US3118598A

US3118598A - Recall voting apparatus for voting machine

Info

Publication number: US3118598A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-21

Description

Jan. '21, 1964 l. G. LAws REcAL'L voTING APPARATUS FOR VOTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIl. ||||III|II|IIPIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllfllllllllllllslllllll INVEN TOR. /eA Q. AWS

Jan. 21, 1964 l. G..LAws 3,113,593

REGALI. voTING APPARATUS Foa voTING MACHINE United States Patent O 3,118,598 RECALL VOI'lNG APPARATUS FOR VOTIN MACHINE lira G. Laws, Tulsa, Okla., assigner to Seismograph Service Corporation, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 151,279 24 Claims. (Cl. 23S-S4) The present invention relates generally to recall voting apparatus for use with voting machines of the type described and claimed in copending US. applications Serial Nos. 120,250 and 120,281, both tiled on lune 28, 196i, and both assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

In voting machines of the type disclosed in the two copending applications referred to above, the voters selections are made by manually sliding one or more voting keys or selectors from a neutral position to a voting or selecting position. Certain jurisdictions, for example, the State of California, require that the voting machine be equipped with recall voting facilities wherein the voter must iirst vote either Yes or No on the recall question before he is permitted to exercise a further choice. To satisfy these requirements, it is necessary to interlock the sliding keys so that the key by which the further choice is to be made cannot be moved unless the recall key is rst moved from its neutral position to either the Yes or No position of the recall question. Moreover, provision must also be made for preventing return of the recall key to the neutral position after the further choice key has been moved since, in the absence of such a provision, the voter could defeat the purpose of the interlock. The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object the provision of recall voting apparatus for meeting all of these requirements.

The invention has for another object the provision of simple, inexpensive structure which may be attached to a voting machine of the type described above to interlock the voting keys so that the further choice key cannot be moved unless the recall key has first been moved from its neutral position to a selecting position.

The invention has for a further object the provision of recall voting apparatus of the character described above and including structure effective when both the recall and further choice keys have been moved to selecting positions for positively preventing return of the recall key to its neutral position as long as the further choice key remains in a selecting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide recall voting structure of the character previously indicated which may be readily and conveniently added to or removed from the voting machine at different desired positions on the interior of the voting panel to program the machine for an election.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact recall voting structure which may be assembled on voting machines of the type described in the copending applications referred to above without requiring major reconstruction or redesign of these machines and without requiring alteration of the voting keys or selectors.

The foregoing and other objects are realized, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a novel interlock bar for use on voting machines of the type described in the above-identified copending applications Serial Nos. 120,250 and 120,281. Any number of such interlock bars may be employed depending upon the number of recall questions to be presented to the voter but, since all such bars are identical, only one will be considered in detail in the present application. To facil- 3,ll8,598 Patented Jan. 21, 1964 ICC itate assembly of the bar, one or more of the columns carrying the sliding voting keys or selectors are provided with spaced apart, tapped openings for receiving a screw or pin pivotally supporting the recall bar. As is described in detail in the copending applications each column supports an elongated strip carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops for limiting the movement of the selectors or keys each of which is slideable from a neutral position adjacent one of the stops to one or more selecting positions indicating the voters choice. In a recall voting proposition, a recall key is provided for movement from the neutral position to either a Yes selecting position or a No selecting position and, in addition, a further choice key is provided for movement from a neutral position to any one of a number of selecting positions, the latter number depending, of course, upon the number of further choices offered to the voter.

