U.S. patent number 3,581,029 [Application Number 04/758,820] was granted by the patent office on 1971-05-25 for tv on time control.
Invention is credited to Douglas G. Noiles.
United States Patent |
3,581,029 |
Noiles |
May 25, 1971 |
TV ON TIME CONTROL
Abstract
A control comprising a securable case having an internal outlet
into which a TV set may be plugged with the TV set plug secured
within the case. ON and OFF pushbuttons are provided. When the ON
button is depressed, the TV set may be operated for up to a
predetermined total time. During this time, an accumulator wheel
driven by a timing motor through a clutch rotates up to a
predetermined angular position. When this position is attained, the
internal outlet of the device is disconnected from the power line.
When the OFF button is depressed, the outlet is not supplied with
power and the accumulator wheel is not driven by the timing motor.
Each 24 hours a reset wheel upon attaining a predetermined angular
position causes the accumulator wheel to be reset to its initial
position.
Inventors: |
Noiles; Douglas G. (New Canaan,
CT) |
Family
ID: |
25053237 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/758,820 |
Filed: |
September 10, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/38DA;
200/33R; 968/836; 307/141; 968/816; 348/725 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04F
7/10 (20130101); G07C 3/02 (20130101); G04F
3/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G04F
7/10 (20060101); G04F 3/08 (20060101); G04F
3/00 (20060101); G07C 3/02 (20060101); G04F
7/00 (20060101); G07C 3/00 (20060101); H01h
007/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/38,38 (A)/ ;200/38
(D)/ ;200/38 (D1)/ ;200/42 ;307/141,141.4,141.8 ;68/12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jones; H. O.
Claims
Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is:
1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising:
A. first means for controlling the availability of a first quantity
on demand;
B. second means
a. for measuring a second quantity when said first quantity is
demanded and
b. for causing said first means to terminate the availability of
said first quantity when said second quantity measured reaches a
predetermined amount; and,
C. third means for resetting said second means to zero measured
quantity at predetermined time intervals whereby said first
quantity is made available for said predetermined amount of said
second measured quantity during each of said time intervals.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first quantity is
electrical energy.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second quantity is
time.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first quantity is
electrical energy and said second quantity is time.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second
quantities are the same.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second
quantities are time.
7. Apparatus for controlling the ON time of a television set,
comprising:
A. a control for demanding use of the television set;
B. accumulator means for measuring the total time the television
set has been ON up to a predetermined total accumulated ON
time;
C. means controlled by said accumulator means for turning the
television set ON on demand of said control only until said
predetermined total accumulated ON time has been measured by said
accumulator means; and,
D. reset means for resetting said accumulator means to zero
accumulated ON time at regular intervals.
8. Apparatus for controlling the ON time of a television set,
comprising:
A. a securable case;
B. an electrical outlet mounted within said case into which the
line cord of a TV set may be plugged with the plug thereof within
said case;
C. an ON control within said case and operable from without said
case for demanding energization of said outlet;
D. accumulator means within said case for conditioning said outlet
for energization on demand from said ON control for up to a
predetermined total accumulated time; and,
E. reset means for resetting said accumulator means to zero
accumulated ON time at regular intervals.
9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 and:
F. key operated means operable from without said case for
conditioning said outlet for energization at any time.
10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further defined in that said ON
control has stable ON and OFF conditions and wherein said reset
means resets said ON control to its OFF condition when resetting
said accumulator means.
11. An ON time control, comprising:
A. a switch adapted to control the supply of power to an external
device;
B. a timer energized when power is supplied to the external device
and adapted to interrupt the supply of power controlled by said
switch when power has been supplied for a predetermined total time;
and,
C. reset means for resetting said timer to zero accumulated time at
predetermined time intervals without regard to the total time that
power has been supplied to the external device.
