US2157108A - Toy typewriter - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1939. R, BELL 2,157,108

' TOY TYPEWRITER 7 Filed April 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SFRBELL TOY TYPEWRITER May 9, 1939.

Filed April 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' 60 59 J6 J4 J9 Patented May 9, 1939 warren Sidney a. Beii,

I Stamford, Conn.

Application April a, 11935, sci-a1 No. time Claims.

The invention relates to an educational toy and has as an object the provision of an'exceedingly simple, efficient form of toy typewritersimulating the appearance of a typewriter haiing a conventional' keyboard. Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing illustrated embodiments of the invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toy typewriter according to one embodiment of the invention, partly broken away to show the internal operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a section viewed on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal broken sectional. view along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows an elevational view of the indicia selector for driving a type carrying endless belt.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the escapement for advancing the platen carriage step by step.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an inking pad taken along the line l'i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line t% of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 illustrates a plan view of a slightly modified form of toy typewriter, shown on a smaller scale.

Fig. 10 is a section along the line iii-ill of Fig. 9. v

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank forming a complementary part of the frame of the toy typewriter according to the invention.

Fig. 12 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 but'illustrating the'selector depressed an'd'the presser arm actuated to position a selected portion of the type carrying endless belt'against the platen.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View along the line l3 i3 of Fig. 12.

"Fig. 14 illustrates in perspective a; slightly modified mechanism foractuating the presser armor pivotedlever which slidably' guides the type carrying endless belt.

Fig. 15 is a transverse'sectionalzview of .a'modified linkage system for presser arm and v Fig. 16 is a plan view of Fig. 15. a."

As shown, the toy typewriter comprises an elongated hollow frame it suitably stamped out of sheet metal or the like. Mounted on-a rear horizontal wall it of the frame is a slidable U shaped carriage i2 comprising an elongated horizontal fiat perforated bar' i3 having upstanding terminal perforated lugsor ears M and i5 each of which rotatably sustains a cylindrical shank actuating 'a companion bodily rotatable therewith is a hollow cylindrical platen it which may be made of relatively heavy cardboard or of any suitable rubber. It follows therefore that if either of the manipulating cylinders ll be rotated the platen will also be rotated.

Arranged between spaced ears it and i5 and appropriately secured thereto is a rod 69 on which is'slidably mounted spaced spring guide clips 21B and 2E adapted to removably hold a sheet of paper against platen l3. Spring clips 20 and 2! each include an intermediate refiexed or eye portion 20" integrally associated with rearwardly extending terminal 21] normally abutting paper guide it carried by the platen carriage. By this arrangement the spring clips exert the required pressure to hold the paper coiled about the platen in place.

A pair of resilient slidable or fixed hexagonalshaped blocks or flat face members 22 and 23 carried by rod 39 are utilized to feed a sheet of paper in step by step fashion from the rear of the platen towards a front face thereof, the blocks 22 and 23 beingin contact with the paper about the platen and constituting means for adjusting the paper relative to the platen for line spacing purposes. Accordingly, the need for utilizing of line spacing means in the form or a pawl and ratchet arrangement is eliminated. This is animportant feature of the invention.

The lower corner portions of the spaced ears i and i5 each comprise spaced recesses or notches 25 and 2epermitting marginal portions 271 and 28 of the elongated bar l3 to be slidably disposed in an associated guide trackor channel formed by the spacedfianges 29 andv iiflflstruck out from frame iQf-Hence"platen it may be slidably guided longitudinally of the frame. 2

Extending upwardly forwardly relative to hOrizoritaPw'all ii is an inclined 'wall fil having an intermediately arranged opening 32 through which the forward-portion 36 of the pivoted presser arm or lever 33' may her-projected. Integral with and extending forwardly o'f-the inclined wall 36 is .thehorizontal wall 35 from which depends spaced lugs 36, the sides and bottom of which'include flanges 37 forming a rim 38 (see Figs. 7, 11 and 13) adapted to be flexed to removably crimp the lower and side marginal portions of an associated inking pad 39 having its upper portion removably secured by a prong as 50 struck out from horizontal wall as. The forming of this prong 48 also provides the opening 48' leaving exposed a small portion of the ink pad 39 to enable reinking of the pad by the use of an applicator such as a small stick dipped 5 into a bottle of ink and then touched to the pad.

