US2991030A

US2991030A - Adjustable typewriter platform

Info

Publication number: US2991030A
Application number: US1504A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce E Herbolsheimer
Original assignee: Garrett Tubular Products Inc
Current assignee: Garrett Tubular Products Inc
Priority date: 1960-01-11
Filing date: 1960-01-11
Publication date: 1961-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1978-07-04

Description

July 4, 1961 B. E. HERBOLSHEIMER ADJUSTABLE TYPEWRITER PLATFORM Filed Jan. 11, -1960 1- A fg1 INV EN TOR.

Bruce E? Hef0 einer;

BY aww The present invention relates to an adjustable -typewriter platform and more particularly to a unique and novel platform design which lprovides more space for4 a typists knees and legs.

.Itis well knownthat typewriters should be situated at `an optimum elevation, and to this end typewriter platforms incorporating means forvarying the ,elevationfhave ,heretofore been provided. Such f adjustable korV variable elevation platforms'lrcornprise a basic yframe structure,v

.,whic'h serves `as av base on which the platform proper is .-adljustably mounted. This frame includes eithernafront frcross-membe`r or a flat plate which is xed relativeto the floor surface, thereby Alimiti-ng the knee `and leg room offla typist to thespace `beneath the cross-member. r v

These Prior constructions required such a base f frame in order to accommodate manipulable mechanism :by which the-adjustable platform could be varied in elevation. For a short typist not needing particularly high yplatform elevations, this construction serves its purpose satisfactorily; however, for a tall person who needs. to fhavethetypewriter considerably elevated, he normally alsoA requires a great deal more leg or knee room than .is permitted by the ixedheight'base frame. This being true, the mechanism fails to perform itsintended `purpose of accommodating satisfactorily and comfortably typists of radically different heights.

. It is 'therefore an object of this invention to provide an radjustable typewriter platform wherein the adjustment of the platform proper serves in addition to provide an adjustment of the height of the space normally occupied by the typists knees.

It'risanoth'er object of this invention to provide an adjstable typewtiter'platform wherein the mechanism for `fadjusting'the height is located outside the space normally occupied by a typists knees.

Othe'riobjects will become apparent as the description proceeds:

vTothe` accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention' may be embodied in the forms illusltrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illus- `trative'only, and thatgspecic change may= be made in .the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings: f i

FIG; l'is a front elevationv of one embodiment of this Yinvention shown as being mounted on a typical desk, a portion of the' desk being 1illustration;f` t FIG. 2 is a sectional illustrationtaken substantially along the section line 2 2 of FIG. l;

broken away for vclarity of FIG; 3 is a bottom pla'n view of the typewriter plattlform of FIG. l also partially broken away. for clarity of illustration;

FIG.`4 isla fragmentary bottom plan view of thesame typewriter platform with the operating mechanism moved to a different position thanshown in FIG. 3; and

l FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration in perspective of 2 one of the elevating-screw assemblies used in the construction of the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawings, Iand more particularly to FIGS. .2, 3 and 4, the mechanism includes a U-'slraped base plate 110 vwhich vis preferably fabricated from light lgauge'fsheet-lsteel. lThe base plate-.10 is substantially flat Patented JulyI 4,`

ICC

with the exception that its edges are bent downwardly sides being integrally connected together by the base plate crossmember 22. y j l 'Secured to the topside of the base plate 10 are four upstanding supporting

posts

24, 26, 28 and 30. Ihese posts are substantially identically formed such thatthe description of one will suflice for all. Each post is preferablyiabricated of sheet steel formed to a box-like shape but with the longitudinal edges of the section'of sheet metal from which the post is fabricated spaced from each other to provide a longitudinally extending vertical slot 32. The bottom and top of each post are provided with two laterally extending

anges

34 and 36, respectively, the two flanges 34 being secured to the base plate 10 by means of rivets yor the like. These four posts may be considered in pairs, the two

posts

24 and 26 being characvterized as. the front posts since they are located near the front ends of the two'base plate sides,14 and 16, respectively. Similarly, the posts 28 andY 30 `may be characterized as the rear posts since they are located toward the rear ends of these sides, respectively. The slots 32 in the various posts are arranged such that the slots in the

front posts

24 and 26 face each other and are parallel, as are the slots in the two

rearpposts

28 and 30 with respect to each other.

