US2051792A - Cabinet for phonographs - Google Patents

Description

Aug. .18, 1936. T. H. BEARD ET AL 2,051,792

CABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS. 1' fieodore H.,Beard .Leiami .D. jVbmforL jo/zr E. lien/midi Z14, M v ATTORNEYS CABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Theodore H. Beard Leland JlJVm-on M 'KTTORNEYS CABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet s I g III III], III! 1 39 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII E v a /6 5 i INVENTORS 1718011016.? fifleard Lelan D-N Patented Aug. 18, 1936 CABINET FOR- PHONOGRAPHS Theodore H. Beard, Leland D. Norton, and John E. Renholdt, Bridgeport, Conn, assignors to Dictaphone Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,058

dictation. 7 Referring to the drawings, in which similar ref- 5 One of the objects is to provide a cabinet of the erence characters refer to similar parts throughcharacter described, the upper portion of which is out the different views, a phonograph cabinet is open to the front to give access to the machine shown comprising a base III, a lower accessory supported within, the cabinet having a closure container section or chamber II and an upper which, when shut, conforms to the general conphonograph container section or chamber [2. The 10 tour of the cabinet, completely enclosing and probase l0 may be formed of sheet metal, preferably tecting the machine from dust and injury, and iron or steel, die-pressed to the desired shape. to employ therewith a machine support movable Section ii may also be made from sheet iron or within the cabiiiet to facilitate the unobstructed steel die-pressed in one or more parts and joined manipulation of the closure and the convenient in y Su table manner, iv n efe operation of the machine. ably the parts are welded together, the joints A further object is to provide simple and effeeground smooth and the whole suitably enameled. tive means'for' shifting the said support in re- This said lower section ii is formed in the shape sponse to manipulation of the cabinet closure. A of a tan ula box of a w dt greater than its further object is to provide means for rendering depth and of a height e t than its h. 20 the machine operable or inoperable according as and mprises a back plate e P tes the closure occupies an open or a closed position. and front plate Front Plate '5 13 Provided A further object is to provide a cabinet of the it a lar e r ctan ular p nin ll to the sid character described provided with simple and edges 01 which are hhiged P of folding doors convenient means for supporting and retaining each provided w a handle 0 a d o i 25 papers, such as letters or other documents, within molly held in .olosed Position. as S own in the cabinet. by means of spring detent members 2i. Beneath Other objects will be in part obvious a d i the base-l0 are mountedsuitable casters 22 and part pointed out hereinafter, above the base l0 within the chamber H is pro- The invention accordingly consists in the fea- Video Shelf which ay co v tly be used 30 tures of construction, combinations of elements, for the Storage of Various phonograph accesand arrangements of parts as will be exemplified solies and equipment in the structure to be hereinafter described and Within h lower portion of the cabinet. behind the scope of the application of which will be ine oo Opening there is provided a recorddicated in the following claims. 1 cylinder rack as indicated at 24. The specific 35 In the accompanying drawings inwhich is form of rack illustrated herein forms, however, shownone of th various pgssible embodiments no part of the present invention. Y of our invention: v It should be noted that the upper edge of the Fig. 1 is a front elevation f th cabinet show front cabinetplate I6 is at a lower level than 40 mg the closure for the phonograph h b in the upper edges of back plate I 3 and side plates 40 open positi n, i hi h position access may be H and IS. The reason for this construction will conveniently had to the phonograph for operabe referred to latertion of the same. This figure also shows the lower Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the upper part of portion of the cabinet with doors open, in which the cabinet enclosing the phonograph chamber position they give access t a rack f r supporting comprises a rigid hooded section 33 secured to 45 record-cylinders, portions f the rack being the back and side walls of the lower cabinet porbroken away to show certain electrical connec tion T rigid 33 has a curved back tions and equipment; wlall Eta? lgwe}: part olfawliclli is dgspozed in the Fig: 2 is a cross-section on line 22 1' p ane o 8 M ate t e ca me the i with the c1 osure for the upper g i l' curving forwardly from said plane so that its updoors for the lower portion in shut position the per edge 35 tapes toward the from F the ctabine-t (1 lies in a plane disposed substantially midway open position of the closure for the phonograph an between the front and back of the cabinet. This chamber being shown in dot-and-dash linesi hooded section 33 is also provided with side walls 3 Is an enlarged elevatiim of the as formedintegrally with the curved wall at, 55 phonograph suplmrt and Operating mechanism which extend forwardly with their. front edges therefor;- forming continuations of edge 35. The hooded Fig. 4 s a upp r P View of the m section 33 is preferably an iron casting provided Fi 5 is a o m p n View ofa portion of the with a bead, as indicated at 31, overlapping the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

