US3259894A

US3259894A - Snow alarms

Info

Publication number: US3259894A
Application number: US176850A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony E Ciccarone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-19
Filing date: 1962-02-19
Publication date: 1966-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-05

Description

July 5, 1966 E. CICCARONE 3,259,894

snow ALARMS Filed Feb. 19, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. as 4/V 77/0/1/ C/CCfl/PO/VE W WMWM ATI'OF/VEK y 5, 1965 A. E. CICCARONE 3,259,894

SNOW ALARMS Filed Feb. L9, 1962 3 h t s t 2 INVENTOR 4/1 THO/V) f. C/CC'A/ OA L' 4 Tram EX y 1966 A. E. CICCARONE 3,259,894

SNOW ALARMS INVENTOR. Ammo/W C/rcAm /F rwhua United States Patent 3,259,894 SNOW ALARMS Anthony E. Ciccarone, 1656 Sheridan Lane, Jeifersonville, Pa. Filed Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 176,850 10 Claims. (Cl. 340-272) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 161,835, filed December 26, 1961, and now abandoned.

My invention relates to snow alarms, and it relates more particularly to means for signaling a warning when snow has fallen in a manner to create a road hazard.

It is characteristic of snow that when a sutficient amount has accumulated on highways, tratfic thereon becomes perilous and treacherous; and therefore the pace of traffic is necessarily rendered slow. In addition, the fall of snow is generally quite noiseless, and gives no warning of its arrival.

Thus, many a motorist has been surprised on awakening in the morning, to discover that snow has fallen during the night and rendered the roads perilous so that he needs much additional time to drive to his destination, thereby making him late for his appointments, or otherwise necessitating drastic changes in his activities for the day. Others, for instance those who own or operate snow plows or who are otherwise expected to clear driveways or roadways of snow, find that should they awaken at the regular hour in the morning after snow has fallen during the night, they are arising too late to be of optimum service for those who need their roads or driveways cleared.

One object of my invention therefore is to provide a means for discovering the advent of snow, and when sufficient snow has fallen, such for instance as an amount sufficient to render the use of highways perilous, to sound an alarm which will arouse the motorist, snow plow operator or other individual whose activities are in any way gauged to the freedom of highways or driveways from snow, or who otherwise has need of knowing when snow has fallen.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for detecting the fall of snow during normal sleeping hours of the user, but which will withhold sounding an alarm during said sleeping hours until the time has arrived at which the user should awaken in order to meet the exigencies of the fallen snow. Thus for instance, if the user of my invention would normally sleep from 11:00 pm. until 7:00 am. and would require an additional hour and a half of waking time in the event snow has fallen during the night, and assuming that such snow has fallen by 2:00 a.m.; by the use of my invention my snow alarm will be activated by the fallen snow at 2:00 am. but will not sound an alarm until :30 am. Also, assuming that such snow has fallen during the day, when the user has no need of receiving this information from the snow alarm, no alarm will be sounded until 5:30 a.m., and even then it will not be sounded unless the snow has not thawed in the interim or the alarm othenwise has not been deactivated by the snow having been removed therefrom or a switch having been opened.

A further object of my invention is to provide a snow alarm which is adapted to be operated selectively to sound an alarm at varying degrees of snowfall. In this manner for instance, a light snowfall which would not seriously affect driving conditions could be rejected, while a heavier snowfall could be relied upon to sound an alarm.

Another object of my invention is to provide a snow alarm which will capture and retain snow which has fallen to a degree which would render driving treacherous, until 3,259,894 Patented July 5, 1966 after the captured snow has sounded an alarm; but which will allow said snow to be melted when the weather is such as to thaw the snow on the highway, in a manner to cause the melted snow to run off and free the device for reuse in the next snowfall.

A further object of my invention is to provide a snow alarm which is so constructed as selectively to reject rainfall but to accept snow fall, in its alarm-sounding operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which will signal an alarm when the weather is such as to cause a frozen precipitation of any kind, to be deposited on roadways in the vicinity.

A further object of my invention is to provide a snow alarm which is easy and inexpensive to construct, simple and dependable to operate, and readily adaptable for use with an alarm in the bedroom or other room used by the operator.

