US3488476A

US3488476A - Mechanical ballot

Info

Publication number: US3488476A
Application number: US730518A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip A Walsh
Original assignee: PHILIP A WALSH
Current assignee: PHILIP A WALSH
Priority date: 1968-05-20
Filing date: 1968-05-20
Publication date: 1970-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-06

Description

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A T TOR/VE Y 35m? 9 P. A. WALSH MECBANICAL BALLOT Filed May 20, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet I H mm. M Yv m W EA M 0 V T P m; m w Y B O 4 United States Patent 3,488,476 MECHANICAL BALLOT Philip A. Walsh, 7415 E. 20th St., Tulsa, Okla. 74112 Filed May 20, 1968, Ser. No. 730,518 Int. Cl. G07c 13/02 US. Cl. 235-51 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanical re-usable voting ballot which is adapted to be attached to the selection board of an electro-mechanical voting machine. The ballot includes a selection chart of candidates for office, selector buttons for manually indicating the candidates selected, a detent arrangement is provided for maintaining the buttons in the selected position and handles on the ballot aid in carrying and placing the ballot on the selection board of the voting machine to register the vote indicated by the ballot.

The present invention relates to a mechanical means of selection of candidates prior to registering the selection into an electro-mechanical voting machine. The present invention involves mechanical adaptation of the selection into the present machines without the usual long delay required in making the selection by individual voters at the voting machines.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanical ballot which is suitable for use with an electro-mechanical voting machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mechanical ballot which can be preset with the voters selection and then transferred immediately into a voting machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical ballot which is re-useable and can be reset easily for repeated re-use with the electro-mechanical voting machine.

The combination of a register and a voting ballot is shown in Patent No. 2,563,273 to G. D. Rathburn, issued Aug. 7, 1951. However, the voting ballot shown in this patent is unlike the voting ballot which I shall disclose inasmuch as the voting ballot is designed to work only with the particular voting machine which is disclosed in this patent. The features are such that they are adaptable only to the particular voting machine disclosed in the specifications of the patent.

The patent to R. F. Shoup, No. 3,236,445, issued Feb. 22, 1966, includes a voting machine, and represents some of the features shown in Rathburns voting ballot, except that the utility of the voting machine disclosed here is designed to include a preset card system for tabulation of the selection of the candidates for office. Patent No. 3,214,092, issued Oct. 26, 1965 to M. A. Coyle et al., discloses still another type of voting machine including a magnifying glass for viewing a ballot card for marking and selecting the candidates for public ofiice. A method of using the claimed apparatus as shown in Patent No. 3,214,092 is shown in Patent No. 3,286,918 issued Nov. 22,. 1966 to M. A. Coyle. The patent to R. R. Clark, No. 3,158,316, issued Nov. 24, 1964, is confined to disclosing a suitable voting card for write-in votes.

The patent to S. W. Wilcox, No. 3,249,297, issued May 3, 1966, disclosed a combination of a re-useable ballot and a console for recording the selection made. Again, this voting machine does not suggest the structure or modus operandi of my invention, but requires separate and distinct structure to operate.

The disclosures in the above patents do not show either the features or the utility of the new and improved mechanical ballot which I shall disclose.

The present voting machines require the selection of candidates and the voting of issues presented for public approval to be performed by moving individual levers into a position of selection for the candidate for office, the selection being integral in the voting machine with the register. This new and improved voting ballot which I shall disclose is separate and apart from, but works with, the selection board which is found in the presently available voting machines. The present voting machines are principled on a system of levers on its face which connect internally to actuate automatically the levers and gears in the voting machine to register the vote cast, the principle of actuation being put in motion by the positioning of the selection on the face board by moving levers to select the candidates. The candidates are selected by movement of the selectors, or pointers, to point to the name of the candidate the voter wishes to select. When the candidates are being selected by the positioning of the selectors, the positions of the levers and gears in the body of the voting machine which are directly behind the face of the voting machine will register the selection of each candidate in a tabulating counter which is actuated by the levers in the voting machine.

The principle upon which the mechanical ballot operates will be understood from the following disclosure:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the vertical mechanical ballot in place on an automatic voting machine.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a mechanical ballot which is to be used with automatic voting machine having a horizontal lever system.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view from the side of the mechanical ballot shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a synchronization lever which isrequired in conjunction with the mechanical ballot when using a rotating lever machine.

Reference is made to FIGURE 1 which shows the mechanical ballot 1 moving into place on the front face of a register 2, into notches 3, 4, 5 and 6 which are attached to the face of the voting machine. Handles 7 are shown as part of the mechanical ballot to provide for easy handling of the ballot by the voters and as an aid in guiding the ballot into place onto the face of the voting machine. The selection slate of candidates to be voted upon are represented by the office they are seeking with the names of the candidates being inserted into the selection sheets 9 (FIG- URE 1). Beside each of the candidates names is selector buttons 8 which are depressed inwardly by the voter making his or her selection. This selection is made prior to placing of the mechanical ballot on the face of the voting machine. The selector button is held in place and prevented from moving by a detent 17 (FIGURE 4) While the selection is being transferred to the face of the voting machine.

Another species of a mechanical ballot is illustrated in FIGURE 2. The ballot itself is shown as 1. However, the structure is different from FIGURE 1 inasmuch as this ballot has holes shown at 11 and 11' in the upper corner. These holes are sized to fit snugly over and to rest upon tapered pivot pins 10 and 10' (FIGURE 4). In this particular ballot, the names of the candidates are placed in the spaces 9 which provide name spaces for the candidates on the ballot. Unlike the ballot which was explained in the preceding paragraph, under each candidates name is placed a selector button 8' which the voter sets by depressing to make his or her selection. Unlike FIGURE 1, this mechanical ballot is designed for a different type of levers on the face of the voting machine.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the lever system is described as being constructed of flat bar material, preferably metal, with pivot pins 13 and 13'.

Flat bar members

12 and 12 which move together in a clockwise direction are joined at freely rotating connecting pins and 15' with member 14. The

pivot pins

10 and 10 which extend through and to the rear of the face of the voting machine are attached to the levers 12 and 12' at 10 and 10 (FIGURE 3). The pins 10 and 10' are released to movement in a circular path when the mechanical ballot (see FIGURE 2) with the selectors 17 (FIGURE 4) extended is placed flat against guides 3, 4, '5 and 6 on the voting machine, as shown in FIGURE 1. The levers 12 and 14 (FIGURE 4) are released when lock-pin 19 (FIGURE 4) acting against spring 20 moves backward as shown in FIG- URE 4 to release the levers 12 and 14 (FIGURE 4) so they can move in a circular direction. Upon release of levers 12 and 14 (FIGURE 4), the mechanical ballot itself moves in a downwardly direction B as shown in FIGURE 4, selector buttons 17, which were previously set by the voter, move the rotating levers 18 on the voting machine in a downward circular position. The voting button on the voting machine, which is part of the voting machine itself, when depressed, will register and tabulate the votes inside the voting machine. After the Votes are registered, the mechanical ballot is moved upwardly in circular direction C as shown in FIGURE 4 and removed from the voting machine. To prepare the board for re-use, simply lay the ballot on a flat surface to restore all the selectors to a raised position again for another selection by another voter.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a cross-sectional View of the mechanical ballot 1 shown in FIGURE 2. This particular application is adaptable to levers operating on the face of the voting machine 2 which move in a circular manner. To accommodate this mechanical ballot, in addition, it is necessary to incorporate and install the lever system as shown in FIGURE 3. Since FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4 work in full cooperation with each other, they are explained as a unit.

Operation Reference is made to FIGURE 1 showing the mechanical ballot 1. The ballot is procured from the registrant in charge of the voting station. The voter then proceeds to private quarters where he or she makes his or her selection on the ballot by depressing the selector buttons next to the candidates names the voter wishes to be elected. After completing the selection of the candidates of the voters choice, the mechanical ballot is then placed on the face of the voting machine (FIGURE 1) in the following manner:

The ballot is moved in direction A as illustrated in FIGURE 1; then in direction B to completely set the levers on the face of the Voting machine with vertical moving levers.

The movement of the mechanical ballot in direction A places the depressed selectors of the mechanical ballot above the levers on the face of the voting machine. The movement in direction B contacts all of the levers and moves them in a vertical direction to a position to register the voters selection of canidates. When the mechanical ballot is completely in the lower position on the face of the voting machine, the vote button could be pressed to tabulate the votes into the machine counter. By moving the ballot in a reverse or C direction (FIGURE 1), the mechanical ballot is raised and removed from the face of the voting machine. The ballot is then placed on a flat surface so that all the selectors are returned to a raised position on the re-useable ballot for a new selection of candidates.

The procedure in using the mechanical ballot as shown in FIGURE 2 is somewhat similar in step procedure as described in the preceding paragraph. This particular type of voting machine requires a mechanical ballot with holes 11 and 11' (FIGURE 2) at the top of the mechanical ballot to engage with the tapered pivot pins as shown in 10 and 10 (FIGURE 3) and 10 (FIGURE 4).

When the mechanical ballot is resting on the tapered pivot pins, the lock-pin 19 releases the lever 14 (FIG- URE 4) so that the levers can move. The mechanical ballot with the selectors, preferably buttons with detents, moves in a circular direction E (FIGURE 3) in a path parallel to the gyration of the segments formed by the levers in the face of the voting machine (note FIGURE The movement of the selectors contacting the levers on the front side of the voting machine move then to register the voters selection. When the mechanical ballot is in the down position, the voting button in the voting machine could be pressed and the selection tabulated. The mechanical ballot is then moved in a counter-clockwise direction opposite to direction E (FIGURE 3). The mechanical ballot is then removed from the voting machine, and placed on a flat surface to restore all the selectors to a raised position for a new selection of candidates.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a voting machine, a mechanical ballot, comprising:

(a) means to mount the mechanical ballot on the front face of the said voting machine;

(b) handle means for carrying the said mechanical ballot and placing the said ballot in position on the front face of the said voting machine;

(c) selector means mounted in the face of the said mechanical ballot for selecting the candidates;

((1) the said mechanical ballot having at least one selection slate for candidates; and

(e) at least one slot means on the said selection slate for inserting the candidates names.

2. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selector means are' arranged in a vertical pattern to work with a vertical operating lever voting machine.

3. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selector means is a button held in a selected position by a detent.

4. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1, where the said mounting means for the said mechanical ballot includes:

(a) synchronization lever in combination with a pivot pin, the said pivot pin supporting the said mechanical ballot in position on the front panel of the said voting machine; and

(b) hole mounting means in the said mechanical ballot for mounting the said ballot onto at least one said pivot pin.

5. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the selector means are mounted in a horizontal pattern.

6. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the synchronization levers are held from movement by a lock-pin held in a locked position by a spring.

7. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the said selector means is a button held in a selected position by a detent.

8. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selector means is arranged in a horizontal pattern to work with a horizontal operating lever voting machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,306 5/1906 Newcomb 235-51 881,821 3/1908 Newcomb 235-51 969,718 9/ 1910 Newcomb et al. 2355 1 1,487,493 3/ 1924 Tolman 235-50 3,178,107 4/1965 Fagan 23556 3,249,297 5 1966 Wilcox 235-50 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner STANLEY .A. WAL, Assistant Examiner