. 14 This invention relates to cabinets, for phonegraphs and more particularly to a cabinet for supporting, protecting and making conveniently operable a'commercial phonograph for recording Fig. 6 is a partial cross-section taken on line 6"6 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line of Fig. 4.

continuous front edge 35 of the section.

will be seen that the phonograph chamber is open to the front of the cabinet.

A hooded closure 38 is provided to complete the cabinet. This is also a casting having a curved front wall 39 and plane side walls 40, which at their lower edges-terminate slightly below the line of the upper edges of the side plates I4, l5 of the lower cabinet section and extend rearwardly to meet the forwardly facing edge of the rigid hooded section 33. This hooded closure, in closed position, fits within the beading 37 and abuts against the edges of the section 33. A The hooded closure is of a width to permit its fitting without leaving any substantial gap between the side plates Id, l5 of the lower cabinet section. Extending rearwardly from the interior of the side walls 40 of the hooded closure 38 are a pair of lugs 4! which are pivotally mounted as at interiorly of the side walls 36 of the rigid hooded section 33. A handle is furnished, as at 43, for raising and lowering the hooded closure. When swung down from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the curved front of the hooded closure passes downwardly within the cabinet beneath the phonograph chamber.

Since the said closure terminates at apoint above the upper edge of the front plate l6, the closure has clearance enough to assume the open position, see Fig. 6. In order that, in the closed position of the closure 38, an open space will not be left between the lower edge of the closure and the upper edge of plate l6; a flap 44 is hinged to the lower edge of the closure, as indicated at 65.

wall I3 is a bracket 46 supporting a rubber bumper 47 adapted when the closure is swung to its lower position to engage the flap M and deflect it from its normal position of alignment with the hood surface 39 in order that the lower edge of said hood surface 39 may swing back to a predetermined position closely adjacent the rear wall l3 of the cabinet. One or more springs 54 normally hold flap and closure in alignment. A pair of tension springs 48 aremade fast attheir lower ends to the lugs 4| by means of pins 49 and their other ends are made fast to pins 50 extending inwardly from the side walls 36 of the rigid hood member 33. These springs, during movement of the hooded closure from closed to open or from open to closed position, swing past the pivots 42 and thus' serve to hold the hooded closure in either' open or closed position.

A rigid phonograph support or shelf is shown at 52, Figs. 2, 4 and 5. This comprises a plate horizontally disposed in the cabinet at a level below the juncture of the rectangular section of the cabinet with the hooded portion. Plate 52 is bent upwardly at its sides to provide triangular supporting members 53 and is also upturned at its rear edge to provide a flange 54 which is secured to the back of the cabinet by means of screws 55. At their rear ends thevsides 53 are bent toward the center line of the shelf to provide flanges 56 lying in the same plane as the flange 54, and these flanges 56 are also bolted to I Y the back of the cabinet by means of bolts 51. The

7 posed side plates 59 rigidly joined by a cross plate By reference to Figs. 3, 4.and 7 it will be seen that each of the plates 59 is provided with an integrally formed ball race 6| cooperatively arthe keeper plates.