Other objects will appear from the more detailed description which follows.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 represents an elevational view, partly in section, of a snow alarm embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 rep-resents a perspective view of a selective retaining means forming part of a snow alarm embodying my invention.

FIGURE 3 represents a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section of a modified construction of a portion of a snow alarm embodying my invention. I

FIGURE 4 represents a diagrammatic view of a snow alarm system of modified construction embodying my invention.

FIGURE 5 represents a diagrammatic view of a snow alarm system of another modified construction embodying my invention.

FIGURE 6 represents a vertical elevational view of a delayed action system forming part of a snow alarm system of a further modified construction embodying my invention.

FIGURE 7 represents a rear elevational view of a portion of the time setting mechanism illustrated in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 represents an elevational view, partly in section, of a snow alarm of modified construction embodying my invention.

According to my invention I provide a platform 10 adapted to be mounted in :1 preferably horizontal manner in the out-of-doors and on any suitable base. Thus for instance, the platform 10 may be mounted on a hollow post 11 upwardly projecting from a tripod 12 adapted to be mounted on the ground (not shown). Or if desired, the platform 10 may be mounted on, and project outwardly from, a suitable window sill (not shown), portion of a roof (not shown) or other suitable base, provided the platform 10 when thus mounted is in a location where snow is free to fall regardless of the direction from which a snow-carrying wind may be blowing.

A suitable pivot 13 having a horizontal axis, such for instance as the hinge 14 is mounted on the platform 10. Such hinge 14 may comprise a horizontal, fixed leaf 15 secured in any suitable manner to the platform 10, and an upper, movable leaf 16 secured in any suitable manner to the lower face of a selective retaining means 17.

The selective retaining means 17 preferably comprises a plate portion 18 having a run-off edge 19. In a p1'e ferred form, a continuous preferably solid wall 26 projects upwardly from the plate portion 18, preferably along the perimeter portion 21 thereof extending from one end 22 of the run-off edge 19 to the other end 23 thereof.

The wall 20 comprises an upper edge portion 24 which may extend beyond the run-off edge region 19, in the vicinity of the end 22, and may if desired return in the vicinity of the end 23 to rejoin that portion of the wall 20 which is adjacent the perimeter portion 21.

In one form, as illustrated, the selective retaining means or device 17 comprises the wall 20 formed as an annulus 25 with the plate portion 18 disposed therein with the perimeter portion 21 contiguous to the inside face 26 of the wall 20 in the snow trapping region 27 of the selective retaining means 17, and the region between the run-off edge 19 and the remainder 28 of the annulus 25 forming therebetween a run-off passage 29. The upper edge portion 24 of the annulus 25 in the run-off passage region thereof may be notched as at 30 to receive a suitable weight device 31 which may comprise a weight 32 carried by a link 33 adapted to be disengageably and selectively interlocked with the notches 30.

A microswitch 34 is mounted on the platform with the mechanical contact member 35 of the microswitch 34 projecting upwardly in a manner to be adapted to be contacted by the lower face 36 of the plate 18, and to be depressed thereby when the hinge leaf 16 is swung toward the hinge leaf 15. The hinge 13 is so disposed on the platform 10 with relation to the microswitch contact member 35, the lower face 36 of the plate 18 and an edge 37 of the platform 10, that the axis 13 of the hinge 14 is disposed intermediate said platform edge 37 and the contact member '35, operably to dispose the edge 37 as a limiting stop for the downwardly tilting movement of the plate 18, and the depressed position of the contact member 35 forms a limiting stop for the opposite movement of the plate 18 toward the horizontal.

Suitable wires 38 lead from the microswitch 34, preferably in a weatherproof manner as for instance through the interior of the post 11, to a suitable source of electric power, as for instance a dry cell battery 39 in series with a suitable alarm device such for instance as the buzzer 40 which may be selectively connected or disconnected by means of an electric switch device 41. The battery 39, buzzer 40 and switch 41 may be located in any suitable place such for instance as a bedroom, ready room, or the like.