The recall bar of the present invention may be pivoted from a selector locking position to a selector releasing position but, with both the recall and further choice keys in their neutral positions the bar is located in its selector locking position where a rst selector engaging portion thereon engages the recall key and a second selector engaging portion engages the further choice key. The second portion cooperates with one of the oiiice stops to hold the further choice key in neutral position and to positively prevent movement of this key as long as the bar remains in its selector locking position. The bar is recessed adjacent the first selector engaging portion so ,that movement of the recall key from its neutral position to either its Yes selecting position or its No selecting position releases the bar for pivotal movement. When the further choice key is manually moved from its neutral position, it engages a camming surface on the recall bar and pivots the bar from its selector locking position to its selector releasing position. The further choice key may be manually moved to any desired one of the further choice selecting positions. lWhen the further choice key is moved from its neutral position, it blocks the recall bar to prevent the latter from pivoting back to the selector locking position. With the recall bar held in its selector releasing position, the recall key is blocked by the bar so that this key cannot be restored to its neutral position, thus preventing the voter from defeating the purpose of the recall vote interlock. Of course, until the vote is cast by operating the Vote switch in the manner described in the copending applications, the voter may change his mind by returning the further choice key to neutral thus again permitting movement of the recall key. The recall and further choice keys may be manipulated in the manner described until the voter is completely satisfied with his choices whereupon the Vote switch may be operated to cast the vote.

The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is .a lfragmentary, front elevational view showing a portion of the front panel of the voting machine including a :column programmed for the recall Ivoting proposition FG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line Z-Z in FG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line directly corresponding to the line 13--3 in FIG. 2 assuming that the latter shows the entire front panel construction;

FIG. 4 is `a fragmentary view looking in the direction 3 of the arrow pointed lines 4t-4 in FIG. 3 and shows the recall voting bar in its selec-tor locking position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but shows the recall voting bar in its selector releasing position.

Referring now to the drawings and rst to FIG. 1, a fragmentary portion of a voting machine 2li* is there shown which is generally similar to the voting machine described and claimed in the above-identified application Serial No. 120,281. This voting machine comprises a substantially enclosed housing 2-1 `formed `by a number of panels locked together in any suitable manner as, for example, in the manner described in detail and claimed in copending `application ISerial No. 120,249, tiled lune 28, 1961, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The housing 2l defines an upper generally vertically extending voting panel section identified by the reference numeral 22 and `a lower power supply section 23 extending forwardly from the upper section to form a relatively low shelf 24. The upper section 22 includes a front face or voting panel 25 made up of a plurality of side-by-side vertically extending columns 25a, 25h, etc. Any desired number of such columns may be provided and each comprises an elongated member preferably formed of an extruded material such as aluminum. As is described in detail in the `above-identified copending application Serial No. 120,281 and as is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the extrusion is such that each column comprises a central body portion 26 having an inwardly extending longitudinal rib 27 adjacent a curved spring receiving region 28 lying alongside the rib 27 and extending lengthwise of the column. A relative thick edge portion Z9 extends longitudinally along one side of the body portion 26 while a transversely and longitudinally eX- tending leg 3d is formed at the other side. A ilange 31 extends along the entire length of the column at the rearwardly disposed end of the leg 30. A pair of elongated slots 32 `and 33 respectively `formed in the edge portion 29 and in the leg 3G' receive the opposed side edges of an elongated candidate strip 34 containing on its outer, exposed face a list of the offices or propositions to be decided by the voter. Thus, for example, it the election is a national election, this strip may contain an ofhce title such as Present and therebeneath may appear the dir- -ferent `candidates competing for this othce. The otlice title and the candidates for the oiiice will be referred to hereafter as an ofiice group but it should be yunderstood that this term may also refer to propositions on which a Yes or No answer is required as, for example, on bond issues, constitutional amendments, and the like. Each of the candidate positions or voting positions in each office group will be referred to hereinafter as a selecting position. The recesses 32 and 33 may also accommodate the opposed side edges of a transparent cover 38 for the purpose 'of preventing `the `candidate strip from being marked or dam-aged by the voter. he strip is formedrof sufciently rigid material such as plastic to prevent its removal from the slots 32 and 33 by squeezing it toward the center from Ithe two side edges.

