GB2059138A - Improvements relating to record players - Google Patents

Abstract

A record card holder 10 holds a stationary record card to be presented for playing by a hand-held miniature record player where the record card cooperates only with an indexing pin of the player for correct positioning. The record card holder 10 includes a main frame 12 with a transparent base 18 which enables written matter on the card to be read while the record part is played. The record player is engaged by lips 76, 78, 81 and 82 on an insert frame 14 which is held by springs 16 in the main frame 12. The main frame 12 has slot-entrance 28 to receive the card which, when packed home, engages a locating pin with a centering element at the center of the record part of the card. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to record players The present invention relates to record players for reproducing sound from a stationary record.

United States Patent No. 3,952,170 discloses a hand-held microphonograph unit which is used for playing a stationary record incorporated on a stationary sheet, such as a page of a book. The record player device of United States Patent No. 3,952,170 is described in detail in said patent but will be described briefly herein. An indexing pin shown as 127 in Figure 2 of United States Patent No. 3,952,170 is placed on top of the microphonograph record, such as shown in Figure 9, so that the indexing pin is at the center of the V- or delta-shaped centering element of the microphonograph record. Upon indexing pin 127 being so located, the unit is activated and a transducer cartridge in contact with the grooves 69 of the record 68 rotates playing back the information prerecorded on the record 68.

Although the device of United States Patent No.

3,952,170 has great and varied applications, it is difficult to use the apparatus without having the record firmly supported, such as on a book or on a tabletop. Holding a sheet containing the record makes alignment of the indexing pin with the centering apparatus of the microphonograph difficult. In addition, the record would have to be maintained steady during the entire playback procedure, which may be a matter of minutes. Maintaining two relatively moveable objects stationary for such a sustained period of time is very difficult, especially for young children.

Devices such as disclosed in Japanese Tomy patent application number 80766/1972, have attempted to resolve the problems of the prior art devices by having a record mounted on a block which is to fit within an opening on top of a record player. There is no alignment element such as an indexing pin involved in the Tomy device and movement of the block is not contemplated. Such a device, therefore, would not be of assistance in simplifying the operation of the aligning of a record player having an indexing pin movable laterally with respect to a centering means located on a miniature record.

According to the present invention there is provided a record player and a record card holder as defined in claim 1 hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a microphonograph record player is provided with a base support which cooperates with a specially designed card, the record bearing member, having the record as a partthereof or manufactured integral with the card. The base support serves to automatically align the indexing means of the handheld microphonograph unit with the centering means of the microphonograph record. At the same time, the base support ensures that the record is supported stationary relative to the microphonograph unit during the entire play back procedure of the record. Accordingly, the device may be used by young children with a minimum of difficulty.

The base support attachment reduces the possibility of the indexing pin of the microphonograph unit being damaged during the playing of the record.

Since excess force applied to the indexing pin transverse to its longitudinal axis will damage the indexing pin of the hand-held microphonograph unit, the base attachment ensures that only the proper amount of tension is applied to the indexing pin, to ensure proper alignment, but not so much as to result in any damage. A portion of the base attachment may be transparent to facilitate the viewing of information contained in association with the material contained on the record.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, solely by way of example, with- reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a card-holding housing attachment; Figure 2 is a bottom view of a main frame of the card-holding housing attachment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional side view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of an insert of the card-holding housing attachment; Figure 5 is a sectional side view taken along lines 5-5 of the insert of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of a basic record player shown attached to the insert of the card-holding housing attachment; Figure 7 is an illustration of the basic record player attached to the card-holding housing attachment in its open position;; Figure 8 is the basic record player attached to the card-holding housing attachment in operation, with a card inserted, prior to alignment of the card; Figure 9 is a basic record player attached to the card-holding housing attachment with the indexing pin of the basic record player in alignment with the record ready for operation; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the top side of a card and record for use with the present embodiment; Figures 10A and lOB are an enlarged sectional view of the centering means on the record; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of the reverse side of the record mounted on a card.

Referring to Figure 1, a partly sectioned perspective view of a card-holding housing attachment 10 is shown. The card-holding housing attachment 10 consists of a main frame 12 and an insert frame 14 movably mounted within the perimeters of the main frame 12. The main frame 12 and insert frame 14 are connected to one another by two biasing springs 16.

The main frame 12 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the generally rectangularly shaped main frame 12 is shown having a transparent portion 18 forming substantially the entire bottom of the main frame, side walls 20 and 22, rear wall 24 and a front wall 26 which defines a slot entrance 28 at the lower portion of the front wall 26. The transparent portion 18 has slight recesses thereon, forming card guide elements 29 and 31. The transparent portion 18 may be of any transparent material, such as plastics material or glass. In the preferred embodiment, the material is made out of transparent plastics material in order to minimize the risk or breakage.

