US2199371A - Nested remote and local control units - Google Patents

Description

April 940. A. N. GOLDSMITH 2,199,371

NESTED REMOTE AND LOCAL CONTROL UNITS Filed Oct. 22; 1938 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR ALFRED IV. GOZQSM/TH ATTORNEY April 30, 1940. A. N. GOLDSMITH NESTED REMOTE AND LOCAL CONTROL UNITS Filed Oct, 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES NESTED REMOTE AND LOCAL CONTROL UNITS Alfred N. Goldsmith; New York, N. Y. Application October 22, iessgseriai No. 236,383

14 Claims.

The present invention is concerned broadly with radio receiving systems and more particularly with remote control means therefor.

Remote control of radio broadcast receivers has become increasingly widespread and accepted Sol by the public, particularly since the availability of economic forms of automatic frequency control together with the stabilization of frequency of superheterodyne oscillators used in receivers.

In certain remote control systems the receiver is controlled through the electricpower circuit to which both it and a remote control unit are connected. This method has certain attractive features, but requires that various conditions be met These conditions include the availability of an electric circuit outlet fairly close to the location of the remote control unit (unless long conductors are to beused from the control unit). It also requires a trigger tube of some sort in the receiver together with associated mechanical or electronic relays in the receiver. Further, there are in some cases restrictions on the location of the control unit due to non-continuity of a specific power circuit between adjacent rooms.

In View of the preceding conditions, it is sometimes desirable to utilize a form of remote control directly connected to the receiver by a conducting cable and with the possibility of a number of remote control stations along the cable in question. Hitherto this arrangement has been somewhat inconvenient because the cable was rarely of correct length to extend between the various units, nor could the remote'control units, if not used, be conveniently disposed of in or around the receiving set. It is an object of this invention to avoid any inconvenience in the use of a remote control system having a multiplicity of control units whether the system is of the cable type or non-cable type.

Briefly, the present invention deals with a convenient form of remote control unit readily detached from a radio receiver and conveniently placed, interconnecting means between such control unit and the receiver when applied to a cable type of unit, and means for nesting one or more of such remote control units in sightly fashion on or in a receiver.

Inthe drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, r s

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section through a part of .theradio cabinet of a radio receiver showing a back control unit in cross-section and an end view of a forward control unit;

Figure 2 illustrates the forwardunit removed (Cl. 250-) I and the back'unit pushed into the forward position; j

Figure 3 is a section taken through a cable reel; and,

"Figure 4 illustrates in schematic form, a three unit arrangement.

Referring specifically to. Fig. ,1, a part of a radio cabinet I of a radio receiver, has provided on any convenient portion thereof, preferably on the front panel, an opening or recess intowhich are nested two tuning units 2 and 9. While the tuning units are illustrated as push button units, it should be understood that any other type'of tuning unit may be employed as, for instance, telephone dial type tuning units or switch type units. Two handles or knobs l2 enable the con-. venient withdrawal of unit 9 in the direction shown by the arrow. In this way the tuning unit may be carried to "a convenient point, for. instance, alongsideof "aneasy chair and, if desired, placed on 'an'fen'd table (Fig. 2). To'hold unit 9 in the position shown in Fig. 1, there may be mounted within; thesides'of the recess several ball and spring latches M which cooperate or register with indentations or sockets 13 (see Fig. 2) formed in the sides of the control unit. But- I tons in actuate the variable elements of the receiver through a series ofsuitable contacts mounted within the unit 9 and connected through cable l6. Cable it passes into a reel I! and thence to the connectingstrip or block It ,to which the receiver control conductors 24 are connected. It is to be understood that the control conductors 26 are connected to the various devices provided for operating the elements of the radio receiver to becontrolled. It will be noted that belowthe recess formed in the cabinet for receiving the remote unit 9, there is provided a a slot for receiving the reel I! when the remote unit is placed in its nest.

Connected electrically in parallel with the removable remote control unit 9 is the local control unit 2 permanently contained within or onv the receiver cabinet. When the remote control. unit is withdrawn. the local control unit 2 is' pushed forward by springs l to the front of the receiver. Thus, the withdrawal of. the remote control unit exposes the local unit which, in turn, snaps forward into aposition convenientfor operation, if desiredlsee Fig. 2 The control buttons 6 actuate the contacts I which are connected through the cable l5 to the connection block IS in parallel with the remote control unit 9. Cable I5 is not provided with a reel since itis a permanent part of the wiring of the set.

The remote control unit 9 is provided with legs H on which the unit may be stood, if desired, when it is removed from its nest or recess and placed on a table. These legs also are arranged to 'act as stops to prevent depressing buttons 6 of the local unit when the remote unit 9 is inserted back into its nest, it being observed that when this is done the local unit is pushed into the position shown in Fig. 1. To properly position the local unit 2, there are provided several indentations l3 (only one of which is shown) which cooperate with the ball and spring latches l4 when the remote unit 9 is removed and the local unit 2 assumes its forward position. The ball and spring latch i4 is so designed that a greater pressure is required to make it let go than is required to depress any one of the push buttons 6 so that there is no danger of pushing the unit 2 inwardly (see Fig. 2) when the local unit is operated by depressing buttons 6. However, any other equivalent mechanical means may be provided whereby the removal of the front control unit releases the rear control unit (or units) and causes it to-move or be drawn forward into a conveniently operable position.

In Fig. 3 is shown schematically one form which the reel ll of Figs. 1 and 2 may take. Within the casing 3| is mounted a central pivot or hub 32 to which is attached external to the casing 3| a folding type crank 33 similar to those used in tape measures. The central portion of the hub 32 has attached to it in any suitable manner a double channel spool 34 which rotates when the handle 33 is operated. The cable 5 is looped at the bottom of the spool 34 and then is wound double, that is, the cable is wound as a twin to the center of the reel where it passes without loss of continuity through a suitable opening or slot formed in the spool 34. In this way the reel will always be found in the center of the cable connecting theremote control unit and the receiver. The cable issuing from the reel can be brought conveniently to any desired length since it is inherently adjustable.