In operation, the platform 10 holds the selective retaining means 17 in the out-of-doors in a manner to be exposed to snow when snow is falling. The pivot 13 may be disposed between the center of gravity of the selective retaining means 17 and the edge 42 thereof opposite to the run-off edge 19, thereby causing the plate 18 to tilt downwardly until it comes to rest against the edge 37 of the platform 10. If desired, instead of depending upon the location of the pivot 13 with respect to said center of gravity, the weight device 31 may be adjusted among the notches 30 to cause the plate 18 to bear against the edge 37 of the platform 10. In either even-t, when the snow falls it will rest upon and cling to the upper surface 43 of the plate 18. In this operation, the wall 20 protects the snow from blowing off of the plate 18, and additionally acts to form eddies which would entrap snow behind the wall 20 when snow-carrying wind would be blowing in a substantially horizontal direction. The thus entrapped snow falls on the plate 18 and collects thereon as indicated at 44. As the collected snow rises on the plate 18, the weight thereof tends to counterbalance the downward tilt-causing weight,

operably to swing the plate 18 toward the horizontal until it rests upon the contact member 35 and depresses the same in a manner to make electrical contact with the microswitch 34. This actuates the buzzer 40 until it arouses the occupant who may then disconnect the buzzer by manipulating the switch 41.

Should it be desired to cause the device to reject snow when there is but a slight snowfall, the weight device 31 can be moved to a notch 30 disposed further away from the center of gravity of the selective retaining means 17, or different sizes of weights may be used. In this manner, snow of varying depths or weights can be accepted or rejected for operating the selective retaining device. Also if desired, a plurality of microswitches such as the microswitch 45 could be used in conjunction with the selective switch 46, the plurality of switches including the

switches

34, 45, being so arranged on the platform 10 that their contact members will be selectively depressed into electrical contact at different degrees of tilt of the plate 18. In such case, the switch 46 is connected with each microswitch in a manner to cut out the other microswitches. By suitable manipulation of the switch 46, the occupant can selectively disconnect the microswitch which would be actuated at unwanted degrees of tilt, while allowing the one microswitch to remain in contact, which would represent the degree of tilt caused by a snowfall of an amount desired to actuate the alarm.

The accumulated snow will remain on the plate 18 until there is sufficient evaporation and thaw to cause it to disappear. This is analogous to the actual condition of the snow on the highway. Thus for instance, if the occupant desired to be warned when it may be expected to find two inches of snow on the highway, he may set the snow alarm to notify him when two inches of snow has fallen on the plate 18. Assuming that two inches of snow has then fallen and sounded the alarm, whereupon the snow ceases, and is followed by an evaporation or thaw which would reduce the depth of snow to one inch, a subsequent snowfall of but one inch is required to bring the depth back to two inches and thereby to re-sound the alarm. This is in direct consonance with the snow condition on the highway.

Continuing with the operation of the device, when the snow thaws it is reduced to water, and said water is free to flow off the plate 18 and over the run-off edge 19 and through the run-off passage 29 away from the selective retaining means 17. As it does so, the weight of retained snow is thereby released, and the plate is again free to swing to its downward tilting position wherein it rests against the edge 37 of the platform 10.

My invention will also operate as an alarm when sleet has fallen or formed, or when the weather is such as to cause wet roads to glaze, in a manner to constitute a road hazard. Thus for instance, should rain have fallen sufiicient to wet the plate 18, and the temperature be such as to freeze the moisture on the plate 18 before it can drain across the run-off edge 19, and should subsequent rain become frozen on the thus accumulated ice, there will be a sufficient accumulation of weight on the plate 18 to cause it to swing toward a horizontal position and thereby to actuate the alarm. Similarly, should sleet collect on the plate 18, its weight will tend to swing the selective retaining means 17 towards a horizontal position and thereby actuate the alarm. In either event, when the frozen moisture thaws, it will drain through the run-01f passage 29 and allow the plate 18 again to tilt away from the microswitch contact member 35, thereby disengaging the alarm. Thus it will be seen that road hazards occasioned by snow, sleet or glazing, will all be recorded by the snow alarm of my invention in a manner to signal an alarm.

