Improved Alarum Clock, with Variable Indicator.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Alarum Clock, with Variable Indicator.
I ALBERT JOSEPH PRIESTLEY of 41 Brook Street Ilkley near Leeds in the
County of York, Watchmaker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the assistance of managers of hotels, public-
houses, restaurants, shops, and other places, which it is necessary to close at certain
specified lawful times, and it relates to certain improvements in alarum clocks,
with variable indicators, motto motto's advertisements, or warnings..
In order that this object of closeing public houses hotels and other places may
be successfully attained at the proper time, I cause by the action of a lever and
an enlarged cam an alarum to be put into operation which attracts the attention of
the company or visitors that are in the room, and on looking at the clock an
indicator is exhibited below the dial thereof, or in any other suitable position or
place, on which is printed "Time to go home," or any other suitable warning,
indicator or motto.
The indicator remains in sight for a considerable time, until the company should
have departed, when it is automatically lifted or moved out of sight and is ready
for further use.
This operation of exhibiting the indicator, warning or motto, and starting the
alarum, may be repeated as often as necessary.
In addition to the before mentioned objects of warning, and exhibiting the
indicator or motto the apparatus may also be used for advertiseing, as it is clear
that any suitable advertisement can be fixed to the indicator frame.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same by
making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1. A-A represents the front plate of an ordinary alarum clock, inserted
into aforesaid front plate is a pin B to this pin is fitted a tube or hollow body C
shewn in section in detail drawing Fig. 3 and in elevation Fig. 2, on the back of
the tube C is fixed a curved tail D and on to the front thereof is fixed a lever E
tapering for part of its length, and curved and rounded toward the end, into this
lever E a pin is fixed at e'.
The tail D, tube C, lever E, and pin el form one piece of mechanism, and work
on the pin B, secured thereto by a pin b¹.
Another part of my invention will be seen in elevation on reference to Fig. 1.
where F F represents a strip of plate, bolted on to. the front plate A A by bolts
at G G. Attached to front plate FF are two set pins H H. containing eyes
through which works or passes a vertical rod I containing a slot hole J. Through
this slot hole J passes the curved end of the lever E. The bottom end of the aforesaid
rod I is attached to the indicator frame K. and the vertical rod L is likewise
attached to the balanced indicator frame K for the purpose of keeping it in
position.
This balanced indicator frame K consists of a light metallic plate, with a horizontal
arm at M and a projection at N. Corners at M. N. O. are turned over so that a
suitable card can be inserted and retained therein. Such card may contain any
suitable motto, warning, or advertisement, as "Time to go home," Time to get up,
as shown on my drawing Fig. 1.

page_text: Figs. 1 and Fig. 4 shows an enlarged cam P. P. containing curved groove R.
The said cam P is fixed at the back of the alarum dial plate S Fig. 4 and in front
elevation at Fig. 1 P. It is fixed for the 11 o'clock line as seen at Fig. 4. but can
be set for any other time.
I will now describe the manner in which my invention is worked. The lever E
Fig. 1 is fitted on to the pin B ou which it moves freely, the bearing pin e' is fixed
at a suitable distance from the bearing pin B. and rests on the outer edge of the
cam P when in the act of lifting after the indicator frame K, the vertical rods I and L.
and lever E Fig. 1 have been lifted to the top as shewn the cam P continues to
revolve, until the pin e drops into the hollow groove R when the lever E falls into
a horizontal position, and rests upon the safety pin e2, the virtical rod I & L.
and the indicator frame K falls simultaneously therewith, when the indicator card,
which is fixed on the frame K containing, "Time to go home," or other motto
warning or advertisement, becomes fully exposed to view.
As soon as this action has taken place the alarum may or may not go off as
desired.
If it is required to work the alarum, the spring must be wound up. The lever E
is now in an horizontal, position, and the pin el at the bottom of the groove R, as
the cam P continues to revolve the lever E begins to rise, carrying with it the
vertical rods I & L. and the indicator frame K. until the lever E has arrived at the
top. The curved tail D is placed at such an angle to the lever E that when
the lever is up, the curved tail D comes in contact with the tail of the alarum
hammer T (as shewn in dotted lines) immediately under the fulcrum of the lever E.
thereby decreasing the pressure of the alarum spring, and thus preventing the
alarum from sounding, until the lever E has released it by dropping into the
groove R of the cam P when the tail D. will release the tail T of the alarum
hammer, when the gong commences to ring, and will continue until the spring runs
down.
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement for holding up the indicator frame K. the rods I
and L. and the lever E when not required to drop, to effect this purpose, a strip of
metal of convenient size, is fixed in the side of the clock case as shewn, which may
be withdrawn as far as necessary, when it is required to work the advertiseing
indicating or warning apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The use of an enlarged cam for raising, or lowering a lever, virtical rods,
and indicator frame.
2nd. The use of the tail of the aforesaid lever for forcing or pressing the tail of
the alarum hammer inwardly, and holding it in such a position, that it cannot
strike the gong, or bell, until released by the said lever falling into a horizontal
position.
3rd. An indicator frame for holding, exhibiting warning, advertiseing, and other
cards in connection with clocks.
4th. The lifting and lowering and exhibiting such cards, advertisements, warnings
or motto by and in connection with cam lever virtical rods, and aforesaid frame
plate.
5th. The application of the aforesaid cam, lever, rods, and indicator frame, to
any ordinary clock, alarum or otherwise.
Dated this 11th day of April 1896.
ALBERT JOSEPH PRIESTLEY.