US2246130A

US2246130A - Mounting arrangement for phonograph tone arms

Info

Publication number: US2246130A
Application number: US335109A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward W Forstrom
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1940-05-14
Filing date: 1940-05-14
Publication date: 1941-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-17

Description

MVM/6 Mora(7 Fi 5.

Jung 17, 1941. E, w, FORSTRQM 2,246,130

MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR PHONOGRAPH TONE ARMS Filed May 14, 1940 Illy alf-76? 40 43 mm QM/w 42 23 55' Inventor: 4 Edward W. Fcrrscorvn,V

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Patented June 17, 1941 MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FR PHON()- GRAPH TONE ARMS Edward W. Forstrom, Stratford, Conn., assign'or to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1940, Serial No. 335,109

Claims.

My invention relates to phonograph apparatus, particularly to phonograph tone arm and cabinet arrangements adapted especially to radio-phonograph units, and its general object is to provide a tone arm and cabinet arrangement whereby the radio-phongraph unit is made more compact, the appearance of the unit is improved, and the tone arm with its pickup connected thereto is better protected from injury when in the non-playing position.

In accordance with my present invention the foregoing and other objects are attained by the provision of a tone arm and cabinet arrangement such that the tone arm when in the non-playing position is in a groove in the upper surface of the cabinet, so that in this position of the phonograph apparatus a practically flat upper surface for the cabinet is provided.

It is a further object to provide improved switching means operatively associated with the tone arm to control the power circuit of the phonograph motor and to control the connection of the pickup to the amplifying apparatus.

The ynovel features which are considered to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following depanying drawing wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are fragmentary, side elevational views partially in secmeral 2 designates a phonograph tone arm having a pickup device 3 carrying a needle 4 which may extend within a well or depression formed in the bottom of groove 1.

In-Fig. 1 the tone arm 2 is shown in the nonplaying or non-operative position. The arm is pivoted near the end thereof opposite its pickup end to the upper end of a vertical shaft 5 adapted to rotate in, andv to be moved vertically with respect to a bearing sleeve 6 connected to the lower i, lside of the cabinet or casing upper plate I. A recess 'I conforming generally to the tone arm'2 is formed in the cabinet upper plate I, and when the shaft 5 is in its lower position as shown in Fig. 1 the .top of the tone arm lies preferably flushA or level with the upper surface of the plate I. To maintain'the vertical shaft securely in its proper position a locking means is provided therefor preferably in the form of a locking ring 8 mounted in the bearing member 6 and a corresponding groove 9 formed in the shaft.

In Fig.2 the tone arm 2 is shown in playing or operative position, with needle I in contact with a record Itlcarriedby a turntable II which preferably extends above the level of the cabinet upper plate I only-enough to enable the projecting edge I2 of the record to clear the plate. Fig. 2 the shaft 5 is in its upper position and is maintained securely in this position by locking means preferably in the form of locking ring 8, in bearing member 6, and a corresponding second groove I3 formed in the shaft near the lower end thereof.

In Figs. 1 and-2 the numeral I4 designates a switch means adapted, through suitable connections, to control the power circuit of the motor which drives the turntable I I. For this purpose the switch means I4 is preferably arranged to move with the shaft 5 and is provided with a-switch operating arm I5 adapted to be actuated by contact with a stationary 'plate or member 'I6 secured to the cabinet upper plate I. The numeral I1 also designates a switch means, adapted through suitable circuit connections to connect the pickup to the amplifying devices of the radio phonograph unit. vThe switch'means I'l is preferably secured to the cabinet upper plate I and is provided with a switch-operating member I8 which may be of U-shape, adapted to slide vertically and to be actuated by a plate or member I9 secured to and moving with the shaft 5.

In operation of the tone arm and cabinet arrangement illustrated in Figs., 1 and 2, let it be assumed that the tone arm 2 is in the playing position as shown in Fig. 2 and that it is desired to move the tone arm to the inoperative or nonplaying position shown in Fig. 1. To effect this change the arm 2 is swung clockwise, for example, from its playing position over the turntable II until the arm is over the groove or channel 1. It

will be understood that the groove l isformed in the cabinet upper plate I preferably closely adjacent to the portion thereof covered bythe record I0. The groove 'l may, however, be located in any desired suitable portion of the cabinet plate. The groove may, for example, in its lengthwise direction lie at right angles to the line of the turntable center and shaft 5.

Whenthe armA 2 has been swung until it is in alignment with the groove l, the arm is then pushed down by pressure applied at its pivot end, thereby causing the shaft 5 to be released at slot I3 from lock ring 8 and to slide downwardly until locked by the engagement of upper slot 9 with the lock ring. The tone arm is formed with a preferably flat upper surface and is so dimensioned and so mounted on shaft 5 that when pressed down into locked position within groove 1 the upper surface of the arm is fiush with the upper surface of cabinet upper plate I.