A groove 39 is provided in the rear face of the body portion 26 to receive an elongated strip 49 having a series of spaced openings itin (FIG. 2) therein to accommodate oilice stops or pins 41 which divide the diierent oilice groups of each column. Each office sto-p comprises a pin {having a stem extending through one of the openings 40u and protruding outwardly beyond the strip and rearwardly of the `front face of the column. An enlarged, rectangularly shaped, flat head i12y on each otlice stop pin seats within a groove or slot Li3 formed in the body portion 26 adjacent the groove 39. The strip 4l? may be provided with numerals or other indicia to identify the different `openings ila in order to facilitate insertion of the oice stops in proper posit-ions along the strip during programming of the voting machine in a manner described in detail in the copending application Serial No. 120,281 referred to above.

The edge porton 29 or" the body member 26 is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending guide rail 44 lying adjacent a pair of grooves 45 and 46 for accommodating one or more voting keys or selectors i8 which are slideable along the columns to permit the voter to make his selections. in addition, each column is provided with a groove or slot 49 opening to the rear of the col-umn for accommodating a second, perforated, elongated strip 5t) carrying a plurality of detent release pins 51 located at spaced positions therealong for a purpose which will be evident in view of the above-identified .application Serial No. 120,281.

To consider the operation of the recall voting facilities of the present invention, let it be assumed that the column 2551 is programmed to present the recall voting proposition and that, a consequence, this column is divided into two oihce groups, namely, an oilice group in which the voter must vote either Yes or No on the recall voting question and a second chloe group in which the voter must choose be-twen candidates A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Let it further be assumed that the voter is entitled to vote for only one of the latter seven candidate T11-us, under conditions, the candidate strip S4 inserted into the slots 32 and 33 will contain a first 'oliice title 34o presenting the recall ques-tion. For example, this title could be Shall Mayor .Smith be lecalledl. Immediately below the recall question title will appear the two alternatives Yes or No presented for the voters choice in deciding the recall question. These two selecting positions are respectively labeled Yes an No on the candidate strip. Immediate-ly below the selecting position labeled No Iwill appear the fur-ther choice proposition which may contain a suitable title such as Who Shall Replace Mayor Smith'. r[his further choice office title is identified by the reference numeral 34h in the drawings and immediately below this olice title there appear the seven selecting positions respectively listing the candidates A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

As is shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, an or'lice stop dla is inserted within an appropriate opening fiile in the strip lil immediately above the recall question title 34a and a second stop @lb is inserted immediately above the further choice office group title 3415 and just below the No selecting position of the recall office group. An additional oiiice stop llc is placed immediately below the selecting position containing the name of the candidate G in the further choice office group. "he recall voting key used by the voter in deciding the recall vote question is identified by the reference numeral i551 and is adapted to slide along the column 25h between the oilice stops 41a and 41h while the further choice voting key or selector is identified by the numeral 4Sb and is adapted to slide .along the column between the ohce stops lib and lilo. The keys 4de and 481'] obviously cannot pass the stops defining their office groups. When the voting keys d8a and 48h are respectively located against the otiice stops 41a and dlb, they are in their neutral positions. The key 43a is adapted to be moved from its neutral position to either of the selecting positions provided `for the recall question whereupon it may be released to rest in the selecting position chosen. in similar manner, the further choice voting key 4811 may be moved from its neutral position to a position adjacent any one of the seven candidates A, B, C, D, E, F or G. Since the voter is provided with only one key Vfor each oilice group, he may, of course, select only one of the selecting positions within this group and, for this reason, it is not necessary to provide elaborate interlocks for preventing multiple voting in each othce group. The number of selecting positions available in each of the columns is, of course, determined solely by the height of the column and the space occupied by each position. Obviously, any suitable number of selecting positions may be provided but in one form of the present invention thirty such positions were used although to simplify the illustration a much smaller number has been shown in FIG. l

