Alarm clock
AssigneeTomy Company, Ltd.
InventorSeiichi Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alarm clock in which, in order to turnoff an alarm, a predetermined number of striking objects must be struck. The striking objects appear and disappear out of and into holes in a top portion of a housing. An effective strike is not generated until the striking object is hit when it is fully extended. The striking objects are not always fully extended because of dummy cams employed along with complete cams for moving the striking objects into and out of the holes. The alarm clock can also be used as a game by turning on a switch which bypasses the alarm clock function.
Claims8
An alarm clock including a housing for housing timer means for setting an alarm time and alarm sound generating means for generating an alarm sound to notify arrival of the alarm time, comprising:
- striking objects mounted in the alarm clock housing for appearing and disappearing out of and into the housing through openings therein;
- cam mechanism means for causing said striking objects to appear and disappear;
- effective strike detecting means for detecting whether one of said striking objects projected from one of the openings has been struck at a particular timing;
- counting means for counting a number of times said striking objects are struck at particular timings;
- and
- controlling means for driving said cam mechanism means and the alarming sound generating means when the alarm time set by the timer means is met and for stopping said cam mechanism means and the alarm sound generating means when said counting means reaches a predetermined count.
An alarm clock/game, comprising:
- a housing including top and side portions;
- a clock unit enclosed in said housing including alarm setting means for setting an alarm time;
- alarm sound generating means for sounding an alarm when the alarm time occurs;
- openings formed in the top portion of said housing;
- striking objects located within said openings in said housing;
- striking means for striking said striking objects;
- holder means for holding said striking means for striking said striking objects;
- and
- switching means for switching on said striking objects to move in and out of said openings, regardless of said alarm setting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.