Should it be desired, the pivot 13 can be so related to the center of gravity of the selective retaining device as to cause the device 17 to rest lightly on the contact member 35 without depressing it to actuating condition. The weight of frozen precipitation would then cause the device to move downwardly to actuate the microswitch. An illustration of this may be found in FIG- URE 3, wherein the selective retaining device is referred to generally by the numeral 47, and comprises a plate portion 18 having a run-off edge 19 and a lower face 36 normally resting upon the contact member 35 of a microswitch 34 mounted on a platform which supports a pivot 48 on which is mounted the selective retaining means 47, the center of gravity of the selective retaining means 47 being disposed between the pivot 48 and the contact member 35. By suitable adjustment of the weight 32 about the notches 30, the weight of the selective retaining device 47 can be so counterbalanced as to cause the plate 18 to rest so lightly upon the contact member 35 as not to actuate the microswitch 34 until additional weight has accumulated on the plate 18, as when the required amount of snow or ice has accumulated thereon.

Also as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the selective retaining device 47 includes a downwardly projecting skirt portion 49 which substantially embraces the platform 10 and the pivot means and microswitch mounted thereon, operably to protect the mechanically operative portions and the electrical connections related thereto, from undue exposure to the weather. Thus for instance, the hinge, microswitch and wires leading to the microswitch would be protected from the rain or snow, thereby reducing the possibility of movable parts becoming frozen, or corrosion taking place. In a preferred form the downwardly projecting skirt 49 is formed integral with the upwardly projecting Wall 20.

In FIGURE 4 is illustrated a modified construction embodying my invention, wherein means are provided for delaying the sounding of an alarm until a prescribed time selected by the user of the device. Thus, a clock mechanism 50 is provided, having a shaft 51 on which the hour hand (not shown) may normally be mounted. A cam 52 may be mounted on the shaft 51 and is preferably adjustable thereon by any suitable means. Although such means is illustrated by the set screw 53, it is to be understood that any desirable means for adj-usting the cam 52 on the shaft 51 may be used. The cam 52 has a low portion 54 preferably extending throughout a major portion of its periphery, and a high portion 55 radially projecting therefrom preferably for a relatively short distance. A shoe 56 may be mounted on a substantially fixed portion of the clock mechanism 50 and in the path of the high 55 but out of contact with the low portion 54 of the cam 52. The shoe 56 may if desired be spring mounted as at 57 to provide a suitable give to the shoe 56 when it is contacted by the high portion 55. The shoe 56 and the cam 52 are preferably made of electrical conductors and are insulated one from the other. A brush 58 or other suitable contact member may be mounted on the clock mechanism 50 in insulated relation thereto, and adapted to bear an electrical contact against the cam 52. The shoe 56 and cam 52 thus form an intermittent switch which may be electrically connected in series with the alarm device such as the buzzer 40 and the source of electrical current such as the battery '39. Thus for instance, the battery 39 may be connected to the brush 58 and the buzzer 40 may be connected to the shoe 56.

When the microswitch 34 is closed by the contact member 35 being depressed by the weight of the snow 44 bearing against the plate 18, current will not flow through the system until the high 55 of the cam 52 bears against the shoe 56. But the high 55 will only be in this condition during the time the hour shaft 51 has rotated the required number of degrees. Thus for instance, if the high 55 extends three (3) degrees along the periphery of the cam 52, and that portion of the shoe 56 which is adapted to be contacted by the high 55, itself extends an additional three degrees, and assuming the cam 52 is adjusted on the hour shaft 51 so as to dispose the leading edge 59 of the high 55 in a position where it will begin contacting the shoe 56 at 5:00 oclock, the circuit will be in a position to be operable from 5 :00 oclock when the high 55 commences contact with the shoe 56 until twelve minutes after 5:00 oclock when the high 55 leaves the shoe 56; and at no other time would it be operable. Thus, the user of the snow alarm could set the delayed signal mechanism to be operable at any desired time and inoperable at all other times. In this way for instance, he could set the alarm to be operable between 5:00 and 5:12 oclock, and could then go to sleep at 11:00 pm. Should snow fall during the night he will not be awakened until 5 :00 am. If there is no snowfall, or if there is not sufficient snow to operate the out-of-doors mechanism, he will not be awakened by the snow alarm, and will be allowed to sleep until the normal rising time.

The clock mechanism 50 may be of the usual twelve hour type, or of the twenty-four hour type, or any other desired type. If the mechanism is of the twelve hour type and it is desired to set the snow alarm to be operable only once every tweny-four hours, suitable reducing gears or other conversion means may be used. Thus, for instance, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, a reducing gear 60 may be mounted on the hour shaft 51, and meshed with a gear 61 having twice the periphery of the gear 60. The cam 52 may be mounted on the gear 61 and adapted to be intermittently engaged with the shoe 56 which is suitably mounted (not shown) on any preferably fixed location. Thus a standard twelve hour clock may be converted to render the snow alarm operable only during the night or any other desired brief period during a twenty-four hour day.

