Alarm device

Jan. 25, 1949.

W. E. LA PEDUS

ALARM DEVICE

2,460,133

Filed Feb. 6, 1946

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Patented Jan. 25, 1949

2,460,133

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,460,133

ALARM DEVICE

William E. La Pedus, Rockford, III.

Application February 6, 1946, Serial No. 645,839

Claims. (Cl. 161—22) known, a detailed description is here believed to be unnecessary.

The vibrator device 11 is provided with a casing • 5 which may be of any suitable construction.

I prefer to employ a rather compact casing with rounded corners which permit· the ready insertion of the device between mattresses and under cushions, etc., where it is least objectionable. The casing 15 supports a vibrator frame member to |β by means of screws 1'7. The upper leg 18 of the spring frame member IS provides a vibrator arm and spaced below the leg 18 is a horizontal flange 19 serving as a support for the sound muffler 20.

to Any suitable magnet may be employed for moving the spring leg 18 backward and forward to create the vibration desired. In the illustration given, a horseshoe magnet structure 21 is supported by the frame member 16 and se-cured thereto by the screws 17. An electric current 22 surrounds one of the legs 23 of the magnet and is served by the current provided by electric cable 14. It will be understood that a variety of electrical magnetic devices may be employed for the purpose of vibrating the arm 18.

In the illustration given, the upper leg 18, which has a forward portion folded back upon itself, is provided with an opening 24 through which the screw member 25 extends. Prefer³⁰ ably, a nut 26 is welded to the vibrator 24 and provides a threaded adjustment for the screw 25. Opening 24 is threaded and after proper adjustment nut 26 is used to lock screw 25 in place.

The lower portion of the screw 25 engages 35 a resilient member 20 which not only is useful in reducing sound but also is effective in pushing the vibrating arm 18 in an upward direction after the magnetic impulse has drawn it downwardly. The member 2S is preferably formed of rubber or ⁴⁰ other suitable resilient material and is equipped with a circumferential groove 27 which serves to lock the member 20 firmly within the recess 28 of the flange 19.

*5 Operation

In the operation of the device, the alarm clock I!) is set for the desired time of operation and the fitting 13 is secured within the usual outlet so that the clock will start in operation.

when the moment has arrived for operation of the alarm, the device 10 closes the circuit with which the conduit 14 is connected and an alternating current flows to and from the coil 22. Thus, the magnet formed is energized and de⁵⁵ energized very rapidly and the result is a moveA large variety of alarm devices have been provided but these have been subject to the objection that each creates considerable noise and not only the person desiring to be awakened, is awakened by the alarm device but others in the vicinity are also awakened. In dormitories and in sleeping quarters for military and naval services particularly is it important that only the person to be awakened or alerted be subjected to the action of the alarm device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device which will selectively alert or awaken one person without affecting others in the near vicinity. Yet another object is to provide a timer alarm device which will awaken or alert a person by means of vibration and without accompanying noise. Yet another object is to provide a device which may be conveniently placed under spring cushions or mattresses whereby the effect of the vibration is widely distributed and effective in awakening one sleeping on the mattress, etc. Other specific objects and advantages will apear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawing, in Which—

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of a spring mattress resting upon the vibrating device: Fig. 2, a side view in elevation of a timer and vibrator connected together on a simple circuit; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the vibrator casing shewing the operating mechanism within; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the vibrator spring element; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the sound muffler or deadener.

The invention comprises broadly the use of an ordinary alarm timer 10 in conjunction with a silent vibrator 11. The timer may be any suitable device for effecting a movement suitable for controlling the vibrator II after a predetermined time. For example, the timer 10 is illustrated as an ordinary electric alarm clock equipped with an electrical conduit 12 equipped with a fitting 13 adapted to be plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet. The alarm clock 10 operates a switch or opening enclosing a circuit provided by conduit 1'4 leading to the vibrator II. In other words, the alarm clock 10 is the usual electric alarm clock structure with the bell omitted and with the electrical conduit 14 connected to the terminals which ordinarily lead to the electric bell. In other words, the present vibrator is merely substituted for the electric bell and since such structure is extremely well2,460,133 ment of the spring arm 18 toward and away from the member 20.

With the construction shown, the vibrator operates silently and substantially no sounds are audible. The only point of contact between two moving members is between screws 25 and rubber pad 29 and the contact here is effectively muffled by the deep resilient body of member 20. At the same time, the vibrations are heavy and are transmitted through the spring member 16 to the casing 1'5. The resultant vibrations are effective in alerting or awakening a person in contact with the vibrator i I.

I And that the vibrator is unusually effective when placed below a cushion or mattress equipped with a spring coil or frame. The metal frame within the body of the mattress or the cushion spreads the vibration effect so that the person resting on the mattress or cushion is effectively awakened no matter where he is resting upon the mattress. At the same time, the body of the cushion or mattress serves further as a dampener of sound.

With the apparatus disclosed, it is possible to alarm or alert one person in a room without awakening or disturbing anyone else in the room, and the awakening accomplished by gentle and continued vibrations is more pleasant than where the awakening is accomplished solely through the auditory system. Further, the device is effective for awakening a person hard of hearing or deaf who cannot be awakened by the auditory alarms. The vibrator device is effective with any type of pads, stuffed cushions, etc., which may be between the vibrator and the person to be awakened.

Following the foregoing description, I have set forth a specific embodiment in considerable detail. It will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.