US3807770A

US3807770A - Memo pad

Info

Publication number: US3807770A
Application number: US00136964A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Bosland; J Giltzow
Original assignee: Ketcham and Mcdougall Inc
Current assignee: Ketcham and Mcdougall Inc
Priority date: 1971-04-23
Filing date: 1971-04-23
Publication date: 1974-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-30
Also published as: GB1306195A

Abstract

A memo pad device for unrolling paper from a paper roll positioned at the head of the device and guiding the unrolled paper first beneath and then across a writing surface on the device so that the unrolled paper advances from the foot to the head of the device is described. The device enables a user to record a message continuously on the unrolled paper as it advances across the writing surface.

Description

United States Patent Bosland et a1.

MEMO PAD Inventors: James M. Bosland, Wayne; James Hunter Giltzow, Roseland, both of NJ.

Ketcham & McDougall, lnc., Roseland, NJ.

Fi1ed: Apr. 23, 1971 App1 No.: 136,964

Assignee:

US. Cl. 281/11 Int. Cl B42d 19/00 Field of Search 281/6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,

281/12,13,14;282/3 B, 4, 5, 6, 7,12 B, 13, 14,15 R, 15 A, 15 B, 16 R, 16 A, 16 B, 16 C, 17,18 R, 18 A, 19 A, 19 B, 20 R, 20 A,

20 B, 21 R, 21 A, 21 8,21 C; 197/133 P References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1/1930 Moran 281/11 [451 Apr. 30, 1974 3,163,446 12/1964 Muncy 281/11 2,680,029 6/1954 Gintovt 282/16 R 1,974,874 9/1934 Miller 282/12 B 2,172,913 9/1939 Rose 282/21 C UX 1,551,930 9/1925 Buchheim.. 281/6 1,730,597 10/1929 Williams 281/8 Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Attorney, Agent, or FirmDarby & Darby ABSIRACT A memo pad device for unrolling paper from a paper roll positioned at the head of the device and guiding the unrolled paper first beneath and then across a writing surface on the device so that the unrolled paper advances from the foot to the head of the device is described. The device enables a user to record a message continuously on the unrolled paper as it advances across the writing surface.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAmmau Y Islam-.770

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ll I 'H|l g INVENTORS' JAMES M. BOSLAND B JAMES HUNTER GILTZOW ATTORNEYS Pmmwm mw 33071770 SHEUEUF 3 FIG. 3;

' INVENTORS JAMES M. BOSLAND 'BY J'AMES HUNTER GILTZOW A hs M ATTORNEYS PATENTEUAPRSOIQM $801,770- sumaurs A FIG. 5

I I I I I I 36 k .INVENTORS JAMES M. BOSLAND BY JAMES HUNTER GII TZOW ATTORNEYS MEMO PAD The invention described herein relates, in general, to memo pad devices which are generally used for recording messages.

In devices of this general type heretofore available, a paper roll was positioned at the head of the device. As paper was unrolled from the roll, the unrolled paper was guided across a writing surface so that it advanced from the head to the foot of the device. A major problem with these devices was the impossibility of recording a long message on the unrolled paper in a single continuous passage. This resulted because the head to foot or top to bottom direction of the advancing unrolled paper coincided with the top to bottom direction of normal writing. Accordingly, when writing long messages using one of these prior devices, it was necessary to write a portion of the message equivalent to the length of the writing surface, advance the paper downwardly until blank unrolled paper covered the writing surface and then continue writing another portion of the message approximately equivalent to the length of the writing surface. When the message was finally completed and the paper was torn off the device, the message on the paper appeared in segments or portions equal in length to the length of the writing surface of the device with the first portion of the message being at the bottom of the unrolled paper and the last portion of the message being at the top of the unrolled paper. Obviously, this was a very unsatisfactory method of transcribing long messages on memo paper.

The device of this invention solved the abovementioned problem by causing the unrolled paper in the device to advance forwardly from the bottom to the top of the device across a writing surface. This permits a writer to transcribe a portion of a message on a portion of the unrolled paper equivalent in length to the length of the writing surface, advance the unrolled paper until blank paper covers the writing surface, and continue writing the message in normal sequence. When the message is completed, the paper is torn off the device and can be read in continuous sequence from the top of the paper to the bottom of .the paper.

Another feature of the device of this invention is that the paper may be advanced across the writing surface of the device in three different ways. The first and most convenient way is by depressing a bar on the writing surface which actuates a motor to automatically advance the paper forwardly. The second way is to manually turn a thumb wheel positioned on the writing surface. The third way is to grasp the paper and manually pull it forwardly.