Two rigid

strap steel braces

38 and 40 Iare connected to the tops of the respective front and

rear posts

24, 28 and 26, 60. The braces are attached rigidly to the respective post tops by means of rivets passing through the flanges 36 as shown more clearly in FIG. 5. vAs seen more clearly in FIG. 3, the four posts are located with respect to each other at the four corners of an imaginary rectangle.

Mounted inside the

posts

24, 26, 28 and 30, are four substantially identical upst-anding screws 4t2., 44, 46 and 48, respectively, each in registering alignment with .the respective slotv 32. Each screw is journaled at its opposite ends in the base plate 10' and one of .the two

braces

38, 40, respectively. For example, the bottom end of the screw 42 is journaled in a bearing aperture in the base plate 10 while the upper end is journaled in a bearing aperture in the brace 38.

Fixedly secured tc the bottom end of each screw and disposed adjacent the underside of the base plate is a flat steel operating arm 50, the arm extending radially or laterally from the screw. A U-shaped pitman or connecting rod, indicated generally by the reference numeral 52, is also located adjacent to -the underside of the base plate 10 and is constructed to conform to both the size and shape of the base plate (FIG. 3).v This pitman 52 must be rigidly-constructed so for this reason is provided with two spaced-

apart angle irons

54 and 56 as crossmembers which are secured to .the rear ends of the two fiat

steel side bars

58 and 60, respectively.Y Additional reinforcement between the cross members-54 and 56 andthe side bars 5-8 and 60 is provided by the two corner braces 62 welded preferably in the positions as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. l

The pitman 52 is pivotally connected to each of the operating arms 50 as sholwn by means of. a respective pivot .pin 64, ythis pivot pin being spaced from the axis of the respective screw. All of the operating arms` 50 and lever lengths thereof are of substantially the same length,

so .that the pitman 52 may be rotated in a planeparallel to the base plate to rotate all of the screws in unison.

Operation of the pitman 52 is accomplished by means of a crank 66 composed of a rst link 68 pivoted at one end by means of a pin 70 to the base plate and fxcdly secured at theother end to a pin 72 whichV projects the pitman. The lower end to the handle portion 69y ofthe crank 66 as shown. The opening in thepitman arm 60 which accommodates the lpin 72 is large enough to 'provide for "a [rotational connection therewith. .By disposing'thepivotpin 70 on'fa straight line which intersects the axesofvthe front and rear screws 42 Vand 46, and by furtherlocating the pin '72 from thep'in 70 a'distance equal tothe-operating lengths of the individual arms 50, the crankl66 may be rotated to in turn impart a rotational motion -to the pit- 52 for rotating all of'thesorews -in'unison threaded aperture which is threadedly mounted on the Vrespective screw as more clearly shown in FIG. 5, the

stem of the nut member passing through the slot 32 `in the respective post. By means of this threaded connection, rotation of the screw will cause the nut member as well as the respective bar to be moved upwardly 4or downwardly, depending upon the direction of vscrew rotation.

The bar 74 is threadedly connected at its opposite ends to the front screws 42 `and 44, while the rear bar 76 is similarly connected to the rear screws `46 and 48.

By locating these

bars

74 and 76 equal distances above the base plate to start with, rotation of the four screws in unison will serve to raise or lower Ithe bars in unison,

vdepending upon the direction of screw rotation.

FIG. l illustrates the mechanism thus far described as being fastened to an ordinary desk having a typewniter well or recess S0. The illustrated method of securing the mechanism .to the desk is shown more clearly in FIG.

f2, suitable bolts onscrews 82 being used to clamp the braces 38 and -40 to the underside of the desk top on opposite sides, respectively, of the typewriter Well. As shown in FIG. 2 three such screws are used fory this purpose. By this means of fastening, the mechanism is in effect suspended from the underside of the desk top in registration with the typewriter well 80. i

Inoperation, Ithe two

bars

74 and 76 constitue a platform on which a typewriter may be placed. By rotating the crank 66, all of the screwswill be rotated in unison, thereby moving the platform bar 7'4 and 76upwardly or downwardly as the case may be.