In the process of swinging the arm I toward its non-playing position the actuating member I of motor switch means I4 is engaged by the stationary member I6 and is operated to open switch I4 and disconnect the turntable motor. Likewise, in the process of pressing shaft 5, carrying arm 2, downwardly to bring the arm into its non-playing position in groove 1, the lower end of actuating member I8 of amplifler switch I1 is engaged by the member I9, carried by shaft 5, and is moved downward to open switch I1 thereby to disconnect the pickup 3 from the amplifier apparatus.

Assuming next that it is desired to move the tone arm 2 back into its playing position, the arm 2 may be raised out of the groove 1 by applying lifting force at the pivoted end of the arm thereby to free the shaft from engagement with ring 8 at 'groove 9 and thereafter to slide the shaft upwardly until it is locked inits upper position by ring 4 and groove I3. It is preferable, however, first to lift the arm 2 at its pickup end. By lifting in this way the arm is first swung in the vertical plane about its pivoted connection with shaft 5. The right-hand end of the arm isl thereby caused to abut against the bottom of groove 1, and a leverage is applied at the pivoted connection to force the shaft 5 upwardly out of locking engagement with ring 8 at groove 9. After the shaft is thus freed, the arm may be raised the remaining vertical distance easily, until the shaft is again locked, by engagement of ring 8 therewith at groove I3.

After the arm has been raised to its appropriate height it is then swung, counterclockwise in the ranged as to bias toggle member 23 toward either direction of 'rotation about pins 29, depending upon the angular position of the member 28. When the arm 20 is in its non-playing or retracted position, an extension plate 35 formed integral with or fixed to the arm 123 rests upon the cabinet plate 22,"preferably upon 'arecessed portion 38 formed in the surface thereof.. The

extension plate 35 is flush with the upper surfacev comprises an actuating member 40 adapted tocooperate with a finger 4I carried by an arm 42, which is secured to and rotates with shaft 23.

. A second switch means 43, which also may be present instance, until needle 4 is in proper contact with record I2. 'During the swinging movement of the arm to return to playing position the motor switch means I4 is again operated by engagement of members I5 and I6 to energize the turntable motor, and during the raisingof shaft 5 to its upper position the amplifier switch I1 is operated, by engagement of member I9 with the upper end of. member I8, to connect the pickup 3 to the amplifier apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, as in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a tone arm and cabinet arrangement is provided wherein, in the non-playing position, a tone arm 20 lies within a groove or channelZI with the upper surface of the arm flush with the upper-)surface of the cabinet upper plate 22. In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, however, the means at the pivot end of the arm for changing from'playing to non-playing position comprises a toggle arrangement.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, a shaft 23 is journaled in a bearing member 24 which may be mounted in a plate 25 secured to the under surfaceof cabinet plate 22. A toggle base member 28 having two upwardly extending ears or lugs 21, only one of. which is shown. is secured to the top of shaft 23, and a toggle member 28 preferably of U section is pivoted at a point intermediate lits length to the lugs 21 by pins 29 only one of which is shown. The tone arm2II is journaled, at a point near the end thereof opposite' thepickup (not shown in Figs. 3 and 4) to the outer end 38 of the toggle member 28 by avpin 3i. A spring 32 is provided secured at one end to a lug 33 on toggle base member 28 and'at the other e'nd to a pin 3 4 or other means on the portion 30 of toggle member 28. The spring 32 is so armounted on plate 25, is provided for controlling' the connection. of the pickup to the amplifying apparatus. 'I'his second switch means comprises a slidable actuating member 44 biased by a spring 45 and provided with an offset 48 adapted to cooperate with an arm 41 secured to anda rotating, about pins 29, with the toggle member 28.

In operation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the tone arm 28 being in its non-playing position shown in Fig. 3, within the groove or channel 2| formed in cabinet upper plate 22 .and with the upper surface of the tone arm flush with the upper surface of the cabinet plate, the toggle member 28 is in its retracted position parallel with the surface of the plate 22, with pin 3i, on which the tone arm is pivoted, relatively close to the line of the lower surface of groove 2I and with spring 32 in position, with respect to the pivot pins 29 to maintain the toggle member 28 in its retractedr position. Switch means 39 is assumed to be in the position in which the turntable motor has been disconnected from its power circuit. Switch means 43 is in its position in which the pickup is disconnected from the amplifying apparatus, slidable actuating member 44 being in disconnecting position against the tension of spring 45, with arm 41, attached to toggle member 28, in contact with the offset 48 formed in member 44.