12. An ON time control, comprising:
A. a timing motor;
B. a switch including a switch operator adapted to control the
supply of power to an external device;
C. an accumulator wheel operatively connected to said switch such
that power may be supplied to said external device thereby when
said accumulator wheel is turning from an initial to a terminal
angular position, but not supplied when said accumulator wheel is
at said terminal angular position;
D. a clutch for drivingly connecting said timing motor to said
accumulator wheel;
E. on-off means for closing said switch and engaging said clutch
simultaneously;
F. a reset wheel driven by said timing motor; and,
G. reset means operatively engaged with said reset wheel to reset
said accumulator wheel to its initial position each time said reset
wheel is at a predetermined angular position.
13. The ON time control defined in claim 12 wherein said clutch
comprises:
a. a clutch wheel; and said control further comprises:
H. a common shaft on which said clutch wheel and said accumulator
wheel are mounted and free to rotate.
14. An ON time control as defined in claim 13 wherein said switch
is mounted on said shaft and is adapted to move with said clutch
wheel when said clutch wheel engages said accumulator wheel, said
switch operator then engaging said accumulator wheel to turn said
switch ON.
15. An ON time control as defined in claim 14; and,
I. latch means for latching said clutch and switch with said clutch
engaged with said accumulator wheel, said ON and OFF means
actuating said latch.
16. An ON time control as defined in claim 15 wherein said
accumulator wheel includes dog-engaging means; and,
J. dog means against which said accumulator wheel is biased, said
dog means falling into said dog-engaging means when said terminal
angular position is reached, thus allowing said accumulator wheel
to move forward on said shaft, disengaging said accumulator wheel
from said clutch wheel and opening said switch.
17. An ON time control as defined in claim 16; and,
K. a reset lever actuated when said reset wheel reaches said
predetermined angular position to disengage said accumulator wheel
from said dogs; and,
L. spring means for resetting said accumulator wheel to its initial
position.
18. An ON time control as defined in claim 17 wherein said reset
lever upon disengaging said accumulator wheel from said dogs also
moves said shaft to disengage said latch.
19. An ON time control as defined in claim 18 wherein said reset
wheel includes dog-engaging means; and,
M. second dog means engageable with dog-engaging means on said
reset wheel; and,
N. spring means biasing said reset wheel into engagement with said
second dog means, thus allowing said reset wheel to move forward to
actuate said reset lever.
20. An ON time control as defined in claim 19; and,
O. an antibackup means normally engaged with said accumulator wheel
to prevent resetting thereof; and,
P. means on said reset wheel for disengaging said antibackup means
when said second dog means are engaged with the dog-engaging means
on said reset wheel.
21. An ON time control as defined in claim 11 further defined in
that said reset means resets said timer to zero accumulated time
without regard to whether power is then being supplied to the
external device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is very difficult to regulate the amount of time children spend
viewing television. Everyone agrees that unlimited television
viewing is harmful to the child's emotional and mental growth.
Various educators, psychologists, and other authorities have
differing views as to the amount of time children should be allowed
to view television at given ages. Many parents attempt to regulate
the viewing hours of their children, but this regulation is the
occasion for many difficulties. Overly strict regulation may result
in the child missing programs of educational importance and
psychological problems due to the parents' mechanistic attitude. On
the other hand, a permissive attitude will lead to nearly unlimited
viewing. An attitude somewhere between these two extremes often
leads to arguments and ill will over particular ad hoc
decisions.
Ideally, a parent should specify the total amount of viewing
permissible and the child, within the limits of his ability, should
be able to choose what programs he or she will watch at what times.
Hithertofore, this has been practically impossible for the above
reasons. Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is
to automate this idealized procedure.
There are other applications for apparatus of the type described in
the present application wherein it is desired that a particular
quantity be metered on demand up to a particular total accumulated
quantity over predetermined time intervals. An application that
comes to mind is the feeding of livestock, where it may be
desirable to provide up to a certain total quantity of food or
weight gain during predetermined time intervals. Another
application is the turning on of lights in a home for preselected
time intervals during a 24-hour period. The apparatus of the
present invention is readily adaptable to these applications.