ranged with respect to a lower ball race 62 formed in the shelf 52. A ball bearing assembly comprising a keeper plate 63 and a plurality of ball bearings 64 is interposed between the shelf 52 and each of the carriage plates 59, with the balls in cooperative engagement with the respective ball races. By means of these bearing assemblies the carriage is slidably mounted upon the shelf so that it may move backwardly and forwardly thereon without friction. The ball keeper plates 63 prevent displacement of the individual ball bearings and are themselves permitted a certain amount of movement backwardly and forwardly with respect to the shelf, which movement is limited by means of studs 65 secured to the shelf 52 and extending upwardly through slots 66 in These studs 65 also cooperate with slots 61 formed in the carriage plates 59 to limit the forward and backward movement of the carriage. The carriage is also provided with upstanding flngers 58 surrounded by suitable resilient material such as rubber tubing, as at 69, which fingers serve to hold the phonograph firmly upon the carriage. show the phonograph as actually seated upon the carriage since the positioning function of the members 68, 69 is obvious. The position of the phonograph in'the cabinet is, however, shown in Fig, 1. It should be noted that the corrugations forming the ball races Bl provide seats for the bottom of the phonograph casing which otherwise is unsupported by the carriage.

This invention provides means for moving the carriage forwardly to place the phonograph in convenient position for operation when the hooded closure is swung downwardly within the cabinet. The forward position is shown in Fig. 6 while Figs. 2 and 4 show the carriage in its rearward position. A pair of leaf springs 10 frictionally engage the bottom of the cross member 60 when the carriage is in its rearward position, to prevent accidental shifting thereof. The means for moving the carriage comprises a lever system, indicated generally by the numeral II. This lever system is pivotally supported as by means'of a bolt 12 upon a bracket 13 secured to the underside of the rigid shelf 52, and comprises a horizontal arm 14 extending toward the center of the shelf and closely adjacent the underside of the shelf and an arm 15 made fast at the lower end of the stud and extending away from the center of the shelf. .To this arm 15 is pivotally secured an extension arm 16 pivoted at 11 and ad- It has been thought unnecessary to justably secured to arm 15 by means of bolt 18 and slot 19, see Fig. 5. I

At its left end, as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the lever arm 14 is provided with a pin extending upwardly through a curved slot 8| in the shelf 52 and throughaislot 62 formed in the cross member 60 of thecarriage. The right end of the lever arm extension 16 is provided with a downwardly extending stud 83 positioned in the path of movement of the hooded closure when the latter is swung to its open position and adapted to be moved rearwardly by the rear edge of said closure in such a way and to such a degree as to move the phonograph carriage forward to render the phonograph conveniently accessible and operable. A tension spring 84 extends between a pin 85, extending downwardly from the underside of the shelf 52, to the end of a pin 86 rigidly mounted .with respect to the lever system. When the carriage is mo '53 forward in response to the opening of the hooded closure, this spring is stretched and serves to return the carriage to its rearward position when the hooded closure is again swung to its closed position.

It will be understood that the phonograph for which this cabinet is particularly adapted is an electricallyoperated one wherein the phonograph drive is accomplished by means of an electric mo-r tor, a construction well known in the art. Such a phonograph is shown at I ill in Fig. 1. In order to provide electrical connections from the exterior of the cabinet to the phonograph motor the cabinet is equipped with a plug-and-socket conconnector Bl to a contact of connector 88, and a wire 92 connected at one end to the other contact of connector 81 and at its other end to a contact of a switch assembly 93. Another contact of said switch is connected to a second contact of connector 88 by means of a wire 94. The connection between connector 88 and the motor may be made by means of a duplex cord 95 having suitable terminals adapted to cooperate with plugand-socket connector 88 and a similar connector 96 on the phonograph.

The switch 93 may be of any suitable construc-' tion comprising any means for bridging the switch contacts, which means, not shown, is attached to a plunger 97. Pivotally' mounted in operative relation to this plunger, as by means of a screw 93, Fig. 2, is a lever 99, Figs. 1 and 2 having a short arm I09 adapted to engage the upper end of plunger 9'! to depress the same into contact position. The lever has an upstanding arm IOI which normally tilts forwardly from a vertical position toward the front of the cabinet. This position is shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When the hooded closure 38 is swung to its openposition its lower edge engages the upper end of the lever arm IM and swings it rearwardly to the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 2 in which'position the circuit to the motor is closed. When the hooded graph. This is easily accomplished when the closure is returned to its closed position the,lever 99 is swung in the opposite direction to permit the plunger 9'? to return to its raised position and open the motor circuit. It will be understood that the plunger 91 is raised to its open position by any suitable spring within the switch, not shown in the present instance as such constructions are 'well known. A spring I09 tends to hold lever arm l0! in its forward position.

