US1662135A - Sound-reproducing means - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1928. 1,662,135

G. W. SMITH, JR

SOUND REPRODUCING MEANS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1928.

G. W. SMITH, JR

SOUND REPRODUOING MEANS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 Zlrvuantof fl M,

March 13, 1928.

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G. W. SMITH, JR

SOUND REPRODUCING MEANS Filed Feb. 25. 1925 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gnuc'nioz Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES ear ENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. SMITH, JR., OF RIVER/TON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-REPRODUCING MEANS.

Application filed February This invention relates to a combined talking machine and radio receiving apparatus, and more particularly to a combination device of this character which is adapted to be installed in an upright cabinet.

Ditliculty has been experienced heretofore in mounting a radio receiving apparatus in a talking machine cabinet without material.- iy changing the size and shape of the latter.

It has been proposed to use the record stor age compartment of such a cabinet as a chamber for the radio receiving apparatus, but this is not satisfactory, since it requires the provision of additional means for storing the record tablets. lit the usual record storage chamber is retained, the additional space for the radio apparatus could only be provided by increasing the size of the cabinet, but such an increase in size,if unaccompanied by a change in shape, resulted in a cabinet of unplcasing appearance and undue bulk.

In order to combine the two instruments in an upright cabinet and at the same time provide for suflicient record storage space, it has been proposed to mount the radio apparatus in the hinged lid employed for closing the tone-arm and turn table compartment. Such an arrangement is unsatisfactory, since accidental closing of the lid may result in serious damage to the delicate radio instruments, while difliculty has been experienced in opening and closing the lid due to the weight of the radio apparatus. Furthermore, the size of the lid must be materially increased, and the radio apparatus is inaccessible for inspection and repair.

An object of the present invention is to provide a talking machine cabinet having a radio apparatus as well assound reproducing mechanism mounted therein which overcomes the above difficulties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination device of this character wherein the means for mechanically reproducing the records can be used for changing electrical vibrations into sound waves having the amplitude of those generated by the usual loud speaker.

One form which the inventive idea may assume is shown in the accompanying drawings, which drawings, however, are for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating one embodiment of the inventive idea;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view'partly in section illustrating one form of means which may be employed as a mechanical reproducer and loud speaker, the device being shown in the position it occupies when the lid of the cabinet closed;

Figs. 3, a, and 5 are enlar ed detail sectional views of one type of mounting which may be employed for the combined reproducer and loud speaker;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a cabinet that may be employed for housing the instruments; 7

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 7 out Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, 1 is an upright talking machine cabinet that is provided with the usual hinged lid 2 and lid support 8. The lower portion of the cabinet is formed to provide a record storage compartment i of any suitable character. It desired, this storage space may be provided with the usual hinged doors 5. Positioned in the cabinet space above the record storage space 4, and in the space ordinarily occupied by the volume amplifier or horn, is a radio receiving apparatus of any suitable character and mounted in any suitable way. In the form shown a slidably mounted panel 6, that is preferably inclined from the vertical, carries the control members 7 of the radio receiving apparatus, but it is to be ex pressly understood that any other suitable mounting for said panel may be provided. The construction of the panel 6 and the manner in which it is slidably mounted in the cabinet may be such as is disclosed in detail in the co-pending application ofArmour P. Luker, Serial No. 10,675, filed Feb. 20, 1 925, and forms no part of the present invention. Hinged closure members 8 are shown for closing the space or compartment oceupied'by the radio receiving apparatus.

In conformity with the present invention suitable means are employed for reproducing the record tablets, said means being so constructed as to render the need for the usual enclosed volume amplifier or horn unnecessary. At the same time, said reproducing instrument is preferably so constructed as to be adapted for use as a radio loud speaker.

In the form shown, the mechanical relower pivot support, and a pin 13 which is slidably mounted in the upper portion or the bracket and provided with a conical port-ion 13' on the lower end thereof to constitute an upper pivot member. A set screw 14' is threaded into the bracket ,9 in such a position as to engage the pin 13 and secure the latter in any position to which it may be adjusted. r

Supported between the elements 11 and 13 is an arm 15 which preferably comprisesa hollow inner portion 15 that is maintained in operative engagement wit-h a hollow outer portion 15 by meansfloif a bolt 16 extending .throughregistering openings in said portions. Longitudinal movement of the outer supporting arm portion 15 along the bolt 16 isprevented by means of a threaded member 17 which extends through the wall of said portion and into a transverse recess or holelfi thebo'lt 16. If desired, the inner end of't'he bolt 16 may be threaded as at 16 to receive a lock washer 18 and locking nuts 19, which maybe adjusted to bear with any desir'ed pressure against the inner side ofthe arm portion 15*. v x