It is to be understood that the clock mechanism 50 may be of manual winding, electrically opera-ted or other suitable mechanism which is adapted to operate a moving part which can be associated with an intermittent electric contact which may be connected in series with the out-of-doors portion of the snow alarm mechanism. Thus for instance, a conventional alarm clock may be connected with its alarm mechanism in series with the out-of-doors snow alarm microswitch.

In FIGURE 6 is illustrated a delayed action mechanism of further modified construction, embodying my invention. Thus a clock mechanism 62 may be mounted in a suitable housing 63, and may comprise a continuously rotating time shaft having a spur gear 64 in mesh with a gear 65 mounted on a suitable pivot 66 carried by the housing 63. In a preferred form, the mounting for the gear 65 comprises a sleeve 67 which is rotatably disposed on the pivot 66. The ratio of the gear 65 to the spur gear 64 with relation to the rate of revolution of the spur gear 64 is such that the gear 65 will traverse 360 in a desired interval of time, such for instance as twenty-four hours. A suitable dial 68 may be mounted on the sleeve 67 in fixed relation to the gear 65, and may comprise digits or other legends 69 indicating intervals of time. A time-set device such for instance as the starting time-set 70 and the ending time-set 71 may also be mounted on the sleeve 67, but in rotatable relation thereto. The

timesets

70, 71 may each comprise means for being adjustably secured to the dial 68 in desired locations with respect to the time interval designations 69 there-on. The starting time-set 70 may comprise a trip lever 72 rearwardly projecting therefrom, and the ending time-set 71 may comprise a trip lever 73 rearwardly projecting from it and disposed at a different radius from the axis of the sleeve 67.

A suitable switch mechanism 74 may be mounted in the housing 63, and comprise trigger mechanism 75 adapted to be engaged and operated by the movement of the starting trip lever 72 about the axis of the sleeve 67, and the trigger 76 adapted to be engaged and operated by the movement of the trip lever 73 about theaxis of the sleeve 67. The switch mechanism 74 is preferably of a kind which will be moved into the on position when the trigger 75 has been thus engaged and operated by the starting trip lever 72, and when in the on position will have its trigger 76 cocked to become engaged by the ending trip lever 73; and when the ending trip lever 73 engages and operates the trigger 76, the switch mechanism '74 will be moved into the off position and will also cock the trigger 75 to be in position to become engaged and operated by the starting trip lever 72 at the next onset of the trip lever 72 during the rotation of the dial 68. Thus, the switch mechanism 74 will be moved to the on position once during the time interval embraced by the dial 68 and will remain in the on position until it is triggered by the ending trip lever 73 whereupon it will return to the olf position for the remainder of the rotation of the dial 68. If desired, additional time-sets (not shown) may be used about the dial 68.

In one preferred form, a suitable transformer 77 may be mounted in the housing 63, and may be connected on the high voltage side 78 thereof to a source (not shown) of house current by means of the wires 79. On the same side of the transformer, wires 80 may be connected leading to the clock mechanism 62 operably continuously to operate said clock mechanism 62. The low voltage side 81 of the transformer 77 may be connected at one terminal to one side 82 of the switch mechanism 74, and at the other terminal to one of the conductors 38 leading to the out-of-doors portion of the snow alarm mechanism.

The other side 83 of the switch mechanism 74 may be connected to one terminal 84 of the signal device such for instance as the buzzer 40 which may itself be mounted within the housing 63, and may also be connected to one terminal 85 of a manually operable switch 86 which may also be carried by the housing 63. The other terminal 87 of the manually operable switch 86 may be connected to the other side 82 of the switch mechanism 74, thereby disposing the manually operable switch 86 in parallel with the automatic switch mechanism 74, operably to shunt the same when the manual switch 86 is in the on condition.

The opposed terminal 88 of the signal device such as the buzzer 40 may be connected to one terminal 89 of a manually operable signal switch 90 which may be carried by the housing 63. The other terminal 91 of the signal switch 90 may be connected to a conductor 92 forming one of the wires 38 leading to the out-of-doors snow alarm mechanism and opposed to the other of the wires 38 which connects said out-of-doors snow alarm mechanism to the low side 81 of the transformer 77.

