US3614184A

US3614184A - Record player

Info

Publication number: US3614184A
Application number: US798592A
Authority: US
Inventors: Yasuro Yawata; Nobuhiro Nakae
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1968-04-26
Filing date: 1969-02-12
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19
Also published as: DE1908564B2; NL6902979A; FR2006989A1; DE1908564A1; GB1263773A

Abstract

A record player in which a turntable, a pickup, a phonomotor driving said parts, etc. are combined into a unit and the cover thereof is opened or closed in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the unit, so that the unit is raised to come out of the upper surface of the cabinet of the record player when the record player is uncovered for use and the said unit is lowered to be enclosed inside the cabinet when the record player is covered and not used, thereby reducing the size of the record player as well as markedly facilitating the handling thereof.

Description

United States Patent Yasuro Yawata;

Nobuhiro Nakae, both of Tokyo, Japan [21] Appl. No. 798,592

[22] Filed Feb. 12, 1969 [72] Inventors [54] RECORD PLAYER 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 312/8, 312/27 [51] Int. Cl A47b 81/06 [50] Field ofSearch 312/272,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,327 6/1953 Swanson 312/8 3,431,040 3/1969 Phelps et al 312/8 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,807 9/1947 France 312/27 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Att0rneyStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT: A record player in which a turntable, a pickup, a phonomotor driving said parts, etc. are combined into a unit and the cover thereof is opened or closed in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the unit, so that the unit is raised to come out of the upper surface of the cabinet of the record player when the record player is uncovered for use and the said unit is lowered to be enclosed inside the cabinet when the record player is covered and not used, thereby reducing the size of the record player as well as markedly facilitating the handling thereof.

PATENTEU 19 3514.184

- sum 1 or 4 INVENTORS l/MLLRO lfRWRTH IIOMUHRO 00 /01 HTT /WE y! PATENTEBum 19 ISII 3,614,184 sum 2 nr 4 INVENTDRS Rsum lnvnm woauumo 41mm:

fiTT RNEyS PAIENIEUum 19 I97! SHEET 3 OF 4 INVEAHDRS /HsuR ylwnrq NOBWHRD Mwm R'TT RIVEyS PAIENTEIInm 19 Ian SHEEI u 0F 4 IN V EN TDRj qpsu-no ymvnm, NDBuIHRONDKDE HTTP/H1575 RECORD PLAYER The present invention relates to a device for raising and lowering the record player unit. The unit consists of a tumtable, a pickup, a phonomotor for driving the parts mentioned and others parts. The unit is constructed so that it moves in conjunction with the cover of the record player. When the cover is opened, the player unit is raised and set into playing condition. When the cover is closed or when the player is not used, the player unit is lowered and enclosed inside the cabinet of the player, thus greatly'reducing the size of the record player.

The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood according to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional record player;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the condition when the conventional record player is uncovered; 7

FIGS. 3 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the record player,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the condition when the cover of the player is opened,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the condition when the cover is opened,

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the condition when the cover of the player is closed, 1

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing essential parts of the raising and lowering mechanism of the present player,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing essential parts of the player unit and the raising and lowering mechanism in assembled condition,

FIG. 9 is a verticalsectional view of an essential portion of FIG. 8, and

FIG. 10 is a partially perspective view showing the player unit omitting other essential parts and showing the condition when the said unit is urged in one direction.

Conventional record players of this type are constructed in such a manner as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conventional type of a record player consists of a turntable l, a pickup 2, a table plate 3 as well as a phonomotor (not shown in the drawing) for driving the above-mentioned mechanism. This player unit is enclosed inside the cabinet 4 of the record player and one or more hinges 5 have been attached to the side face of the cabinet 4 in order to mount a cover 6 on the record player so that the cover 6 may be freely opened or closed.

In these conventional record players, however, if an automatic changer mechanism is contained under the cover and a long spindle 7 protrudes from the turntable l, a cover 6 large enough for containing this automatic changer mechanism has to be provided, which disadvantageously and markedly enlarges the size of the player unit.

The present invention, in view of the above-mentioned disadvantage seen in conventional record players, is intended to eliminate various defects found in the conventional products. One embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail as follows, referring to FIGS. 3 to 10. In FIGS. 3 to 10, numeral 11 indicates a table plate, 12 indicates an upper surface plate mounted on the table plate 11, 12' indicates a pickup rotatably fixed on the