It will be seen that the objects of the present invention differ
from the TV, gas, and electric meters of the prior art wherein a
certain quantity is vended upon insertion of a coin into the
mechanism. According to the present invention, it is desired to
vend up to a predetermined total quantity during each of a
plurality of predetermined time intervals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objects of the Invention
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide apparatus
for vending a first quantity on demand for a predetermined total
measured amount of a second quantity consumed during the
availability of said first quantity.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the
above character which is reset at predetermined time intervals.
Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character wherein said first quantity is electrical
energy.
A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the
above character wherein said second quantity is time.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character wherein said first quantity is electrical
energy and said second quantity is time.
A yet further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character in which said first and second quantities are
the same.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the
above character in which said first and second quantities are
time.
Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character for controlling the ON time of electrical
apparatus.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the
above character for controlling the ON time of a television
set.
A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the
above character utilizing a single timing motor.
A yet further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character utilizing a single electrical switch.
A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character not using expensive electrical relays.
Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of
the above character that is simple, inexpensive to manufacture,
easy to operate, and reliable.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in
part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,
combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be
exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth. The scope of
the invention will be indicated in the claims.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises an accumulator
mechanism, which, when energy is supplied to an external device,
accumulates the total amount of the quantity being measured. This
could, for example, be the total number of watt-hours of electrical
energy utilized, or the amount of feed supplied to a feeding
trough; but in the apparatus particularly described herein, it is
the amount of time an electrical outlet is energized. After a
predetermined amount of the measured quantity has been measured,
the quantity being supplied by the device, in the particular case
disclosed electrical energy, is no longer supplied until, at the
conclusion of a predetermined interval of time, the accumulator is
reset. In the embodiment disclosed, the accumulator is reset every
24 hours and may be preset to allow up to 5 hours of TV ON
time.
An important feature of the invention is that an electrical outlet
is secured within a lockable case such that a TV plug plugged into
it is within the case and inaccessible. Another important feature
of the specific apparatus disclosed is that only a single
synchronous motor is required which drives both the accumulator and
the resetting mechanism. Furthermore, a single switch controls the
electrical outlet and no relay or other expensive device of that
kind is required.
THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a TV ON time control according to
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the TV ON time control of FIG. 1 removed
from its securable case and enlarged to a scale one and a half
times its actual size;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line
5-5 of FIG. 3 drawn to scale;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a perspective back view of a portion of the apparatus of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a portion of the
apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 9-9 of
FIG. 4; and,
FIG. 10 is an electrical circuit diagram of the TV ON time control
of FIG. 1.
The same reference characters refer to the same elements throughout
the several view of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of a TV ON time control, according to the
invention, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10. Referring to FIG.
1, a securable, generally rectangular case 12 may be conveniently
formed of wood, plastic, metal or the like. A transparent faceplate
14 is locked in place by a tumbler lock 16. Faceplate 14 is
provided with three transparent windows, pilot light opening 18,
half-circle accumulator dial window 20, and full-circle 24 -hour
clock dial window 22.
The control is provided with a conventional line cord 24 which may
be plugged into a household electrical outlet. The TV line cord 26
passes through a slot 28 in case 12. An ON pushbutton 30 and an OFF
pushbutton 32 are provided. A dial 34 within the case 12 indicates
the number of hours of viewing time remaining. Pointer 36 on a
rotatable plate 38 and the 24 -hour clock indicia 40 indicate the
time of day.
Now referring to FIG. 2, the control mechanism is generally
indicated at 42. It comprises a main plate 44 to which the working
parts are mounted. Electrical outlet 46 is provided into which the
plug 48 of the TV line cord is plugged and secured within the case.
Pilot light 50, which is located behind pilot light window 18 (FIG.
1) is illuminated when ON button 30 is depressed and TV ON time is
still available.
In FIG. 2 the control mechanism 42 is shown with the dial plates 34
and 38 removed for convenience. However, their associated indicia
are also shown in correct relative position so as to aid in
understanding the mechanism.