Thus it will be found that the out-of-doors portion of the snow alarm mechanism will be operable by the accumulation of snow or ice on the selective retaining means 17 causing the closing of the circuit in the microswitch 34 and thereby forming a closed circuit in that portion of the electrical conductors 38. With the signal switch 90 in the on position, and the manual switch 86 in the on position, current will flow through the signal device such for instance as the buzzer 40 in a manner to operate the same and to sound the alarm. This alarm will continue until the snow or other accumulation will have disappeared from the selective retaining means 17 sufficiently to release the microswitch 34, or until the signal switch 90 has been turned to the off position, or the manual switch 86 is turned 01f when the dial 68 is in a position where the switch mechanism 74 would be in the off condition.

Turning the manual switch 86 into the off position permits the automatic mechanism control by the clock mechanism 62 to operate in its place. Thus, with the microswitch 34 in closed condition as aforesaid, current will flow from the transformer 77 to the switch mechanism 74 and will be prevented from further flow while the switch mechanism 74 is in open condition as during all of the rotation of the dial 68 between the time the trigger 76 is released by the trip lever 73 and the time the trigger 75 is again engaged by the trip lever 72. When the trip lever 72 operates the trigger 75, the switch mechanism 74 moves to closed condition and current is then free to flow through the signal device such for instance as the buzzer 40 and back through the closed circuit including the out-of-doors snow alarm portion, thereby operating the signal device 40. Should it be desired to turn off the buzzer 40 once it has sounded and before the trip lever 73 disconnects it, it is merely necessary to operate the signal switch which is in series with the buzzer 40.

The switch mechanism 74 may also operate an electrical switch 93 having opposed

terminals

94 and 95 adapted to be connected to ay means or device which may be desired to be automatically operated by the onset of snow or other frozen accumulation during certain hours. Thus for instance, if it is desired to prevent the accumulation of snow or ice on a driveway by heating it by embedded means (not shown) but only to do this during hours of the day substantially when it is expected traflic would be using the driveway, the low side 8-1 of the transformer 77 may be connected to the terminal 95 of the switch 93. The opposed terminal 94 of the switch 93 may be connected to the heating means (not shown) operably to set the same in on condition, said heating means being also connected to the out-of-doors portion of the snow alarm mechanism which itself is connected to the low side 81 of the transformer 77 as hereinabove described. Connections also may be made to the manual switch 86 and the signal switch 90 in the same manner as heretofore described.

If desired, when the out-of-doors snow alarm portion is equipped with means, as for instance the plurality of

microswitches

34 and 45, for indicating a plurality of degrees of snowfall or other frozen accumulation, the automatic time delay mechanism may be shunted and the alarm sounded or otherwise put in operation. Thus for instance, the microswitch 45 may be connected substantially directly to the terminals 66 and 91, thereby operably to furnish a snow alarm which will operate the alarm or other desired mechanism when a snowfall of given weight will have fallen and a previously determined time shall have arrived for the commencement of said operation; and which will also operate without regard to the arrival of any previously determined time, when snow or other frozen condition shall have accumulated beyond a predetermined weight. Thus for example, if the snow alarm has been set to operate the microswitch 34 when snowfall has accumulated to the weight of a normal 2" depth, and the dial 68 has been set to delay the sounding of the alarm buzzer 40 until 5:30 a.m. and also the microswitch 45 has been so located as to be actuated when snow has fallen to a normal accumulation of 4", and a snowstorm shall have commenced at midnight producing a 2" accumulation by 2:00 am. and a 4" accumulation by 4:00 a.m., the microswitch 34 will have been actuated at 2:00 am. but the buzzer will not sound because of the dial-setting delaying action on this microswitch circuit until -5 :30 a.m., but the buzzer nevertheless will sound at 4:00 a.m. because of the actuation of the microswitch 45. In this manner, the microswitch 45 may be said to operate as an emergency alarm which will warn the operator of an emergency condition requiring him to commence his snow removal or other operations before the time normally required by ordinary snowfall.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a microswitch mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitch and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon said microswitch in a manner to actuate the same; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-off edge and a perimeter portion; an electrically operable signal device in electrical communication with said microswitgh; means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device; and means selectively to control the tilt which operates said signal device by means of said microswitch.

2. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a microswitch mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitch and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon said microswitch in a manner to actuate the same; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-off edge and a perimeter portion; a Wall projecting upwardly from said plate; an electrically operable signal device in electrical communication with said microswitch; means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device; and means selectively to controlthe tilt which operates said signal device by means of said microswitch.

3. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a microswitch mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitch and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon said microswitch in a manner to actuate thesame; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-ofi edge and a perimeter portion, an electrically operable signal device in electrical communication with said microswitch; means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device.

4. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a microswitch mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitch and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon said microswitch in a manner to actuate the same; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-off edge and a perimeter portion; a Wall projecting upwardly from said plate; an electrically operable signal device in electrical communication with said microswitch; means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device.

5. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a microswitch mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitch and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon said microswitch in a manner to actuate the same; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-off edge and a perimeter portion; an electrically operable signal device in electrical communication with said microswitch; means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device; and a weight adjustably disposable on said selective retaining device operably to select the weight of accumulated deposits which will cause said plate to actuate said microswitch. I

6. A snow alarm comprising a platform having an edge portion; a plurality of microswitches mounted on said platform; a pivot disposed on said platform between said microswitches and said edge portion; a selective retaining device tiltably mounted on said pivot, and comprising a plate, said selective retaining device being adapted to be swung about said pivot between a position in which said selective retaining device rests against said edge portion, and a position in which said selective retaining device rests upon one of said microswitches in a manner to actuate the same; said microswitches being so disposed with relation to said selective retaining device as to be actuable at different degrees of tilt of said device; said plate being adapted to accumulate frozen deposits directly from the atmosphere, and comprising a run-off edge and a perimeter portion; an electrically operable signal device disposed in an electrical circuit with said microswitches in a manner to be turned alternately on and off by the operation of said microswitches; means operable to disconnect a selected microswitch from said signal device; and means selectively and alternately to connect and disconnect said signal device.

7. A snow responsive device comprising a base;

a pivot carried by said base;

a switch mechanism carried by said base;

a selective retaining means comprising a plate moveably mounted on said base and adapted to be swung about said pivot into switch-actuating engagement with said switch mechanism;

said selective retaining means being adapted:

to retain frozen moisture and to release fluid moisture;

to be actuated by the weight of frozen moisture thus retained, into swinging about said pivot into switch-closing contact with said switch mechanism;

and when said frozen moisture has thawed, to release the resulting fluid operably to be relieved of the weight thereof and to swing back about said pivot, thereby releasing said switch mechanism, and opening said switch;

means adapted to connect said switch mechanism to a source of electric current;

an electrical appliance actuatable by said electric current when said switch mechanism is in closed condition,

and adapted to be disconnected from said current when said switch mechanism is in open condition;

said selective retaining means comprising a skirt adapted to embrace said platform including the mechanical and electrical parts carried thereby, and substantially to protect said mechanical and electrical parts from the weather.

8. A snow responsive device comprising a base;

a pivot carried by said-base;

a switch mechanism carried by said base;

a selective retaining means comprising a plate moveably 11 mounted on said base and adapted to be swung about said pivot into switch-actuating engagement with said switch mechanism; said selective retaining means being adapted:

to retain frozen moisture and to release fluid moisture; to be actuated by the weight of frozen moisture thus retained, into swinging about said pivot into switch-closing contact with said switch mechanism; and when said frozen moisture has thawed, to release the resulting fluid operably to be relieved of the weight thereof and to swing back about said pivot, thereby releasing said switch mechanism, and opening said switch; means adapted to connect said switch mechanism to a source of electric current; an electrical appliance actuatable by said electric current when said switch mechanism is in closed condition,

said selective retaining means comprising a wall portion adapted to form eddies in snow-carrying wind operably to cause said wind to deposit said snow on said retaining means, and to protect said snow from being blown off said retaining means.