It is sometimes found convenient to keep letters or other documents within the cabinet. For this purpose in the present embodiment of the invention the rigid rear hood portion 33 has secured upon the inner surface thereof near the top a curved plate I02. This plate provides a pair of inwardly extending curved pins I03 spaced apart in a horizontal direction. The letters 'or other 'papers to be filed in the cabinet are punched near their upper edge with holes spaced similarly. to

from the hooks-to hang down behind the phonophonograph is in its forward position. In order that the lower ends of the suspended papers may beheld closely against the back of the cabinet, a retaining plate I04 is pivotally mounted as by hinges I05 upon the rear flange 54 of the shelf 52. This plate will'swing forwardly as far as the frame of the phonograph will permit when the phonograph occupies its forward position. When the phonograph moves rearwardly in the cabinet the retaining plate will be shoved back against the suspended papers, thus holding them tightly in position against the back of the cabinet.

Referring again to the plate I02 it will be seen that at its upper end there extends forwardly a pair of hook members I06, see Figs. 1 and 2, which provide supports for the phonograph mouthpiece Ill and speaking tube-H2, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The phonograph used may be of a well-known type having a mouthpiece supporting hook I01 upon which the mouthpiece is ordinarily hung when the machine is not being used. This hook, in a manner well known in the art, is connected with a motor switch (not shown) within the phonograph in such a way that when the mouthpiece is hanging upon the hook the said motor switch is open, the switch being automatically closed upon removal of the mouthpiece from the hook to set the machine motor in operation. When the front closure of the cabinet phonograph chamber is open, the phonograph will occupy its forward position in the cabinet and the cabinet switch 93 will be in a closed-circuit condition. Under such conditions, in order to use the machine, it is only necessary to take the'mouthpiece from the phonograph hook I01 and proceed to record in the usual manner. When the operator has no further immediate use for the phonograph the mouthpiece, instead of being replaced upon the phonograph hook Nil, will be supported upon the. cabinet hooks I06. Under these conditions the phonograph motor would normally continue to run. However, as soon as the hooded closure for the front of the the cabinet switch 99 will be open-circuited so 4 that operation of the phonograph motor will immediately cease. When the operator again desires to use the machine the front closure is drawn down causing the phonograph to move forwardly with its carriage to a convenient position, the phonograph immediately becoming energized by the closing of the switch 93. The operator may then take the mouthpiece and speaking tube from off the hooks I06 and proceed with dictation. Should it then be desired to stop dictating for a short period the mouthpiece may be returned to the phonograph switch hook I01 to disconnect the motor circuit and stop motor operation.

Unused or used record-cylinders maybe kept in the record rack, the individual cylinders being easily withdrawn from their cartons, which are supported by the rack.

It will be seen that there is provided a construction of an essentially practical nature in which the several objects of this invention are attained. 1

As many possible embodiments may be made of' the above invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is tobe understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying dra ings is to be interpreted as illusthe said pins. Thus the papers may be suspended j in a limiting sense.

1. 1 naca inet having a compartment open -to the fro'ntof the cabinet, in combination, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted to swing upwardly to a position completing the enclosure of said compartment and downwardly to 4' a position beneath said compartment to expose the interior thereof, and a shelf extending forwardly from the back of said cabinet for supporting a phonograph within said compartment.

2. In a phonograph cabinet having a compartment open to the front of the cabinet, in combination, a support defining the bottom of said compartment, a carriage for supporting a phonograph-mounted movably on said support, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted to be swung upwardly to close said compartment a d downwardly beneath said support to expose t interior of saient, and means opby said for shifting said carriage forwar y upon said support when said closure is swung to its lower position.

