US2149052A - Check marking device - Google Patents

Description

R. l. HELLER Feb. 28, 19319...

CHEGKVMARKING D EVICE v vFiled May 24, 1937 5.3mm l] -oaoneeeooec o'aooonnoaoeoael xnn..

lllll'll'llllllllllllnl Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in check marking devices, particularly portable devices of this class which are adapted to be carried in a pocket or the like.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of check -marking devices and particularly to provide an improved portable check marking device of simple, inexpensive and efficient construction. It is also the object of this invention to provide an improved folding pocket check book having incorporated therein simple and eflicient check marking mechanism which is normally enclosed within a jacket together with a supply of blank checks so that the clothing and person of the user are shielded and protected from injury by the marking mechanism and the marking device is permanently associated with the supply of blank checks.

To these ends I have provided certain improvements in check marking devices as set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being separately pointed out and defined in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a folding pocket check book embodying one form of my invention, the same being shown in its open condition.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view but with the book in its folded or closed condition.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail illustrating the mode of using the marking mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an alternative form of marking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, is a combination folding check book and check marking device comprising a jacket made from two stripsof leather or other suitable material I0 and II of different lengths, said two strips being superposed, one upon the other, and fastened together along their opposite side marginal portions by lines of stitches I2, as usual, to provide a pocket I3 whereof one end portion is occupied by a tang I4 provided at one end of a block or stack of blank checks I5. The leather strip I0 is provided adjacent to its opposite ends with complemental snap fastener elements including a socket member I6 fixed within an aperture provided adjacent to one end of said strip and a stud member I'I xed within an aperture provided adjacent to the opposite end thereof, the mouth or entrance of socket member I6 being upon the top or inner side of strip I0, Fig. 1, and the head of stud member I1 being upon the bottom or outer side thereof. The inner relatively short strip I I is disposed nearer one end of the outer longer strip IIJ than the opposite end thereof so that said opposite end portion of the latter serves as a flexible end flap which can be folded or bent around the other end of said strip IIJ and its socket member I6 engaged with the stud member II when the jacket structure is folded transversely upon itself near its middle as shown in Fig` 3.

The above described jacket structure is substantially the same as has heretofore been employed in connection with folding check books.

It is a feature of all of the folding check books illustrated in the accompanying drawing that each is permanently provided upon its interior with mechanism that is manually operable to impress protective markings upon the checks as the latter are used and so that when the book is opened up upon a desk or the like said mechanism, in the best forms of my invention, is disposed upon the top side of the jacket where it is readily accessible for use in marking a check after the latter has been drawn and removed from the book. Another feature characterizing each form of book herein illustrated is that means is also provided for holding the marking mechanism in position upon the inner side of the jacket and, as shown, this means may consist of an extension or tang I9 forming part of the marking mechanism, said tang being telescopically tted into one end of the pocket of the jacket, above referred to, viz., the end thereof that is opposite to the end that is occupied by the tang I4 of the stack or block of checks I5. Or if desired any other appropriate means may be employed for connecting the marking mechanism with the jacket.

In Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the tang I9 is an integral extension of a sheet metal plate or frame 20 part of which occupies a position outside of the pocket I3 and is made with shoulders 2| at the opposite sides thereof to abut the proximate -end of the inner leather strip I I so that the frame cannot be materially displaced laterally or inwardly relatively to the pocket, the tang I9 fitting the pocket snugly.

At opposite sides thereof the frame 20 is made with upstanding apertured lugs or ears 22, one at each side of the frame, and between and pivotally supported by these lugs or `ears is a carrier, indicated generally at 23, for a plurality of independently rotatable toothed marking wheels 24. The carrier 23 is a lever comprising a transversely disposed bar 25 provided at its opposite ends with arms 26 pivotally connected at 21 with the ears 22 of the frame. 'I'he arms 26 support the opposite ends of a transverse arbor or shaft 28 on which the wheels 24 and a plurality of wheel spacing rollers 29 are all mounted to rotate freely and independently but so that they are held against movement lengthwise of the shaft or spindle.

Directly beneath or opposite the bank of marking wheels 24 the frame plate 20 is made with a series of parallel longitudinally disposed slots 30 one of which is directly opposite each of said wheels. These slots provide between them a number of parallel check-supporting rails 3|, one of which is directly opposite each wheelspacing roller 29.