As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the voting keys are held in their neutral and selecting positions by detent means 53 associated with each column. This detent means preferably takes the form of a plurality of detent springs located one above the other Within a longitudinally extending channel 52 formed in the rib 27 with each detent spring being secured within the channel by a bent, somewhat J-shaped resilient end portion 54 which snaps into the channel 52 and holds the detent spring firmly in position. The detent springs are Iclosely packed within the channel 52 and extend along its entire length to prevent their movement longitudinally of the column. Each detent spring includes a laterally extending curved detent finger 55 extending outwardly from the J-shaped end portion 54 with each finger carrying at its outer end a key engaging portion 56. The curved detent linger 55 lies along the curved portion 28 of the column to provide a rigid backing `for each detent spring. As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the key engaging portions 56 is bent to form a key holding notch 57 between adjacent keys in the column. To this end, each detent finger extends outwardly from the J-shaped end portion 54 -for a distance such that its key engaging portion 56 is disposed in the path of sliding movement of the voting keys along its column. The detent fingers are normally iiexed or biased to occupy the positions shown in FIG. 3 but when the voting key slides along the column to move over a detent finger, the lingen `is flexed rearwardly oft the liront panel or downwardly as viewed in FIG. 3. If the key is stopped either at a selecting position or at a neutral position, it seats within one of the key holding notches 57 and is thus resiliently held -at the selected position with the adjacent detent springs holding the key being disposed in their non-iiexed positions. To provide a detent for each neutral and selecting position on the voting panel, the J-shaped end portion is of such height that the detent lingers `are vertically spaced apart to form notches 57 which are separated by la distance corresponding to the width of one of the selecting positions land the detent springs 53 are so oriented with respect to the stop receiving openings 40a in the strip 4l) that when a voting key is in the neutral position seated against an oiice stop 41, it is also seated within a notch 57. l

Turning now to the construction of the Voting key 48 and referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that this key comprises a generally reotangularly shaped body member having a pointer 59a thereon extending laterally to overlie the edge portion 29 of the column and to point to` the different selecting positions :and oiiice titles spaced along the candidate strip 34 carried by that column. The guide rail 44 or" the column exltends loosely through a channel 58 formed in the key and, in addition, the key is provided with ribs extending toward each other and respectively seated Within the grooves `45 and 46 to permit sliding movement of lthe key along the column but, at the same time, to prohibit removal of the key by the voter. A finger grip 59 extends forwardly from the pointer 59a to facilitate manipulation of the key by the @voter from the exterior of the voting machine. A slot or channel 60 formed in one side of the key receives the .flange 3'1 of the ladjacent column but this slot is considerably wider than the thickness of the flange for a purpose which will become evident as the description proceeds. The flange 31 prevents tampering with the Voting machine by insertion of a tool or other object through the slot formed between adjacent columns. The rearward portion of the voting key 4S is provided with a curved detent engaging region 61 shaped to seat snugly within the notches 57 and also to ilex the detent lingers 53 during movement of the voting key along the column. The rearward portion of the key is also provided with a tooth 64 and with a curved surface portion 65 for purposes which will be evident in 6 view of the above-identified copending application Serial No. 120,281. Thus, the tooth 64 cooperates with the key restoring mechanism to release the detent during the restoration of the voting keys to their neutral positions while the surface portion 65 engages the counter actuating mechanism to record the voters choices. To this end, the voting machine is preferably provided with a series of counters (not shown) extending Ialong the rear of the machine and spaced from the columns 25a, 25h, etc. A scanning mechanism which is not shown in the drawings but which is described in detail in the copending application Serial No. 120,281 is moved in a lirst vote sensing direction to actuate the counters associated with those voting keys which have been moved to a selecting position in order to register the voters choices. After the vote sensing sweep has been completed, the scanning mechanism is conditioned for the key restoring sweep during which the voting keys are restored to their neutral positions. The scanning mechanism is driven by ya suitable drive mechanism a poition of which is shown in broken lines in FIG. l as is indicated at 68. A curtain 66 is driven by the scanning mechanism to cover the front panel of the voting machine after the vote sensing sweep has been completed and this curtain is raised during the key restoring sweep in a manner which is also described in detail in the copending application Serial No. 120,281. After the scanning mechanism has completed its vote sensing sweep, the curtain 66 completely covers the front panel 25 of the voting machine and the curtain remains in this position when the next voter approaches the machine, thus preserving the secrecy of the ballot. At the beginning of the next voting operation, the scanning mechanism makes its key restoring sweep to return all of the voting keys 48 to their neutral position and, at the same time, to raise the curtain 66 to uncover the front panel 2S so that the voter may make his selections.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided interlocking the voting keys or selectors 48a and 48h in such manner that the voting key 4gb cannot be moved .from its neutral position unless the selector 48a has rst been moved either to the Yes or No position within the recall oiiice group and, in addition, the interlocking means further includes structure for preventing return movement of the recall voting key 48a to the neutral position after the further choice voting key 48b has been moved to one of the seven selecting positions within its oiice group. This interlock means is identified generally yby the reference numeral 70 fin FIGS.