upper surface plate

12, 13 indicates a turntable rotatably fixed on the

upper surface plate

12, and 14 indicates the spindle of an automatic changer mechanism which is projecting high from the turntable 13. It goes without saying that a player mechanism such as an electric motor for driving the turntable plate 11, which is omitted herein for the convenience of explanation. The player unit 15 is constituted in the manner described above. Numeral 16 indicates the cabinet of the record player and a hollow portion 17 is formed in the upper surface portion thereof. A cavity 18 sufficiently large to enclose the player unit 15 with some allowances is provided inside the hollow portion 17. Numeral 19 indicates a plate for mounting levers having substantially a channel-shaped section. This mounting plate 19 is fixed at the inside surface of the cabinet 16, utilizing mounting holes 21 on the flange portions of the mounting plate 19, by means of fixing screws, etc. (not shown in the drawings). Numeral 22 indicates a bent arm-shaped lever, the bent portion of which is provided with a rotating shaft 23 projecting from one side of thelever 22. Numerals 24 and 25 are holes provided in both ends of the lever 22. Numeral 26 is a pivotal shaft rotatably mounting this lever 22 on the mounting plate 19, and the end of said shaft 26 is guided to the rear face of the mounting plate 19 through the shaft hole 23' in the shaft portion 23 of the lever 22 and the mounting hole 27 of the mounting plate 19, and fixed on the rear surface by a washer 28 and a screw 29. Numeral 30 indicates a pin whose small diameter shaft portion 30 is fixed through a hole 24 provided in said lever 22. Numeral 31 indicates a T-shaped lever. The ends of lever portions 32 and 33 formed in a bent arm shape are provided with

holes

34 and 35, respectively. The hole 34 fixes the small diameter shaft portion 30' of a pin 36, as is the case with the hole 24 of the lever 22. The remaining portion 37 of the lever 31 is provided with a portion 38 for mounting the lever 31 on the cover. Numeral 39 is a shaft for rotatably mounting this lever portion 31 on the mounting plate 19. The shaft 39 is inserted into the hole 42 of the mounting plate 19 through the hole 40 of the lever 31 and a spring 41, and fixed on the rear face of the mounting plate 19 by means of a washer 43 and a screw 44. Numeral 45 indicates a connecting bar whose both ends are provided with

holes

46 and 47, respectively. The connecting bar 45 is rotatably fixed to the hole 25 of the lever 22 and to the hole 35 of the lever portion 33 by pins 48 and 49, respectively.

Numerals

50 and 51 are guiding pieces fixed on the bottom surface of one end of the turntable 11 and form guiding

holes

52 and 53.

Numerals

54 and 55 are studs provided on the guiding

pieces

50 and 51, respectively. The

studs

54 and 55 are provided with supporting

plates

56 and 57, respectively, and the

plates

56 and 57 are fastened onto the studs by means of washers 58 and 59 and

nuts

60 and 61. The guiding

holes

52 and 53 formed respectively by the supporting

plates

56 and 57 constituting the lower portions of the holes receive in playing fit the pins 30 and 36 fixed in the

holes

24 and 34 of the

levers

22 and 31 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. A raising and lowering mechanism consisting of the mounting plate 19, the

levers

22 and 31, etc. is provided at the inside of both side plates of the cabinet 16, and the guiding

pieces

50 and 51 fixed on the bottom surface 62 of one end of the turntable 1 l are also provided on the bottom surface 62 of the other of the turntable corresponding to the provision of the said mechanism at both sides of the cabinet 16. Numeral 63 indicates a spring which is provided between the bottom surface of the turntable 11 and a rear surface guiding plate 64 which always presses the turntable 11 backward. Numeral 65 indicates a guide groove vertically provided in the rear surface plate 66 of the cabinet 16. This guide groove 65 is made sufficiently large to cover the traveling range of the lever 31. The portion 38 of the lever 31 for mounting the cover projects outside of the rear surface plate 66 through the guide groove 65. Numeral 67 indicates a cover the one surface end of which is fixed on the cover mounting portion 38 and the other end of which is provided with a handle portion 68. Numeral 69 is an attraction piece provided on the inner surface of the other end of the cover. Numeral 70 indicates a magnet provided on the upper surface of the hollow portion 17 of the cabinet 16 opposite to the said attraction piece. The above-mentioned spring 41 acts in such a direction as to open the cover 67. However, the spring force acting on the cover 67 actually becomes zero-balanced by the gravity acting on the cover 67.

The device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and now an explanation will be given about the operation of this device. FIG. 5 shows the device when the cover 67 is opened. In this condition, the player unit 15 is situated in the upper portion of the hollow portion 17 of the cabinet 16 and the player is in used condithat the cover 67 is maintained in a stable and opened condition by means of pressure of the spring. The pins 30 and 36 fixed respectively in the

holes

24 and 34 of the

levers

22 and 31 are received in playing fit by the guiding holes 52 and 53,

but the player unit 15 as a whole is pressed backward by the spring 63 so that the player unit can maintain a stable, horizontal position.