The automatic advancement of the paper by actuation of the motor is caused by a gear train which is driven by the motor and which drives a shaft having circular drive wheels. A pressure bar positioned above the drive wheels which is spring loaded downwardly forces the unrolled paper into contact with the drive wheels so that it advances forwardly when the motor is actuated. Another feature of this invention is that means are provided for disengaging the gear train from the drive shaft when the thumb wheel is used to manually advance the paper. This feature is important because it would otherwise be extremely difficult to manually advance the paper by either pulling it by hand or by advancing it with the thumb wheel since, to do so, it

would be necessary to overcome the resistance of the gear train and the motor. Further, rotation of the drive wheel shaft when the motor was not actuated could easily damage the drive gears.

Another feature of the device of this invention is that means are provided for tearing off a portion of the paper after a message has been recorded. As mentioned above, the pressure bar at the top of the writing surface is spring-loaded downwardly to cause the paper to contact the drive wheels. The forward or leading edge of this pressure bar is sharpened and turned slightly upwardly so that when the paper is manually pulled rearwardly it will be torn free from the device.

Another feature of the device of this invention is that means are provided for causing the unrolled paper to lie flat on the writing surface of the device. In order to have the paper advance from the foot to the head of the device and still have the paper roll positioned at the head of the device so it does not interfere with the hand of the writer, it is necessary to first loop the unrolled paper beneath the writing surface, then guide the paper through a slot at the foot of the writing surface and finally guide the paper across the writing surface and under the pressure bar positioned at the head of the writing surface. Normally, this looping path of travel would result in the paper on the writing surface bowing upwardly. By a combination of vertical ribs and a reserve S-shaped plate positioned beneath the slot at the foot of the writing surface, and the pressure bar at the head of the writing surface, the bow is removed and the paper lies flat on the writing surface.

Another feature of the device of this invention is that means are provided for disengaging the contact between the pressure bar and the drive rollers when the paper is being manually pulled forwardly. This is accomplished by allowing the spring-loaded pressure bar to rise when the paper is advanced, thus releasing the contact pressure of the rollers. This permits the paper to be advanced across the writing surface relatively easy since it is not necessary to overcome the friction of the drive rollers as the paper is being pulled forwardly. I

Another feature of this device is that wear on the drive rollers is compensated for by the spring biasing of the bar member against the rollers.

These and other objects and features of this invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the following descriptions and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a memo pad device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 taken-along the line 2,-2;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2 with portions cut away to show the internal mechanisms of the device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4 showing the motor and gear train;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the foot portion of the device illustrated in FIG..2; and

FIG. 7. is a front elevational view with part cut away of the foot portion of the device illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a memo pad device is illustrated. The device consists of an upper housing 12 and a lower housing 22. Paper 14 is unrolled from a roll of paper housed beneath the roll cover 20, across the bottom of the device, out through a slot 13 at the foot of the device across the writing surface 15 of the device and beneath a pressure bar 18. In order to advance the paper forwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the user may either depress the bar 17 which actuates the motor and causes automatic advancement of the paper, manually turn the thumb wheel 16, or grasp the leading edge of the paper and pull it forwardly. When the user wishes to tear off a portion of the paper from the device, the user. merely pulls the paper rearwardly so that it engages the upwardly turned lip 19 on the pressure device. The upwardly turned lip 19 is made sufficiently sharp to tear the paper.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper roll 24 is mounted on a circular shaft 28 which is supported by vertically extending support members 26 on each of the lateral sides of the device. The support members 26 each have a hook-shaped portion for receiving the shaft 28. The vertically extending support members 26 are molded into the lower housing 22 of the device. Vertically extending

ribs

30A,30B and 30C are molded into the lateral sides of the upper housing 12. These ribs serve to locate the position of the vertically extending support members 26 so that when a new roll of paper is inserted into the device from the top, the paper roll shaft 28 will slip into the hook-shaped opening on the support members. The paper roll cover is relatively flexible so that it can be easily removed and snapped back into place in the upper housing 22 after a new roll of paper has been inserted.

Referring now to FIGS. 1,2,3 and 5, the mechanisms by which the paper is advanced forwardly (in direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 1) across the writing surface 15 are illustrated. As previously indicated, one method of advancing the paper is by manually turning the thumb wheel 16. Thumb wheel 16 is attached to a shaft 48 which is supported beneath the writing surface of the device. Roller wheels 50 are also attached to the shaft 48. The roller wheels 50 are preferably made of rubber or some other high friction material in order to grasp the paper and advance it forwardly. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the horizontally extending pressure bar 18 has a vertical component 36 on each lateral side of the device. Each of the vertical components 36 has a first slot 48' and a second slot 46' which permit vertical movement of the pressure bar 18 with respect to the fixed

shafts

48 and 46. A third slot 49 is formed in each of the vertical components 36. The

third slot 49' is formed by punching out a portion of the vertical component 36 and bending it inwardly to form a horizontally extending lip 49.