Assiuning now that the tone arm 20 is to be moved to its playing position from the non-playing position, the operator raises the tone arm out of its groove 2| -therebyswinging toggle member 28 counterclockwise to an approximately upright position vertical with respect to the

Plate

2,2, as

shown in Fig. 4, the rotation of the toggle member being limi-ted by the stop means constituted lan; the toggle end 31' and the upper end of shaft The arm 20 may be raised out of the groove 2| 'by applying lifting force directly to the pivot end of the arm. Preferably, however, the arm is -iirst lifted at-its pickup end. Since the extension plate v35 rests upon the recessed surface 36 of the cabinet plate, this lifting of the arm at the pickup end produces a leverage which ro tates the toggle member 28 against the tension of spring 32. After the rotation of member 28 has progressed -to the point where the rotation is no longer opposed by .the spring 32, the toggle member 28 may then be easily rotated to its final upright position, the member 28 being held in this nal position by the tension of spring 32.

As the toggle member 28 is raised to its upright posi-tion, arm 41 which is secured to member 28 is rotated in counterclockwise direction to permit the slidable switch member 44 to be moved by spring 45 to connect the pickup to the amplifying apparatus.` The tone arm being now at its suitable maximum heightfit may be rotated on shaft 23 to its playing .position (not shown in Figs. 3 and 4) with the needle in contact with the record, in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the tone arm is thus rotated toward playing position, the finger 4|, connected through arm 42 to shaft 23, moves actuating member 40 to operate switch means 39 to energize the turntable motor.

Referring to Figs. and 6, in -this embodimentA cabinet upper plate 50 and to the upper end of which the arm 48 is pivoted. In the non-playing position -of the tone arm, referring particularly to Fig. 5, the shaft 5| is held in its lower position against the tension of a spring 53 mounted on the lower section 54 of the shaft and secured at iftsv upper and lower ends respectively to the sleeve 52 and to a plate or collar 55 on the shaft. To hold the shaft in this position a catch or detent 56 is provided adapted to cooperate with a slot 51 formed in the shaft, a corresponding slot 58 being formed in the sleeve 52 to permit the catch 56 to engage the shaft slot 51. The catch 56 is biased toward the shaft by a spring 59 which bears against an upwardly extending ear or lug 68 integral with or connected to the catch 56.

The catch 55 is arranged to be moved freely to and fro relatively to the shaft as by being formed integral with or mounted on a plate '6| which may extend rearwardly of the detent and may be pivoted by a screw 62 or other means to the cabinet upper plate 50. On the pivot end of th'e tone arm 48 a releasing means comprising a, lug

lor cam 63 is provided which is adapted to engage 4 the detent 56 with the slot 51 formed in the shaft. If it is now desired to move the tone arm 48 to its playing position from the nonplaying position, theoperator raises the pickup end of the Varm out of the groove 49 thereby to rotate the arm in the vertical plane a slight amount about the upper end of shaft 5|. The lug or cam member 63 of the tone arm, therefore, engages the lug 60 of catch 56 to move the catch 56 out of engagement with the shaft slot 51.

The shaft being thus disengaged from the catch 56, the tone arm 48 is thereupon snapped upwardly out of the slot 51 by the spring 53 and may then be swung on shaft 5| to its playing position.

If desired, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, switch means may be included for the control of the turntable motor and for-the connection of the pickup to the amplifying apparatus. This switch means may, for example, be-of the same construction as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2 and may cooperate with shaft 5| in the same manner that the switch means of Figs. 1 and 2-cooperates`with the shaft 5 of the latter figures. l

My invention has been described herein in particular embodiments for purposes of illustration. Itis to be understood, however, that the invention is susceptible of various changes and further modificati-ons and that by the appended claims I intend to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention, l

What Iv claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm comprising al pickup portion at one end thereof, the upper surface of said arm and said pickup portion being fiat, a, casing having a fiat upper surface and having a groove therein to receive said tone arm of the same shape andsize as said upper surface of said tone arm and pick-up portion, supporting means for said tone arm comprising a vertical shaft journaled in said casing zontal plane and in pivotal relation with said tone varm at the end thereof opposite said pickup portion for swinging movement of said arm in the vertical plane, and means -operatively associated with said shaft adapted for maintaining said tone arm in operative position outside said groove and for locking said tone arm in non-operative position within said groove with said upper surface of said tone arm and pickup portion in alignment With said upper surface of said casing.

2. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm having a pickupl portion at one end thereof, the upper surface of said arm and said pickup portion being flat, a casing having a fiat upper surface and having a groove formed therein conforming to said upper surface of said tone arm and pickup portion, supporting means for said tone arm comprising a vertical shaft journaled in said casing for swinging movement of said arm in-j the horizontal plane and in' pivotal relation with said tone arm at the end thereof opposite said pickup portion for swinging movement of said arm in the vertical plane and means operatively associated with said shaft adapted for locking said tone arm in non-operative position within said groove and with said upper surface of said tone arm and pickup portion substantially level with said upper surface of said casing.

3. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm having a pickup device, a casing having a groove therein, supporting means for said tone arm, said arm being pivoted to said supporting means at the end of said armopposite said pickup for rotational movement of said arm in the vertical plane, said supporting means being journaled in said casing for swingingI movement of said arm in the horizontal plane, said supporting means comprising a member adapted to be raised to an upper position with reference to said casing thereby to maintain said arm above the level of said groove and to be lowered to a lower position with reference to said casing thereby to maintain said arm within said groove, and switch means operatively associated with said member of said supporting meansand operative during movement of said member from one of said positions to the other thereof for controlling said pickup device. l i

4. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm, a casing having a groove therein to receive said tone arm,.a vertical shaft journaled in said casing for rotational and vertical movement of said shaft, means pivoting said tone arm to said shaft at the upper endv thereof for rotational movement of said arm in the vertical plane, resilient means operatively associated with said shaft for locking said shaft in upper position whereby said tone arm may be rotated to operative position and for locking said shaft in lower position whereby said tone arm may be maintained in non-operative position within said groove.

` 5. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm carrying a pickup at one end thereof, a casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said casing for ro= tational and vertical movement of said shaft, means pivoting said tone arm to said shaft for rotational movement of said arm in the vertical plane, and resilient means locking said shaft in lower poistion whereby said tone arm may be maintained in non-operative position, said tone arm having a portion extending beyond said pivot means at the end of said arm opposite said pickup end, said portion being adapted to abut against said casing when said tone arm is rotated in said,

having a pickup device and pivoted to said shaft,

said casing having a groove therein to receive said tone arm, means comprising a resilient member adapted to cooperate with upper and lower grooved portions respectively of said shaft for locking said. shaft in upper position whereby said tone arm may be rotated to operative position and for locking said shaft in lower position whereby said tone arm may be maintained in nonoperative position within-said groove, and switch means operatively associated with said shaft and adapted to be operated during vertical movement of said shaft for controlling said pickup device.

7. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm, a casing having a groove therein to receive said tone arm,'a vertical shaft journaled in said casing, a toggle member journaled to said shaft at a point of said member intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be moved to positions respectively parallel and vertical with respect to the surface of said casing, means pivoting said tone arm to said toggle member at a point thereof adjacent one of .said ends, and means comprising a spring'connected at one end thereof to said shaft and at the other end connected to said toggle member at a point thereof between said intermediate point and said one of the ends thereof adapted for locking said toggle member in said vertical position whereby said tone arm may be rotated to operative position andl for locking said toggle member in said parallel position whereby said tone arm may be maintained in non-operative position within said groove.

8. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm cary.

rying a pickup at one end thereof, a casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said casing, a toggle member journaled to said shaft at a point of said member intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be moved to positions respectively parallel and vertical with respect to the surface of said casing, means pivoting said tone arm to said toggle member at a point thereof adjacent one of said ends for rotational movement of said arm about said pivoting means in thevertical plane, and means comprising a spring connected at one end thereof to said shaft and at the other end to said toggle member at a point, thereof between said intermediate point and said one of the ends thereof adapted for locking said toggle member in said parallel position whereby said tone arm may be maintained in non-operative position, said tonearm having a portion extending beyond said pivot means at the end ofsaid arm opposite said pickup end to abut against said casing when said arm is rotated about said pivot means in said vertical lplane whereby when said armF is lifted at its pickup end from said non-operative position a leverage is applied to said toggle member to rotate said member toward said vertical position thereof.

9. In a phonograph apparatus, a casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said casing, a toggle member journaled to said'shaft at a point of said member intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be moved to positions respectively parallel and vertical with respect to the surface of said casing, a tone arm having a pickup device and pivoted to said toggle member at a point thereof adjacent one of said ends, means comprising a spring connected at one end thereof to said shaft .and at the other end connected to said toggle tive position within said groove,4 and switch means operatively associated with said toggle member and adapted .to be operated during movement of said toggle member from-one of its positions to the other for controlling said pickup 10. In a phonograph apparatus, a tone arm having a pickup at one end thereof, a casing having a groove therein to receive said tone arm,

a vertical shaft joumaled in said casing for rotational and vertical movement of said shaft, means pivoting said tone arm at the end thereof opposite said pickup to said shaft at the upper tive position.

end thereof for swinging movement of said tone arm about said shaft upper end in the vertical plane, resilient means connected with said shaft and said casing normally maintaining said shaft in a predetermined upper position with reference to said casing, means comprising a member connected with said casing andA adapted to engage said shaft for locking said shaft in its EDWARD W. FORS'I'ROM.