Patent Publication Number: US-4585358-A

Title: Shakeable shutoff alarm clock

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to alarms for clocks having audible signal devices and in particular to controls for alarm signals which respond to motion of the clock. 
     2. Background Art 
     Most alarm clocks provide an irritating sound to awaken a sleeper, the more irritating the more effective. But this same effectiveness, while causing the person to be aroused from a sleeping state to waking, also serves to aggravate the person to the extent that very often the disturbed sleeper upon awakening will slam down the switch to shut off the alarm, possibly breaking the switch and leading to further aggravation. One alarm clock (U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,875), which purports to provide a cathartic effect by throwing the sound generating portion of the clock, runs the risk of damaging the clock, objects or even people in the room when such a missile is hurled by a bleary eyed awakened sleeper. Some very old alarms provide noisy objects such as bells falling on the sleeper, again running the risk of injury. 
     Most alarm clocks provide only a single sound for awakening a person. Although there are various reactivating means to repeat the sound after a delay period, the sound always remains the same. 
     Most alarm clocks do not require participation or secondary awakening effects to aid in the awakening process but require only that the awakened person mechanically switch off the alarm. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     By providing an alarm shut-off switch which requires a rigorous shaking movement of the clock to quiet the alarm, the awakening sleeper is afforded the cathartic pleasure of getting even with the clock for intruding the sleeper, thereby bringing a sense of pleasurable revenge to the awakened person and starting the day with a much more positive attitude without actually breaking or damaging the alarm clock or anyone or anything else in the room, including the sleeper, in any way. 
     A second moaning sound temporarily activated automatically after the shaking ceases the first alarm provides an additional noise to aid in waking the sleeper, and in a very pleasant manner by bringing a laugh or smile to the awakened individual. 
     A high level of participation by the awakened sleeper provides a very effective alarm clock: physical participation in shaking the clock to shut off the alarm and emotional participation on three levels including the aggravation by the first alarm, the pleasant revenge of shaking the disturbing clock and the humor of the moaning alarm clock. 
     Providing a grimacing human face on the face of the alarm clock further adds to the emotional involvement in getting even with the nuisance alarm. 
     Having a small curved body for the alarm clock facilitates the gripping for better shaking. 
     A soft exterior surface on the body of the clock enables the user to dig fingers and fingernails into the surface of the clock further satisfying the urge for revenge. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other details and advantages of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the shakeable alarm clock exterior in approximately spherical form; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the shakeable alarm clock exterior provided with a long neck portion for grasping; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the shakeable switch portion of the alarm clock having the top open to reveal the mercury switch inside; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the mercury switch just before shaking taken through 4--4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the mercury switch just after shaking taken through 4--4 of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the shakeable switch with the top up to reveal a rolling sphere and a ramped spiral track; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sphere-and-track alternate embodiment of the shakeable switch taken through 7--7 of FIG. 6 with an additional diagram showing the electrical circuit for the alarm connected to the switch; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred mercury switch connected to the electrical alarm circuit; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view partially in broken section of another alternate embodiment of the shakeable switch having a pendulum, shown connected to a diagram of the electrical circuit for the alarm. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1 the preferred embodiment of the shakeable alarm clock 20 comprises a substantially spherical body 34 coated with a soft spongy material such as sponge rubber so that the user&#39;s fingernails may be dug into the surface as the user grips the clock. The circular face 22 of the clock is provided with the usual minute 24 and hour 26 hands with markings 30 around the periphery for the hours. In addition, the face is imprinted or molded with a grimmacing face 28 for further enhancing the cathartic effect of the alarm clock&#39;s shakeability. The clock works may be mechanical or electrical and a digital clock is also possible. The base 32 of the clock is flat for resting on a horizontal surface. 
     In FIG. 2 an alternate embodiment 20A of the invention provides a substantially spherical body 34A with a very elongated neck 40 extending downwardly from the body for a firm choke-like grasp around the neck of the clock by the user&#39;s hand. A broad extending rim 42 at the bottom of the neck provides a substantial base upon which to rest the clock. As in the preferred embodiment the gripping portions of the clock may be coated with a soft spongy material. 