9. A snow responsive device comprising a base;

a pivot carried by said base;

a switch mechanism carried by said base;

said selective retaining means being adapted:

to retain frozen moisture and to release fluid moisture;

to be actuated by the weight of frozen moisture thus retained, into swinging about said pivot into switch-closing contact with said switch mechanism; and when said frozen moisture has thawed, to release the resulting fluid operably to be relieved of the weight thereof and to swing back about said pivot, thereby releasing said switch mechanism, and opening switch;

means adapted to connect with switch mechanism to a source of electric current;

a delayed time operating device comprising:

a clock mechanism,

a switch adapted to render said switch mechanism alternately operative and inoperative; and

means connected with said clock mechanism for rendering said switch alternately in on condition and off condition.

10. A snow responsive device comprising a base;

a pivot carried by said base;

a switch mechanism carried by said base;

a selective retaining means comprising a plate moveably mounted on said base and adapted to be swung about said pivot into switch-actuating engagement with said switch mechanism; said selective retaining means being adapted:

to retain frozen moisture and to release fluid moisture; to be actuated by the weight of frozen moisture thus retained, into swinging about said pivot into switch-closing contact with said switch mechanism; and when said frozen moisture has thawed, to release the resulting fluid operably to be relieved of the weight thereof and to swing back about said pivot, thereby releasing said switch mechanism, and opening said switch; means adapted to connect said switch mechanism to a soiirce of electric current; an electrical appliance actuatable by said electric current when said switch mechanism is in closed condition,

and adapted to be disconnected from said current when said switch mechanism is in open condition; a delayed time operating device comprising:

a clock mechanism, a a switch adapted to render said switch mechanism operative and inoperative; means connected with said clock mechanism for rendering said switch alternately in on condition and off condition, said last-mentioned means being adjustable as to times of starting and stopping said on and off c0nditions; means operable to disconnect said electrical appliance, independently of said delayed time operating device; means operable to connect said electrical appliance to said switch mechanism independently of said delayed time operating device; said last-mentioned means being a secondary means operable to permit current to flow to said electrical appliance when a predetermined further accumulation of frozen moisture has been collected by said selective retaining means;

said selective retaining means comprising a skirt adapted to embrace said platform including the mechanical and electrical parts carried thereby, and substantially to protect said mechanical and electrical parts from the weather;

said selective retaining means also comprising a wall portion adapted to form eddies in snowacarrying wind operably to cause said wind to deposit said snow on said retaining means, and to protect said snow from being blown off said retaining means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 840,582 1/ 1907 ONeill 340-244 1,217,036 2/ 1917 McManus. 1,769,639 7/ 1930 Gustafson. 2,373,041 4/ 1945 Martindell 340-439 2,439,509 4/1948 Eddy 200 X 2,699,538 1/ 1955 Nickel 340-237 2,787,695 4/ 1957 Dyke 340234 X 2,842,629 7/ 1958 Skinner ZOO-61.07 2,856,476 10/1958 Kaiser et al 340235 X 2,944,120 7/1960 Ruben 20086.5 X

NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner.

D. K. MYER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SNOW ALARM COMPRISING A PLATFORM HAVING AN EDGE PORTION; A MICROSWITCH MOUNTED ON SID PLATFORM; A PIVOT DISPOSED ON SAID PLATFORM BETWEEN SAID MICROSWITCH AND SAID EDGE PORTION; A SELECTIVE RETAINING DEVICE TILTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT, AND COMPRISING A PLATE, SAID SELECTIVE RETAINING DEVICE BEING ADAPTED TO BE SWUNG ABOUT SAID PIVOT BETWEEN A POSITION IN WHICH SAID SELECTIVE RETAINING DEVICE RESTS AGAINST SAID EDGE PORTION, AND A POSITION IN WHICH SAID SELECTIVE RETAINING DEVICE RESTS UPON SAID MICROSWITCH IN A MANNER TO ACTUATE THE SAME; SAID PLATE BEING ADAPTED TO ACCUMULATE FROZEN DEPOSITS DIRECTLY FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, AND COMPRISING A RUN-OFF EDGE AND A PERIMETER PORTION; AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATABLE SIGNAL DEVICE IN ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MICROSWITCH; MEANS SELECTIVELY AND ALTERNATELY TO CONNECT AND DISCONNECT SAID SIGNAL DEVICE; AND MEANS SELECTIVELY TO CONTROL THE TILT WHICH OPERATES SAID SIGNAL DEVICE BY MEANS OF SAID MICROSWITCH.