Extending from the lower portion of the rear wall 24 internally of the spaced defined by the side walls 20 and 22, rear wall 24 and front wall 26, is a biasing means 30. The biasing means 30 consists of a projection 32 substantially centrally located on the rear wall 24 and perpendicular to the surface of the rear wall 24along its bottom edge. Extending perpendicular to the projection 32 are a pair of spring elements 34 and 36, one on each side of the perpendicular projection 32. The spring elements 34 and 36 are movable in a plane parallel to the bottom transparent portion 18 about their ends 38 and 40 fixed to the perpendicular projection 32. Stop elements 42 and 44 restrict the rearward movement of the spring elements 34 and 36. The free ends of spring elements 34 and 36 project towards the front wall 26 beyond the forwardmost point 46 of perpendicular projection 32.

A pair of main spring posts 48 and 50 are positioned on the inside surfaces of side walls 20 and 22 proximate the intersection of side walls 22 and 20 and the bottom transparent portion 18 towards the front wall 26. Each main spring posts 48 and 50 is designed to fixedly hold one end of the respective coil spring 16.

Two lugs 45 and 47 project inwardly from the rear portion of side walls 20 and 22 terminating above the transparent bottom portion 18 at a sufficient distrance to accommodate the width of the rear walls of the insert frame 14.

Located substantially directly about the main spring posts 48 and 50 are a pair of notched elements 52 and 54. The notched elements 52 and 54 each have one notch 56 and 58, the notch facing the front wall 26 of the main frame and having a flat portion 60 for engaging a complementary element on the insert frame 14. A portion 62 of the front wall 26 is slanted proximate the slot entrance 28 to facilitate the placing of a card member in slot 28.

A portion of the main frame 12 is covered by a cover 64. The cover 64 has insert stop members, one of which is indicated at 66, for restricting excessive lateral movement of the insert frame 14.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 the insert frame 14 is shown in greater detail. Figure 4 is a top view of the insert frame 14 while Figure 5 is a sectional side view taken along section lines 5-5 shown in Figure 4. The insert frame 14 has a generally rectangular configuration having front wall 68, rear wall 70 and side walls 72 and 74. The insert frame does not have any bottom or top walls and is of such dimensions to fit snuggly within the interior of the main frame 12.

The interior surface of the insert frame 14 bounded by walls 68,70,72 and 74 is of such dimensions as to accommodate the basic record player as shown in Figure 6. A projecting lip 76, projecting along the bottom edge of rearwall 70, supports the bottom rear portion of the record player while a lip 78 fits over the front top portion of the record player. Side lips 81 and 83 also serve to grip the side surfaces of the record player. The record player R will usually be mounted in the insert frame 14 before the latter is mounted in the main frame 12, although it is possible to mount the frame 14 in the frame 12 before mounting the player R in the frame 14.

The side wall 72 and 74 of the insert frame 14 taper slightly so that the length of the front wall 68 is slightly less than the length of the rear wall 70.

Extending perpendicularly from the outer surfaces of side walls 72 and 74 are a pair of lugs 80 and 82 having an angular projection 84 and 86 facing the rear wall 70. Each lug 80 and 82 has a hole 88 and 90 which is designed to fixedly hold one end of a respective one of the coil spring 16. The angular projections 84 and 86 are so designed as to complement and engage the notches 56 and 58 in the main frame 12.

Referring to Figure 1 the interconnection of the main frame 12 and the insert frame 14 may be seen.

The insert frame 14 generally, is fitted within the main frame 12. Rear wall 70 and the rear portion of side walls 72 and 74 fit beneath the lugs 45 and 47 in the space provided. The front wall 68 of the insert 14 is fitted beneath the cover 64 of the main frame 12.

The notched elements 52 and 54 are so positioned as to be slightly rearward of the angular projections 84 and 86 projecting from lugs 80 and 82 when the insert frame is positioned within the main frame 12.

One end of each coil spring 16 is attached fixably to main spring post 48 or 50 and the other end of the coil spring 16 is attached to the respective opening 88 or 90 in the lug 80 or 82. The insert frame 14 is thus biased towards the rear wall 24 of main frame 12.

Referring to Figure 10 a card designed for use with the present invention is illustrated. The card 100 has a generally rectangular configuration, having a width of substantially the distance between the card guide elements 29 and 31 and a length substantially that of the main frame 12. A portion of the front wall 26 of the main frame 12 is recessed so that the card 100 may be grasped and removed from the cardholding housing attachment when desired.

