US546896A

US546896A - Key for type-writers

Info

Publication number: US546896A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1912-09-24

Description

(No Model.)

W. B.-LILLARD. KEY FOR TYPE WRITERS.

No. 546,896. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

FIG. .1".

0 lllllllilllllllll UNITE drains \VILLlAM B. LILLARD, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

KEY FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 546,896, dated September 24, 1895. Application filed June 24, 1895 Serial No. 553,900. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. LILLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keys for Type-Writers and Like Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in keys for type-writing machines, linotype-machines, and like instruments where the keys are struck repeatedly by an expert operator, and it is intended to relieve the wear on the fingers and joints of the operator and to facilitate the operation of the key; and the said invention consists in providing a cushion or pad for the key having on the upper side or portion struck by the fingers a plurality of tongues or prongs of soft resilient material, which will be firm enough to press the key downward, as desired, and yet will be sufficiently elastic to tend to lift the fingers therefrom, thus not only compensating for irregularities of touch or force in striking the keys, but also preventing the fingers from sticking to the key, and at the same time rendering the strain on the finger-tips and joints of the fingers less wearying.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same lotters throughout both views.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of three of the keys provided with my improved cap, and Fig. 2 represents one of the keys in side elevation and showing the cap in section.

A represents the key, which is provided with a socket B, in which the cap-piece O is mounted. This cap-piece is made of rubber or felt or other like soft and elastic material,but preferably of rubber, and slips into the socket B, or it may be secured to the said socket or to the said key in any desired way. The top of this cap-piece O is provided with a plurality of upwardly-projecting tongues or prongs 0,

preferably of the same material as the bottom of the cap-piece and of the proper proportions as to height and thickness as to yield the requisite amount of softness and resiliency to the touch, the proportions being dependent to a large degree upon the nature of the material employed.

Instead of making the bottom piece and the prongs of the same material, the prongs may be inserted like bristles in a brush, if desired.

The cap-piece should preferably be of soft rubber made integral with the prongs, and the various cap-pieces may be detachably mounted in the sockets, so as to enable the operator to change one or all of them, if desired.

The appliance is primarily intended for use by expert operators where the wear and tear on the fingers is very great, and where it is not necessary to mark or letter the keys; but the keys may be marked or lettered on the rim of the socket or in any other convenient place, or separate attachments might be used for marking the keys, if desired.

It will be seen that the cap-piece may be mounted on the key in a great variety of ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A cap for the keys of typewritingor like machines having a plurality of soft elastic prongs or tongues adapted to be struck by the finger when the key is operated, substantially as described.

2. A cap for the keys of typewriting or like machines consisting of a base piece attached to the key, and provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting prongs of soft rubber adapted to be struck by the finger in operating the key, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a key for typewriting or like machines, of a socket attached to or integral with the key, and a rubber cap piece mounted in said socket and provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting prongs or tongues adapted to be struck by the finger in operating said key, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. LILLARD.

Witnesses:

GARRETT Biaown", JOHN J. SAUCIER.