When protective markings are to be imposed upon a check the latter is torn from the stack or block I while the book lies in open condition upon a table or other suitable support and after lifting the lever 23 into the elevated position shown in Fig. 4, the check is slid into position beneath the wheels 24 as shown at C, after which the lever 23 is swung downwardly by linger pressure applied to cross-bar 25 and while so held the check is pulled endwise, by means of the other hand, in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4. During this operation the rollers 29 press the check against the tops of the abutment rails 3l and are free to rotate with the check as the latter is pulled forward. At the same time the teeth of the wheels 24 form several parallel lines of perforations in the check, said wheels being also free to rotate with the movement of the latter. It will be understood that the slots Bil provide passageways through which the teeth of the marking wheels swing as they are rotated by the forward movement of the check.

Thus a longitudinal band of perforations is formed in the check and in order to ensure that this band shall include the writing on the lines 32 and 33 of the check I provide the frame 20 with two upstanding check-positioning lugs or ears 34, one near each side of the frame, between which the check is placed and drawn forward during the marking operation. These lugs serve to position the check properly relatively to the marking wheels and also to guide the check while it is being drawn forward, thus co-operating with the wheels to ensure a straight-away forward movement of the check.

Constructing the device so that each wheel 24 is freely rotatable independently as described avoids tearing of the check by the wheels during the marking operation, should it swerve while being drawn forward.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the lever 23 is constructed and mounted on the frame 20 as described in connection with Figs. l and 2 except that its arms 26 may be made slightly longer so that an abutment roll 35 may occupy a position between the wheels 24 of lever 23 and the axes of the pivots 2l as shown in Fig. 5. This abutment roll is disposed transversely and trunnions at the opposite ends thereof are journaled in two upstanding lugs struck up from the frame plate 20, one of said lugs being shown at 34a in Fig. 5.

The part of roll 35 that is opposite the bank of wheels 24 is formed with a series of annular grooves 30a each of which is directly opposite one of said wheels, while the peripheries of the annular flanges of this roll which alternate with the grooves 30a are nearly in contact with the peripheries of the rollers 29 when the lever 23 occupies its operative position shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

When a check is to be marked by the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6 the lever 23 thereof is swung upwardly into an elevated position, the check is placed between the two rolls, and the lever returned again to its lowermost position where it is held by finger pressure while the check is pulled forward, the abutment wheel, the rollers and the marking wheels all turning in unison to permit free passage of the check.

In all forms of the invention herein illustrated the marking mechanism is embodied as an attachment for existing jackets constructed as heretofore and without alteration thereof which is, from one point of view a distinct advantage, although it will be clear that if desired the marking mechanism may be otherwise incorporated as a part of the jacket structure.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism comprising a base member adapted to be seated atwise upon a foldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being made with an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket is constructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as to swing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which and said rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn while said marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of said lever, and side guides on said base member for directing the passage of the check between said marking devices and said abutment means.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the character described compris` ing a base member adapted to be seated atwise upon a foldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being made with an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket is constructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as to swing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which and said rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn while said marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of said lever, said base member being made at its opposite sides with upstanding lugs and said lever including a transversely disposed intermediate portion provided at its opposite ends with arms pivotally connected with said lugs and said marking devices being rotatably supported by the arms of said lever.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the character described comprising a base member adapted to be seated atwise upon a foldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being made with an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket is constructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as to swing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which and said rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn while said marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of said lever, the outer portion of said base member being made at its opposite sides with upstanding lugs and said lever comprising .a transversely disposed intermediate portion provided at its opposite ends with parallel arms pivotally connected with said lugs by which said rotatable check markingA devices are supported.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the character described comprising a base member adapted to be seated flatwise upon a foldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being made with an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket is constructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as to swing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which and said rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn while said marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of said lever, said marking devices consisting of a transversely disposed row of toothed marking wheels and said abutment means being a portion of said base member which is formed with a plurality of slots disposed side by side, one opposite each of said wheels, said slots being adapted to receive the teeth of said wheels while the portions of said base member between said slots provide checksupporting rails.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism comprising a base member; a lever including a transversely disposed intermediate portion provided at its opposite ends with relatively parallel arms pivotally connected with said base member so as to swing toward and from the latter, said arms being spaced apart to provide between them a passageway for the check that is to be marked; a rotatable check marking device carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which and said rotatable marking device the check to be marked is drawn while said marking device is held in engagement therewith by means of said lever, said lever being movable on an axis that is parallel with but offset with respect to the axis of said marking device.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism constructed in accordance with claim 5 and wherein the said abutment means consists of an abutment roll rotatably supported by said base member and whose axis is also parallel with the axis of said lever.

RICHARD I. HELLER.

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