     In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the shakeable mercury switch 48 of the preferred embodiment of the invention is formed from a rigid shell having top 50 and bottom 51 sections which are both fabricated of an electrically non-conductive material such as plastic and are secured together, as by cementing, in usage to form a completely enclosed impermeable vessel. The bottom section comprises a central bowl 60 formed in the vessel and a peripheral trough 58 higher than the bowl, and completely surrounding the bowl around the perimeter of the vessel which trough is separated from the bowl by a ridge 70 higher than the trough except for a channel 52 through the ridge which joins the higher trough 58 to the lower bowl 60. Protruding through the bottom wall of the bowl are two electrical primary alarm contacts 64 and 66, which as seen in FIG. 8, are connected in series with the primary alarm 106, the battery 102 and the time control switch 104 for activating the alarm. The mercury 62 or other electrically conductive liquid in the bowl makes the electrical connection across the contacts 64 and 66, when the timer closes the time controlled switch 104 to set off the alarm. When the clock is shaken the mercury 62 in the bowl 60 is dispersed out into the surrounding trough 58 thereby breaking the connection between the contacts 64 and 66 and shutting off the primary alarm, which deactivates the time controlled switch 104 until the timer reactivates again. 
     In the channel 52 leading from the continually sloping 58 down into the bowl 60, a second pair of contacts 54 and 56 through the vessel wall protrude in vertical alignment within the channel. As the Mercury flows over the channel contacts 54 and 56 are electrically connected by the mercury to activate a second sounding means 100 in the second circuit, as seen in FIG. 8, with the channel contacts 54 and 56, the battery 102 and the second sounding means 100 all in series. The second sounding source generates a moaning sound while the mercury flows over the channel contacts, until all of the mercury has flowed back into the bowl thereby breaking the connection between the channel contacts and stopping the moaning sound. This moaning sound further adds to the delight in shaking the clock to quiet the alarm, and the humor and satisfaction in the sound further aid in waking the sleeper in a pleasant fashion. 
     In FIGS. 6 and 7 an alternate embodiment of the shakeable switch 76 provides a closed rigid container of electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic, with a top 78 and bottom 80 sections secured together, as by cementing. In the bottom section 80 a centrally positioned hemispherical depression 88, at the low point of the bottom, supports an electrically conductive sphere 86 resting within the hemisphere. Electrical primary alarm contacts 92 and 94 protrude through the container into the hemispherical depression 88, wherein the sphere creates an electrical connection between the contacts to sound the primary alarm 106, in FIG. 7, when the time controlled switch 104 has been closed by the alarm timer. Surrounding the hemispherical depression is a ramped spiral trough 96 rising from the hemispherical depression 88 at a constant incline up to the perimeter of the enclosed container or chamber. Along the entire length of the spiral trough along its bottom, which conforms in cross-section to the sphere, run parallel track contacts 82 and 84 (dashed lines) forming an electrical contact between which the sphere makes an electrical connection as long as the sphere is riding in the trough. Shaking the container dislodges the sphere 86 from the hemispherical depression 88 and launches it into the spiral trough 96 at some point. When the connection between the depression contacts 92 and 94 is broken, the primary alarm 106 stops and is not reactivated until the alarm timer closes the time controlled switch 104, with the sphere in the hemispherical depression. When the sphere lands in the spiral trough 96, the conductive sphere makes an electrical connection between the parallel track contacts 82 and 84 to activate a second sound producing means 100 which creates and maintains a moaning sound while the sphere is in the spiral trough. 
     In FIG. 9 another alternate shakeable switching means comprises an electrcially conductive pendulum 114 with a top contact 110 connecting to a battery 102 which then connects with either a primary alarm 106 circuit having a time controlled switch 104 from the alarm timer or a circuit containing a second sound producing means 100. A spherical top 112 on the pendulum allows the pendulum to maintain contact with the top contact 110 at all times regardless of the swinging action of the pendulum. When the pendulum is hanging down straight with the clock at rest, the weighted end 124 of the pendulum contacts an electrically conductive spring 120 or coil which completes the circit along a conductor 122 to the primary alarm 106. With the pendulum hanging vertically, when the alarm timer closes the time controlled switch 104, the primary alarm 106 is sounded. Shaking the clock moves the pendulum away from the spring 120 breaking the contact and silencing the primary alarm until the alarm timer reactivates it. When the pendulum (dashed lines) contacts a surrounding truncated cone 118 of electrically conductive material a secondary circuit with conductor 116 activates a second sound producing means 100 to produce a moaning sound. 
     The shakeable alarm clock fabricated with either body configuration and any of the possible shakeable switches produces the same multiple levels of participation effective in waking the sleeper. A standard aggravating alarm first startles the sleeper awake. Then the sleeper has the opportunity to shake the clock vigorously to shut off the alarm with a cathartic sense of revenge, further enhanced by a moaning sound emitted from the clock after shaking coupled with the humorous grimacing face of the clock all adding to the awakening process and helping to start the day with a more pleasant outlook. 
     It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.