The card 100 has a record 102, either integrally fixed to the card 100 during manufacture of the card or placed on the card by other means following manufacture of the card 100. The record 102 has a centering element 104, which in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a raised V-shaped element, as shown in Figure 10A, the line bisecting the V-shaped element being in line with the position of the indexing pin of the basic record player, such as shown in Figure 6. A recessed V-shaped element as shown in Figure 10B may also be used. The V-shaped element points in the direction of the rear of the card-holding housing attachment. On the face of card 100 opposite that surface having the micro record 102 is contained descriptive literature relating to the contents of the information contained on the micro record 102, as shown in Figure 11.

The operation of the card-holding housing 10 in cooperation with card 100 may be seen from inspection of Figures 7 to 9. The insert frame 14 with basic microphonograph R is placed in the card-holding housing attachment 10 such as shown in Figure 7.

The lips 76,78, 81 and 83 keep the microphonograph R in place. As shown in Figure 7, the insert frame 14 has its angular projections 84 and 86 fitted within the complementary notches 56 and 58 in notched elements 52 and 54. Due to the bias of the springs 16, the projections 84 and 86 remains immobile within the notches 56 and 58. In the position shown in Figure 7 the insert frame 14 has its front end slightly raised relative to its rear end portion. The basic record player R, in such a position, has its indexing pin P raised slightly from the transparent bottom portion 18 sufficiently so as to not interefere with the passage of a card 100 beneath the indexing pin P.

Following the insertion of a card 100 within the slot 28 in the front wall 26 of the main frame 12 the card 100 pushes against the card spring elements 34 and 36 compressing such spring elements until the card presses against the most forward point 46 of projection 32 (Figure 8). At this point the complete main frame 12 moves in a rearward direction relative to the record player R and the insert frame 14. As the main frame 12 continues to move rearward the projections 84 and 86 disengage from notches 56 and 58 and the coil springs 16 pull the projections 84 and 86 downwardly so that projections 84 and 86 no longer engage notches 56 and 58, the insert frame 14 pivoting at its rear wall 70. The travel of the main frame 12 is restricted by the insert stop members 66 coming into contact with the front wall 68 of the insert frame 14.

The operator then releases the card 100 and the main frame housing 12 allowing the tension from the main springs to pull the housing up and forward so that the microphonograph R now has its indexing pin P in contact with the top surface of the micro record 100 on line with the bisecting line of the centering means 104. As the spring elements 34 and 36 push the card 100 forward the indexing pin P engages the sides of the raised "V" element or a groove or an opening on the record 102 thereby automatically guiding and positioning the card 100 in the proper orientation for operation by the record player R.

Since the record player R is capable of operating in any orientation the entire unit may be turned over and the accompanying literature or pictorial information relating to the information stored on the reverse side of the record 102 may be viewed through the transparent bottom portion 18.

After the record player R has completed playing the record 102 the operator pushes the main frame 12 downward and slightly forward until the projections 84 and 86 once again engage the notches 56 and 58 in the main frame 12. The projecting indexing pin P is thus removed from the path of movement of the card 100 and the card may now be removed.

Employment of the card spring elements 34 and 36, or some other equivalent spring biasing means for biasing the card in a forward direction upon release of the card permits readily operating the hand-held microphonograph unit. The spring elements 34 and 36 are so designed as to avoid placing too much pressure on the indexing pin P, as well as automatically aligning the indexing pin in the centering means 104 of the micro record 102.

The precise positioning of the micro record and the indexing means will of course depend on the location of the indexing pin of the micro record as well as the orientation of the record playing unit in the card-holding housing attachment 10. For example, it may be possible that the record player R has an indexing pin not on the record playing portion of the equipment. In such distance, the centering means of the record 102 will not be positioned approximate the center of the micro record 102.

Claims (5)

1. A record player for playing a stationary record, the record player comprising a housing having a bottom portion having at least one opening therein for permitting access to a record playing cartridge and one indexing pin, and a record card holder attached to the record player for holding a record stationary in position for engagement by the record player cartridge, the record card holder comprising a frame structure having an opening at one end for receiving a substantially flat record card bearing a record, biasing means at its other end for biasing a record card out of the said opening and guide means for limiting movement of a record card in the said opening to one line of direction.

2. A record player according to claim 1,wherein the frame structure comprises a main frame and an insert frame, the insert frame being movable relative to said main frame.

3. A record player according to claim 2, wherein the insert frame is pivotable at one end relative to the main frame whereby the indexing pin is moved from a first position out of the path of travel of a record card to a second position to locate a record card in position for play back by the record player of the record borne by the record card.

4. A record player according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for movably maintaining the insert frame in the first position.

5. A record player according to claim 4, wherein the insert frame is braced by biasing means to the said second position.