It is to be understood that the form of reel shown is immaterial and that any reel which enables the control of length of the connecting cable and which does not interrupt continuity of the cable while in operation will meet the requirements.

In Fig. 4 there is shown the connection of three control units, the control unit 2 being the local unit substantially similar to the local unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the units 40 and 4| being remote units. In this case the reels H are mounted within recesses formed in the back portions of the remote units 40 and 4|. If as shown in Fig. 4 the base of the reel 7|! projects from the body of the remote control box. 40, it will be seen that when the remote control box is inserted in the nest (see Fig. 1) and pushed up against the local unit 2 that the reel I! will depress some of the push buttons 6 of the local unit 2. To prevent this there are provided in the local unit 2 of a system likethat shown in Fig. 4 the stops l2 which are placed on the unit 2 so as to register with the legs I of the unit 40. In the case where the unit 4| is also nested the handles l2 of the unit 40 must be placed in such a position with respect to the legs H of unit 4| that they register with one another, thus preventing reel I! of unit 4| from depressing any one of the buttons ID of the unit 40. It is to be understood that any number of remote control units may be provided, it being necessary simply to construct the recess in the cabinet to receive the number provided. It should be noted also that in the arrangements shown in Fig. 4 the units are physically in a serial arrangement as to extension, hence, the unit 4| may be placed at a distance away from the receiver which is equivalent to the maximum distance that the unit 40 may be placed from the receiver plus the distance that the unit 4| may be placed from the unit 40. In other words, the remote unit 4| may be placed away from the receiver a distance which is substantially equal to the total length of the cables 43 and 42 when completely unreeled.

While the invention has been described with remote control units connected to the radio receiver by cables, it is to be understood that the remote control units may be of the type wherein no wire connection to the receiver is necessary. In such a case the remote control unit may be removed from its nest and carried to any part of the room or house without regard to cables and the like.

I claim: 7

1. In a radio receiver provided with automatic control means, a pairof control units, and a recess formed in the receiver cabinet and arranged to house said units in tandem.

2. An arrangement as described in the next preceding claim characterized by that the innermost unit is mounted within said recess by a resilient means which tends to urge said unit outwardly, said other unit being removable from said recess and operable from a point remote from the receiver.

3. In a radio receiver provided with automatic controlling means, a local control unit and a combination local and remote control unit, a recess formed in the receiver cabinet and arranged to receive both of said units in tandem, said first named unit being arranged so as to be displaced inwardly when the other unit is placed within said recess.

4. In radio receiving apparatus provided with automatic control means, a plurality of control units all physically connected serially by cable means, a compartment in the receiver cabinet arranged to receive all of said units, means for yieldingly mounting one of said units within said compartment, all of said other units being removable from said compartment and operable from a point remote from the receiver.

5. An arrangement as described in the next preceding claim characterized by that the yieldingly mounted unit is movably mounted within said compartment by yielding means tending to urge said unit forward and means for holding said unit in an operative position within said compartment when all of the other units are removed therefrom.

6. In a radio receiver provided with automatic controlling means, a local control unit and a remote control unit, a recess formed in the receiver cabinet arranged to receive both said units, resilient means for movably mounting said local unit to the base of said recess, said resilient means acting to urge the local unit outwardly and means including the remote unit for holding the local unit in its furthest inward position when the remote unit is positioned within the recess.

7. In combination with a radio receiver provided with automatic control means including tuning, a station selector adapted to be operated from a point remote from the receiver, a local station selector, a compartment for receiving the two station selectors, said local station selector being permanently mounted within said compartment and means for holding the remote unit within said compartment when said remote unit is not in use.

8. In a radio receiver provided with automatic control means, a local control unit and a remote control unit, a recess formed in the receiver cabinet arranged to receive both said units, a cable for electrically connecting said. two units in parallel and to the automatic control means of the radio receiver and a reel associated with said cable around which the cable is wound for providing a holding means for the cable when the remote unit is placed in said recess.

9. In a radio receiver provided'with automatic controlling means, a remote control unit, a comparatively long cable connector for connecting the control unit to the receiver, a reel for said cable, said reel being approximately centered in the cable between the control unit and the receiver and arranged so as to wind both halves of the cable simultaneously, and a recess formed in the receiver cabinet arranged to receive both the unit and the reel.

10. In a radio receiver provided with automatic controlling means, a local control unit and a remote control unit, a recess formed in the receiver cabinet arranged to receive both said units, resilient means for movably mounting said local unit within said recess, said resilient means acting to urge the local unit outwardly, means including the remote unit for holding the local unit in its further inward position when the remote unit is positioned within the recess, and means for limiting the outward movement of the local unit upon removal of the remote unit from between the control unit and the receiver and arranged so as to act upon both halves of the cable simultaneously in winding and unwinding the cable, and a recess formed in said remote control unit for receiving said reel.

13.11 radio receiving apparatus provided with automatic control means, a plurality of control units all connected serially by cable means, a compartment in the receiver cabinet arranged to house all of said units, individual reels for receiving the cable between each of said units, each of said reels being approximately centered along the length of its respective cable and arranged so as to wind both halves of its cable simultaneously.

14. In anarrangement as described in claim 4, individual reels for receiving the cable between adjacent units, each ofsaid reels being approximately centered along the length of its respective cable and arranged so as to wind and unwind both portions of the cable simultaneously.

ALFRED N. GOLDSMITH.

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