An import-ant feature of this invention resides in the fact that the front portion of the mechanism is completely open, this being accomplished by providing vthe base plate 10 and the pitman 52| with a U-shape. Since the typists knees are located underneath the base` plate,

it becomes obvious that nothing in the forward or front portion of the base plate can interfere with'` or contact the typists knees. The lowest structure adjacent the frontend of the mechanism is the platform bar 74; however, for a tall person requiring more knee room, this is automatically provided when the person adjusts the typewriter stand to the necessary height for comfortable typing. Thus, by means of a singleadjustment, more knee room is provided for the taller person when the typewriter height is adjusted to the proper level.

While a pitman 52 has 'been illustrated and described in connection with providing simultaneous rotation of the four screws, a chain and sprocket connection may be usedV instead to provide ythe same operation. In this "arrangement, a small sprocket is attached to the bottom end of each screw adjacent to the underside of the ybase plate yanda chain is passed around the sprockets along a U-shaped path in parallelism with the shape of the base plate. A crank attached to one sprocket is used to impart rotation to the latter, whereby all of the sprockets 'and screws are rotated in unison. Use of the pitman 512, however, is preferred'as it is more economical and foolproof than the chain and sprocket drive.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable typewriter-platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding supporting posts spaced apart and secured to the top side of said base plate at the front yand rear ends of said sides respectively, said posts being hollow and slotted longitudinally, two elongated braces extending parallel to said sides respectively, said braces being secured at the opposite ends thereof to the tops of the respective front and rear posts, ilz'ourv upstanding screws disposed inside said four posts respectively, one end of each screw being journalled in said base plate and the other end of each screw being journalled inthe respective brace, two horizontally disposed 'supporting bars extending transversely of said base plate sides and spanning the space therebetween, the opposite ends of said bars having nut members thereon, the nut members of one bar being threadedly received by the two screws respectively in the front posts, the nut members of the other bar being threadingly received by the two screws respectively in the rear posts, said bars extending through the slots of the respective posts, four operating arms, one arm each being ixedly secured at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of the latter, a U- shaped pitman of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to and in parallelism with the underside of said base plate, the other ends of al1 said operating arms pivotally connected to said pitman, and a crank arm comprising a link disposed between said base plate and said pitman and pivotally connected at one end to said base plate, and a handle portion disposed on the other side of said pitman from said link and fastened at one end to the other end of said link by a pin which extends through an opening in said pitman, said opening in said pitman accommodating rotation of said pin whereby rotation of said crank arm serves to rotate all of said screws in unison.

2. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding supporting posts spaced apart and secured tothe top side of said base plate at the front and rear ends of said sides respectively, said posts being hollow and slotted longitudinally, four upstanding screws disposed inside said four posts respectively, one end of each screw being journalled in said base plate and the other end of each screw being journalled in the upper end of the respective post, two horizontally disposed supporting bars extending transversely of said base plate' sides and spanning the space therebetween,'the opposite ends of said bars having nut members thereon, the nut members of one bar being threadedly'received'by the two screws respectively "in the front posts, the nut members of the other bar being threadingly received by the 4two screws respectively in the rear posts, said bars extending through the slots of the respective posts, four operating arms, one arm each being fixedly secured 'at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of the latter, a U-shaped pitman'of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to and in parallelism with the underside of said base plate, the other ends of all said operating arms being pivotally connected to said pitman, and a crank arm comprising a link disposed between said base plate and said pitman and pivotally connected at one end to said base plate, and a handle portion disposed on the other side of said pitman from said link and fastened l lat one end to the other end of said link by a pin which extends through an opening in said pitman, said opening in said pitman accommodating rotation of said pin whereby rotation of said crank arm serves to rotate all of said screws in unison.

3. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding supporting posts spaced apart and secured to the top side of said base plate at the front and rear ends of said sides respectively, said posts being hollow and slotted longitudinally, four upstanding screws disposed inside said four posts respectively, one end of each screw being journalled in said base plate and 4the other end of each screw being journalled in the upper end of the respective post, two horizontally disposed supporting bars extending transversely of said base plate sides and spanning the space therebetween, the opposite ends of one bar being threadedly mounted on the two front screws and the opposite ends of the other bar being threadedly mounted on the rear screws, Ifour operating arms, one arm each bein-g xedly secured at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of the latter, a U-shaped pitman of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to and in parallelism with the underside of said base plate, the other ends of all said operating arms being pivotally connected to said pitman, and 'a crank arm comprising a link disposed between said base plate and said pitman and pivotally connected at one end to said base plate, and la handle portion disposed on the other side of said pitman from said link and fastened at one end to the other end of said link by a pin which extends through an opening in said pitman, said opening in said `pitman accommodating rotation of said pin whereby rotation of said crank arm serves to rotate all of said screws in unison.

4. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a 1U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding supporting posts spaced apart and secured to the top side of said base plate at the front and rear ends of said sides respectively, said posts being hollow and slotted longitudinally, four upstanding screws disposed inside said four posts respectively, one end of each screw being journalled in said base plate and the other end of each screw being journalled in the upper end of the respective post, two horizontally disposed supporting bars extending transversely of said base plate sides and spanning the space therebetween, the opposite ends of one bar being threadedly mounted on the two front screws and the opposite ends of the other bar being threadedly mounted on the rear screws, and means for rotating al1 of said screws in unison.

5. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding screws spaced apart and journalled at one end in said base plate at the front and rear ends respectively of said sides, saidl screws being located at the corners of an imaginary rectangle, means on said base plate for supporting said screws in upstanding position, two horizontally disposed supporting bars extending transversely of said sides and spanning the space therebetween, opposite end portions off one bar being threadedly mounted on the two front screws respectively and opposite end portions of the other bar being threadedly mountedl on the two rear screws respectively, four operating arms, one arm each being xedly secured at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of the latter, a U-shaped pitman of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to the underside of and arranged in parallelism with said base plate, the other ends of all said operating arms being pivotally connected to said pitman, and a `crank Iarm comprising a disposed between said base plate and said pitman and pivotally connected at one end to said base plate, and a handle portion disposed on the other side of said pitman from said link and fastened at one end to the other end of said link by a pin which extends through an opening in said pitman, said opening in said pitman accommodating rotation of said pin whereby rotation of said crank arm serves to rotate all of said screws in unison. 1

6. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding screws spaced apart and journalled at one end in said base plate at the front and rear ends respectively of said sides, said screws being located at the corners of an imaginary rectangle, means on said base plate for supporting said screws in upstanding position, platform means threadedly mounted on said front and rear screws, four operating arms, one arm each being xedly secured at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of the latter, a U-shaped pitman of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to the underside of and arranged in parallelism with said base plate, the other ends of all said operating arms being pivotally connected to said pitman, and a crank arm having a portion pivotally connected at one end to said base plate and at its other end to said pitman whereby rotation of said crank arm serves to rotate all of said screws in unison.

7. An adjustable typewriter platform comprising a U- shaped base plate having two substantially parallel elongated sides, four upstanding screws spaced apant and journalled at the one end in said base plate at the front and rear ends respectively of said sides, said screws being located at the corners of an imaginary rectangle, means on said base plate for supporting said screws in upstanding position, platform means threadedly mounted on said front and rear screws, four operating arms, one arm each being xedly secured at one end to the lower end of each screw to extend laterally of ythe latter, a U- shaped pitman of substantially the same size and shape as said base plate, said pitman being disposed adjacent to the underside of and arranged in parallelism with said base plate, the other ends of all said operating arms being pivotally connected to said pitman, and means connected to said U-shaped pitman for imparting rotary motion thereto and in turn to said four upstanding screws.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,535 Bellhoefer Jan. 6, 1953 2,831,746 Hartnett Apr. 22, 1958 2,857,225 Dombek Oct. 21, 1958