2, 3, 4 and 5 and comprises an elongated bar 71 extending along one side of the column 25b containing the recall vote proposition. The bar 71 is of suiiicient length to span both the office group under the candidate title 34a and the further choice group under the candidate title 3412. More specifically, the recall voting bar 71 is mounted for pivotal movement upon the ange 31 formed on the column 25a adjacent to the column ZSb containing the recall vote proposition. The bar 7l has a thickness such that it fits loosely within the channel 64) formed in the voting keys mounted on the column 25b without interfering with the movement of the keys along the column. lMeans are also provided for pivotally mounting the bar iat different spaced apart positions with respect to the column 25b to permit programming the voting machine for an election in such manner that the recall voting proposition can be set upat a desired position along the column. This pivotal mounting means comprises a pivot pin or screw 72 extending through an opening in the bar 71 and threaded or otherwise secured within any desired one of a series of vertically spaced, tapped apertures 73 formed in the flange 31. One such aperture 73 is provided for each selecting position on the column and through selection of the proper aperture to receive the pivot pin 72, the bar 71 may be mounted at any desired position `along the column.

The bar 71 may be pivoted from a selector locking 3,1 tassa position shown in FIG. 4 to a selector releasing position shown in FIG. 5. When the bar is in its selector locking position both of the voting keys 4&1 and 4811 are in their neutral positions and, at this time, the recall voting key 48a engages a selector engaging portion 74 located at the upper side edge of the bar 71 in order to prevent the bar from being pivoted to the selector releasing position. With the bar 71 in the selector locking position shown in FIG. 4, the further choice voting key 48h is locked in its neutral position between the oflice stop pin llb and a locking shoulder 75 formed by a recessed portion 76 extending along one side edge near the upper end of the bar 71. The recessed portion 76 forms a second shoulder 77 which performs a function to be described hereinafter. Thus, with the recall voting bar 7l in the selector locking position, the further choice voting key 48h cannot be moved from its neutral position and the bar 7l cannot be moved from the selector releasing position as long as the voting ey d8a remains in its neutral position. Assuming that the voter decides to eX- ercise a choice on the recall vote question by moving the recall voting key 43a from the neutral position to one of the Yes or No selecting positions, for example, to the Yes position as shown in FIG. 5, the recall voting key 48a will be moved out of engagement with the edge portion '74, thus releasing the bar 7l for pivotal movement about the pin '72. Obviously, movement of the recall voting key 43a to the No selecting position will also release the bar 7l. After the Voting key 43a has been moved to one of the two Yes or No selecting positions, the further choice voting key 4S!) may be moved from its neutral position to any one of the seven selecting positions below the oce title 34h. This movement causes the voting key yto ride along a camming surface formed by the shoulder 75 so that the bar 7l is pivoted from the selector locking position shown in FlG. 4 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 72 to the selector releasing position shown in FIG. 5. Obviously, the voting key 4813 may be moved to any one of the seven selecting positions in the further choice oiiice group but in any one of these positions the side edge "iti of the recall bar 7l engages the inner face of the channel titl to prevent return movement of the recall voting bar 'il to the selector locking position shown in FIG. 4. The recall voting bar 7l is, therefore, held in the selector releasing position shown in FIG. wherein the shoulder 77 blocks movement of the voting key 48a back to the neutral position. Thus, the voter cannot defeat the purpose of the recall voting interlock by moving the voting key 431') to a position adjacent one o the candidaterlistings in the further choice office group and by then returning the key 48a to the neutral position. The voter can, of course, change his mind as to whether he desires to vote Yes or No on the recall voting question since the shoulder 77 merely prevents return of the recall voting key 48a to the neutral position. Moreover, at any time prior to actuation of the Vote switch (not shown) to begin the vote sensing sweep ot' the scanning mechanism the voter may alter his vote on the recall question by returning the key 48]; to the neutral position to release the bar '71 for return pivot movement to the selector locking position in which case the recall voting key 45a can then be returned to the neutral position by moving it against the shoulder 77 to pivot the bar 7l back to the selector locking position shown in FIG. 4 so that both of the voting keys 43a and 4815 are restored to their neutral positions.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in this art and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a voting machine of the type employing tirst and second selectors each mounted for sliding movement along at least one column from a neutral position to at least one selecting position indicating the voters choice, the improvement which comprises means interlocking the lirst and second selectors for recall voting, said interlocking means including structure for positively engaging said second selector to prevent its sliding movement from its neutral position, said interlocking means including structure engaged by said first selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for rendering said interlocking means elective to release said second selector for sliding movement to a selecting position, and said interlockinT means further including means engaging said first selector tor preventing return sliding movement of said iirst selector to its neutral position after the second selector has been moved to a selecting position.