Extending downwardly and outwardly from the horizontal wall 35 is an inclined wall 4| from which depends the vertically disposed flange 42 in back of which is slidably arranged the rear portion of an indicia and type selector generally identified 44.

g Y The selector 44 comprisesa channel shaped body 45 having spaced sides 48 slidably mounted on a, cylindrical guide rod 41 secured to the spaced 5 sides 48 and 49 of the frame. .The manipulating portion 58 of the selector 44 is disposed forwardly of flange 42 and comprises a top wall 53 having spaced inwardly curved depending sides 54 and 55 which may be easily grasped by the operator to shift the selector along rod .41. The rearward portion 56 of selector 44 is bent downwardly and is disposed at the back of depending guide flange 51 forming an integral part of the body of the embossed keyboard designated generally 58.

Closely straddling spaced sides 46 of channel 45 and slidably actuated by the selector is a U shaped saddle 59 having spaced sides 68 and 6| each of which includes transversely spaced arms 82 and a 83 integrally interconnected by a suitable arcuate eye bearing as 84 slidably guided on the fixed rod Common to corresponding arms of the sides-of the saddle is a strap 85, the spaced straps forming a gap between which a portion 88 of a flexible type carrying endless belt 81 is rigidly secured, for

example, by suitable prongs 89 struck out from the spaced straps 65, which prongs are driven into the resilient endless belt and subsequently bent against the sides of the latter. In other words, if

the manipulating portion 58 of the selector be slidably displaced along the rod 41, saddle 59 will also be shifted and hence the endless type carrying belt 81 will be correspondingly displaced. The

endless belt 81 may be of any suitable material such as cloth, or as shown of suitable rubber carrying spaced type as 18 selectable upon the actuation of the shiftable selector 44.

In Figs. 1 and 8, it will be omerved, that the top wall 35 of the frame is provided with integral arcuate depending spaced guide portions 18' which are struck out from thewall 35 of the blank shown in Fig. 11 along the dotted lines H and subse-v 1 quently bent downwardly to form means for slidably guiding the ends of the type carrying belt 61, which is retained on the guides 18' by an associated flange 12.

With the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the endless type belt 814s mounted on a pair of rotatable spools 13 and 14 appropriately journalled to top 60 wall 35 and a flange 15 struck out from an associated depending wing or side as 48 of the frame. Wings or sides 48 and 49 are bent downwardly along the score lines 18 and the marginal rim 11 8 thereof is bent to provide inclined inwardly extending flanges 18 and vertical flanges 19 to which the inclined upper and front walls of the keyboard 58 are respectively and appropriately secured, k such as by solder or the like.

Flanges 88 of the wings 48' and 49 are bent 7 inwardly and are utilized as a seat to support the hollow casing formed by the frame and the keyboard on a horizontal surface 8| or if desired suitable cushion and resilient feet 82 may be attached to flanges 88 to prevent marring of surface 8|. In addition flanges 83 are suitably connected .to

' pivotally the ends of the inclined wall 3| and'flanges 84 are similarly connected to the ends of horizontal wall I I while flanges 85 are secured to the vertical rear wall 98. Tabs or tongues 86 of walls 3|, I and 98 t are utilized to interconnect with striations as 86 of wings 48 and 49 to connect these walls and flanges of the wings together in a manner well understoodin the art of sheet metal working.

The rear vertical wall 98 is provided with a terminal flange 81 having end portions 88 to which is m appropriately attached resilient or cushion feet 83 to prevent marring of supporting surface 8| and tongues or tabs 9| are utilized to facilitate securing end portions 88 to flanges 88.

