Abstract:
An alarm clock is shaped as a miniature slot machine. The alarm is set by pulling the handle forward, just as one activates a real slot machine. When the alarm goes off, the wheels spin and stop one at a time on a jackpot combination, accompanied by the sound one would hear from a real slot machine. A light on top of the machine flashes, accompanied by sound that mimics the sounds of a jackpot on a real slot machine. The snooze alarm is set by pushing the handle to the rear.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/585,312, filed Jun. 1, 2000 now abandoned, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of decorative alarm clocks, and in particular to an alarm clock in the shape of a slot machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Decorative alarm clocks come in many shapes and sizes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,703 discloses a combined clock and chance device which displays generally square outlines to represent the faces of two dice. A user can “roll” the dice and observe the results on the clock face. In the absence of “rolling”, the total number of illuminated dots is equal to the hour of the day, while an associated portion of the display unit provides the minutes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,672 discloses an alarm clock that simulates a fishing reel mounted on a fishing rod. The side plates are provided with various elements necessary for the operation of the alarm clock with some of those elements simulating the elements of a reel. For example, the volume is controlled by the reel handle and the reel clicker on/off control operates the alarm on/off switch. The overall result is an alarm clock that looks, feels, and sounds like a fishing reel. 
     Design Pat. No. 361,516 discloses an ornamental design for a clock that looks like a slot machine, but no details are disclosed of how it works. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, an alarm clock is shaped as a miniature slot machine. The alarm is set by pulling the handle forward, just as one activates a real slot machine. When the alarm goes off, the wheels spin and stop one at a time on a jackpot combination, accompanied by the sound one would hear from a real slot machine. A light on top of the machine flashes, accompanied by sound that mimics the sounds of a jackpot on a real slot machine. The snooze alarm is set by pushing the handle to the rear. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an alarm clock includes an outer shell; an inner mechanism affixed inside the outer shell; a handle penetrating the outer shell and connected to the inner mechanism; the inner mechanism including display means for displaying a plurality of rotating wheels wherein each wheel includes a plurality of indicia thereon such that only one of the plurality of indicia on each wheel is visible to an operator through a first opening in the outer shell; the inner mechanism further including a clock module which includes a clock display visible to the operator through a second opening in the outer shell; and wherein the outer shell, the display means, and the handle combine to present an appearance substantially identical to a slot machine. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for operating an alarm clock to mimic an operation of a slot machine includes the steps of (a) providing an outer shell and handle having an appearance of the slot machine; (b) setting an alarm by pulling the handle forward a first time; (c) deactivating the alarm by pulling the handle forward a second time; (d) displaying, when the alarm activates, a plurality of rotating wheels wherein each wheel includes a plurality of indicia thereon such that only one of the plurality of indicia on each wheel is visible to an operator through a first opening in the outer shell; and (e) stopping the display of rotating wheels such that visible indicia on the wheels represent a jackpot combination. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of an alarm clock according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the operational components of an alarm clock of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the inner mechanism of the alarm clock of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the inner mechanism of the alarm clock of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the operational components of an alarm clock of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a front elevation view of an alarm clock according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the drive wheel according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial side sectional view of wheel stopping mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of one of the nondrive wheels taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the device illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a view of the hinge arm/camming mechanism of FIG. 10 taken along line  5 — 5 . 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the cam illustrated in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a first cam-switch shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a second cam-switch shown in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-12, a slot machine alarm clock  10  of the present invention contains circuitry as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 inside a body  12 . A sequencer  50  coordinates the operation of the entire device. Sequencer  50  is preferably programmed from a PLD (programmable logic device) or optionally from a personal computer. Arrows between sequencer  50  and other boxes show the direction of control signals. A clock module  30  is a fairly generic alarm clock subsystem, including a numerical display  32 ; push-buttons (not shown) to set the hour and minute for both the current time and the time that the alarm should go off; and a lighted indicator (not shown) to show whether the alarm function is enabled or disabled. 
     Sequencer  50  sends a signal to clock module  30  when the alarm function is enabled or disabled, and when the snooze function is selected, delaying the alarm for some pre-determine period of time. Clock module  30  sends an alarm signal to sequencer  50  when the alarm time arrives. 
     An enable/disable switch  34  is used to arm or disarm the alarm. In this implementation, enable/ disable switch  34  is activated by pulling a handle  14  on a side of body  12 . Pulling handle  14  forward, as one would do when playing a slot machine in a casino, sets the alarm by activating enable/disable switch  34 . Pulling handle  14  again disables the alarm. Typically, one would enable the alarm by pulling handle  14  when going to bed. When the alarm activates in the morning, one would pull handle  14  again to turn the alarm off. One could also disable the alarm by pulling handle  14  before the alarm is activated. 