2. In a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each mounted for sliding movement along at least one column from a neutral position to at least one selecting position indicating the voters choice, the improvement which comprises means interlocking the irst and second selectors for recall voting, said interlocking means including structure for positively engaging said second selector to prevent movement of the second selector from its neutral position, said interlocking means including structure engaged by said first selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for rendering said interlocking means effective to release said second selector for sliding movement to a selecting position.

3. Apparatus as deiined in claim 1 wherein said interlocking means includes structure pivotally mounted on and extending along a portion of said column.

4. Apparatus as deiined in claim 2 wherein said interlocking means includes structure pivotally mounted on and extending along a portion of said column.

5. ln a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors both mounted for sliding movement along a single column carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops each of said selectors being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position indicating the voters choice, the movement of each selector being limited by said stops, the improvement which comprises means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said interlocking means including a bar extending along the column to span the space between the two stops against which the selectors rest when in their neutral positions, said bar including means for positively engaging said second selector to prevent its sliding movement from its neutral position, said bar including structure engaged by said irst selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for rendering said bar effective to release said second selector for sliding movement to a selecting position, and said har further including means engaging said first selector for preventing return sliding movement of said first selector to its neutral position after the second selector has been moved to a selecting position.

6. In a voting machine of the type employing tirst and second selectors both mounted for sliding movement along a single column carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops each of said selectors being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position indicating the voters choice, the movement of each selector being limited by said stops, the improvement which comprises means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall vot-ing, said interlocking means including a bar extending along the column -to span the space between the two stops against which the selectors rest when in their neutral positions, said bar including means for positively engaging said second selector to prevent movement of the second selector from its neutral 9 position, said bar including structure engaged by said first selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for rendering said bar effective to release said second selector for sliding movement to a selecting position.

7. In a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each manually slideable along a column containing a plurality of spaced apart stops, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the improvement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from a first selector locking position to a second selector releasing position, said bar including a first selector engaging portion in engagement Iwith the first selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said bar further including a second selector engaging portion in engagement with 4the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said second portion cooperating with one of the stops to prevent movement of said second selector from its neutral position as long as the iirst portion is in engagement with the first selector, said bar being recessed adjacent said first portion to permit manual sliding movement of the first selector from its neutral position along the column and out of engagement with the bar so that the bar is free to pivot, a first cam surface on said bar engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved from its neutral position for pivoting the bar upon the column to the selector releasing position, and said bar having a second surface thereon engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for preventing return of the bar fto its selector locking position, thereby preventing return movement of the first selector back to its neutral position after the second selector has been moved to a selecting position.