The frame construction hereinbefore described 15 may be considered as a hollow casing having complementary parts, one constituted by the blank disclosed in Fig. 11 and the other comprising keyboard 58 which is secured to the wings of the blank. In this connection, it will be observed 20 that the keyboard is inclined and includes several rows of spaced bosses 9| each identified by suitable indicia 92, the arrangement being such as to simulate the appearance of a conventional typewriter 2 keyboard. 7

Inclined flange 4| of the frame I8 is provided with spaced suitable indicia as 94 and guide lines 95, which line up with corresponding indicia as 92 of associated bosses on the keyboard 58. For example, letter W of flange 4| has a guide line 95 30 and the latter is in alinement with boss W on the keyboard. If desired the indicia may be embossed on the inclined wall 4|. As analternative, an indicia strip may be applied to inclined wall 4| in place of the embossing. 35 Swingable relative to the sides of frame I8 is a crank 96 which comprises a rod having offset ends 91 rotatably carried by sides 48 and 49. This crank is actuated by the tail or rear portion 56 of selector 44 slidably and rotatably carried by rod 40 41. That is to say, if the front manipulating portion 58 of selector 44 be depressed, tail 58 will be swung upwardly and consequently crank 91 will be swung rearwardly. Crank 91 in turn actuates the pivoted presser arm or lever 33. causing head por- 45 tion 34 thereof to project rearwardly through opening 32 and against a selected part of the endless type belt 61, such that the selected portion thereof is distended and moved against the platen I8 where it casts an impression on the paper held 50 thereabout. Upon removal of pressure from selector 44, lever 33 is urged forwardly by the resisting force in the belt due to contraction thereof. to normal position.

Presser arm 33 has a lower offset portion 99 55 carried by a pin I88 rigidly secured to a flange I8I bent downwardly from the horizontalrear wall II of the-frame.-

Rotatably mounted on. pin I88 is a lever I83 having at its upper enda cam shaped portion I or nose I84 for actuating an escapement mechanism generally designated I85. Lever I83 is actuated by a link I88 operatively attached to the lower end thereof. Link I88 is controlled by a depressible manipulator I81 pivotally sustained on a fulcrum pin I88 fixedly carried by spaced depending lugs I88 struck out from the keyboard at the-forward marginal portion thereof. More specifically link I88 operatively interconnects lower portion of the depressible manipulator I81 70 and lever I83 such that if manipulator I81 is depressed nose I84 is swung downwardly.

Cooperating with nose I84 is a forwardly extending lug I89'of a lever II8 which has one end pivoted on pin II2 carried by fixed arm I-I3 de- 78 pending from and appropriately secured to horizontal wall II of the frame. To the other end II4 of lever I I0 is connected a terminal of a hellcoidal spring 5 having its upper portion anchored to wall II of the frame.

I Pivotally carried by lever H0 is a supplementary carriage locking lever II6. More specifically lever I I0 has a fulcrum pin II1 on which supplementary lever H6 is pivotally retained. Lever I I6 has a relativelyheavy or weighted end H8 and therefore when lever IIO has been depressed upon downward displacement of nose I04,

lever H6 automatically tilts relative to lever IIII due to the action of the weighted end H8. Limit of the swing or tilt of lever H6 is controlled by an attenuated extension 9 thereof cooperating with a depending stop lug I of wall II.

Extending upwardly from supplementary lever H6 is a tooth I2I which cooperates progressively and severally with a series of alined and spaced similar perforations I22, I23, I24, I etc, disposed along the length of flat bar or wall I3 of the rectilinearly displaceable carriage I2 for advancing the latter step by step upon each complete cycle of lever IIO. For example in Fig. 3, lever H0 is held normally raised by spring II5. lever I I6 is disposed horizontally and tooth I2I thereof extends through an opening I26 of wall II and projects into and through an opening I22 of bar I3 of the carriage l2. If lever IIO be depressed, spring II5 becomes distended, and tooth I2I is moved out of its opening I22. Hence lever H6 tilts relative to lever IIO. Consequently. tooth I 2| is freed of bar I3 of the carriage and the latter may be said to be unlocked.

