Patent Publication Number: US-2009235858-A1

Title: Bell having one-way clapper

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bell, and more particularly to a bell including a one-way clapper member for striking the bell member in only one direction and for preventing the one-way clapper member from striking the bell member in the other or the opposite direction. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical bells comprise a bell body, and a jinglet, sounder, hammer, tongue, striker or clapper disposed in the bell body and movable to strike against the bell body, in order to make various sounds. Normally, the bell body is required to be moved, shaken, vibrated or oscillated or operated by the users in order to make the sounds, and the striker or clapper may be moved in both directions or in all directions to strike onto the bell body and to make the sounds. 
     The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is his prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,282 to Yuan which discloses one of the typical bells comprising an actuator rod for being operatable to actuate onto the striker or clapper and for forcing the striker or clapper to strike onto or against the bell body and so as to make various sounds without shaking or oscillating the bell body by the users. 
     However, similarly, the striker or clapper may also be moved in both directions or in all directions to strike onto the bell body and to make the sounds, and the striker or clapper may be forced to strike onto the bell body two or more times when the typical bell is moved or shook once by the users, such that the user may not clearly hear the scale and/or the tone of the sounds. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional bell assemblies or devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bell including a one-way clapper member for striking the bell member in only one direction and for preventing the one-way clapper member from striking the bell member in the other or the opposite direction and thus for allowing the sound generated by the one-way clapper member and the bell member may be clearly heard by the users. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bell comprising a handle, a bell member, a securing device securing the bell member and the handle together, and a clapper device including an axle provided on a first end portion and rotatably attached to the securing device for allowing the clapper device to be rotated relative to the securing device and to selectively strike onto the bell member in one direction, and including a stop provided on the first end portion of the clapper device for engaging with the securing device and for limiting a rotational movement of the clapper device relative to the bell member and the securing device, and for preventing the clapper device from striking onto the bell member in an opposite direction and thus for allowing the sound generated by the one-way clapper member and the bell member may be clearly heard by the users. 
     The bell member includes an aperture formed therein, and the securing device includes a panel and a shank extended from the panel and engaged through the aperture of the bell member to secure the securing device to the bell member with such as the force-fitted engagement. 
     The securing device includes at least one ear extended from the panel and having an orifice formed in the ear to rotatably receive the axle. The securing device includes a pad attached to the panel for selectively and softly or resiliently engaging with the stop the clapper device and for cushioning the clapper device and for preventing the clapper device from striking onto the bell member and the securing device. 
     The securing device includes a cavity formed in the panel, and the pad includes a stud for engaging into the cavity of the panel of the securing device and for securing the pad to the panel of the securing device. The cavity of the panel and the stud of the pad preferably include a cylindrical structure for solidly securing to each other. 
     The bell member includes at least one notch formed therein and communicating with the aperture of the bell member, and the securing device includes at least one peg extended therefrom for engaging with the notch of the bell member and for preventing the bell member and the securing device from being rotated relative to each other. 
     The securing device includes at least one groove for forming at least one rib and for frictionally engaging with the bell member and the handle. The handle includes a bore formed therein for receiving the shank. 
     The handle includes an engaging surface formed therein for being depressed or engaged by the users, and the securing device includes an engaging surface for engaging with the engaging surface of the handle and for preventing the securing device from rotating relative to the handle. 
     A spring member may further be provided and engaged between the securing device and the clapper device for biasing the stop of the clapper device to engage with the securing device and for disengaging a clapper member of the clapper device from the bell member. 
     A positioning device may further be provided for positioning the bell on a supporting surface. The positioning device includes two spring arms having a space formed between the spring arms for receiving and engaging with the handle and for stably grasping the handle between the spring arms. 
     The positioning device includes a projection extended upwardly from the positioning device for such as the directioning purposes. The spring arms each may include a flat surface for stably engaging with the supporting surface or the table and for preventing the bell from rotating relative to the supporting surface or the supporting table. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bell in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the bell as seen from the upper portion of the bell; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the bell as seen from the bottom portion of the bell; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the bell taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the operation of the bell; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the bell taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a further exploded view illustrating the other arrangement of the bell; 
         FIGS. 8 ,  9  are cross sectional views illustrating the operation of the bell as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a still further exploded view illustrating the further arrangement of the bell; 
         FIGS. 11 ,  12  are cross sectional views illustrating the operation of the bell as shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side plan schematic view illustrating the positioning of the bell on a supporting surface; 
         FIG. 14  is a still further exploded view illustrating the positioning device for positioning the bell on the supporting surface; and 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating the positioning device for positioning the bell on the supporting surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-4 , a bell  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a handle  10  including a bore  11  formed therein, and including a non-circular opening  12 , such as a D-shaped opening  12  formed or provided in the one end portion  13  thereof, and including a depression or flat or engaging surface  14  formed or provided in the one end portion  13  thereof for being contacted or depressed or held by the users and for directioning the handle  10  and the bell  1 . 
     A bell body or bell member  20  includes a frusto-conical form or shape having an aperture  21 , such as a non-circular aperture  21  formed in one end portion  22  thereof ( FIG. 2 ) for aligning with the non-circular opening  12  of the handle  10 , and includes one or more notches  23  also formed in the one end portion  22  thereof, such as arranged or located around the aperture  21  and communicating with the aperture  21  of the bell member  20 . 
