US2529005A

US2529005A - Writing guide for the blind

Info

Publication number: US2529005A
Application number: US745398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myrtle M Erickson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-05-02
Filing date: 1947-05-02
Publication date: 1950-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-07

Description

M. M. ERICKSON 2,529,005

WRITING GUIDE FOR THE BLIND Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1947 0 o o 0 .0"- o o o I o 0 9 0 Q 0 270 'ZJL 0 Q o if o n o 26 29K 0 o o 77 o Q o O o l 0 Q o o a 2 2 0 Q o O Q Q o O o 0 o O D o. O o 0 Z 0 o 9 7 I I 2 .70- J/ /2 m M if uvmqron a rf/e MM. Ewe/war; Y I

1 M. M. ERICKSON ,00

WRITING GUIDE FOR THE BLIND Filed May 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1 950 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1 V 2,529,005 Q 1 I Q WR I TI NG GUI DE FonrHE BL ND' Myrtle M. Erickson, Longview, Wash. Application May 2 1947, Serial No. 145,393 7 beutilized without 'materially deflecting the 7 guide bar, A still further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the guide bar may vbe moved downwardly in progressive equal steps bytransverse movement thereof.

"Another object of the invention is the provision of :a device of this character which is 'sturdy and durable construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, as .well as simple to use.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept. 'In the drawings: 3 Figure 1 is a top plan view ofone form of device embodying'features of the instant invention, parts thereof being broken away. m urez is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figurel, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure'B is a sectional view taken 'substan tiallyalon'g the line 3-'3 of Figure l, as viewed "in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain portions of the apparatus being disclosed in the different positions of adjustment. Figure 4 is a perspective viewof a constructional,-detail. r I

Figure 51s a fragmentary perspective view of a further constructicnal detail; I M-Similar'reference characters refer to similar :parts throughout the several views'of the draw- .1ngs.- I m Referring now to the drawings in detail, the device ofthe instant invention comprises a writing-board generally-indicated at I0, preferably of recta ngular shape, and, including a, central, smooth writing surface II defined by longitudinally extending gui'dez bars 12. Paper is adapted to be positioned on the writing space H and secured thereon, as by spring clips I3, while the board may be utilized'in horizontal position, or maybe elevated at an angle by means of an extending portion I4 hingedly secured, as by hinges I5, to the upper edge, of the board.- 1 guide member and -spacer generally indipated at'IG is adaptedto be positioned for longitudinal, movement between the guide bars I2, and takesfthe form of two side plates I1, adapted in slidable engagement with the innersides of 3'Claims. (Cl.3538) guide bars I2, connected by transversely extending plate-like members I8, connected ontheir "under sides'by a connecting strip I9, the bars I8 being spaced to form a channel within which is 'movably positioned a spacer bar 20. The spacer bar 20 is provided at a mid-point-witha handle 2|, to facilitate longitudinal-movement thereof in the channel between themembers I8. The outerextremities of bar 20 extend a substantial distance beyond the guide members I2, and are provided on the under side of their ex tremities with specially constructed spacing deflector members 25. Each of the'members 25 includes an arcuate cam surface 26, concave with respecttc the'top of the board I0, and separated by an abutting flange"?! from .an opposite projecting portion including an arcuate cam surface 28, which is convex with respect to the top of the board, and terminates in a point. '-The arrangement is such thatboth of the members 25 at opposite extremities of the member 20 are aligned, in that both concave surfaces 26 are on the right side of the board, and both convex surfaces 28 on the left, the purpose; of which arrangement will be more fully pointed out herein:- after. Exteriorly of the guide plates'or bars 12, the board is provided on both sides with two spaced rows of equidistantly spaced pins, the

rows being indicated at 30, 3I, 32 and 33; Itis "to be noted that row 3I is staggered relative to, row 30, as is row 3."! relative to 32, thepins of

rows

30 and 32 and the pins of rows 3| and 33 being substantially in alignment. 'It is further to be noted, as best shown in Figure L thatthe pins of each row are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the flanges 21,-so that lateral movement of the bar 20'may move the spacer members 25 laterally between the rows, but the flanges 21' will limit such'movement to the distance between rows 30 and 3 I, and rows 32 and.33.

Aguide member 35 comprised of a tension spring is extended between apertures 36 positioned in end plates I'I below the lowermost-10f members .I8, and is provided with slidable stop 'membersl3'l which may be suitably spaced from the extremities of the spring 35 in order to define the length of the lines. 1 c Asbest shown in Figure 5, each of guide bars I2'is' provided on its'interior side with a channel or" groove 40, the groove being closed, as. by a block AI; at its lower iextremity. Pins 4ZJcarried adjacent the lower extremities of guide plates I'l areadapted to engage in the channels. 40'; thus holding the spacer member is and its associated guides 35 substantially flush with thewriting surface II under normal conditions, but permitting' 'pivotal tilting of 'the'same about the axis formed by pin 42 when it is desired to release the members 25 from their associated rows of pins to permit returning of the lspacer to the top of the board. Stop blocks 43 are provided at the upper extremities of guide members I2 to permit initial aligning of the spacer and guide at the [start oi anew pa justed in either flat or inclined position by means.