Synchronous motor 52 is connected across line cord 24 and is,
therefore, continuously energized. It drives pinion gears 53 and 54
mounted on the output shaft 55 thereof counterclockwise. Pinion
gear 53 is engaged with reset gear, or reset wheel, 56. The number
of gear teeth are chosen such that reset wheel 56 rotates once each
24 hours.
Pinion 54 drives clutch gear 58 mounted directly behind an
accumulator wheel 60, both being commonly mounted for rotation
about a shaft 62.
Also mounted on shaft 62 for axial movement therewith is a switch
bracket 64 to which electrical switch 66 is affixed. Switch 66, a
commercial miniature snap-action switch, includes an actuator
button 68 which is actuated by spring lever 70.
As will be explained in detail below, when ON button 30 is
depressed, shaft 62 moves forward, bodily moving bracket 64 and
switch 66 forward to engage spring lever 70 with the back surface
of accumulator wheel 60; thus closing switch 66 to supply power to
outlet 46. A latch mechanism latches shaft 62 in this position
until OFF button 32 is depressed or the mechanism is automatically
reset.
When the ON button 30 is depressed, clutch gear 58 is moved into
driving engagement with accumulator wheel 60 and accumulator wheel
60 rotates in the clockwise direction until dog-receiving openings
72-72 become engaged with the dogs mounted on arms 74, 76.
Accumulator wheel 60 then moves forward, as does spring level 70,
opening switch 66. The forward motion of accumulator wheel 60 also
disengages clutch gear 58 from accumulator wheel 60.
Once each 24 hours the dog-receiving openings 78-78 of reset wheel
56 are engaged by another set of dogs on arms 74, 76. This allows
reset wheel 56 to move forward. Lever 80 is pushed outwardly by
wheel 56 and its opposite end tips inwardly against shaft 62 and
accumulator wheel 60. This disengages the dogs on arms 76-76 from
accumulator wheel 60 and a torsion spring 82 rotates accumulator
wheel 60 counterclockwise until stop 84 comes to rest against arm
74. The rearward movement of shaft 64, as will be explained below,
also disengages clutch gear 58 from accumulator wheel 60 if it is
engaged during this reset operation and by bodily moving shaft 62
backward also unlatches the latch to allow ON button 30 to rise to
its unactuated position.
In order to prevent accumulator wheel 60 from turning
counterclockwise when the mechanism is turned off, and all of the
preset TV ON time has not been used, an antibackup mechanism is
provided comprising gear teeth 86 on accumulator wheel 60 and brush
bristles 88 mounted on bellcrank 90. The antibackup mechanism is
disengaged during the reset operation when pin 92 mounted on reset
wheel 56 engages bellcrank 90 and moves brush bristles 88 out of
engagement with gear teeth 86.
The total amount of time that the TV may be utilized between the
reset operations is determined by the angular position of stop 84.
To this end, stop 84 is threaded in a metal collar 94 and may be
fixed with respect to accumulator wheel 60 at any angular position
within annular cutout 96.
More particularly and referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, main plate 44 is
affixed against shoulders 98 of case 12 by means of screws 99 (FIG.
2). A latch plate 100 is affixed to main plate 44 by means of
screws 102 and is spaced therefrom by spacers 104.
Shaft 62 is freely mounted in a nylon bushing 106 mounted in latch
plate 100. Shaft 62 is biased forward by compression spring 108,
which acts between switch bracket 64 and bushing 106. The forward
travel of shaft 62 is limited by latch 110, which presses against
nut 112 threaded to the end of shaft 62. Nylon clutch gear 58
includes an integral bushing portion 114 freely rotatable and
axially movable in main plate 44. As previously stated, clutch gear
58 is freely rotatable about shaft 62.
Nylon accumulator wheel 60 is freely rotatable about a cylindrical
nylon bushing 116 which is freely mounted on shaft 62. Clutch gear
58 and accumulator wheel 60 are normally biased apart by a leaf
spring 118, which is preferably keyed to a flat splined portion 120
on bushing 116 (FIG. 4).
As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 6, and 8, accumulator wheel 60 normally
rides against dog 122 on arm 74 and a similar dog 124 on arm
76.
Dial plate 34 is mounted on accumulator wheel 60 by means of screw
125.
Clutch faces 126 and 128 are affixed to clutch gear 58 and
accumulator wheel 60, respectively. These are preferably
high-friction material. I have found that the suedelike inside of
DuPont's CORFAM material works well for this purpose; strips 126
and 128 being glued to the nylon gear 58 and wheel 60.
Referring now to FIG. 7, as well as FIG. 3, the latch mechanism,
generally indicated at 130 in FIG. 7, works as follows: As
previously explained, latch 110 is normally drawn forward by the
action of spring 108. It rides against portion 132 of an ON slide
134 of which ON button 30 is that portion which protrudes above the
case 12 (see FIG. 1). When ON button 30 is depressed, moving slide
134 downward against a spring 136, latch 110 moves into cutout
138.
Conversely, when OFF button 32 is depressed, its OFF slide 140
moves downward against the action of spring 142, cam surface 144
moves latch 110 outwardly, allowing ON slide 134 to pop up under
the action of spring 136. Latch 110 is now against surface 132 of
ON slide 134 and shaft 62 cannot move forward. ON slide 134 and OFF
slide 140 are guided in their motion by means of bridge 146, tabs
148-148, a generally rectilinear latch guide 150, also mounted on
shaft 62 between slides 134 and 140, and lip 141 and cooperating
cutouts 143-143. Latch guide 150, threaded on shaft 62 and locked
by nut 112, also serves to prevent rotation of shaft 62, and
thereby maintains angular position of switch bracket 64.
Again referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, when the ON slide 134 is pushed
downward, shaft 62 moves forward, compressing leaf spring 118,
which produces less force than compression spring 108, thus
engaging clutch faces 126 and 128. Accumulator wheel 60 is
therefore driven clockwise, as shown in FIG. 2, against torsion
spring 82.
As previously explained, if the OFF button 32 is depressed, latch
110 moves rearwardly, disengaging clutch faces 128 and 126 under
action of leaf spring 118. Accumulator wheel 60 then remains in its
fixed position under the action of the bristles 88 against the gear
teeth 86.
When the clutch is drivingly engaged, as shown in FIG. 6, and ON
time still remains, latch 110 does not bottom on cutout 138 of ON
slide 134 or the bottom flat portion of incline 144 of OFF slide
140. However, when dogs 122 and 124 are received in opening 72-72
on accumulator wheel 60, the dogs bottom in the openings. And under
the action of leaf spring 118, the clutch faces 126 and 128 are
separated.
During reset, when reset lever 80 tilts to the position 80a, shown
in FIG. 6, shaft 62 is pushed rearwardly to unlatch latch 130,
allowing ON slide 134 to return to its normal position as shown in
FIG. 7. Bushing 116 is pushed rearwardly to separate clutch faces
126 and 128 if ON time remains in the accumulator (as shown in FIG.
6). Lever arm 80 also pushes accumulator wheel 60 rearwardly,
disengaging it from dogs 122 and 124 so that it is able to rotate
counterclockwise freely under the action of torsion spring 82 to
reset to its initial position with stop 84 against arm 74, as shown
in FIG. 2. Spline 120 on bushing 116 is to push leaf spring 118
away from accumulator wheel 60 during reset to reduce frictional
drag on accumulator wheel 60.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, pinion gears 53 and 54 may be
integral or formed in two pieces, preferably of nylon, as shown.
They include a spacer portion 152.
Reset wheel 56 is preferably formed of nylon and is freely
rotatable about a shaft 154 affixed to main plate 44. Reset wheel
56 is biased forward by means of compression spring 156 against dog
158 of arm 74 and dog 160 of arm 76. Integral with reset wheel 56
is a large-diameter bushing portion 161 and a small-diameter
portion 162. Dial plate 38 is affixed to portion 162 by adhesive or
the like and the shoulder 164 formed between portions 161 and 162
is adapted to be engaged by a U-shaped cutout portion 166 of lever
80 (see FIG. 2). As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the dog-receiving
opening 78-78 on reset wheel 56 are located at different diameters
so that they are engaged by dogs 158 and 160 at only one angular
position.