     A coupler or securing device  30  is provided to attach or secure or couple the bell member  20  to the handle  10 , and includes a panel  31  for engaging with the inner portion or the base plate  24  of the bell member  20 , and the panel  31  includes an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the aperture  21  of the bell member  20  for solidly engaging with the base plate  24  of the bell member  20  and for anchoring or retaining or securing the bell member  20  to the handle  10 . 
     The securing device  30  further includes a shank  32  extended from one side of the panel  31  and engageable through the aperture  21  of the bell member  20  and engageable into the bore  11  of the handle  10 , and includes one or more grooves  33  formed in the peripheral portion thereof for forming one or more ribs  34  and for frictionally engaging with the bell member  20  and the handle  10 , and for solidly securing the bell member  20  to the handle  10  with such as the force-fitted engagement. 
     The securing device  30  further includes one or more pegs  35  extended from the panel  31  and/or the shank  32  for engaging with the notches  23  of the bell member  20  and for further stably anchoring the bell member  20  to the securing device  30  and for preventing the bell member  20  and the securing device  30  from being rotated relative to each other, and includes one or more engaging surfaces  36  formed therein ( FIGS. 2 ,  6 ) for engaging with the engaging surface  14  of the handle  10  and for further stably securing the handle  10  and the bell member  20  and the securing device  30  together in the predetermined or selected angular direction and for preventing the securing device  30  from rotating relative to the handle  10 . 
     The securing device  30  further includes one or more (such as two) ears  37  extended from the other side  38  of the panel  31  and extended opposite to the shank  32 , and the ears  37  each include an orifice  39  formed therein, and further includes a cavity  40  formed therein, such as formed in the other side  38  of the panel  31  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ) and located between the ears  37  and offset from the ears  37 , and an anvil or pad  41  is made of soft or resilient materials and includes a cylindrical stud  42  for engaging into the cavity  40  of the panel  31  of the securing device  30  and for stably or solidly securing to the panel  31  of the securing device  30  with such as the force-fitted engagement. 
     A clapper device  50  includes an axle  51  formed or provided on one end portion  52  thereof and rotatably engaged in the orifices  39  of the ears  37  for allowing the clapper device  50  to be rotated relative to the panel  31  or the securing device  30 , and includes a stop  53  also formed or provided on the one end portion  52  thereof for engaging with the pad  41  or the panel  31  of the securing device  30  which may limit the rotational movement of the clapper device  50  relative to the bell member  20  and the securing device  30 , and may cushion the clapper device  50  for preventing the clapper device  50  from striking onto the bell member  20  and the securing device  30 . 
     The clapper device  50  further includes a stem  54  extended from the one end portion  52  thereof, and a jinglet, sounder, hammer, tongue, striker or clapper member  55  is coupled or secured to the other end or the free end portion of the stem  54  for hammering or striking onto the bell member  20 . A spring member  56  may be engaged onto the clapper device  50 , such as engaged onto the axle  51  and engaged with or between the securing device  30  and the clapper device  50  for biasing the stop  53  of the clapper device  50  to engage with the pad  41  of the securing device  30  ( FIG. 4 ), or for disengaging the clapper member  55  from the bell member  20 . 
     In operation, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the user hold or grasp the handle  10  and vibrate or oscillate or shake or move the handle  10  and the bell member  20  of the bell  1 , the clapper member  55  may be forced to hammer or strike onto the bell member  20  in one direction so as to make a sound. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the clapper device  50  is bounced back or biased back to the original position by the spring member  56 , the stop  53  of the clapper device  50  may be forced to engage with the pad  41  or to directly engage with the panel  31  of the securing device  30  and thus to prevent the clapper member  55  from hammering or striking onto the bell member  20  in the opposite direction and for preventing the one-way clapper member  55  from striking the bell member  20  in the other or the opposite direction and thus for allowing the sound generated by the one-way clapper member  55  and the bell member  20  to be clearly heard by the users. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the clapper device  501  may include an extension  57  extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the other side  38  of the panel  31  of the securing device  30  ( FIG. 9 ) and for limiting the clapper member  55  to hammer or strike onto the bell member  20  and for preventing the clapper member  55  from over hammering or striking onto the bell member  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , the clapper device  502  may include a pin  58  extended from the extension  57 , and the securing device  30  may include a recess  59  formed in the other side  38  of the panel  31 , and a spring member  60  may be engaged with the recess  59  of the panel  31  and the extension  57  of the clapper device  501  for disengaging the clapper member  55  from the bell member  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13-15 , a positioning device  70  is provided for positioning the bell  1  on the supporting surface or the like, and includes two spring arms  71  having a space  72  formed or defined between the spring arms  71  for receiving or engaging with the handle  10 , and includes a projection  73  extended upwardly from the positioning device  70  for directioning purposes, and the spring arms  71  each include a flat surface  74  for stably engaging with the supporting surface and for preventing the bell  1  from rotating relative to the supporting surface. 
     Accordingly, the bell in accordance with the present invention includes a one-way clapper for striking the bell member in only one direction and for preventing the one-way clapper from striking the bell member in the other or the opposite direction and thus for allowing the sound generated by the one-way clapper and the bell member may be clearly heard by the users. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.