Vib-a-Wake

The instant invention relates generally to wrist watches and, more specifically, to wrist watches that provide a silent alarm to the wearer.

At the present state of the art, most alarm watches provide an audible signal to alert the wearer that the alarm has sounded. This audible signal can often cause serious problems. For example, when worn in public, the alarm can cause disruption. When worn to bed, the audible alarm can awaken nearby individuals who are trying to sleep. In some instances, the alarm can be so distracting that it endangers public safety and welfare.

A number of inventions have been proposed to address this problem. These include Electricity Supply Structure for a Piezoelectric Vibrator, Tanaka et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,257); Alarm Signal Bracelet, W. Stanton (U.S. Pat. Des. 279,671); Combined Wristwatch and Container, Jones et al. (U.S. Pat. Des. 296,675); Watch With Sliding Door, T. Givings (U.S. Pat. Des. 296,993); Combined Wristwatch and Calculator, W. Kai (U.S. Pat. Des. 303,503); Watchcase With Cover, H. Dinstman (U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,338); Electronic Alarm Watch, G. Diersbock (U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,804); Wrist Watch With Alarm, Toyama et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,699); Electronic Alarm Wrist Watch, K. Igarashi (U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,387); Wrist Watch With Memo Case, K. Cho (U.S. Pat. 4,903,250); Quiet Alarm Clock, J. Meister (U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,525); Opening and Closing Structure of Cover Lid of Watch, Hiranuma et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,093); Wristwatch With Oscillation Alarm, Tsukada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,956); Electronic Wrist Watch Having a Sound Producing Unit and an Electrooptic Data Display Unit, Yamada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,138); and, Electric Apparatus with Silent Alarm, Kawata et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,853). While some of these propose a vibrating watch body, none of them provides a vibrating watchband. The vibrating watch body provides limited tactile stimulus and tends to emit more noise than a vibrating watchband.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that alerts the user that the alarm has gone off by vibrating the entire watchband.

Another object is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that vibrates the watchband by using an oscillator driving a magnetic system that causes a metal band embedded in the watchband to vibrate.

A yet further object is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that vibrates the watchband by using an oscillator driving a flexible piezoelectric crystal embedded in the watchband.

A still further object is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that uses hook and loop pile type fastener material for watchband closure.

Another object is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that is equipped with a pop-out snooze button.

A final object is to provide a Vib-A-Wake wristwatch that is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a view of the invention shown with protective door hinged outward to reveal the data, time, and alarm buttons.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wrist strap closure mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a partial internal view of the invention showing an electromagnetic method of causing the wrist strap to vibrate.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on A--A of FIG. 3 showing the vibrating metal strap embedded in the canvas wrist band.

FIG. 5 is a partial internal view of the invention showing an alternative piezoelectric method of causing the wrist strap to vibrate.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on B--B of FIG. 5 showing the flexible piezo electric crystal embedded in the canvas wrist strap.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial internal view of the invention showing the pop-out snooze button activation mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional view of the charger accessory.

The general appearance of the invention may best be understood with reference to FIG. 1. Here, the Vib-A-Wake watch 10 is shown with a band 12 that is split into two segments 12A and 12B. The face of the watch has a conventional electronic display 14, and date/time/alarm setting buttons 16, 18, and 20 respectively. In order to prevent inadvertent operation of these buttons, a hinged plated 22 can be closed over the buttons. A snooze alarm button 24 pops out when the alarm is activated and the wearer can push it back in to reset the alarm for some predetermined period of time. The operation of the snooze alarm is detailed below.

The watchband closure, using hook and loop pile type fastener material is illustrated in FIG. 2. The canvas watchband strips 12A and 12B have strips of hook and loop pile type fastener material, 25A and 25B respectively, permanently affixed.

The watchband 12 can be vibrated using either an electromagnetic or a piezoelectric vibrating means. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the electromagnetic vibrating means. An oscillator 26 is used to provide an AC waveform to coil 28 which is wound around pole piece 30. The alternating magnetic field created in close proximity to the pole pieces causes aerometers 32A and 32B to vibrate. These aerometers are permanently affixed to the ends of metal strap 34 which is embedded in watchband 12. When the alarm activates oscillator 26, metal strip 34 vibrates, as does watchband 12 thereby alerting the wearer.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the piezoelectric means of watchband vibration. Here, an oscillator 36 is connected to connected to flexible piezoelectric crystal 38. This type of crystal vibrates mechanically when an AC signal is input. Since the flexible piezoelectric crystal 38 is embedded in watchband 12, the vibration of the crystal 38 causes watchband 12A to vibrate when the alarm activates oscillator 26.

The operation of the snooze alarm is best understood with reference to FIG. 7. When the magnetic or piezoelectric vibrating watchband is activated upon the sounding of the alarm, a dc pulse signal is input to the coil of electromagnet 40. This pulls latch 42, which is hinged at 44, towards electromagnet 42. Snooze button 24, which is spring loaded by coil spring 48 then pops out to the left. To reset the alarm for some predetermined period of time, the wearer can push in snooze button 24 which complete the electrical connection to reset wire 50 which causes the alarm circuit to reset.

The operation of the battery recharger is best understood with reference to FIG. 8. The charger 60 receives its AC power through line cord 62 and AC plug 64. The charger base 66 contains conventional charging circuits. A watch mounting cylinder 68 has two electrical contacts along is curved surface: positive contact 70 and negative contact 72. The inner surface of the watch has tow corresponding contacts, typified by 74 in FIG. 1. In this figure, only one of the two contacts may be seen.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and the details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.