As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and is
conventional, when this angular position is attained, reset wheel
56 will abruptly and smartly move forward under the action of
spring 156 to the dotted position 56b shown in FIG. 6. This will
tilt reset lever 80 about pivot pins 168-168 to reset the
accumulator wheel 60, as previously described.
Dogs 158 and 160 are provided with inclined surfaces for camming
reset wheel 56 back to its initialed position shown in solid lines
in FIG. 6 after reset.
Now particularly referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, arms 74 and 76 are
welded or otherwise affixed to a bridge bracket 170. Bridge bracket
170 is affixed to main plate 44 by screws 172-172.
Screw 174 mounted on bridge bracket 170 acts as a stop, limiting
the motion of bellcrank 90 to which brush bristles 88 are mounted
as best seen in FIG. 5. Bellcrank 90 is biased clockwise, as seen
in FIG. 5, by means of torsion spring 176. An unthreaded portion of
stud 178 mounts it to bridge bracket 170, as best seen in FIG. 3.
Bellcrank 90 is rotatably mounted on nylon bushing 180 mounted on
stud 178. As previously described, brush bristles 88 are disengaged
from gear teeth 86 on accumulator wheel 60 when pin 92 mounted on
reset wheel 56 engages bellcrank 90 somewhat before the time when
dogs 158 and 160 fall into dog-receiving openings 78-78 on reset
wheel 56. Lever 80 is retained in position on stud 178 and, as
previously described, pivots about pivot ends 168.
The electrical circuit of the control is shown in FIG. 10. As can
be seen there, motor 52 is connected across line cord 24 and
operates continuously. When switch 66 is closed, pilot lamp 50 is
energized, indicating that power is available at outlet 46 and that
viewing time is being accumulated. Normally, the TV set ON-OFF
switch is left on, and the TV set is turned ON and OFF by means of
switch 66.
In the event of a power failure, reset wheel 56 must be set to the
correct time so that, as preferred, the reset operation will take
place between 3 and 4 a.m. This is accomplished, referring to FIG.
3, by pushing on dial plate 38 to push reset wheel 56 rearwardly to
position 56a, thus disengaging pinion gear 53 from reset wheel 56
so that reset wheel 56 is free to be rotated to a new time
indication.
Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, in order to securely lock the case
12, the front panel 14 fits into a channel 190 (see FIG. 4) in the
top of case 12 and is then rotated downwardly and inwardly against
shoulder 182. The key is then turned until latch portion 184 of
keylock 16 is turned into groove 186 in the case 12. The device is
now locked.
In order to operate the TV set when the preset amount of
accumulated time has been used up, the key may be turned clockwise,
rotating latch portion 184 to the position shown in dotted lines at
184a in FIG. 9. In this position a rearwardly depending tab portion
188 pushes against spring lever 70, thus depressing pushbutton 68
to close switch 66. The device may be opened by turning the key to
turn latch portion 184 to the position shown at 184b.
Those skilled in the art will realize that I have thus provided a
quite simple mechanism for achieving the purposes of the invention
as applied to TV viewing; that is, allowing the use of a
predetermined amount of accumulatable time during each reset
interval. While the reset interval described is 24 hours, it could
be 1 week or any other convenient period. The total amount of
accumulatable hours being more or less, depending on the length of
the reset period. Further, I have achieved these objects using but
a single synchronous motor, no electrical relays, and only a single
set of switch contacts, thus providing a device that may be
manufactured even in small quantities at relatively small cost and
in large quantities at such small cost that it could readily be
incorporated direction into a television set without substantially
increasing the price of the set.
It will also be understood that if, for example, the quantity being
measured was watt-hours, the accumulator wheel 60 would be driven
by a watt hour-meter, rather than being driven by a synchronous
motor.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those
made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above
construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description or
shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended
to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention
herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention
which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
* * * * *