US2593075A - Typewriter support - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1952 I J. VALE ET AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TYPEWRITER SUPPORT Filed April 10, 1946 XMW m6.

April 15, 1952 Filed April 10, 1946 J. VALE El Al.

TYPEWRITER SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Immiors JVALE C.E,KLOPFER 63% W W w* April 15, 1952 J. VALE El AL TYPEWRITER SUPPORT Filed April 10, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 xiiz x 46 45 g ii]; T hall] w enters.

J. VAL E c. E. KLOPFER gszmg/ fudww amkf April 15, 1952 J. VALE AL TYPEWRITER SUPPORT Filed April 10, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Irwomtors. J.VALE

C). E. KLOPFER \meN Patented Apr. 15, 1952 TYPEWRITER SUPPORT Jalva Vale, Birmingham, Ala., and Charles E.

Klopfer, Washington, D. 0.; said Klopfer assignor to said Vale -Application April 10, 1946, Serial No. 660,970

This invention relates in general to supports for typewriters and more particularly hasreference to'an apparatus for supporting a typewriter. so

that an operator in any position will have the keyboard arranged to his satisfaction and convenience.

While many devices have been developed and commercialized for supporting typewriters, these devices include various types of construction, but

all of them are so made and assembled that the For various reasons many persons are confined to bed for long periods of time or are required to remain in positions other than an upright position for considerable periods of time. Even though such persons do not know how to operate a typewriter, their morale can be considerably increased by typing or learning to type as a pastime.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a typewriter in various positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for rigidly mounting a typewriter in various adjustable positions over a bed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rigid support for a typewriter equipped with means for effecting vertical, horizontal and angular adjustments of the position of the typewriter.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear more fully hereinafter, the present invention resides in the parts and combinations shown in the drawings and shown in the following description. 1 g

In order to facilitate an understanding of the "present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a typewriter support constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the typewriter supporting apparatus with the typewriter removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View of the typewriter supportirig apparatus shown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the column or standard of the typewriter supporting apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed side elevational view showing the manner in which the typewriter Obviously,

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-124) carrying arm is mounted on the standard for angular adjustment.

Fig.6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-! of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view partly in section of the roller elevating and lowering mechanism.

Fig. 9 is another horizontal sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 3.

A typewriter support constructed according to the present invention comprises a column or standard, a base on which the column is mounted in an upright position, an arm projecting laterally from the upper portion of the column, means for mounting a typewriter on said arm for pivotal movement about the axis of said arm and means for securing the typewriter in adjusted positions. As shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a column or standard in the form of a tubular body I, the lower end of which is received in a socket member 2 carried on the upper surface of a platform 3 at the apex of an A-frame 4 which serves as a base. The A-frame is formed of two angularly arranged tubular arms 5 and B which at one end are joined by welding or other means to the platform 3. The free ends of the tubes 5 and B are fixed by a cross brace I joined thereto by weldling, brazing or in any desired manner. Extending between the apex of the A- frame and the mid-point of the cross brace is another brace 8 which when welded, brazed or otherwise secured in place serves to impart rigidity and strength to the A-frame.

Slidably mounted within the free ends of the tubes 5 and 6 are tubes 9 and I0 respectively provided with knurled knobs on the free ends thereof. These slidable tubes are provided to increase the stability of the base and resist any tendency for the apparatus to tilt over when in their extended positions. When these extension tubes are pushed completely into the tubes 5 and 6, the A-frame is more compact and is easily moved.

Suitable means (not shown) are provided to limit the outward movement of the tubes 9 and Ill.

A plurality of lugs II are carried on the sides of the tubes 5 and 6 and rotatably mounted in the openings in these lugs are rock shafts l2. Additional lugs l3 are carried by the platform 3 to give better support for shaft l2. An arm I4 is keyed to each shaft I2 between the lugs l3 and projects laterally therefrom. The free ends of the arms I4 are provided with eyes l5 in which are received thimbles I 6 which in turn receive the stems of casters ll. On the upper end of the thimble it there is provided an eye I8 which is connectedby a pin with a clevis H) which is adjustably carried by a rod Zll. A similar clevis 2| is adjustably carried by the other end of rod 20. Clevis 2| is connected by a pin with an apertured lug 22, carried by a block 23. As shown in Fig. 8 block 23 is in the form of a casing in which are housed internally threaded nut-like members 24. These members are mounted on a threaded shaft 25 and are urged apart by springs 25. To prevent rotation of the nut members 24 within the block 23, said members may be of non-round cross section, 1. e., square, polygonal or oval. Block 23 is provided with wings 27 which embrace the column I and prevent rotation of the block 23 about the screw shaft 25.

Screw shaft 25 is supported at its lower end in a socket formed in a bearing block 28 which is attached to the lower portion of column I by a clamp 29. A ball 30 is vertically adjustably supported in said socket on the upper end of a screw 3| threaded into the lower end of said socket. The screw 3| is locked in adjusted positions by locknut 32.