3. In a phonograph cabinet having a compartment open to the front of the cabinet, in combination, a support defining the bottom of said com-. partment, a carriage for supporting a phonograph mounted movably on, said support, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted-to be swung upwardly to close said compartment and downwardly beneath said support to expose the interior of said compartment, means operable by said closure for shifting said carriage forkeeper plate.

wardly upon said supportwhen said closure is swung to itslower position, and means for shiftingsaid carriage rearwardly upon said support when said closure is swung to its upper position.

4. In a, cabinet having a compartment open to the front of the cabinet, in combination, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted to swingupwardly to a position completing the enclosure of said compartment and downwardly to a position beneath said compartment to expose the interior thereof; and resilient means for bolding said closure in either of its said positions.

5. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, a movable closure for the cabinet, means for supporting a phonograph within. the cabinet comprising ,a' rigid shelf and a carriage movable thereon, a frictionless bearing interposed between said shelf and carriage, means for automatically shifting said carriage upon movement of said closure, and means for limiting the movement thereof.

6. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, means for supporting a phonograph comprising a rigid shelf. and a carriage movable thereon, a frictionless bearing assembly including a keeper plate-and a plurality of balls interposed between said shelf and carriage, means for shifting said carriage, means for limiting the movement thereof, and means for limiting movement of said 7. In a phonograph cabinet,v in combination, means for supporting a phonograph comprising a rigid shelf and a carriage movable, thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on said shelf, means operatively connecting said lever to said carriage, a closure pivoted on said cabinet and adapted to be moved downwardly within said cabinet to expose the interior thereof, and means on said lever positioned in the path of movement of said closure for actuating said lever to shift said carriage toward the front of said cabinet.

8. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, means for supporting a phonograph comprising a rigid shelf and a carriage movable thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on said shelf, means operatively connecting said lever to said carriage,

a closure pivoted on said cabinet and adapted to be moved downwardly within said cabinet to expositioned in the path of' movement of said closure for actuating said lever to shift said carriage toward the front of said cabinet, and means for returning said leverand carriage to their original positions.

9. In a cabinet, in combination, a horizontally disposed phonograph shelf rigidly supported within said cabinet and extending forwardly from the back of said cabinet, a vertically disposed plate within said cabinet having its lower edge mounted in hinged relation to said shelf adjacent the back, of the-cabinet to provide a movable retaining means for papers such as letters, documents, etc., and suspension means for said papers disposed above said retaining means.

10. In a cabinet having the front portion cut away to give access to the interior thereof, in combination, a closure for said cut-away front comprising a hood pivotally mounted within said cabifiet and a depending hinged flap, resilient mea s normally holding said flap in surface alignment with'said hood, means for swinging said hood downwardly within said cabinet, and means within said cabinet for deflecting said flap from its normal position to enable said hood to move to a predetermined position within said cabinet. Y

11. In combination, a cabinet, anelectrically operated phonograph mounted within said cabi-. net, an operating circuit for said phonograph, a switch mounted within said cabinet and operatively associated with said circuit, a hood mounted'on said cabinet and movable to an open or to a closed position, and switch-actuating meansposition;

12. In combination, a cabinet,an electrically operated phonograph mounted within said cabinet, an operating circuit for said phonograph, a switch mounted within said cabinet and operatively associated with said circuit, a hood mounted on said cabinet and movable to an open or to a closed position, switch-actuating means within said cabinet cooperatively arranged with respect to said hood to render said phonograph operable when said hood is moved to said open position, and means for actuating said switch to render said phonograph inoperable when said hood is moved to closed position.

13. In a cabinet, in combination, a movably mounted support for a phonograph, means for shifting said support, an electrically operated phonograph mounted on said support, an operating circuit for said phonograph including means for controlling said circuit, and a movable closure for said cabinet adaptedoperatively to actuate said support-shifting means and said circuit-controlling means.

14. In a cabinet having a compartment opening to the front of the cabinet, a. closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted to swing upwardly to a position completing the enclosure of said compartment and downwardly to a position beneath said compartment to expose the interior thereof, and means within said compart-' ment for supporting a phonograph. z

THEODORE H. BEARD. LELAND D. NORTON.. JOHN E. RENHOLDT.

Images