Improvements in Alarm Clocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Alarm Clocks.
I, FELIX BRUCK, of Teplitz, Bohemia, Manufacturer, 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:-
The present invention consists of an alarm clock of the ordinary type having
means in connection therewith, when the alarm is struck or operated, to close.
an electric circuit and cause an incandescent lamp to burn, or any other desired
operation to take place by means of the circuit formed. Thus for instance the
said current might be employed in connection with a photographic camera, to
take an instantaneous photograph at a given time, or to raise a curtain, or fire
a mine or for any other purpose.
In carrying the invention into practice I substitute a double arm lever similar
in form to a thumb nut, or butterfly nut, for the ordinary button of the alarm
spindle, so that when the alarm runs down at the given time, the said double
arm lever will shift a pivoted lever, which releases a bell crank lever serving
to close the circuit in the manner herein after, particularly set forth.
In order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference
is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views:
Fig. I is a front elevation of the device without the clock, Fig. II a similar
elevation showing the clock in position in the stand or pedestal, Fig. III is a
side elevation and Fig IV a detail elevation of the double armi lever for closing
the circuit.
The alarm clock P is mounted on the stand or pedestal O to which latter a
double arm lever B is pivotally attached at C, said lever having a hook c at its
upper end adapted to engage the hooked end of a bell crank lever H pivotally
mounted at J and normally drawn upwardly by means of a spring M. The swing
of the lever H is governed by the stops and the arm of the said lever which
extends downwardly is provided with a handle T and is adapted to contact with
two contact plates K K of the wires leading to the incandescent lamp N
mounted at the top of the pedestal and to the source of electricity L, in the known
manner, so that when the lever H joins the contacts K K the circuit will be
formed and the lamp N ignited. A represents the double arm lever or key or
butterfly nut on the alarm spindle A¹. Obviously when this spindle is turned,
as the alarm runs down, the arms of the lever A will turn the lever B on its
pivot and disengage the hook c from the lever H. The latter will be pulled
upwardly until it strikes its upper stop i, and will close the circuit causing the
lamp to burn, or the other desired electrical device to come into operation.
In order to light the lamp at other times, without allowing the alarm to sound,
a sliding bolt E is provided guided by means of slots ff on guide pins f¹ f¹ and
provided with a handle F. This slide is normally held in the position shown at
Figure 1 by means of a spring g, whilst the lever B is provided with a bend
adapted to rest against the pin D of the said slide, the said lever being normally
held against the said pin and the arms of lever A by a spring R. If it is desired

page_text: to light the lamp without the alarm running down, the slide bar E is simply
pushed to the right (Fig. 1), by means of its handle F, when it will move the
lever B disengaging its hook from the lever H and allowing the latter to close
the circuit in the manner already described.
In order to reset the apparatus it is only necessary to pull the lever H down
by means of the handle T when its hooked end will re-engage the hook c of the
lever B, which has in the mean time returned to its initial position together with
the slide bar E under the influence of the springs R and g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1: An alarm clock having a double arm, butterfly nut-like lever at the ex-
terior end of the spindle of the alarm mechanism spring, in the manner and for
the purpose substantially as described.
2: An alarm clock as covered by Claim 1, in combination with a lever
mechanism adapted to close an electric circuit when the alarm runs down in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
1011
1000