The lip 49 extends into a slot 51 which is formed in the vertical wall 40D in FIG. 2 which illustrates the right side of the device. (On the left side of the device, slot 51 is formed in wall 40C. The structure and operation of the left side vertical component 36 are not described since they are substantially similar to the structure and operation of the right side vertical component 36 illustrated in FIG. 2). Thus, horizontally extending lip 49 extends into slot 51 so that as the vertical component 36 moves upwardly or downwardly with respect to fixed

shafts

48 and 46, lip 49 similarly moves upwardly and downwardly within the fixed slot 51.

Referring to FIG. 2, slot 49 is shown in solid lines. The lowermost solid line which illustrates the bottom edge of slot 49' also defines the top surface of the inwardly extending horizontal lip 49. Since lip 49 extends into the plane of the paper in FIG. 2, only its top surface is visible. The slot 51 which is formed in vertical wall 40D is positioned directly behind and in alignment with the slot 49'. The width of slot 51 is co-extensive with the width of slot 49. However, the length of slot 51 is slightly greater than the length of slot 49'. The extended length of slot 51 is illustrated in FIG. 2 by the dotted lines beneath the solid lines which represent slot 49. The remaining portion of slot 51 (that is, the portion above the dotted lines) is co-extensive with slot 49, and therefore is co-extensive with the two vertical solid lines and the uppermost horizontal solid line which represent slot 49.

The lowermost leg of the generally U-shaped spring member 38 is positioned against the top side of the horizontally extending inwardly turned lip 49. Since the uppermost leg of the spring 38 is positioned against the fixed shaft 46, the lowermost leg of the spring 38 exerts a force against the top side of the lip 49 thereby urging the lip (and consequently, the vertical component 36) vertically downwardly. Thus, the action of the springs 38 on the left and right sides of the device cause the pressure bar 18 to be biased downwardly against the rollers 50 thereby urging the paper into frictional contact with the rollers. However, slots 46 and 48' in the bar vertical components 36 and slots 51 in the

vertical walls

40C and 40D permit the bar to be raised vertically upwardly when paper is manually pulled out from the device. Thus, when paper is manually advanced by grasping the paper and pulling it forwardly the horizontally extending pressure bar 18 is lifted from the rollers 50. This permits the paper to be easily pulled out from the device since it is not necessary to overcome the friction of the rollers 50.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, horizontal wall 40B is positioned beneath the writing surface 15. Horizontal wall 40B is attached to the underside of writing surface 15 by screws 101 which are threaded through horizontal wall 408 into bosses 103 formed on the underside of writing surface 15. Referring to FIG. 5,

vertical walls

40A and 40C depend downwardly from horizontal wall 408.

Vertical walls

40A and 40C support shaft 48 on which the rollers 50 are mounted. As illustrated in FIG. 3, vertical wall 40D is attached to vertical wall 40A by screws which are threaded into wall 40A.

A thirdway to advance the paper across the writing surface 15 is by depression of the bar 17 on the upper housing of the device. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bar 17 is electrically connected to a motor 52 which is supported beneath the writing surface of the device. The electrical connection of the bar 17 to the motor 52 can be accomplished by any means well known in the art such as, for example, connecting one wire from the power source (the batteries in this case) to an electrical conducting element 17A positioned beneath but separated from the bar 17. Other electrical conducting elements 178 are attached to the bar 17 and are electrically connected to the motor 52 by wires or the like. Depression of the bar 17 brings the two electrical conducting elements 17A and 178 into contact thereby completing the circuit from the power source to the motor and energizing the motor. As is well known in the art, the two electrical conducting elements are biased out of engagement with one another (by a spring or the like) so that a force must be applied on bar 17 to bring them into engagement. Energy for the motor is supplied by batteries which are located in a compartment in the underside of the device. A door 62 covers the battery compartment. A latch 64 on the door permits it to be opened to replace worn batteries. The depression of the switch 17 causes the batteries to energize the motor 52. The motor 52 is supported by bracket 54 on wall 40A. Shaft 52 is the output shaft of motor 52. The rotation of shaft 52' results in the rotation of gear 60 which is attached to shaft 52. The gear train 58 which connects the gear 60 to the main drive shaft 48 is positioned between

walls

40A and 40D beneath the writing surface of the device. The gear train 58 is best illustrated in FIG. 4. Gear 60, through the gear train 58 and in a manner well known in the art, causes rotation of main drive shaft 48. Accordingly, depression of the bar 17 actuates the motor causing gear 60 to rotate in a clockwise direction. The rotation of gear 60 is transmitted through the gear train 58 to gear 72 so that shaft 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction. The circular rollers 50 attached to shaft 48 engage the paper and cause it to advance forwardly.