When the handle portion 68 of the cover 67 is pressed in this condition applying a force in the direction of the arrow against the pressure of the spring 41, the

levers

22 and 31 are turned about the fulcrums of mounting shafts 26 and 39 and the end portions of the

levers

22 and 31 describe two loci as shown by the broken lines. The ends of the

levers

22 and 31 fall down describing arcuate loci, while the player unit 15 is pressed backward by the spring 63. The pins 30 and 31 fixed on the ends of the

levers

22 and 31 are received in play fit in the guiding holes 52 and 53 of the guiding

pieces

50 and 51, and so the pins 30 and 31 move in the direction of the arrow along the guiding holes 52 and 53 as shown in FIG. 9, while they fall down describing the arcuate loci. On the other hand, the lever portion of the lever 31 fixing the cover 67 travels upward along the guiding groove 65 provided in the rear surface plate 66 so that the cover 67 is closed as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, the attraction piece 69 provided on the inner surface of the cover is attracted by the magnet 70 provided in the upper surface of the hollow portion 17 of the cabinet 16, thereby securing the closed condition. It is to be noted that the force of attraction between the attraction piece 69 and the magnet 70 is set to be greater than the force of the spring 41 acting as to open the cover 67. The levers 22 and 32 turn about the fulcrums by an angle approximately so that the cover changes from the opened condition to the closed condition. During this stage of operation, the pins 30 and 36 move along the guiding holes 52 and 53 respectively by a distance T as apparent from FIG. 5. Since the guiding holes 52 and 53 are formed lengthwise equal to or greater than the distance T, the player unit is lowered vertically maintaining the horizontal posture, independently of the loci of the movement of the

levers

22 and 31.

In order to change the condition that the cover 67 is closed as in FIG. 6 into the condition that the cover 67 is opened as in FIG. 5, the handling portion 68 is held to apply upwardly a force to the handling portion 68 so that the coupling of the attracted piece 69 and the magnet 70 is released, then the cover 67 can be easily opened by the action of the spring 41. In this case, the

levers

22 and 31 describe loci reverse to those described when the cover 67 is closed.

The raising and lowering device of a record player according to the present invention, as apparent from the foregoing embodiment, is provided with a mechanism for raising and lowering the player unit consisting of link mechanisms and other parts in the cabinet of the record player, and a cover is fixed to a part of the raising and lowering mechanism and the player unit is fixed on the upper portion of the said mechanism, so that the player unit is moved upward maintaining its horizontal posture when the cover is opened and the player unit is moved downward maintaining its horizontal posture when the cover is closed. Accordingly, the player unit is arranged in the predetermined position of use only when the record player is played, and enclosed in the cabinet of the record player when it is not used. Therefore, if an automatic changer mechanism is contained in the record player, the player device itself or cabinet can be made much smaller as compared with the conventional record player shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention is also effective in that it is raised and lowered keeping its horizontal posture so that the height of the cabinet is further reduced. Furthermore, the player unit can be enclosed in the cabinet or set into playing condition in conjunction with the cover, thereby making its handling very easy and providing more advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A record player, comprising in combination: a cabinet andits cover; a player unit having a turntable, pickup arm and phonomotor and means for raising and lowering said player unit in a horizontal posture in interlocking relationship with opening and closing operations, respectively, of said cover. in-

cluding a raising and lowering mechanism comprising an L shaped lever having its center part pivotally supported on a mounting plate of said cabinet, a T-shaped lever with its center part pivotally supported on said mounting plate and a connecting bar with its respective end parts pivotally engaged with one end of said L-shaped lever and the end part of the leg portion of said T-shaped lever, the other end part of said L- shaped lever and one end of the arm portion of said T-shaped lever being engaged with said player unit underside thereof. the other end of said arm portion being secured to one side portion of said cover.

2. A record player according to claim 1, wherein said player unit further comprises guiding pieces defining guiding slots therein on the underside surface of the unit, and said T-shaped lever and L-shaped lever having engaging pins mounted on their respective end parts for slidable engagement with said guiding slots.

3. A record player according to claim 1, wherein said L- shaped lever or T-shaped lever is pivotally supported at the center parts by a pivot shaft carrying a spring member therearound to urge the cover to an open position.

4. A record player according to claim 1, wherein a first attraction piece formed by an iron piece is mounted on that side of the cover which is not connected to the lever, and a second attraction piece formed by a magnet which is mounted on the position opposite to said first attraction piece attracts said first attraction piece.

Claims

1. A record player, comprising in combination: a cabinet and its cover; a player unit having a turntable, pickup arm and phonomotor and means for raising and lowering said player unit in a horizontal posture in interlocking relationship with opening and closing operations, respectively, of said cover, including a raising and lowering mechanism comprising an L-shaped lever having its center part pivotally supported on a mounting plate of said cabinet, a T-shaped lever with its center part pivotally supported on said mounting plate and a connecting bar with its respective end parts pivotally engaged with one end of said Lshaped lever and the end part of the leg portion of said T-shaped lever, the other end part of said L-shaped lever and one end of the arm portion of said T-shaped lever being engaged with said player unit underside thereof, the other end of said arm portion being secured to one side portion of said cover.

3. A record player according to claim 1, wherein said L-shaped lever or T-shaped lever is pivotally supported at the center parts by a pivot shaft carrying a spring member therearound to urge the cover to an open position.