge thereof. Each tab formed between successive incisions has a free end which may be pressed behind a retaining element for programming the indexing element.

Abstract: A device for generating musical time signalling signals for a timepiece in which combination of the data in ROM installed in the time signalling sound selecting circuit and the controlling action of the time signalling control circuit can simplify the circuit composition performing the complicated and multi-functional time signalling action, and can perform the necessary time signalling action by optional selection to produce a musical sound.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a timepiece having an alarm activating mechanism that serves for effecting the closure of an electrical contact (5a, 9) at a time which is adjustable in advance. The mechanism is arranged in the form of a module (100) which comprises a mechanically unitary assembly formed of two coaxial wheels (6, 8), one of which carries a contact element (9). This unitary assembly is mounted on the framework of the movement so that its angular position is manually adjustable about an axis, and it carries a wheel (5) which is in mesh with the hour wheel (3) and has an embossment (5a) which can enter into contact with the contact element (9). The invention is applicable more particularly to alarm watches.

Abstract: An alarm clock has a cambered leaf spring traversed by a nest of clock-hand shafts projecting from a mounting plate designed as a printed-circuit board. The leaf spring is supported at opposite ends by posts rising from the mounting plate and is limitedly swingable about a centerline parallel to that plate and perpendicular to the axis of the nested shafts. A toothed control disk centered on the same axis, with a hub carrying an alarm hand, is axially shiftable under pressure of the cambered leaf spring upon alignment of a tooth on that disk with a notch in an adjoining hour wheel; two diametrically opposite metallic contacts formed by lateral tongues on that spring then engage respective countercontacts on the mounting plate to close a circuit for the emission of an acoustic alarm signal.

Abstract: The cam type time detecting mechanism of an alarm clock has a time gear wheel, an alarm gear wheel and a detecting plate, all mounted on a shaft. A hole is formed on either the alarm gear wheel or the detecting plate and a projection is formed on the other. The detecting plate is movable on the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft. The time gear wheel and the detecting plate have guiding parts respectively so that the time gear wheel, in its normal rotation, continuously pushes and turns the detecting plate. At least one of the time gear wheel, the alarm gear wheel and the detecting plate has a cam for lifting up the detecting plate if the time gear wheel and the alarm gear wheel turn either in normal and reverse directions.

Abstract: In the time detecting device of an alarm clock is provided with an hour gear wheel and an alarm gear wheel, each having an indication hand, engaging with a second hour gear wheel and a second alarm gear wheel respectively. An detecting cam plate is provided so as to be axially shiftable and continuously pushed and turned by the second hour gear wheel. A projection is formed on either the second alarm gear wheel or the detecting cam plate while a hole is formed on the other. When the respective phases of the projection and the hole coincide, the detecting cam plate is allowed to shift to actuate the alarm device.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with a time striking device including an electric preliminary signalling means, an electric time striking means, an electric contact means, a time striking selecting means, and a time striking timing circuit in which a timer circuit is included, and preventing mishearing of time striking numbers at a right hour due to the preliminary signalling action making a time striking action predicted in advance.

Abstract: A digital clock is coupled to a cam means of a timing mechanism so that the clock can indicate the time remaining of a cycle provided by the cam means. One of the display wheels of the clock is intermittently rotated through the stored energy of a torsion spring, the energy being stored when the wheel is prevented from rotating by a slider which engages the wheel. A second display wheel is intermittently rotated as the first wheel is rotated through a geneva gear system which couples the two wheels together.

Abstract: A first detecting means for detecting the phase of an hour time wheel and a second detecting means adapted to cooperate with a projection provided with each of some of a plurality of minute indication leaves, said some leaves occurring at a constant interval, are provided. The first and second detecting means are associated together, and with detection of phase by the first detecting means the second detecting means is rendered capable of cooperation with the projection of a minute leaf. Subsequently, when the phase of the projection is detected by the second detecting means, an alarm device is operated.

Abstract: An alarm signaling time setting member is coupled to a minute indication drum having minute-scale alarm time graduations and an hour indication drum having hour-scale alarm signaling time graduations is intermittently advanced by the minute indication drum. First and second detection members for detecting the alarm signaling time are provided in correspondence to an hour time wheel and a minute time wheel respectively. The first detection member is geared to the second detection member, and the second detection member is geared to the minute indication drum to permit the detection member positions to be continuously set.

Abstract: First and second movable spring contact blades are disposed in substantially parallel relation and have substantially equal lengths with electrical contacts disposed near their distal ends. A third spring contact blade having electrical contacts at its distal end is fixedly disposed between the first two blades and has a shorter length than the two blades to provide a gap between the first two. The electrical contacts are in line with and facing each other at a distance just short of the gap. The combination of the electrical contacts provides a double pole switch means. Two independently operable actuator arms enter the gap to selectively engage the first and second spring contact blades to selectively open and close the electrical contacts. The two actuator arms in combination with the electrical contacts provide a program of a short pulsing duration within a longer program.There is a selector means which permits the actuator arm for the shorter duration to be operably removed from the system.