     A snooze switch  36  is used to invoke the snooze feature of clock module  30 . Snooze switch  36  is activated by pushing handle  14  backwards. When the alarm goes off, pushing back on handle  14  temporarily deactivates the alarm actions and enables them to restart after a short interval, typically about ten minutes. 
     A “playing” sound mimics the sounds that a real slot machine makes when the handle is pulled and the wheels are spinning. A “winner” sound is a sound effect that mimics the sounds that a real slot machine makes when the wheels have stopped spinning, and a winning combination of symbols is showing. A “winner” light  18  flashes when the wheels stop spinning and a winning combination of symbols is showing on a jackpot display  16 . These features are generated by a playing sound module  48 , a winner sound module  52 , and a winner light module  54 . The use of these modules is described later. Optional lights under each wheel makes the spinning numbers visible while the wheels are spinning. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a rotation motor  60  causes a wheel shaft  62  to rotate via a rotation gear drive  64 . Spring clutches  66  engage wheels  68  and make wheels  68  rotate. When a stopping arm  70  is engaged with a wheel  68 , it overrides spring clutch  66  and prevents further rotation of wheel  66 . Each wheel  68  has its own stopping arm  70 . Stepper motors, one for each wheel, are optionally used instead of rotation motor  60 . 
     A horizontal arm positioner  42  is a bi-directional motor with limit switches on each end. Horizontal arm positioner  42  uses a motor  72  and gears inside a gearbox  74  to move stopping arms  70  either towards or away from wheels  68 . An away limit switch  76  is activated to indicate when arms  70  are moved fully away from wheels  68 . An engaged limit switch  78  is activated to indicate when arms  70  are fully engaged with wheels  68 . The limit switches  76 ,  78  serve two purposes. First, they let sequencer  50  know when the arms  70  have traveled as far as they should normally go. Second, they disconnect power from motor  72  to prevent damage if sequencer  50  is defective. 
     A radial arm positioner  44 , which is controlled by sequencer  50 , uses a motor  80  and a gear drive inside a gearbox  82  to move stopping arms  70  either towards the center of wheels  68  or towards the outer diameter of wheels  68 . A linkage  84  connects the gear drive inside gearbox  82  to positioner  44 . An inner limit switch  86  is activated when arms  70  are closest to the shaft  62  on which wheels  68  rotate. An outer limit switch  88  is activated when arms  70  are near the outer diameter of the wheels  68 . The limit switches  86 ,  88  serve the same purposes as those on horizontal arm positioner  42 . That is, they let sequencer  50  know when the arms  70  have traveled as far as they should normally go, and they disconnect power from motor  72  to prevent damage if sequencer  50  is defective. 
     Radial arm positioner  44  also includes an optical sensor  90  and a position plate  92  with a plurality of holes in it. Optical sensor  90  includes a light source, a light detector, and a gap between the two. Position plate  92  passes through the gap. As arms  70  are moving radially, optical sensor  90  is activated when a hole in position plate  92  allows the beam of light to pass from the light source to the light detector. The holes are preferably located so that light passes through them when arms  70  are aligned with one of the “winning” positions. 
     Sequencer  50  coordinates the operation of the device in its various modes of operation. The potential sequences are: 
     (1) enable the alarm function, 
     (2) start the alarm actions, 
     (3) disable the alarm function when the alarm is activated, 
     (4) disable the alarm function when the alarm is not activated, 
     (5) enable the snooze function when the alarm is activated, and 
     (6) enable the snooze function when the alarm is not activated. 
     The sequence of activities that sequencer  50  performs is now described for each of the modes of operation. 
     (1) Enable the Alarm Function 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function being disabled and the user first pulling forward and then releasing handle  14 . Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  has been pulled forward by sensing that enable/disable switch  34  is closed. Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  is released by waiting until it senses that enable/disable switch  34  is open. A counter in sequencer  50  is continually running, with its value changing 60 times per second. At the instant that handle  14  is released, the value of this counter is remembered. This value is preferably used as the winning number for the next spinning of the wheels. Since there are only a few possible winning positions of the wheels, preferably between 3 and 10, and the counter is changing so fast, the resulting winning number is essentially random. No one number is favored over another. 