- With the tooth I2I disposed in a perforation as illustrated in Fig. 3 carriage I2 is held locked.

' Where the tooth is free of the carriage, the latter With the carriage interlocked indicia selector may be advanced one step laterally on the return stroke of lever I I0 which takes place automaticall-y upon removal of manual pressure from spacing manipulator I01 or upon removal of pressure by the operator from the selector 44.

On the return stroke of lever H0. tooth I2I 18. As the forward portion 34 of the presser arm swings rearwardly, cam or nose I21 thereof abuts lug I09 of lever IIO of the escapement. Consequently tooth I2I is freed from the platen carriage Tsee Fig. 12). Once tooth I2I is free, lever II6 tilts relative to lever IIO. Upon removal of pressure from selector 44, spring II5 raises levers H0 and H6 and tooth I2I enters a next successive perforation as I23, advancing the platen carriage one step to the left and the carrlage is locked, that is, tooth I2I interlocks with the carriage to prevent lateral movement of the latter. When tooth I2l is in engagement with a perforation of the carriage I2, the latter is operatively locked against lateral displacement to the left but the carriage may be pushed to the right for starting a new line of typing. In this connection tooth I2I clicks in and out of successive perforations against tension of spring I I5.

may be slidably moved along rod 41 in the selection of a character desired to be printed. If the selector be positioned to line up with the letter W" of the keyboard, corresponding type W of the type carrying endless belt 61- is registered with opening 32 of the frame and with presser arm or member 34. Hence printing is effected upon depressing the forward part of selector 44, and pursuant to printing, the platen carriage is automatically advanced one step to the left.

As an aid to locating and holding the selector 44 in a predetermined position along rod 41, locking means have been provided to prevent accidental displacement of the selector after having been set for such position. For this purpose crank 96 is provided with a plurality of spaced indentations I28 which resilently interlock with detent or rib I29 protruding from tail or rear portion 56 of selector 44. In other words after the selector is set, accidental displacement of the selector relative to supporting rod 41 is prevented.

Selector 44 carries an index or pointed portion I30 which is utilized to align the selector severally with guide lines as associated with inclined wall M of the frame to facilitate the proper selection of type of the endless belt 61. When selector 44 is slidably displaced relative to rod 41, belt 61 is correspondingly displaced, the belt in its movement being guided by depending struck out projections 10 as shown in Fig. 1 or with ink at the time of the registration with opening or window 32 of the frame.

With selector 44 slidably displaced along rod 41 but not depressed. however, endless type carrying belt 61 is slidably guided within the forward portion 34 of presser arm 33 in a retaining channel I3I. H

In accordance with the invention, the platen carriage may be laterally advanced independent of the operation of the selector. Hence from an inspection of Fig. 2, it will be observed. that if manipulator I01 be depressed, lever I03 swings on pin I00 relative to presser arm 33. Hence the escapement is operated although the presser arm is in an inoperative position.

In the form according to Fig. 14, selector 44 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on a squared rod I35.which is journalled in the spaced sides as 48 and 49 of the frame. Non-rotatably attached to rod I35 is a U shaped yoke I36. When selector 44 is depressed, rod I35 is rotated and consequently yoke I36 is raised. Hence presser arm 33 is actuated and moves rearwardly to project a selected portion of the type carrying belt against the platen.

According to the form disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16, selector 44 which controls displacement of the endless belt 61 is slidably mounted on square rod I35 and as the latter is rotated upon depression of the selector; spaced arms I31 carried by rod I35 have their inner ends upwardly displaced and consequently move inner portions of the spaced arms I31 upwardly. A'rms I 31' are fixed to square rod H38 to which presserv arm 33 is secured. Upon depression of selector 44, the

inner portions of arms I31 and I31 are moved upwardly by reason of a lost motion connecwhich is disposed in an elongated slot I of a companion'arm I3'l'.-

When arms I31 are actuated, rod I38 which is journalled in the spaced sides of the frame, is also rocked, and consequently, the upper portion of press'er arm 33 is projected against platen l8.