The outer end of arm portion 15 is bifurcated to receive two horizontal adjustable pivot'pins20 and 20?, which latter-constitute supporting meansvt'or, a swinging arm 21. The latter'is shown as provided with an arcuate portion 21 from the opposite ends oi? 'which extendconverging radial arms 21 that arejoined together at their-inner end, b a circular ortion 21. .A lar e diaphragm 22 of any sulta'ble construction, and

shown as or the "pleated type, is supported by'a spi'der28 and attached in any desired manner tothe circular portion 21 of the.

swingingarml2l. This diaphragm is provide'd withthe usual stylus bar 24, stylus bar mo u'nting 25 and stylus 26. A radially extended tab 2 7 is preferably provided at any convenient point on the periphery of the diaphragm's 'iider 23" to manipulate the same in 'inaniierto be described.

' If desired, the diaphragm may be additionally supported from the swinging arm 21 by the connections indicated at 28 and 28 'in Fig. 2. As shown more clearly in Figs.

3 and 4, these connecting means comprise screws 29 passing through the periphery of the spider 23 and having threaded engagement with the swinging arm 21. Spacing members 30 on saidscrews 29 may be interposed between the swinging arm and the periphery of the spider 23 if desired.

Resilient means are preferably.provided. between the swinging arm 21 and the supporting arm portion 15" in order to prevent the stylus from receiving the entire weight of the swinging arm and the elements supported thereby. In the form shown, this means comprises a spring 31 whichfis -positioncd in the outer end of thelongitudinal opening extending through the arm portion 1 5 The inner end of spring '31. bears against the outer end of the bolt 16 While the outer end of this spring has engagement with a sliding pin 32 which projects outwardly from said opening into engagement with a lug 21 formed on the swinging arm 'trated in Figs. 1, 3, and 1, and means must be provided for maintainingthe diaphragm in said vertical reproducing position. Va rious means may be employed for performing this function; in the form shown, an L-shaped latch member'35 is "pi'v otall'y s'ecured "to the inner arm portion 15, ,by means of a horizontally disposed pin 34, and is noririally maintained with its lower arm 35 in a horizontal position by means of a spring 36 positioned in a recess in arm portion 15 and bearing against the upper arm 35" oi the latch member; As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the diaphragm is locked in vertical position when the lower arm 35. of said latch member "extendsinto a recess '37 formed in "the inner end of the outer arm portion 15 The arm 3a"- is also adapted to engagea second recess 3 8 formed in the" arm portion 1?" at an angular distance of from the recess 3'7 when the diaphragm and its su per"- s tructmre are moved to a hori ltintal, inepei ative position, as shown in Fig. 2. i

In order that access may be readily had to the rear of the radio receiving apparatus for making the necessary connections to ground, antenna, batteries, etc., tli'e'cabinet may be provided with a removable panel as is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. As here shown, the rear wall ofthe cabinet formed by a removable panel 39 which is retained in position at its upper end by ine'ans'oi a loosely fitted tongue'an'd groove connection 40, and is secured at its lower end by means of bolts 41 which extend through the panel and have threaded engagement with the upper arms of L-shapcd brackets 4-2 that are rigidly attached at any desired point to the cabinet framework. The various wires (not shown) which lead from the radio receiving apparatus, may pass through an aperture in the cabinet partition wall M: and through an opening or openings provided in the lower cabinet partition 46 below the record storage space. Preferably the shelves illus- .trated in space t for supporting the records do not extend to the rear wall of the cabinet, but terminate at a suitable distance in front of this wall to provide a compartment l7, between the inner ends of the shelves and the panel 39, to which access is had by means of said removable panel 39. A partition wall 48 parallel to the removable panel 39 may be provided to support the inner ends of the shelves and complete the compart-- ment 4?, and some or all of the batteries of the radio apparatus may be stored in this compartment. If desired, a sliding drawer 49 may also, be provided in any suitable manner below the lower partition wall lt for receiving batteries employed in connec--.

tion with the radio receiving apparatus, although this is not necessary.