of the hinged portion l4, and the spacer member I6 is moved to the uppermost portion of the board, the previously described tilting movement about the pins 42 permitting such movement by disengaging the members 25 from their associated rows of pins. The blind individual utilizing the device-now writes along the guide member 35, which serves effectively to align the writing, but, due to the previously discussed flexibility, perthe insertion of depending portions of such letters as may be necessary. When the end of the line is reached, as indicated by the adjustable stop member 31., the handle ZI may be grasped and moved first to the right, and then' to the left. In effecting such movement, it will be noted that when the device is at the extreme left, as shown in Figure 1, the flange 21 of each member 25 is seated against two pins in rows 3!; and 32, respectively. Movement of the device to the right will now pause engagement of the arcuate cam surface 26 with associated staggered pin in rows 3| and .33, ;-whi ch will serve to move the device downwardly. Reverse movement will now cause the arcuate cam surfaces zil to engage associated pins in rows stand 3;, thus completing the downward movement of the device a distance equal to the spacing between the pins, and firmly centering the spacer ata predetermined distance below the pre iqus l ne,

1.1116 procedure may obviously be repeated until th pa e s filled, whe upe a n w pag may e inserted, as previously described. The blocks 4| servegas end stcps to, indicate the bottom of a page ,However, if the paper is too short for the blocks 4| to s rve n h s m nner, the us r must i :feelthe lower edge of the paper and calculate its rela ion to the uide mem e 3 1 From the .ioregoing it will now be seen that there sis herein provided an improved writing devicefor the blind which accomplishes all the .obiects of-Ethis. invention, and others, including many; advantages of grea practical utility.

As many embodiments may be madeof, this inventive concept,.and as, many modifications may bemade in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it .is to be-understoodthat allmatter herein is to be interpreted merelyas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

-I claim:

1. AI writing guide for the blind comprising a rectangular boardhaving its upper endmounted on a supporting surface, four parallel rows of spaced projecting pins on the upper surface of said board, a pair of said rows of pins arranged along the opposite sides of said board and defining'therebetween a writing are,a,:the pins of the respective pairs of rows being staggered, with respect to, each other and the individual Pins of alternate rows of the respective pairs being in parallel alignment with the upper end of the board, an elongated guide member disposed across said writing area, means mounting said guide member perpendicular to said rows of pins for sliding movement parallel therewith, a spacer bar mounted on said guide member for reciprocal sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having its ends projecting beyond the ends of said ,member and above said pins, adeflector on each of the projecting ends of the bar disposed intermediate the rows of pins of theproximate pair of WW5 for coaction successively with adjacent pins of first one and then the'lother row of said pairs of rows at each reciprocation of the spacer bar for imparting step by step line spacing movement to said guide member, and a writing implement guide means on said member.

2. A writing guide for the blind comprising a board having a smooth upper writing surface, four parallel rows of spaced projecting pins on said su face of said board, a pair of said rows of pins arranged in parallel spaced relation with the other pair of said rows and defining therebetween a writing area, th pins of the respective pairs of rows being staggered with respect to each other and the individual pins of alternate rows of the respective pairs being aligned normal to the rows of said pins, an elongated guide member disposed across said writing area, means mounting said guide member perpendicular to said rows-of pins for sliding movement parallel therewith, a spacer bar mounted on said guide member for reciprocable sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having its ends projecting beyond the ends of said member and above said pins, a deflector on each of the projecting ends of the bar disposed intermediate the rows of pins of the proximate pair of rows for coaction successively with adjacent pins of first one and then the other row of said pairs of rows at each reciprocation of the spacer barfor imparting step by step line spacing movement to said guide member, and a writing implement guide means on said member. 3. A writing guide for the blind comprising a rectangular board having its upper end mounted on a supporting surface, four parallel rows of spaced projecting pins on the upper surface of said board, a pair of said rows of pins arranged along the opposite sides of said board and defining therebetween a writing area; the pins of the respective pairs of rows being stag: gered with respect to each other and the individual pins of alternate rows of the respective pairs being in parallel alignment with the upper end of the board, an elongated guide member disposed across said writing area, means mounting said guide member perpendicular-to said rows of; pins for sliding movement parallel therewith, a spacer bar mounted on said guide member for reciprocal sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having its ends projecting beyond the ends of said member and above said pins, a deflector embodying apair of cam portions arranged in end to end and reversed relation with respect to each other on each of the projecting ends of the bar disposed intermediate the rows of pins of the proximate pair of rows for, coaction; successively with adjacent pins: of first one and then the other row of said pair of rows at each reciprocation of the spacer bar for imparting step bystep line spacing movement to said uide member, and a writing implement guide means on said member,

MYRTLE M. ERICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are; of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS