US3196480A

US3196480A - Counter-balancing mechanism for stereo sets

Info

Publication number: US3196480A
Application number: US244763A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Whittom
Original assignee: National Lock Co
Current assignee: National Lock Co
Priority date: 1962-12-14
Filing date: 1962-12-14
Publication date: 1965-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-27

Description

y 27, 1965 R. M. WHlTTOM 3,196,480

COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR STEREO SETS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1965 R. M. WHlTTOM 3,196,480

COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR STEREO SETS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,196,480 COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FUR STEREO SETS Robert M. Whittom, Rockford, IlL, assignor to National Lock (30., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-141) The present invention relates to a counter-balancing mechanism for high fidelity and stereophonic sets and more particularly to a tilting hinge support for the record changer or turntable of a wall-hung or table top stereophonic phonograph or radio-phonograph combination.

In the recent trend to wall-hung shelves or pole or frame supported wall units; desks, book shelves and cabi nets are being provided in a more compact form for use in such wall units to decrease the weight and space requirements. Likewise, stereophonic phonographs or stereo radio-phonograph combinations are being designed to be hung on the wall or fit in a bookcase or on a table top.

An illustrative stereophonic unit presents a compact appearance when closed having swing-out speakers forming doors for the cabinet to enclose the stereo components in the housing; which speakers are pivoted open for operation and may be removed from their hinges to provide greater sound separation. The pre-amplifier and amplifier, and the radio where desired, are mounted in the housing with the control knobs and dials exposed and the changer or turntable is mounted in a base which pivots or flips down from a vertical position exposing only the woo-d panel or door on the bottom of the base to a horizontal position to allow playing of records.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel counter-balancing pivot mechanism for a flip-down or pivoted record changer or turntable in a compact stereo console which will create a holding factor or friction that will prevent the base and changer or turntable from falling free when the door on the base is opened. As the changer or turntable has a considerable amount of delicate mechanism and the turntable generally is of substantial weight, the holding force in the hinge mechanism must have positive effectiveness throughout the arc of travel of the base.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a counter-balancing hinge or pivot mechanism tion in the weight of the changer or turntable assembly,

and for convenience and ease of opening or closing the changer base in the cabinet. The slide pivot moving in the arcuate slot includes suitable friction washers to obtain maximum frictional contact and an adjusting screw acting in cooperation with a screw plate can adjust the degree of frictional contact of the washers contacting the cabinet bracket.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a counter-balancing pivot mechanism which can be installed on the cabinet to provide either an external or an internal pivot for the changer base.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilitie as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

3,196,480 Patented July 27, 1965 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stereo console having a changer or turntable base pivotally mounted in the cabinet with the counter-balancing pivot of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the changer base in the cabinet with an internal pivot for the counter-balancing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 except that the changer base is mounted with an external pivot.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the counterbalancing pivot mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, of the pivot mechanism showing the cooperation between the various elements.

FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the pivotal connection of the counter-balancing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the pivotal connection on the changer base opposite to the mechanism of FIGS. 2 to 6.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a spring washer.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a suitable molded friction washer.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a suitable friction washer.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a screw plate used in the slide pivot.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a portion of a stereo cabinet 10 having swingout stereo speaker 11, an PM or AM-FM tuner or radio 12 and a pivotal or tiltable base 13 for a record changer 14. It is understood that a turntable and tone arm could be substituted for the changer assembly. The amplifier and controls therefor as well as a second speaker are housed in the portion of the cabinet 10 not shown in FIG. 1.

A counter-balancing frictional pivot mechanism 15 is mounted on one side of the base 13 and a pivotal bracket 16 (FIG. 7) is mounted on the opposite side of the changer base so that the base 13 and the changer 14 tilt or pivot about a horizontal axis from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a second position where the base is completely enclosed in the cabinet 10 with only the bottom of the base exposed providing a door panel 17 for the cabinet.

This counter-balancing pivot mechanism 15 is more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a changer base bracket 18 and a cabinet bracket 19. The changer base bracket has two

arms

21 and 22 formed at right angles to each other with an offset portion 23 at the corner of the junction of the arms for a rivet or pivot pin 24. The arm 21 is attached to a slide pivot 25 to be later described and the arm 22 contains spaced openings 26 adapted to receive suitable securing means 27 to secure this bracket to the changer base 13. The offset portion 23 has an opening 28 adapted to receive a rivet 29 to act as the pivot for the changer base.

The cabinet bracket 19 includes a central portion 30 with openings 31 for suitable securing means and having an offset area 32 at one corner thereof with an opening 33 to receive the rivet 29. A suitable friction washer 34 and a spring washer 35 are mounted on the rivet 29 and sandwiched between the

offset portions

23 and 32 of the

brackets

18 and 19, respectively, with the rivet 29 tightly secured to provide maximum friction. The friction washer may be formed of any suitable material such as a plastic as nylon.

Opposite the offset portion 32 is an arcuate offset portion 36 extending over an arc of more than about a radius having the rivet 29 as the center. This oflfset portion 36 has an arcuate slot 37 centrally located therein and extending to adjacent 'the

ends

38 and 39 thereof.

. Beyond this offset portion 36 is a generally rectangular area 41 lying in the same plane as the portion 30 and includes an opening 42, a horizontally arranged elongated opening or slot 43, and a vertically arranged elongated opening or slot 44 for receiving suitable securing means;

the openings 43' and 44 providing limited horizontal and ,vertical adjustmentof the bracket 19 in the cabinet 10.

.The arm 21 has a slightly offset end .45 containing anopening ,46 to receive the adjusting screw 47 of the pivotal slide. Although an adjusting screw 47 is shown in the drawings, it is also contemplated that a rivet'might be utilized to form a permanent connection. Between the offset end 45 and the arcuate offset portion36 of the cabinetbracket 19 are disposed a spring washer 48 and a friction washer- 49. On the opposite side 'of'the bracket '19 are a molded friction washer 51 and a screw plate52 having a tapped opening 53. Both the friction washer 49 and the molded friction rwasher 51 are preferably formed of nylonand have oppositely'disposed peripheral notches 54,to' receive the laterallyprojecting arms 55 of the screwplate 52; said arms extending through the arcuate slot 37. Further, themolded washer 51 has a raised elongated area or embossment 56'extending between'the .notches '54 and adapted to be received within the slot 37 to aid in the, frictional forces holding the base 13. in a fixed position.

posite the offset portion having an opening'therein pro- .viding the. center of curvature for said arcuate slot, a movable bracket, secured to thefirst member including two arms in a common plane and disposed at approxi- -mate right anglesto each other, an offset portion at the junction of the two arms and havingan opening aligned with theyopening in the corner of the stationary bracket, pivotal means extending through the aligned openings joining the brackets together, a friction washer positioned between the offset portions and on the pivotal means to resist rotation between the brackets, one of said arms being secured to the first member, thesecond arm terminating in a free end having an opening aligned withthe arcuate slot, and a slide pivot secured to the second arm and theoifs'et arcuate portion on the stationary bracket including, a friction washer sandwichedbetween the secondarm and the offset. arcuate portion and having a central opening aligned with said opening in the second arm and the slot, 21 second friction washer having a central opening aligned with the slot, said second washer be- ,ing positioned behind the arcuate portion of the stationary bracket, a'screwplate having a threaded opening aligned They adjusting, screw '47 has a slotted head 57 to be engaged by a suitable driver blade and the screw is rotated relative to the; screw plate 52 to tighten or loosen the slide pivot and thus adjust the zipplied'frictiouyrotation of the screw plate;52 being prevented by the arms 55 extending through the slot 37. i 7

FIGS. '2 and 3 ,show the manner in which this pivot mechanism 15 may be attached to the changer base 13 and to the. cabinet 10. FIG.,, 2 relates to the counterbalancing mechanism with an internal pivot where the pivot 24 is positioned between the base 13, andthe cabinet wall 10 and is not exposed ineitheropen or closed posi ;tion. FIG. 3, on the otherliand, shows the pivot 24 to be an external pivot which is not concealed by the chang- 'er base 13 in either open or closed position. The bracket .as shown in FIG. 3, however, is a mirror image of FIG.-

2 and mounted in I substantially cabinet and changer base.

A pivotal. bracket 16 which does not provide for any the same manner on the with the arcuate slot, said screw plate abutting said second "friction washer, and an adjusting screw extending through the opening in said second arm, first friction washer,

arcuate slot and second frictionwasher and threadin'gly engaging the opening in said screw plate to adjust the frictional resistance retarding movement of the slide pivot. i

2. A counter-balancing mechanism as setforth in claim '1, in whichsaid slide'pivot moves in said arcuate slot as the movable bracket rotates about said pivot means, said first friction washer having a pair of oppositely disposed peripheral-notches therein aligned with said arcuate slot, said second friction washer having an elongated embossment and a pair of oppositely disposed peripheral notches at the ends of ,thejernbossment, said enibo ssment received 9 ,within and said notches aligned with said arcuate slot, and

said screw-plate having a pair of oppositely disposed laterally projecting'legs on' the periphery of the plate,

saidlegs extending through said peripheral notches on the second friction washer, said arcuate slot and the notches in the first friction washer to provide a generally ,unitaryassembly.

frictional adjustment is mountedon the opposite side of :the changer base 13 and includes a cabinet bracket plate 58 and a changer base plate'59, each having openings 61 for suitable securing means. The plate 58 alsov has a horizontal slot' 62 and a vertical slot 63 similar to the slots 43 and 44 of the'bracket 19'for purposes of limited adjustment. The

plates

58 and 59 and adjacent offset

portions

64 and 65, respectively, for a pivot 66 with openings 67 in the portions 64 and adapted to receive 1 a rivet 68, A suitable friction washer 69 is sandwiched between the offset

portions

64 and 65 to provide frictional forces resisting relative movement between the plates.

While the improvement has beenshown and described as being advantageously applicable to the tilting changer base of a stereo set, it is not my'intent or desire to unnecessarily limit the scope or'the utility of the improved features by virtue of this illustrative embodiment. Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A counter-balancing mechanism forsupporting one member for pivotal movement relative to a second member, comprising a stationary bracket having "a plate secured to the second member, an outwardly offset arcuate 7 portion on the plate having an arcuate slot formed therein, an outwardly offset corner of the plate generally op- 3. A counter-balancing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which'said offset portion at the junction of the two arms'is offset toward said stationary bracket, and said arm cooperating with the slide pivothasfthe outer 'end .oit'set outwardly away from the stationary bracket.

References by the Examiner UNITED PATENTS DONLEY J. STOCKING,'PriI1iary Examiner.

,FRANKB. SHERRY, Examiner.

Claims

1. A COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING ONE MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO A SECOND MEMBER, COMPRISING A STATIONARY BRACKET HAVING A PLATE SECURED TO THE SECOND MEMBER, AN OUTWARDLY OFFSET ARCUATE PORTION ON THE PLATE HAVING AN ARCUATE SLOT FORMED THEREIN, AN OUTWARDLY OFFSET CORNER OF THE PLATE GENERALLY OPPOSITE THE OFFSET PORTION HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN PROVIDING THE CENTER OF CURVATURE FOR SAID ARCUATE SLOT, A MOVABLE BRACKET SECURED TO THE FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING TWO ARMS IN A COMMON PLANE AND DISPOSED AT APPROXIMATE RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, AN OFFSET PORTION AT THE JUNCTION OF THE TWO ARMS AND HAVING AN OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING IN THE CORNER OF THE STATIONARY BRACKET, PIVOTAL MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS JOINING THE BRACKETS TOGETHER, A FRICTION WASHER POSITIONED BETWEEN THE OFFSET PORTIONS AND ON THE PIVOTAL MEANS TO RESIST ROTATION BETWEEN THE BRACKETS, ONE OF SAID ARMS BEING SECURED TO THE FIRST MEMBER, THE SECOND ARM TERMINATING IN A FREE END HAVING AN OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE ARCUATE SLOT, AND SLIDE PIVOT SECURED TO THE SECOND ARM AND THE OFFSET ARCUATE PORTION ON THE STATIONARY BRACKET INCLUDING A FRICTION WASHER SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE SECOND ARM AND THE OFFSET ARCUATE PORTION AND HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING IN THE SECOND ARM AND THE SLOT, A SECOND FRICTION WASHER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE SLOT, SAID SECOND WASHER BEING POSITIONED BEHIND THE ARCUATE PORTION OF THE STATIONARY BRACKET, A SCREW PLAT HAVING A THREADED OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE ARCUATE SLOT, SAID SCREW PLATE ABUTTING SAID SECOND FRICTION WASHER, AND AN ADJUSTING SCREW EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN SAID SECOND ARM, FIRST FRICTION WASHER, ARCUATE SLOT AND SECOND FRICTION WASHER AND THREADINGLY ENGAGING THE OPENING IN SAID SCREW PLATE TO ADJUST THE FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE RETARDING MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE PIVOT.