     At the same time, sequencer  50  energizes horizontal arm positioner motor  72  to move arms  70  in the direction away from wheels  68 . Sequencer  50  detects that arms  70  are fully away from wheels  68  by waiting until it senses that away limit switch  76  is open. Horizontal arm positioner motor  72  is then de-energized. Next, sequencer  50  energizes radial arm positioner motor  80  to move arms  70  towards the center of wheels  68 . Sequencer  50  detects that arms  70  are near the center of wheels  68  by waiting until it senses that inner limit switch  86  is open. The direction of radial arm positioner motor  80  is now changed so as to move arms  70  away from the center of wheels  68 . As position plate  92  travels through the gap in optical sensor  90 , sequencer  50  counts how many times the beam of light is allowed to pass through the holes in position plate  92 . When the count is equal to the previously remembered winning number, radial arm positioner motor  80  is de-energized. Finally, a signal is sent to clock module  30  notifying it that the alarm has been enabled. An “alarm enabled” indicator light in clock module  30  lights to show that the alarm is enabled. 
     (2) Start the Alarm Actions 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function enabled and clock module  30  sending a signal that the alarm time has arrived. Sequencer  50  detects that the alarm time has arrived by sensing the alarm signal from clock module  30 . Rotation motor  60  is energized and wheels  68  start spinning. Playing sound module  48  is energized and a sound that a real slot machine might make is heard. After a few seconds, sequencer  50  energizes horizontal arm positioner motor  42  to move arms  70  in the direction towards wheels  68 . First arm  70  stops first wheel  68  at the appropriate position. A moment later, second arm  70  stops second wheel  68 . After another moment, third arm  70  stops third wheel  68 . Sequencer  50  detects that arms  70  are fully engaged with wheels  68  by waiting until it senses that engaged limit switch  78  is open. The mechanical alignment of the device is preferably adjusted so that engaged limit switch  78  is activated almost immediately after the third arm  70  stops the third wheel. 
     At this time, horizontal arm positioner motor  72 , rotation motor  46 , and playing sound module  48  are de-energized while winner sound module  52  and winner light module  54  are energized. A winning combination is preferably shown on wheels  68 . The sound plays and the light flashes either until the alarm function is disabled or the clock module  30  disables the alarm signal. This is typically about an hour and depends on the clock module  30  used. 
     (3) Disable the Alarm Function When Alarm Is Activated 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function enabled, the alarm actions in progress, and the user first pulling forward and then releasing the handle  14 . Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  has been pulled forward by sensing that enable/disable switch  34  is closed. Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  is released by waiting until it senses that enable/disable switch  34  is open. If the alarm function is disabled before the alarm actions have completed, including several seconds of playing the winner sound and flashing the winner light, then sequencer  50  waits before disabling the alarm function. If the sound and lights have been active for a few seconds, then the disabling is immediate. Sequencer  50  de-energizes winner sound module  52  and winner light module  54 . Sequencer  50  also sends a signal to clock module  30  notifying it that the alarm has been disabled. Clock module  30  turns off the alarm enabled indicator light. 
     (4) Disable the Alarm Function When Alarm Is Not Activated 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function enabled, no alarm time signal yet from the clock module, and the user first pulling forward and then releasing handle  14 . Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  has been pulled forward by sensing that enable/disable switch  34  is closed. Sequencer detects that handle  14  is released by waiting until it senses that enable/disable switch  34  is open. No alarm actions will occur. Sequencer  50  sends a signal to clock module  30  notifying it that the alarm has been disabled. Clock module  30  turns off the alarm enabled indicator light. 
     (5) Enable the Snooze Function When Alarm Is Activated 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function enabled, the alarm actions in progress, and the user first pushing back and then releasing handle  14 . When snooze switch  36  is activated, sequencer  50  immediately stops the current alarm actions and prepares for a new alarm signal. Sequencer  50  detects that handle  50  has been pushed back by sensing that snooze switch  34  is closed. Sequencer  50  detects that handle  14  is released by waiting until it senses that snooze switch  34  is open. Sequencer  50  de-energizes whichever of the following outputs are energized: horizontal arm positioner  42 , radial arm positioner  44 , rotation motor  46 , playing sound module  48 , winner sound module  52 , and winner light module  54 . Sequencer  50  then follows the actions described above in Step 1 (Enable the Alarm Function), with the exception of the last action. Since clock module  30  already knows that the alarm is enabled, a signal is sent to clock module  30  notifying it that snooze switch  36  has been activated and that it should turn off the alarm signal and re-assert it after the snooze period expires. 
