US2913095A - Casing for typewriting and like machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1959 E. NEUMANN CASING FOR TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1955 United States Patent CASING FOR TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES Erich Neumann, Bielefeld, Germany Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,145

Claims. (Cl. 197-186) This invention relates to a casing for typewriting and like machines, more particularly portable typewriting machines, comprising a base portion that is bolted to the machine and a cover secured to said base portion in such manner as to be readily detachable therefrom.

Known casings consist of a base portion incorporating side walls that rise approximately to the level of the ribbon spools, the cover being a comparatively shallow plate. These types of casing sufier from the disadvantage that, even when the cover is removed, cleaning and servicing of the machine is a laborious process. Generally, repairs cannot be done until the base portion has likewise been removed. This applies particularly to portable machines because their working parts are compressed into a very narrow space.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a casing which is free from the defects about set forth and which lays bare the typing mechanism from the keyboard to the type bars and renders it accessible from above as well as from either side when the cover is removed, so that the mechanism can be readily serviced and repaired.

According to the present invention this object is achieved by providing a base consisting of a shallow frame and, mounted upon said frame, a cover incorporating side walls which enclose all parts of the machine with the exception of the keyboard and the carriage, and which are forwardly extended to enclose the stepped-down banks of keys on either side.

Whereas in known types of casing a removal of the cover merely disclosed the ribbon spools and type bars, removal of the cover of a casing constructed according to the present invention will lay bare and render accessible so that they can be conveniently replaced all the structural members which transmit the movement of the keys to the type bars, i.e. including the tension springs which are common to the keys and the intermediate levers and which in portable typewriting machines are subjected to exceptionally hard wear.

Further features of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to an example of the present invention illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portable typewriter equipped with a casing according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front portion of a portable typewriter with its cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cover plate alone, and

Fig. 4 is a form of construction in section of a catch mechanism for attaching the cover to the base.

As will be readily seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 1, the casing comprises a flat frame 1 which completely surrounds the machine and a cover 2 mounted upon said frame so as to be readily detachable therefrom. The frame 1 is so devised that its edge is raised to the level of the spacing bar 3 which lies countersunk in a recess cut into the edge of the frame.

At the back of the machine the edge 5 of the frame 1 2,913,095 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 so that the frame neatly encloses the rear of the carriage.

The compact unit construction of the frame 1 improves the rigidity of the entire machine and renders it proof against jolting and shock.

The side walls 7 of the cover 2 which entirely encloses the keyboard mechanism are forwardly extended and form a cleanly designed edge on either side of the banks of keys 8.

As will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 2 there are provided between the abutting edges 9 shown in Fig. 1 and attached to the frame by means of screws elongated leaf springs 10 the free ends of which arch slightly upwards when they are not depressed. These springs suppress rattle when the cover 2 is in position. To ensure correct alignment of the cover locating pins 11 are fitted to the frame and these engage with corresponding holes (not visible in the drawing) in the cover 2.

Moreover, the frame is provided with short slots for the reception of hooked catches fitted to the cover 2. As will be seen in Fig. 2 the leaf springs 10 have an appropriate cut out section in the vicinity of these slots 12.

The aforesaid catches (shown in Fig. '4) consist of double-armed levers with a hook 14 on one arm and an actuating lug 15 on the other. The lugs which pass through slots 16 in the side walls 7 (see also Figs. 1 and 3) can be depressed against the counter-pressure of springs 17 screwed to the side walls 7 so as vto press against a transverse pin fitted to the double-armed lever 13, said pin also serving as a stop limiting the outward movement of the catch 13.

When the actuating lugs 15 are depressed the doublearmed lever tilts about its fulcrum 20 so that the hook 14 can be withdrawn from the slot 12 in the frame and the cover raised. The pivot 20 is arranged on a bracket screwed to the interior of the side walls 7 in the same manner as spring 18.

It will be readily understood that the spring which prevents the cover from being unintentionally released may be replaced by a helical spring which might then be conveniently arranged on the pivot pin 20. Moreover, a further stop might be provided in addition to the stop 19 to limit the movement of the lever in the opposite direction.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriting or like machine having a keyboard, a type bar drive mechanism and a front spacing bar, a casing formed in two parts namely a flat base frame fixed to the machine and having a front edge which is recessed to accommodate the spacing bar and front and side parts which are not higher than the spacing bar, and a cover detachably mounted on the base frame with its lower edge resting on the base frame, the top and side parts of the cover enclosing the type bar mechanism and forward extensions of the side parts of the cover affording lateral protection for the keyboard.

2. A typewriting or like machine comprising a keyboard, a type bar drive mechanism, a front spacing bar, a casing consisting of a flat base frame having front and side parts which are not higher than the spacing bar and a cover having its lower edge resting on the base frame, spring loaded catches attached to the interior of the sides of the cover for detachably securing the cover to the base frame, and lugs on said catches projecting to the outside of the sides of the cover for releasing the catches, the top and sides of the cover enclosing the type bar mechanism and forward extensions of the sides of the cover affording lateral protection to the keyboard.

3. A typewriting or like machine as claimed in claim 2 including slightly arcuate leaf springs secured to the frame and extended lengthwise between adjacent edges of the cover and the frame, and pins mounted on one of the elements of the casing for engagement with corresponding holes in the other element of the casing.

4. A typewriting machine, particularly a box or portable machinehaving ribbon spools, a paper carriage, akeyboard, a type bar mechanism and a spacing bar, a machine support, a cover means enclosing the ribbon spools and type bar mechanism disposed between the paper carriage and the keyboard, and quickly operable latch means cooperably connected with the cover means and machine support to detachably attach the cover means to the machine support and permit its ready detachment therefrom thereby leaving the type bar mechanism and keyboard laterally free, the said cover means being defined in the form of a hood extending downwardly on both sides of the machine to at least approximately the level of the spacing bar and at the sides of the keyboard extending forward to afford lateral protection for the keyboard.

5. In a typewriting or like machine having a keyboard, a type bar drive mechanism and a front spacing bar, a

casing formed in two parts namely a fiat base frame fixed to the machine and having front and side parts which are not higher than the spacing bar, a cover detachably mounted on the base frame, the top and side parts of the cover enclosing the type bar mechanism and forward extensions of the side parts of the cover affording lateral protection for the keyboard, a paper carriage, and the rear of the frame being extended upwardly above the level of the spacing bar to protect the rear of the paper carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,199 Garbell Apr. 14, 1931 2,104,482 Helmond Jan. 4, 1938 2,297,229 Kruger Sept. 29, 1942 2,639,020 Schroder May 19, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,014,653 France Aug. 20, 1952

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