US2598819A - Address listing device - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1952 H. L. NEILSEN ET AL r 2,598,819

ADDRESS LISTING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1950 ATTORN EYS Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATE ADDRESS LISTING DEVICE Hildaur L. Neilsen, Metuchen, N. 1., and Arnol Neustadter, New York, N. Y.

Application March 3, i950, Serial No. 147,522

2 Claims.

Our invention relates vice characterized by a rolled web of paper or fabric that may be withdrawn from or retracted into a casing, and more particularly to such a device suitable for a pocket memorandum sheet.

Frequently one desires to make a notation ofv a name or telephone number and the like and finds himself without a pencil and paper, or else after the notation is recorded it is misplaced and cannot be found when required. Then, too, if such notes are made on several pieces of paper they collect as a bulky, dishevelled mass.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of my invention to provide a compact, attractive memorandum sheet and pencil, which is convenient to carry and not likely to be misplaced. Another object is to provide such a device which is simple to use, durable and of foolproof design. A further object is to provide a construction which will roll a memorandum sheet into a spool and thereby retain it normally in a retracted position, and which will allow the sheet to be withdrawn and automatically locked at any desired position for use, and which may be automatically retracted when desired.

Another object is to provide a case and spool which are made from inexpensive parts so designed as to lend themselves to rapid assembly. A still further object is to provide fittings which permit smooth operation and which may not be tampered with or removed once all parts are assembled.

These and other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out below.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one i or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the memorandum case with the sheet partially unrolled and a pencil removed from its housing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the memorandum case shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section along line 55 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention a strip of special cloth that is tear resistant, Washable, and capable of being written to an address listing deon, is attached to and rolled upon a spool which is mounted in a plastic-lined metal case. "The case is provided with plastic end pieces molded from the same material as the lining, so thatafter assembly a small amount of suitable organic solvent may be injected underneath the .edges of the liner to weld the parts together. 'The" spool has a spindle on one end which journals into an end piece and attaches to a fiat spiralspring which is seated in that end piece, while the other end is bored to receive a shaft which has a flange and a button at one extremity. The button protrudes through a hole in the center of the other end piece, and a helical spring attached :to the spool encircles the shaft and rests against its flange. The helical spring coacts with teeth in the end piece to provide a ratchet type lock which releases the strip when the buttonis depressed. The outer extremity of the writing strip is attached to a hollow pull bar which may be adapted to receive a pencil.

Referring now to Fig. l, a-memorandum case I llwith a square cross-section is illustrated with a writing strip [2 partially withdrawn through longitudinal opening H. or fabric, but we prefer to use a specially treated cloth which can be written on with either pencil or pen, which is washable, and which resists tearing and fraying. It may be ruled and lettered as shown for the convenience of the user, andis suitable for making notations such as the fictitious names and telephone numbers illustrated. A cylindrical pull bar l4, fixed to the end of strip [2, has the threefold purpose of preventing strip [2 from completely retracting inside case ID, of providing a grip for pulling the strip, and serving as a housing for a writing instrument, such as a lead'pencil l 6 which may be inserted inside to be friction held to the assembly. An enlarged .cap I! is provided to prevent pencil Hi from sliding completely into pull bar [4. A push button 20 protrudes through a hole 22 in a square end piece [8 and serves to release strip l2 for retraction, as described belowin detail. A square end piece 26 is situated at the opposite end of case in, whilea metal jacket 24 forms the side walls of the case between end pieces l8 and 26. i

The internal details of case ID are shown in Fig. 2. A cylindrical spool 28 on which strip I2 is rolled is rotatably mounted between end pieces and IS. A spindle 30 afilxed to the left side of spool 28 journals into bore 32 in end piece 26 to hold one end in position, while an elongated shaft 34 extending from release button 20 journals into a deep bore 38 of spool 28 tohold the other end Strip l2 maybe paper 30 on the left end and around shaft 34 on the right end.

The mechanism is constructed so thatstrip I2- 7 may be-jld'rawn by pull bar I4 through opening II in'the'cas'i'ng to adesired length or position and automatically held there until released, By

depressing release button 20 strip I2 will be re-' turned to its normal rolled up position. This type V of operation is accomplished by the use of a flat spiral or coil spring 42 at the left sideof spool'ZB and a helical spring 44 at the right side. Coil spring 42 fits into a circular well 62 *formed in end piece 26 (Fig. 4), the outer end 58 of the spring being bent. over and extended through a slot 48 and against end pieceside 52, the inner 'endi l of the spring being S-shaped and inserted through'a slot 56 formed 'in'theen'd of spindle 3B. 'Gonsequently, when-spindle 31!] isirotated counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 4,:coilspring 4.2 will 4 in size and shape, and form bisymmetric L-shaped liners for jacket 24 when they are assembled over inserts 46 and 12 of end pieces 26 and I8 respectively. The aforementioned spring compression of jacket 24 retains these parts in position, while as to one another the parts are loosely fitted to facilitate rapid assembly. One corner 12a of insert 12- of end piece I8 is bevelled and is inset at 12b and 120 on each side of the bevel (Fig. 3) to permit pull bar I4 to rest partially within the corners of the casing and to accommodate the shaped edges 36a and 40a of liners 36 and 40 respectively, while insert 46 of end piece 26 (Fig. 4) has a bevelled corner 46a with insets 46b and 460 which serve the same purposes. Edges a and 25b of jacket ,24- fit against the upper curved portions of shaped edges 36a and a of the liners respectively hence any danger of strip I2 rubbing or fraying on the metal edges of jacket 24 is V avoided.