It is desirable that the diaphragm employed in mechanically reproducing the records also serves as a loud speaker for the radio apparatus. To this end there is mounted in the motor. board 10, and adjacent the turn table, a device 50 of any suit able type for converting electrical vibrations into mechanical vibrations, and by which the diaphragm is set into vibration when the stylus 26 is engaged therewith.

Vhen the diaphragm is in the position illust 'ated in Fig. 1 and it is desired to re produce a record tablet, the operator may readily move the stylus into engagement with said tablet by grasping the radially, extending tab 27 and moving the device as required about the pivot members 20-2Uand 111S. Because of the character of the diaphragm employed no amplifying horn is required. If it is desired to operate the radio receiving apparatus, the diaphragm and its associated elements are moved to bring the stylus 26 into engagement with the converting device 50 in a manner which is well understood in the art.

WVhen the machine is not in use and it is desired to close the lid 2, the diaphragm is moved upwardly about the horizontal pivots 2020 to force the extending portion 21 of the swinging arm 21 into engagement with the upper arm 35 of the L-shaped latch 85. This engagement forces the arm 35 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, against the tension of spring 36, and the arm 35f is disengaged from the notch 37. The diaphragm and its associated elements may now be rotated to the left until the recess 38 in portion employed as a housing for radio 15" is brought into alinei'nentwith the arm 35 whereupon spring forces arm 35 into said recess 38 and the diaphragm and its associated elements are locked in horizontal position as shown in F i g. 2. now be closed.

lVhile the sound reproducing instrument has been illustrated and described with c011- siderable detail in order to fully disclose one operative embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that any other suitable form of reproducing instrument may be employed and that the details of this instrument and its mounting per se constitute no part of the present invention except as a part of the larger combination.

It will therefore be perceived that the present invention enables the use of a talking machine cabinet, particularly of the upright type, of the size and shape heretofore apparatus without subtracting any of the functions heretofore obtained by the use of said cabinets. By employing a talking machine including reproducing mechanism of the hornless type, the full volume of sound heretofore obtained by the use of an enclosed amplifier or horn can be secured, while the compartment heretofore employed for the housing of said amplifier or horn can be given over to the storage of the radio apparatus.

lVhile the present invention is applicable to talking machine cabinets not provided with a record storage space, and such a construction is to be understood as included in the present invention, the invention provides for'retaining the record storage space in cabinets of the type heretofore including such a compartment. The sound reproducing mechanism of the talking machine is disposed entirely above the motor board, or the compartment heretofore employed for housing the sound amplifier or horn and is preferably, housed in a compartment formed by a cover when closed. The reproducing mechanism can be folded or moved into an inoperative position and must be moved to a different position to be rendered operative.

NVhile the present invention is particu larly useful to enable radio apparatus to be combined with talking machine mechanism in upright talking machine cabinets of the shape and size heretofore employed, the present invention enables radio apparatus to be combined with talking machine mechanism in other forms of cabinets without increasing the size, shape or bulk of the cabinet, and the present invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to talking machine cabinets of the upright type.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, various changes, some of which will now readily occur to The lid 2 may those skilled in the art, may be made "in the details of construction and arrangement Without departing from the invention as delined in the appended claims.

What claimed is: v

1. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a talking machine cabinet having a motor board adjacent the top of said cabinet and talking machine mechanism therein, a hinged cover forming Withthe Walls of said cabinet and said board a compartment above said motor board, re-

producing mechanism of the hornless type in said compartment and including a large ing machine cabinet having a motor boardand talking machine mechanism therein, a hinged cover for the cab net forming With the Walls of the cabinet and said motor board a relatively shallow compartment of the character heretofore provided in talking machine cabinets for housing -reproducing mechanism of the tone arm type, sound reproducing mechanismof the hornless type carried by said'cabinet Within said compartment, radio apparatus in said cabinet, and

-means for operati'vely connecting said radio apparatus with said reproducing means.

A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a talking 'machine cabinet having a motor board and talking machine mechanism therein, sound reproducing mechanism of the hornless type in- ;cluding a large sized diaphragm mounted on said board, a hinged cover for said cabinet forming with the latter and with sand board a compartment forho using said reproducing mechanism, means mounting said reproducing mechanisln whereby it may be moved to an inoperative position substantially parallel to said cover or to a substan-' tially verticaloperative position, radio receiving apparatus mounted in the cabinet below said mot-or board, and means carried by the latter for operatively connecting said reproducing mechanism with said radio apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

GEORGE WV. SMITH, JR.

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