US1742640A - Reading machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1930. B. A. FlSKE 1,742,640

- READING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Shea} 1 INV NTOR B; 1 M e..1{;-

TORNEY- Jan. 7, 1930.

B. A. FISKE READING MACHINE Filed Nov.. 10-. 192'! 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Q 50 latter position,

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATENT OFFICE BRADLEY A. FISKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

READING MACHINE Application filed November 10, 1927. Serial a... 282,317.

My present invention relates to various new and useful improvements in reading machines, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose having the capacity of being folded in very compact form when not in use. At the same time my improved reading machine'is efficient and convenient in operation. I

Another object is to provide simple, compact and effective mechanism by which the lens may be fooussedwith respect to the reading matter. In orderthatthe invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and .inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view. of my improved reading machine in foldedposition;

Figure2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figu the machine in use;

Figure 4 is a side elevation. showing the machine in use; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals.

The body or frame of the machine comprises two sheet metal strips 1 and 2 made preferably of brass or steel, so as to be elastic. As is shown they may beintegral. The strip 1 is somewhat longer than the strip 2, as shown, so as to aiiord a support for the reading matter which is carried on a card or sheet held frictionally between the two strips.

35 To facilitate the clamping or gripping of the reading matter the strip 2 at its forward end is so made, as at 3, as to press against the reading matter and hold the same fric-- tionally, This form also facilitates the ready introduction of the sheet. or card between two strips being held frictionally. The card or sheet may be moved'in any desired direcf tion being held flat against the strip always in the focus of the lens. v

A handle 4 is secured to the bottom strip 1 by a suitable pivot 5, so that said handle may be folded up in the position shown in Figure down so as to be parallel with 2 or be swung the strip 1, asshown in Figure 3. "In the it forms a convenient handle re 3 is a perspective view illustrating by whichthe machine as a whole maybe held.

An arm 6, made of somewhat heavier metal than the strips 1 and 2 but very much narrower than the same, is secured to a rod? mounted in cars 8-8 secured in any suitable way to the stri 2. A spiral spring 9 encircles the rod as shown particularly'in Figure 3, and tends to press the lens-support-- ing arm 6 toward the strip 2.

When the machineis in use the arm 6 rests so upon a disk 10 mounted upon the strip 2 so as to be capable of rotation. This adjust- L ing disk 10 is made of gradually increasing thickness, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that it acts as a cam to adjust the lens- 05 supporting arm 6 toward or away from the st'rip2 in performing a focussing operation. The adj usting disk 10 iscut away diametrically at 11 and the two halves are connected by a cross piece 12, by which the disk is supported on pivot 13. As will be seen, the two halves of the adjusting disk are complementary, so that focussing of thelens will be effected by either half. When the adjusting disk is moved so as to arm 6 into line with the slot 11, the said arm will be snapped into its folded position by. the tension of the spring 9. In order that the arm 6 may clear the cross bar 12 it is provided with an offset portion 14., Thereso fore, when said arm is in folded position it rests flat against the strip 2, as shown in Figure 2.- a

The outer end of the arm 6 is provided n with a pivot'pin 15 with which the two eyes 16- 16 .z engage, said eyes being part of the lens frame 17 carrying the lens 18 of any de sired power; By means of this construction the lens is capable of a pivotal movement with respect to the arm-6, its movement being lim- 9o ited by a stop 19, with which a tail 20 on the lens frame '17 engages. A light leaf-spring 21 engages beneath the tail 20 so as to tend to press the same into'engagement' with the stop 19. 'When the machine is in folded position, as shown in Figure 2, the lens frame i will extend approximatelyparallel to the arm 6, the tail 20 being moved out of en-. gagement witlr the stop 19, but when the dance is in use the lens frame will be at a bring the supporting 75 matter.

the r ght eye,-the shutter 22 direct vision of the mg matter is intended to Y moved out of line' withsaid the lens frame in any suitable way an is adapted to be swung up to the position shown in igure 3 when the device is in use. In this position the reading will be effected by cutting 011? direct vision of the left eye. If the shutter is swung to a position 180 degrees from that shown in Figure 3 reading will be done by the eye and in this case the shutter will cut right eye. 'When the machine is folded the shutter 22 is moved 90 degrees from the position shown in Figure 3.and is engaged beneath a small In 23 riveted to the bar 6, as shown most c early in Fi re 3.

, s shown particularly in Figure 2, the extreme end of the handle 4 is bent at an angle, as shown at 24, so that when the arts are folded the handle will .be put un er slight tension. This makes it easler to engage the handleand swing it around to its open position.

' The form of reading machine which has just-been described is one in which the readbe carried on a sheet or card held frictional between the strips 1 and 2. With themodified form of device shown in Figure 5, a base 25 is used adapted to rest orbe held flat against a sheet or strip of reading matter 26.v This may be a separate sheet or card or may be the page of a book. Otherwise,

shown. The adjustmounted with respect he support 25 and eifectsthe focussing of the lens 18 With this modification the lens may be carried directly on the supporting arm 6 since, when the instrument is folded, the lens will overhang the forward edge of the support 25.

v aving now described my invention what to secure sup 1 clalm as new therein and desire by Letters Patent is as follows: a

In a reading machine, the combination to the same, and a lens supported by said arm, of a cam rotatably mounted on said support and adapted to be engaged by said arm, so as to ad ust the lens-towards or awayv from said support, said cam being adapted to be arm so as to perbe folded, substantially as a readin a support, a ens-carrying arm pivotally lens carried by movable out of machine, the combination mounted with respect to said su port, and a lens carried by said arm of an adiusting disk rotatably mounted on the support and comprising two complementary cam portions, either one of which may be en aged by said arm in effecting focussing, su stantially as set forth.

3. In a reading machine, the combination with a support, a lens-carrying arm pivotally mounted with respect to said su port, anda said arm, of an a justing disk rotatably mounted on the support and comupon and arallel with one of said strips and with whic the arm may be en aged to prostantially as vide for focussing of-the lens, su set forth. 5.- In a reading machine, the combination of two strips adapted to receive between them a sheet or'card carrying reading matter, an arm ivoted to one of said vstrips, a lens car ried y said arm, and a rotary cam mounted upon and arallel with which the arm may be enga ed to provide for focussing of the lens, said cam being .llne with the armto permit folding, substantially as set forth.

6. In a reading machine,

the printed matto be received, an arm pivotally mountone of said stri s, a cam disk mounted upon and parallel wit comprising two complementary halves with either one of which the arm ma .be engaged to effect focussing, the space etween said half. providing a slot for the race tion of said arm when the machine is fol ed, substantially as set forth.-

In a reading machine, the combination with a sup ort, a lens arm carried by said rt and movable pivotally with respect to t e same, and a lens supported by said arm, 0 a cam rotatably mounted on and parallel awa fort with one of said strips and one of said strips and the combination V

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