     (6) Enable the Snooze Function When Alarm Is Not Activated 
     This sequence starts with the alarm function disabled and the user first pushing back and then releasing handle  14 . This action would normally not do anything necessary for the operation of alarm clock  19 , but optionally makes the slot machine mechanism run through a demonstration cycle. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5-6, an alternative embodiment uses a visual display  96  instead of jackpot display  16  of the previous embodiment. Visual display  96  is any graphics display such as an LED display, LCD display, plasma display, or even a CRT display if the alarm clock is large enough. A graphics chip  94  replaces horizontal arm positioner  42 , radial arm positioner  44 , and rotation motor  46  to provide a visual image of the jackpot wheels on display  96 . The remainder of the functioning is as described with respect to the previous embodiment. 
     A further alternative embodiment which uses a camming/hinge arm arrangement to stop the plurality of wheels such that the visible indicia represent a jackpot combination is illustrated in FIGS. 7-14. In this embodiment the horizontal arm positioner  42  and radial arm positioner  44  are replaced in the block diagram of FIG. 2 with the camming/hinge arm arrangement. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, wheels  162  and  164  have been indexed with drive wheel  160  through pins  176  to insure that the indicia or images seen through viewing window  104  will represent a jackpot combination. Wheel  160  has an indexing pin  176  fixed to its right side. This pin enters slot  174  shown in wheel  162 . On start up, this pin will rotate through the path of the slot settling at some “out-of register” position. The effect is of wheels starting in order  160 ,  162  and  164  and stopping in the same order. All wheel graphics are identical; 10 images, 36 degree centers, cover plate openings block visibility of all but one line of graphics. Wheel  160  is motor driven. Wheels  162  and  164  are free to lag the driven wheel, scrambling the order, giving the illusion of randomness. 
     As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 7-10, wheels  160 ,  162  and  164  contain the appropriate indicia to form a winning jackpot combination are positioned on drive shaft  166 , with drive wheel  160  containing a gearing mechanism  168  driven by motor  170 . Drive wheel  160  contains a series of five evenly spaced radial slots  172  which are designed to accommodate pin  182  contained on hinge arm  178 . Wheels  162  and  164  each contain a single radial slot  174  having an arc of 180° as illustrated in FIG.  9 . Slot  174  is designed to receive a pin  176  which is designed to ride in and is fixed within said slot. 
     Arm  178  is hinged at  180  and contains a projection  184  designed to contact cam  194 , and at its free end contains a pin  182  which is designed to fit into one of radial slots  172  of drive wheel  160 . Cams  196  and  198  are connected to micro switches  100  and  102 , respectively, with all three cams being driven by motor  192 . A spring  188  is connected to pin  186  on cam  194  and is connected to a wire  189  at its opposite end which winds around pulley  190 . The other end of wire  189  is connected to arm  178  and through the camming action of cam  194  provides motion to arm  178  to allow pin  182  to move into and out of locking (stopping) arrangement in one of slots  172  contained in the face of drive wheel  160 . 
     In operation, an alarm signal from the clock module is converted to a 100 millisecond pulse which overrides cam switch  196  starting motor  192  (FIGS.  10 - 14 ). As the pulse ends, the motor will continue to run through the cam switch until one cycle is complete. This system also powers wheel drive motor  170 . 
     Cam  194  contains a vertical pin  186  which is connected to spring  188  which at its opposite end is connected to a wire  189  which is wound around pulley  190  and attached to arm  178 . Cam  194  lifts hinge arm  178  from engagement with drive wheel  160  and continues revolving, tensioning spring  188 , and at end of its revolution, releases hinge arm to re-engage and stop drive wheel  160 . 
     Wheels  162  and  164  revolve freely on shaft  166 . Wheel  160  is driven by gear motor  170  and indexed by hinge arm  178  and pin  182  designed to engage one of radial slots  172 . Wheel  162  will begin to move through pin  176  on wheel  160  when drive wheel  160  has moved 180 degrees. Wheel  164  will begin to move through pin  176  on wheel  162  when wheel  162  has moved 180 degrees. This is to scramble the images seen through viewing window  104 . 
     When the timing cycle is complete, cam  194  releases hinge arm  178  and pin  182  is driven into one of the five slots  172 , and at the same time cam switch  100  will turn off motor  192  and wheels  162  and  164  will stop sequentially to present a jackpot combination. At the same time cam switch  102  initiates alarm sounds and lights. Cam switches  100  and  102  each have an activator arm  103  which controls a switch button  105  (FIGS.  13  and  14 ). 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.