Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A time switch comprising: a. electrical switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for moving said switch actuator to cause said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; and d. said switch actuator means including a first cam means arranged for engagement with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at the same times during a number of consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member at the times set by said slectively positionable ON and OFF members, and said switch actuator including a second cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; and e. selector means for manually selecting operation of said switch means by said first cam means or said second cam means of said switch actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A time switch comprising: a. electrical switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for moving said switch actuator to cause said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; and d. said switch actuator means including a first cam means arranged for engagement with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at the same times during a number of consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member at the times set by said slectively positionable ON and OFF members, and said switch actuator including a second cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; and e. selector means for manually selecting operation of said switch means by said first cam means or said second cam means of said switch actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said selector means is movable to a first position to hold the switch in a manual ON position, to a second position to permit said first cam means to open and close said switch at pre-programmed said times on consecutive days, to a third position to manually hold the switch open in its manual OFF position, and to a fourth position to permit said second cam means to open and close the switch at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said first cam means includes a plurality of cam surfaces that are symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at the same times on consecutive days.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said second cam means includes a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at different times on consecutive days.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includes two pairs of switch contacts and said first cam means is positioned adjacent to one of said pair of contacts for operating said one pair of contacts at the same times on consecutive days, and said second cam means is positioned adjacent to said other pair of contacts for operating said other pair of contacts at differEnt times on consecutive days.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a first lug for holding said first pair of contacts in an open position to thereby permit said second cam means to open and close said second pair of contacts at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means is movable to a first position for closing said one pair of contacts to hold the switch in a manual ON position, to a second position to permit said first cam means to open and close said one pair of contacts at pre-programmed same times on consecutive days, to a third position to manually hold both pairs of contacts open, and to a fourth position to permit said second cam means to open and close the second pair of contacts at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a second lug for holding said second pair of contacts in an open position to thereby permit said first cam means to open and close said first pair of contacts at the pre-programmed same times of day on consecutive days which have been pre-set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members of said time of day member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a third lug for holding said first pair of contacts in a closed ON position to thereby hold said switch means in an ON position and to prevent said first cam means from moving said first pair of contacts to their open position on consecutive days of the week.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second cam means are integrally formed with each other and are simultaneously rotated upon rotation of said switch actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said switch actuator includes a plurality of gear segment means which are positioned adjacent to said ON and OFF members and wherein said ON and OFF members are provided with gear segment means which are complementary to the plurality of gear segment means which are provided on said switch actuator so that as said time of day member is continuously rotated as a function of time the gear segment means on said ON and OFF members will be consecutively brought into engagement with one of the plurality of gear segments on said switch actuator to thereby rotate said switch actuator one incremental movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A time switch as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second cam means are connected to the plurality of gear segment means so that the first and second cam means and the gear segment means are rotated in unison by the ON and OFF members of the time of day member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A time switch as defined in claim 12 wherein a ratchet means is integrally formed with said plurality of gear segment means and a pawl is spring-urged into engagement with said ratchet means for resiliently holding the switch actuator means in one of a plurality of positions to which it may be moved by the ON and OFF members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a first lug for holding said first pair of contacts in an open position and a second lug for holding said second pair of contacts in an open position to thereby hold the switch means in an open OFF position and to prevent operation of said switch means by either the first cam means or the second cam means on consecutive days of the week.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A time switch as defined in claim 14 wherein said selector means includes a manually rotatable shaft and said first and second lugs are fixed to different portions of said shaft for manual rotation thereby.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A time switch as defined in claim 15 wherein a spring finger is fixed to said manually rotatable shaft for cooperating with a plurality of notches to hold said selector shaft in its manual ON, manual OFF, VARIABLE, or AUTOMATIC position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
252 words
A time switch comprising: a. electricaL switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for incrementally moving said switch actuator as a function of time and for causing said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; d. said switch actuator means including a cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at slightly different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; e. said cam means including a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at said slightly different times on consecutive days; and f. said ON and OFF members including drive means for incrementally moving said switch actuator and its cam as a function of time two increments each day for providing two switch actuations each day.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
252 words
A time switch comprising: a. electricaL switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for incrementally moving said switch actuator as a function of time and for causing said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; d. said switch actuator means including a cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at slightly different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; e. said cam means including a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at said slightly different times on consecutive days; and f. said ON and OFF members including drive means for incrementally moving said switch actuator and its cam as a function of time two increments each day for providing two switch actuations each day.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
A time switch as defined in claim 17 wherein said switch actuator includes a plurality of gear segment means which are positioned adjacent to the drive means on said ON and OFF members and wherein the drive means of said ON and OFF members are provided with gear segment means which are complementary to the plurality of gear segment means which are provided on said switch actuator so that as said time of day member is continuously rotated as a function of time the gear segment means on the drive means of said ON and OFF members will be consecutively brought into engagement with one of the plurality of gear segments on said switch actuator to thereby rotate said switch actuator one incremental movement.