8. The apparatus defined by claim 7 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the lbar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit different pairs of selectors to be inter-locked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

9. In a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each manually slideable along a column containing a plurality of spaced apart stops, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the improvement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from a first selector locking position to a second selector releasing position, said bar including a firstselector engaging portion in engagement with the first selector when the later is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said bar further including a second selector engaging portion in engagement with the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, and said second portion cooperating with one of the stops to prevent movement of said second selector from its neutral position as long as the first portion is in engagement with the first selector.

l0. The Vapparatus dened by claim 9 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the bar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit ditferent pairs o-f selectors to be interlocked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

l1. In a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each manually slideable along a column containing a plurality of spaced apart stops, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the improvement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from a first selector locking position to a second selector releasing position, said bar including a first selector engaging portion in engagement with the first selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said bar further includ- :ing a second selector engaging portion in engagement with the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said second portion cooperating with one of the stops to prevent movement of said second selector from its neutral position as long as the first portion is in engagement with the first selector, said bar being constructed and arranged to permit manual sliding movement of the first selector from its neutral position along the column and out of engagement with the bar to free the bar for pivoting, and a cam surface on said bar engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved from its neutral position for pivoting the bar upon the column to the selector releasing position.

12. The apparatus defined by claim l1 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the bar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit different pairs of selectors to be interlocked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

13. In `a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each manually slideable along a column containing a plurality of spaced apart stops, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the irnprovement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from la first selector locking position to a second selector releasing position, said bar further including a selector engaging portion in engagement with the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said portion cooperating with one of the stops to prevent movement of said second selector -from its neutral position as long as the first portion is in engagement with the first selector, said bar being constructed and arranged to permit manual sliding movement of the first selector from its neutral position along the column and out of engagement with the bar to free the latter for pivoting, a first surface on said bar engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved from its neutral position for pivoting the bar upon -the column to the selector releasing position, said bar having a second surface thereon engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for preventing return of the bar to its selector 4locking position, thereby preventing return movement of the first selector back to its neutral position after the second selector has been moved to a selecting position,

14. The apparatus defined by claim 13 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the bar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit different pairs of selectors to be interlocked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

15. In a voting machine of the type employing first and second selectors each manually slideable along a column containing a plurality of spaced apart stops, each elector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the improvement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from a first selector locking position toa second selector releasing position, said bar including a selector engaging portion in engagement With the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position, said portion cooperating with one of the stops to prevent movement of said second selector from its neutral position as long as the first portion is in engagement with the first selector, said bar being constructed and arranged to permit manual sliding movement ot' the first selector from its neutral position along the column and out of engagement With the bar to free the bar for pivoting, and a cam surface on sad bar engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved from its neutral position for pivoting the bar upon the column to the selector releasing position.

16. The apparatus defined by claim 15 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the bar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit different pairs of selectors to be interlocked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

17. In a voting machine of the type employing tirst and second selectors each manually slideable along a column from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to at least one selecting position, the improvement which comprises a bar mounted for pivotal movement from a first selector locking position to a second selector releasing position, said bar including a selector engaging portion in engagement with the second selector when the latter is in neutral position and when the bar is in its selector locking position to prevent movement of said second selector from its neutral position, said bar including means cooperating with the first selector when the latter is in its neutral position to prevent the bar from pivoting to its selector releasing position, said bar. being constructed and arranged to permit manual sliding movement of the first selector from its neutral position along the column to free the bar for pivoting, a first surface on said bar engaged by the second selector when the latter is manually moved from its neutral position for pivoting the bar upon the column to the selector releasing position, said bar having a second surface thereon engaged by the second selector when the latter is moved to a selecting position for preventing return of the bar to its selector locking position, thereby preventing return movement of the lirst selector back to its neutral position after the second selector has been moved to a selecting position.

18. The apparatus defined by claim 17 wherein means are provided for pivotally mounting the bar at different spaced apart positions along the column to permit diiferent pairs of selectors to be interlocked as desired in programming the voting machine for an election.