be placed under tension tandwillurge spindle 33 'in theopposite direction to rewind strip I2 when spool 28 is released.

d The locking means is provided by 'a ratchet arrangement shown 'in Fig. 5 and at the right side of'Fig. 2. Helical spring 44, which 'has one end 58 secured'toispool '28 as by .a nail GIL-encircles s'ha'ft 34 andiprojects into a circular well 64 in end piece I8 in whichratchet teeth project,-fo'ur such teeth'66a, 66b, 66c "and'66d being shown in the illustrative embodiment (Fig. 5). End 68 ofheli'cal'spring 44 will snapover ratchet teeth Wm-66b, 66c and 66d as spool '26 revolves when :strip .I2 is withdrawn, while simultaneous- -ly coil spring 42 is placed =under tension as above described; however, when strip =I2 is released;

coil spring 42 will urge spool '28 in the reversedirection and end 68 of helical spring44 will lodge againstone of the ratchet teeth to 'lock spool28 'sothat strip I2 will be heldfin its extendediposition. :Spring ='end '68 rests against a end B8 to clear ratchet tooth 66a, and by holding in button 20spool 28'will-continue to rewind strip I2 since end -68'-of helical "spring 44 will slide around edge -'II of flange 10.

The enclosure for rolled memorandum strip I2 "provides a sturdy and durable structure which is economical, easily assembled, and tamper proof. It consists of an outer -metal jacket 24 -surrounding plastic liners '36 and 40 (see Fig. 3) to provide a plasticlin'ed elongatedcasing which embraces portions 46 and 12 of endpieces 26 and "IB respectiVely. Each'endpiece has a peripheral shoulder 14 against which the'edges-of'the jacket and liners abut.

The enclosure 'is constructed for easy assem--" bly, and is so designed that its components once assembled may not be taken -apart. Jacket 24 is made from a suitable resilient material such as sheet metal with sides 24c -an'd 24d (Fig.3)

at right ' angles'and sides 24a and 24b' prestrained inwardly to exert a compression force when' the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. '3. Sides .24a1and 24b are foreshortened andedges 25a and 25b are bent over to form opening ;I I through whichstrip I2 may be withdrawn.

Liners 36 and 40 are -substantially identical is to interpreted as ing sense.

Liners 36 and 40 are designed to fit snugly within jacket 24 and against inserts 46 and I2,

'and yet any binding of parts is eliminated by increasing the radius of corners 36b and 40b and foreshortening and beveling edges 36c and 4C. End pieces I8 and 26, liners 3B and '40, and jacket 24 may be quickly assembled without need for adjustment for tolerances. The entire memorandum case is put together simply by inserting liners 36 and 40 in place along 'diametrically opposed corners of jacket 24 (Fig. 3), flexing the right side of jacket 24 outwardly to fit end piece I8 into place, inserting spool 28 between the liners with shaft 34 in hole 38 and strip I2 rolled up (but pull bar I4 of course being on the outside of opening II) then engaging spindle 30 with end 54 of spring 42 which is seated in end piece 26 and turning piece '26 to load spring 42, andfinally flexing the left side'of jacket 24 ,outwardly to allow end piece 26 to be seated. If desired a Washer 75 may be placed between coil spring 42 and end piece 26 to prevent binding of parts.

Liners 36 and 40 are preferably molded from the same plastic materialas end pieces I8 and 26 so that these parts may be held together permanently after they are assembled by injecting between the overlapping edges (such as 46d in Figs. 2 and 3) a suitable cement or organic solvent which causes the plastic parts to adhere. The end pieces are then incapable-of removal without destruction, and jacket 24" is spring looked around the liners, thereby forming a strong, compact casing. By using plastic liners 36 and 40 a'sturdy foundation for metal jacket 24 is provided. Thus the jacket may be made of very light gage sheet metal which is costly relative to the plasticliners. i

As many possible embodiments may be of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings illustrative and 'not in a limit- What we claim is:

1. As a sub-assembly, a casing construction with a longitudinal opening consisting of a light Weight sheet metal jacket which is sprung inwardly, plastic liners adapted to fit loosely against the'inside walls of said jacket, and end pieces flanged to extend between said liners when said jacket is sprung outwardly, thereby to prevent disassembly of component parts when said liner flanges are welded to said end pieces.

2. As a sub-assembly, a casing construction with a longitudinal opening, consisting of a metal jacket which is sprung inwardly, bisymmetric plastic liners adapted to fit loosely against the inside walls of said jacket, and plastic end pieces flanged to extend between said liners when said jacket is sprung outwardly, thereby to permit said end pieces to be secured permanently to said liners by injecting suitable fluid material between the overlapping portions of said liner and said end piece flanges to cause cementing of the plastic parts.

HILDAUR L. NEILSEN. ARNOLD NEUSTADTER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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