It should be noted that the gear 72 and the thumb wheel 16 are both operably connected to shaft 48. If no provision were made for disengaging the gear train 58 from the main drive shaft 48, it would be almost impossible to turn the thumb wheel 16. Even if the thumb wheel could be turned, it might result in damage to the gear train. Accordingly, a spring clutch 56 is provided to disengage the shaft 48 (which is rotatable within the gear 72) from the gear 72 when the thumb index is employed. The spring clutch consists of a wire spring wound around the shaft 48 and connected through the gear 72. As illustrated in FIG. 4, one end of the spring clutch 56 passes through a first aperture 72 in gear 72 and passes back through a second aperture 72" so that the end of the spring clutch is secured to the gear. Starting from the gear 72, the wire is wound counterclockwise about the shaft. The other end of the wire 56 is free; that is, it is not attached to the shaft. When the gear 72 is rotated in a clockwise direction (from the view illustrated in FIG. 4), the wire imparts rotational movement in the clockwise direction to the shaft 48. This is accomplished because the clockwise rotation of gear 72 causes the wire spring 56 to tighten around shaft 48. However, when the thumb wheel is rotated in a clockwise direction (from the view of FIG. 4), the shaft rotates independently of the gear 72 and consequently the gear is not rotated. This is accomplished because the counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 48 prevents the counterclockwise wound wire spring 56 from tightening on the shaft 48. The wire spring clutch 56 desclosed here is merely a type of frictional clutch. The frictional drag on the counterclockwise wound wire which is induced by clockwise rotation of the shaft 48 causes a tightening of the wire on the shaft; counterclockwise rotation of the shaft induces no frictional drag thereby preventing tightening of the wire 56 on the shaft 48.

An alternate mechanism to disengage the gear train from the main drive shaft when the thumb wheel is employed is the use of a slip gear. For example, in FIG. 4, shaft 65 of gear 66 is free to move in vertical slot 65'.

When the motor causes gear to rotate in a clockwise direction, gear 66 is forced downwardly in slot and into engagement with gear 68. This results in rotation of the main shaft 48. However, when the thumb wheel is moved in a clockwise direction, gear 68 is also caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. Since gear 68 is positioned beneath the gear 66 and since shaft 65 is free to move upwardly in a vertical direction, gear 66 slips upwardly out of engagement with gear 60. This prevents increased resistance on the thumb wheel and also prevents damage to the drive mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7, the mechanisms by which the paper is forced to lie flat on the writing surface 15 are illustrated. From the roll of paper 24, the paper 14 is guided over the bottom of the device to a slot 13 at the foot of the device. A reverse S-shaped member 32 is positioned at the slot 13. The reverse S- shaped member 32 extends the width of the device and forms one wall of the slot 13. Vertically extending ribs 34 which are molded into the lower housing are spaced across the width of the device. The reverse S-shaped member'32 and the baffles 34 coact with the pressure bar 18 to restrict the movement of the paper and prevent the unrolled paper from bowing upwardly on the writing surface of the device. This, of course, makes the paper easier to write on.