A clamp 33 is secured to the mid portion of column I. Extending between the base and said clamp 33 is a brace 34 which serves to rigidify said clamp and the bearing 35 for the shaft 36. A crank 31 is fixed to one end of shaft 36 and a bevel gear-38 is carried by the other end thereof. A bevel pinion 39 is carried by the upper end of screw shaft 25 and meshes with bevel gear 38. The upper portion of screw shaft 25 is journalled in a bearing provided in a lug 49.

Upon rotation of crank 31 the screw shaft is rotated which causes the nuts 24 and the casing 23 to move up or down depending upon the direction of rotation. When the member 23 is moved downwardly sufficiently, the casters are engaged with the floor to support the base car rying the standard I on the casters permitting the machine to be rolled to desired positions. After a desired position is reached, the crank 21 is turned to raise the casters which lowers the base to the floor.

Telescoped within the standard i is a tubular sleeve 4% having its lower end 42 closed. A noncircular opening is formed in the end 42 to receive a corresponding non-circular portion provi ded on the lower end of a screw shaft 43. A nut 44 mounted on the lower threaded end of shaft 43 serves to secure the same within the opening in the end 42.

Tube I, forming the standard, is slotted or split adjacent its upper end and is surrounded by a clamp 45 which is tightened and loosened by a hand screw 45. This construction serves to clamp tube 4I within the outer tube I.

Adjacent its upper portion tube 4! is provided with a shoulder 4? by means of which the tube is supported upon a ball bearing member 48 which surrounds tube AI and is supported on the upper end face of tube I and the clamp 45. At the upper end of tube 4! there is provided an outwardly extending flange 48 provided with openings for receiving bolts 59. On the flange 49 is secured, by means of the bolts 50, a hand wheel by means of which the tube 4| may be rotated Within the tube I to effect rotation of the screw shaft 43. Extending upwardly from the hand wheel 5|, and secured to said hand wheel and the flange ii} on the upper end of tube 4!, is a guide tube 52 having a lower flanged end 53. As illustrated, tube 52 is rather short and and has a plurality of slots formed adjacent its upper end which slotted portion is surrounded by a clamp 54 having a hand screw 55 which serves totighten the same and grip the tube 52 about 4 an inner tube 55 which is telescopically mounted within the tubes. 52 and 4 I.

Adjacent its lower portion, tube 56 is provided with an internally threaded nut-like body 57 which is fixed against rotation within the tube 58 by means of a plurality of screws 58. The screw shaft 43 is threadedly engaged within the internally threaded portion of the nut-like member 41 so that upon rotation of the tube 4| by means of the hand wheel, the screw shaft 43 will be rotated, and by cooperation between the screw shaft t3 and the nut-like member 41, said nutlilre member and tube 55 will be raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 5|.

Obviously, before any attempt is made to retate the hand wheel 5|, the hand screw 45 will be adjusted to loosen the clamp 45, and the hand screw 55 will be adjusted to loosen the clamp 54 to hermit the hand wheel 5! and tubes 4| and movable therewith to be moved relatively to the outer tube I and the inner tube 55. After tube 58 has been raised to the desired position, hand screws 46 and 55 are moved to tighten the clamps 45 and 54 respectively.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings, tube 56 has welded to one side of the upper portion thereof a web 57. The web extends above the upper end of tube 56 and is perforated to receive a bolt 58. Bolt 58 serves as a means for pivotally mounting on the web 51 the bifurcated end of a fitting 59 to which is secured an arm 60 which is formed. of tubular material.

It is desirable in accordance with the present invention that the angle between the arm 60 and the standard I be capable of adjustment so that said arm may extend substantially horizontally or inclined either downwardly or upwardly with respect to the horizontal. For this purpose the upper end of the tube 55 is provided with a cap BI having a laterally extending lug 62 in which is threadably mounted a tubular screw 63 having a bearing surface 64 mounted on the upper end thereof to engage the underside of the arm 60. In order to adjust the position of the tubular screw 53 within the threaded opening in the lug 52, said tubular screw is made of non-circular cross section within the interior thereof and has projecting therein a stem 55 of corresponding cross section. Stem 65 is rotated by means of a helical gear 56 mounted on the lower end thereof which cooperates with, and is driven by, a helical pinion 8? which is rotated by means of a crank 63.

The helical gear 68 and pinion 51 are mounted in a split block 69 of cylindrical formations and recessed to provide bearings for the shafts on which the gears are mounted. Block 69 is housed within a casing I0 attached to the column 55. The split block 69 provides a simple construction for mounting the gears 66 and 51 in assembled relation. Upward movement of the externally threaded tubular member 53 is limited by a collar 'EI secured to the lower end of it. With the foregoing structure, the inclination of the arm 60 may be adjusted at will by rotation of the crank 58.

