Mechanical Snooze Timer for Alarm Clocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical alarm clocks lack a snooze function, which is only available in electronic timepieces, preventing users from temporarily silencing and re-triggering the alarm after a short delay.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical alarm mechanism with a timer that allows users to activate a snooze function by actuating a control rocker, which controls a trigger cam to temporarily disengage the alarm actuator and automatically re-engage it after a predefined duration, adjustable in stages, using a duration cam and a display wheel for user input and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical alarm clock is used, then the alarm function is simple and reliable, but the snooze function is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alarm mechanism and snooze function into a single integrated mechanical system. The alarm actuator serves dual purposes: triggering the alarm and, when blocked by the control pawl, enabling the snooze function. The trigger cam and control pawl work together to merge alarm activation and snooze timing into one coherent mechanical sequence, allowing both functions to coexist without separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control pawl is designed as a multi-functional component that can either block the alarm actuator to enable snooze or allow it to trigger the alarm. The trigger cam serves multiple purposes: it controls the disengagement of the alarm actuator during snooze and automatically re-engages it after the predefined duration. This universal design allows the same mechanical components to handle both alarm and snooze operations.
2Ease of operation
If the snooze function is added to mechanical alarm clocks, then user control is enhanced, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the snooze control function from the main alarm trigger mechanism by introducing a separate control pawl that can independently block or allow the alarm actuator. This extracted control element can be manually positioned by the user to enable snooze, while the automatic re-engagement is handled by the trigger cam mechanism, separating user interaction from automatic execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger cam is pre-configured with cam surfaces that automatically control the disengagement and re-engagement of the alarm actuator at predetermined intervals. When the user activates snooze by positioning the control pawl, the trigger cam is already set to automatically re-engage the actuator after the predefined duration, eliminating the need for user intervention during the snooze period.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable snooze durations are implemented, then user flexibility is improved, but the timer mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The duration cam is segmented into multiple cam surfaces, each corresponding to a different predefined snooze duration. This segmentation allows the user to select from discrete time intervals (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes) by positioning the control pawl against different segments of the cam. Each cam surface is precisely shaped to provide the correct disengagement duration, breaking down the complex task of time adjustment into manageable discrete options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of the snooze function by using different cam surfaces with varying profiles. Each cam surface is designed with specific geometric parameters that determine the duration of actuator disengagement. By selecting different cam surfaces through the control pawl position, the user effectively changes the time parameter of the snooze function without requiring electronic timers or complex mechanical counters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A timer (100) for setting a snooze timer for an alarm mechanism (200) controlling the movement of a mechanical actuator (11) cooperating with a ringing mechanism (300) controlled by a clockwork movement (400), comprising first control means operable at a first instant by a user during the execution of an alarm ring to disengage said actuator (11) and momentarily interrupt said alarm ring. Said timer (100) is entirely mechanical and comprises mechanical timing means arranged to automatically trigger a new alarm ring at a second instant, after a predetermined duration from said first instant, said timer (100) comprising second control means operable by a user to set said predetermined duration.