While the principles of the invention have now been I made clear in the illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications in structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in the practice ofthe invention, and otherwise which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements, without departing from those principles. The appended claims are, therefore, intended to cover and embrace any such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A memo pad device for use with a paper roll including a flat member having first and second ends, means positioned adjacent said fiat member first end for supporting the paper roll, means positioned adjacent said flat member first end for advancing paper from said supporting means to said flat member and for further advancing paper across said fiat member from said flat member second end to said flat member first end, said advancing means including a laterally extending rotatable member positioned beneath the top surface of said fiat member, means mounted on said rotatable member for frictionally engaging the paper, said advancing means further including first gear means p0- sitioned at one end of said rotatable member, and motor'means positioned beneath said flat member for driving said first gear means in order .to automatically rotate said rotatable member to advance the paper, said advancing means further including a wheel positioned at one end of said rotatable member for manually rotating said rotatable member in a first rotational direction to advance the paper independently of said motor means; a horizontal wall and at least two vertical walls, said horizontal wall being attached to the underside of said flat member; said vertical walls extending downwardly from said horizontal wall; means for forcing the paper into frictional contact with said paper engaging means including a spring member adjacent each of said vertical walls, each spring member having a first end and a second end, a generally U-shaped bar having a horizontal component and two vertical components, said bar horizontal component extending across the top surface of said flat member and being positioned above said paper engaging means, each of said bar vertical components being positioned directly adjacent one of said vertical walls, a first horizontal member extending from each of said vertical walls towards one of said bar vertical components for engaging one end of the adjacent spring member, a second horizontal member extending from each of said bar vertical components towards one of said vertical walls for engaging the other end of said adjacent spring member, said spring members biasing said bar horizontal component into engagement with said paper engaging means for forcing the paper into frictional engagement with said paper engaging means, said spring members being sufficiently resilient to permit said bar horizontal component to be lifted away from said paper engaging means by manually grasping the paper and pulling it upwardly against said bar horizontal component whereby the paper may be manually grasped and pulled forward.

2. The memo pad device recited in claim 1, each of said bar vertical components having a first slot and a second slot, said first and second slots being vertically oriented, the ends of said laterally extending member being positioned within said bar vertical component first slots, each of said vertical wall first horizontal members being positioned within said bar vertical component second slots.

3. The memo pad device recited in claim 2, each of said vertical walls having a third slot said third slot being vertically oriented, each of said bar vertical components having an inwardly turned lip, said lips being positioned within said third slots; said spring member having a first leg and a second leg, said spring first leg being positioned to bear against the bottom surface of said vertical wall first horizontal member, said spring member second leg being positioned to bear against the top surface of said bar vertical component lip.

4. The memo pad device recited in claim 1, means for disengaging said rotatable member from said motor means during manual rotation of said rotatable member.

S. The memo pad device recited in claim 4, said disengaging means including a wire, one end of said wire being attached to said gear means, said wire from said gear means being wound about said rotatable member in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction, the second end of said wire being free.

6. The memo pad device recited in claim 4, said disengaging means including second and third gear members, said second and third gear members being mounted on a second shaft; one of said bracket vertical walls having a fourth slot, said fourth slot being vertically oriented, said second shaft being slidably positioned within said fourth slot; a fourth gear member in operative engagement with said second gear member and a fifth gear member in operative engagement with said third gear member whereby rotation of said fourth gear member causes said third gear member to operatively engage said fifth gear member and rotation of said fifth gear member causes said second shaft to move upwardly in said fourth slot so that said second gear member is out of operative engagement with said fourth gear member.

Claims

1. A memo pad device for use with a paper roll including a flat member having first and second ends, means positioned adjacent said flat member first end for supporting the paper roll, means positioned adjacent said flat member first end for advancing paper from said supporting means to said flat member and for further advancing paper across said flat member from said flat member second end to said flat member first end, said advancing means including a laterally extending rotatable member positioned beneath the top surface of said flat member, means mounted on said rotatable member for frictionally engaging the paper, said advancing means further including first gear means positioned at one end of said rotatable member, and motor means positioned beneath said flat member for driving said first gear means in order to automatically rotate said rotatable member to advance the paper, said advancing means further including a wheel positioned at one end of said rotatable member for manually rotating said rotatable member in a first rotational direction to advance the paper independently of said motor means; a horizontal wall and at least two vertical walls, said horizontal wall being attached to the underside of said flat member; said vertical walls extending downwardly from said horizontal wall; means for forcing the paper into frictional contact with said paper engaging means including a spring member adjacent each of said vertical walls, each spring member having a first end and a second end, a generally U-shaped bar having a horizontal component and two vertical components, said bar horizontal component extending across the top surface of said flat member and being positioned above said paper engaging means, each of said bar vertical components being positioned directly adjacent one of said vertical walls, a first horizontal member extending from each of said vertical walls towards one of said bar vertical components for engaging one end of the adjacent spring member, a second horizontal member extending from each of said bar vertical components towards one of said vertical walls for engaging the other end of said adjacent spring member, said spring members biasing said bar horizontal component into engagement with said paper engaging means for forcing the paper into frictional engagement with said paper engaging means, said spring members being sufficiently resilient to permit said bar horizontal component to be lifted away from said paper engaging means by manually grasping the paper and pulling it upwardly against said bar horizontal component whereby the paper may be manually grasped and pulled forward.

5. The memo pad device recited in claim 4, said disengaging means including a wire, one end of said wire being attached to said gear means, said wire from said gear means being wound about said rotatable member in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction, the second end of said wire being free.