Mechanical Alarm Date Setting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical alarm clocks lack the ability to set alarms for specific dates and times, requiring daily repetition and not allowing for adjustable settings across different days or months, and electronic mechanisms are not applicable to mechanical watches.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical alarm device with an adjustment mechanism that allows setting an alarm to trigger on a specific date and time, using a crown to determine the trigger date value and engage the alarm device, enabling activation only on the chosen date of the month, with intuitive and user-friendly operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical alarm clock uses a daily alarm mechanism with a trigger wheel and hour wheel, then the alarm can be triggered at a predetermined time each day, but it cannot be set for a specific date or adjusted across different days of the month
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm mechanism is segmented into two independent but coordinated systems: a date-setting system (with date wheel and date window showing 1-31) and a time-setting system (with hour wheel and minute hand). This segmentation allows the alarm to be configured for specific dates without complicating the overall mechanical structure, as each system operates independently yet triggers the alarm function when both conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The user performs preliminary action by setting the desired alarm date and time in advance using the date adjustment mechanism and time setting mechanism. The date wheel is pre-configured to advance through calendar dates, and the time is preset using the hour and minute indicators. This preliminary configuration enables the alarm to automatically trigger on the specified date at the specified time without requiring daily manual adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electronic alarm mechanism is used to allow adjustable alarm settings for different days of the week or month, then alarm versatility is improved, but electronic components cannot be used in mechanical watches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic alarm mechanisms with a purely mechanical system. Instead of using electronic circuits, batteries, or digital displays, the invention employs mechanical components including a date wheel with 31 positions, mechanical gear trains, a trigger wheel with lugs, and a hammer mechanism. The date wheel mechanically advances through calendar dates and interacts with the trigger wheel to activate the alarm at the predetermined date and time, eliminating all electronic components while achieving the same alarm functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical movement serves multiple functions: it drives the timekeeping hands (hour and minute), advances the date wheel through calendar dates, and triggers the alarm mechanism. The same power source and gear train that drive the timekeeping function also power the date advancement and alarm triggering, making the mechanical movement a universal system that performs timekeeping, dating, and alarming without requiring separate electronic subsystems.
3Ease of operation
If a daily alarm mechanism is used, then the alarm triggers every day at the set time, but it repeats unnecessarily on days when the alarm should not be activated
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm triggering condition is segmented into two independent factors: the date condition (date wheel position matching the set alarm date) and the time condition (hour wheel position matching the set alarm time). Both conditions must be satisfied simultaneously for the alarm to trigger. This segmentation prevents unnecessary alarm repetitions because even if the time matches, the alarm will not trigger unless the current date matches the predetermined alarm date, eliminating false alarms on incorrect days.
Solution Approach 2:
The date wheel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the calendar date and the alarm trigger. The date wheel has corresponding lugs that interact with the trigger wheel: when the date wheel is in the alarm position, its lug engages with the trigger wheel to enable alarm triggering; when the date wheel is in any other position, the engagement is blocked. This intermediary mechanism ensures the alarm only activates on the correct date while maintaining simple operation through automatic date advancement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The device has an adjusting component i.e. adjusting crown, acting on triggering units that are associated to a predetermined date triggering value. The units includes a date triggering element (4) and a time triggering element (6) that are distinct and reinforced by a spring (4') and another spring. The units include triggering wheels (3, 7) flatten on a date expiry wheel (2) and on a time expiry wheel (8) by the date and time triggering elements, respectively, where the expiry wheels include recesses and/or mutually cooperating pins. A clearing arm disarms a strike hammer (9) of the device. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling an alarm device.