US 5,866,863 A · Apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer

Abstract

An apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer is disclosed. The apparatus has an appliance control cam which has a first cam surface defined on a first side thereof and a second cam surface defined on a second side thereof. The apparatus includes a rocker arm positionable between a first cam reading mode of operation and a first idle mode of operation. The rocker arm contacts the first cam surface when the rocker arm is positioned in the first cam reading mode of operation. The rocker arm is spaced apart from the first cam surface when the rocker arm is positioned in the first idle mode of operation. The apparatus also includes a cam follower arm positionable between a second cam reading mode of operation and a second idle mode of operation. The cam follower arm contacts the second cam surface when the cam follower arm is positioned in the second cam reading mode of operation. The cam follower arm is spaced apart from the second cam surface when the cam follower arm is positioned in the second idle mode of operation. The apparatus further includes a control shaft positionable between a first position and a second position. The apparatus also includes an intermediate member. The control shaft locates the intermediate member so as to cause the intermediate member to position (1) the rocker arm in the first idle mode of operation, and the cam follower arm in the second idle mode of operation when the control shaft is positioned in the first position, and (2) the rocker arm in the first cam reading mode of operation, and the cam follower arm in the second cam reading mode of operation when the control shaft is positioned in the second position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer, with said appliance timer including an appliance control cam having a plurality of cam profiles and a plurality of gear teeth defined therein, comprising:

a cam reading arm positionable between a cam reading mode of operation and an idle mode of operation, wherein (1) said cam reading arm contacts said cam profiles when said cam reading arm is positioned in said cam reading mode of operation, and (2) said cam reading arm is spaced apart from said cam profiles when said cam reading arm is positioned in said idle mode of operation;
a control shaft positionable between a first position and a second position;
and
an intermediate member, wherein (1) said control shaft locates said intermediate member so as to cause said intermediate member to position said cam reading arm in said idle mode of operation when said control shaft is positioned in said first position, and (2) said control shaft locates said intermediate member so as to cause said intermediate member to position said cam reading arm in said cam reading mode of operation when said control shaft is positioned in said second position.

1 more element

An apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer, with said appliance timer including an appliance control cam having a first cam surface defined on a first side thereof and a second cam surface defined on a second side thereof, comprising:

a rocker arm positionable between a first cam reading mode of operation and a first idle mode of operation, wherein (1) said rocker arm contacts said first cam surface when said rocker arm is positioned in said first cam reading mode of operation, and (2) said rocker arm is spaced apart from said first cam surface when said rocker arm is positioned in said first idle mode of operation;
a cam follower arm positionable between a second cam reading mode of operation and a second idle mode of operation, wherein (1) said cam follower arm contacts said second cam surface when said cam follower arm is positioned in said second cam reading mode of operation, and (2) said cam follower arm is spaced apart from said second cam surface when said cam follower arm is positioned in said second idle mode of operation;
a control shaft positionable between a first position and a second position;
and
an intermediate member, wherein said control shaft locates said intermediate member so as to cause said intermediate member to position (1) said rocker arm in said first idle mode of operation, and said cam follower arm in said second idle mode of operation when said control shaft is positioned in said first position, and (2) said rocker arm in said first cam reading mode of operation, and said cam follower arm in said second cam reading mode of operation when said control shaft is positioned in said second position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer

Life of this patent

Apparatus for permitting quiet manual setting of an appliance timer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20