19. A voting machine comprising at least one column defining a plurality of neutral spaces and a plurality of selecting spaces for indicating the voters choice, first and second selectors slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to one of the plurality ot selecting spaces to indicate the voters selection, and means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said means defining structure for positively engaging said second selector to prevent its sliding movement from its neutral space until the first selector is slidably moved to a selecting space.

20. A voting machine comprising at least one column defining a plurality of neutral spaces and a plurality' of selecting spaces for indicating the voters choice, irst and second selectors slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to one of the plurality of selecting spaces to indicate the voters selection, and means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said means defining structure for positively engaging said second selector to prevent its sliding movement from its neutral space until the first selector is slidably moved to a selecting space, said means including structure for positively preventing return sliding movement of the lirst selector to its neutral space after the second selector has been moved to a selecting space.

21. A voting machine comprising at least one column defining a pair of neutral spaces and at least one selecting space adjacent each neutral space for indicating the voters selection, first and second selectors slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to a selecting space indicating the voters choice, and means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said means defining structure for positively preventing sliding movement of the second selector from its neutral space until the first selector is slidably moved to a selecting space.

22. A voting machine comprising at least one column deining a pair of neutral spaces and at least one selecting space adjacent each neutral space for indicating the voters selection, first and second selectors slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to a selecting space indicating the voters choice, and means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said means defining structure for positively preventing sliding movement of the second selector from its neutral space until the tirst selector is slidably moved to a selecting space, said means including structure for positively preventing sliding return movement of the first selector to its neutral space after the second selector has been slidably moved to a selecting space.

23. A voting machine, comprising at least one column defining a pair of neutral spaces and at least one selecting space adjacent each neutral space for indicating the voters selection, first and second selector means slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to a selecting space to indicate the voters choice, a plurality of stop means selectively positioned in spaced selection along said column for limiting the sliding movement of said selectors, said stop means being positioned adjacent one side ot each selector when the selectors are in neutral spaces, means interlocking the first and second selectors for recall voting, said means including a bar pivotally mounted on said column and extending along said column to span at least two of said stop means, said bar including means for positively engaging said second selector to prevent its sliding movement from its neutral space unless said tirst selector has been slidably moved to a selecting space, and said bar including means for preventing the sliding return movement of said first selector to its neutral space if the second selector is in a selecting space.

24. A voting machine, comprising at least one column defining a pair of neutral spaces and at least one selecting space adjacent each neutral space for indicating the voters selection, rst and second selector means slidably mounted on said column, each being slidably movable from a neutral space to a selecting space to indicate the voters choice, a plurality of stop means selectively positioned in spaced relation along said column for limiting thesliding movement of said selectors, said stop means being positioned adjacent one side of each selector when the selectors are in neutral spaces, means interlocking first and second selectors for recall voting, said means including a bar pivotally mounted on said column and extending along said column to span at least two of said stop means, said bar including means for preventing the sliding movement of said second selector from its neutral space unless said first selector has been slidably moved to a selecting space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN A VOTING MACHINE OF THE TYPE EMPLOYING FIRST AND SECOND SELECTORS EACH MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG AT LEAST ONE COLUMN FROM A NEUTRAL POSITION TO AT LEAST ONE SELECTING POSITION INDICATING THE VOTER''S CHOICE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MEANS INTERLOCKING THE FIRST AND SECOND SELECTORS FOR RECALL VOTING, SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS INCLUDING STRUCTURE FOR POSITIVELY ENGAGING SAID SECOND SELECTOR TO PREVENT ITS SLIDING MOVEMENT FROM ITS NEUTRAL POSITION, SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS INCLUDING STRUCTURE ENGAGED BY SAID FIRST SELECTOR WHEN THE LATTER IS MOVED TO A SELECTING POSITION FOR RENDERING SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS EFFECTIVE TO RELEASE SAID SECOND SELECTOR FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT TO A SELECTING POSITION, AND SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING SAID FIRST SELECTOR FOR PREVENTING RETURN SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SELECTOR TO ITS NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER THE SECOND SELECTOR HAS BEEN MOVED TO A SELECTING POSITION.