Mounted on arm 60 is a tube I2 having a slotted tail l3. Extending through the slot in the tail and through the arm 60 is a bolt M, which also extends through a ring i5 surrounding the arm 5t and tail 13. A thumb screw I6 is mounted on the end of bolt I4 and serves to secure the tail in axially adjusted positions on the arm 60.

Tube I2 carries an annular abutment 1! against from clutch element 79 by means of a tube 83, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A third clutch element 84 is slidably mounted on the tube 72 and is also fixed to the tube 72 by means of the key 82. As illustrated, key 82 is of a special construction which enables the other bracket 78, which carries the typewriter, to be rotatably mounted on the tube 72 without interference from said key. A clutching nut 85 is mounted on the threaded end 86 of the tube 12 and upon tightening said nut against the clutching element as, said element is moved toward the clutching element 8| to grip between the same one of the brackets 78 which carries the typewriter. During the tightening of the nut 85, sliding movement of the clutch elements 8| and, 84 is transmitted through the spacing tube 83 to the clutching element 79 and serves to move the clutching element 79 toward the abutment or shoulder 77 to grip between said abutment and the clutching element 79 the other bracket 78 which carries the typewriter. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, by tightening the nut 85, an eiiective grip will be produced between the clutching elements 8| and 84 on one hand, and between the abutment 17 and the clutching element [9 on the other hand, on the two brackets 18 which carry the typewriter.

In order to avoid complete release of frictional engagement between the clutching elements and the bracket 78 upon loosening of the nut 85, a spring 8! is positioned between the clutching elements 79 and 8|. Spring 81 may extend completely between the two clutching elements 19 and 8|, or a spacing tube 88 may be interposed between two sections of the spring 81 as illusthe typewriter brackets about tube 12. There is only slight movement of the clutching elements in shifting from gripping to releasing positions and consequently there'is enough resiliency in V v the brackets 78 to permit the operation described.

As'shown in-several figures of the drawing. a collar 89 is mounted on the free end of the arm 50, being secured in place by a suitable set screw,

' and a rubber ball or knob 90, and is pushed over said collar 89 to provide a smooth surface free of 1 sharp edges which will avoid injury to the operator.

By mounting a typewriter onthe brackets 18 in the manner hereinbefore described, the typewriter may be moved about the axis of the arm .60 and secured by the clutch mechanism in any adjusted position. Thus, the keyboard may be arranged either horizontally, vertically, or at any intermediate position, or it may be completely inverted. By slidably mountingthe tube carrying the typewriter brackets on the arm 60, axial adjustment of the typewriter on the arm '60 may 1 be effected. Apart from the adjustment of the by means of a key 82. Clutch element 8| is spaced typewriter relative to the arm 69, said arm may also be. inclined relatively to the horizontal, as hereinbefore described, by rotation of the crank 88. 'Vertical adjustment of the entire arm is effected, as hereinbefore described, by rotation of the hand wheel 5 I.

In use, the typewriter support of the present invention may be moved on the casters provided, to a position whereby the typewriter is supported over the bed of a patient who is to operate the typewriter. The hospital attendant will then raise the casters from the ground which serves to securely anchor the base on the floor. To

avoid any danger duet'o tilting of the machine,

the extension tubes 9 and I8 may be pulled out to their fully extended. position. When in this position, there is no possibility of the machine tilting, even though the patient should bear his full weight on the free end of the arm 68. By means of the various adjustments above described, the typewriter may be positioned to the convenience and satisfaction of the patient who is to operate the same.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel, safe structure which will rigidly retain a typewriter in many positions of adjustment. While the typewriter carrier hereinbefore described is particularly useful in supporting a typewriter for use by bed patients, it is obvious that the machine may equally well be employed for supporting a typewriter in various positions 'for use by persons other than those confined to bed.

We claim:

A typewriter support comprising a laterally extending arm, a cylindrical member axially adjustably mounted on said arm and fixed against rotation relative to said arm, a typewriter carrier mounted on said cylindrical member, for rotation about the axis of said member, friction means for resisting rotation of said carrier about said member, resilient means urging said friction means into position to restrain movement of said carrier about said member, and manually operable means for urging the friction means to a position to lock the carrier on said member.

JALVA VALE.

CHARLES E. KLOPFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 575,711 Haley Jan. 26, 1897 729,432 Sidway May 26, 1903 835,678 Hammond Nov. 13, 1906 1,293,553 Roebuck Feb. 4, 1919 1,337,267 Power Apr. 20, 1920 1,394,217 Parret Oct. 18, 1921 1,516,776 McGuire Nov. 25, 1924 1,774,264 Goodrich Aug. 26, 1930 1,781,545 Groenstein Nov. 11, 1930 2,002,538 Kindelmann et al. May 28, 1935 2,156,862 Maugard May 2, 1939 2,238,294 Scott Apr. 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,723 Australia July 25, 1935 442,138 France l Aug. 24, 1912 524,889 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1940

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