In the case of the embodiments disclosed in Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive, upon removal of manual pressure from selector 44, pressure arm 33 thereof automatically retracts from the companion platen as in the case according to the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1.

After platen carriage 12 has been advanced step by step bodily to the left, it may be conveniently and quickly displaced to the right. In

this connection, if a slight thrust towards the' right is imparted to the left hand knob H, locking tooth I2! is moved downwardly and becomes free of the carriage. The escapement bodily pivots on fulcrum pin H2 against the resistance of spring H5 which becomes slightly distended. Upon stopping of the platen carriage, tooth l2| automatically enters an opening as I23 and interlocks therewith.

Without further detailed discussion, it is ap parent, that the present invention has as its primary object to provide an attractive educa tional toy having a simplified but practical construction particularly applicable for children's use and without further analysis, it is apparent that the toy typewriter of the character disclosed comprises relatively few parts, susceptible to inexpensive manufacture and ease of assembling.

In the broader aspects of the invention, I do not desire to be understood as limiting its embodiments to the structural elements herein shown illustratively and described in detail as a wide Variety of modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a toy typewriter, a casing having an opening, a step by step shiftable carriage rectllinearly guidedon said casing and having an elongated plate comprising a plurality of perforations, a step by step rotatable platen supported by said carriage, control means, pivoted escapement means actuated .by said control means comprising a weighted member disconnectable from a perforation of said plurality to release said carriage, springs means cooperating with said escape'ment means to elevate said member to per mit the latter to cooperate with a next successive perforation of said plurality to advance said carriage and removably interlock therewith, and

spacer means independent of said control means for operating said escapement means to advance said carriage one step laterally.

2. In a toy typewriter, a casing, a carriage slidably guided on said casing and having a plate comprising a plurality of alined perforations, escapement means comprising a weighted pivoted member normally interlocked with a perforation of said plurality, manually controlled means for actuating said escapement means to disconnect said member from said last mentioned perforation, spring means effective upon removal of pressure from said manually controlled means for operating said member to coact with a next successive perforation of said plurality to advance said carriage one step laterally and removably interlock therewith, and driving means for actuating said escapement means independently of said manually controlled means.

3. In a toy typewriter, a casing, a carriage slidably guided by said casing and having a horizontal plate comprising a row of alined perforations, an escapement member, means for pivotally supporting one end of said escapement member, spring means normally holding another end of said escapement member elevated, and an unbalanced member pivoted to said escapement member and including means adapted to cooperate with one of said perforations to advance said carriage one step laterally.

4. In a toy typewriter, a casing, a carriage slidably guided by said casing and having a horizontal plate comprising a row of alined perforations, an escapement member, means for pivotally supporting one endof said escapement member, spring means for holding another end of said escapement member normally elevated, an unbalanced member pivoted to said escapement member and including projecting means cooperating with one of said perforations to prevent displacement of said carriage, and means to actuate said escapement member against the resistance of said spring means and automatically tilt said unbalanced member to remove said proj ecting. means from one of said perforations.

5. In a toy typewriter, a casing, a carriage slidably guided on said casing and having a horizontal plate comprising a row of alined -perforations, an escapement member, means for pivotally supporting one end of saidescapement member, spring means for holding another end of said escapement member normally elevated, an unbalanced member pivoted to said escapement member and including projecting means cooperating with one of said perforations to prevent. displacement of said carriage, and means to actuate said escapement member against the resistance of said spring means and automatically tilt said unbalanced member to remove said projecting means from one of said perforations, H

said spring means pursuant to release of said actuating means causing said escapement memher to be elevated to shift said unbalanced member whereby said projecting means enters another of said perforations to displace said carriage one step laterally.

SIDNEY R. BELL.

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