US2076448A - Copy holder - Google Patents

Description

April fi, 1937. DODDS 2,076,448

COPY HOLDER Filed Nov.' 2. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. DODDS COPY HOLDER April 6, 1937.

Filed Nov. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 2, 1955 all 3mm Nuyenfi Dodds,

N. DODDS COPY HOLDER April 6, 1937.

Filed Nov. 2. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 6, 1937.

N. DIODIDS COPY HOLDER Filed Nov. 2, 1935 5 Shets-Sheet 5 Patented. Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claim.

This invention relates to copy holders and more particularly to copy holders for use with typewriting machines or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a copy holder which is so constructed that it may be permanently attached to a desk, and particularly to a desk of the drop leaf type, without interfering with the closing of the desk, the device being so constructed that it may be collapsed or m moved to inoperative position, in which position the device will not interfere with the operation 01' opening and closing the desk.

Another object of this invention is to provide a copy holder of this character which is constructed in a manner whereby the line shifting lever will automatically be coupled with the shifting mechanism when the holder is moved to an operative position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a copy holder of this type which embodies means 20 whereby the holder may be securely looked in operative position so that the device cannot accidentally collapse during the use thereof.

A still fu'rtherobject of this invention is to provide an improved coupling between the base and 25 the holder proper so that the holder can be moved or shifted from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position in a single swinging movement, the coupling being so constructed that an edge of the holder will rest upon the base in either an operative or inoperative position.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved paper holding means on the shiftable holder together with means for accommodating sheets of varying widths.

35 A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved operating means for the shiftable copy holder which includes. means whereby the operator of the device may, upon adjustment of the operating means, be enabled to shift the .holder for a distance equal to one line, as an example, at a very rapid rate and without requiring the operator to pausein order to shift the holder for the desired distance. In the present instance this is accomplished by an adjustable means associated with the operating means which can be adjusted at will and which will permit the copying of material irrespective of whether the material is printed or typewritten, or written by hand, and irrespective of the space from line to line.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out 55 in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the device being secured to a desk which is shown in fragmentary form.

Figure "2 is an end elevation of the device in collapsed or inoperative position with the typewriter and supporting table shifted to inoperative position within the desk which is shown in verti cal section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the copy holder.

Figure 4 is a detail rear elevation of the holder, showing the device in operative position, as indicated by full lines, and'showing in dotted lines the collapsed or inoperative position of the holder.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of F18. 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5. I

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I--'| of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 6.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the holder tensioning means.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 5..

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 5.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the braking means for the holder, the parts being shown in spaced apart relation for facility of illustration.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 9.

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line lt-IS of Fig. 1.

Figure 1"! is a sectional view taken on the line lI-l'l of Fig. 16.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on the line I8l8 of Fig. 16. v

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on the line lQ-IS of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, the letter D designates generally a desk of conventional construction which is provided with a typewriter table or platform P of the disappearing type on which a conventional typefwith a .second barrel 24, the pur forwhlch moval of the holder from the desk platform in orderto permit the movement of the platform to inoperative position, and in addition such holders cannot be fastened so that they will not shift during the use thereof.

In the present instance I have provided a base member including a plate 28 which is adapted to lie flat upon the supporting platform P, preferably with the forward portion of the base plate 28 disposed beneath the rear legs of the typewriter T. By placing the forward portion of the base plate 20 beneath the rear legs of the typewriter T, when the typewriter is secured to the platform P the plate '28 will likewise be held in a fixed position. The base member also includes a vertically disposed plate 2| integral with the base plate 20 and which is adapted, when the device is secured beneath the typewriter T, to be disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the rear of the typewriter. A second plate 22 is disposed beneath the plate 28, being fastened thereto in any suitable manner, and is provided at its forward edge with a barrel 23, and at its rear edge will be hereinafter described.

A channeled standard generally designated as 25 is mounted on the base member, and includes a rear plate 26, guides 21 along the opposite vertical edges thereof, and a bottom or locking member 28 which projects forwardly of the lower ends of the guides 21. The locking member 28 is adapted to engage beneath headed members 29 secured to the base plate 28. In the present instance there are two of these locking members .28, and two headed members 28, although it is obvious that these members 28 may be connected together if desired.

When the copy holder standard 25 is in a vertical operative position the locking tongues 28 will be disposed with the forward portions thereof disposed beneath the headed members 28. The standard 25 is held in locked position with respect to the base member by means of a lock ing arm 38 carried by a shaft 3| which is rotatable, in the barrel 24. The shaft 3| has the end opposite from the arm 30 bent as at 32 so asto form a handle or operating lever which is disposed, when in locked position at one side of the standard 25. The rear plate 26 at its lower end may be provided with a strike plate 33 against which the arm 36 may engage, it being .understood that the standard 25 may be constructed out of sheet metal of suilicient lightness to keep the weight of the device down to a minimum, and yet of sufficient strength to prevent undue bending of the standard when the arm 38 is swung into locked position. 6

The copy holder standard 25 is secured to the vertical base plate 2| by means of a pin 34 which is threaded into ,the plate 2| at a point upwardly from the base plate 28, and this pin 34, which is a headed pin, engages in an arcuate slot 35 of substantially. c-shape with one end of the slot substantially vertical. The configuration of this slot 35-is clearly shown in Figure 4. Preferably the rear plate 26 is provided with an offset portion 36 in which the slot 35 is disposed, so that the head of the pin 34 will not affect any of the other movable parts carried by the copy holder standard 25. This slot 35 is of such a shape that the standard 25 may be readily swung from a vertical operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, to a horizontal inoperative position, as shown in dotted lines in this figure, and in either position one edge of the standard 25 will rest upon'the base plate 20.

A channelled sheet holdingmember, generally designated as 31, is slidably mounted on the standard 25, and comprises a front plate 38 provided with guides 38 on opposite edges thereof which are adapted to slidably engage the guides 21. The sheet holding member'31 is provided with a top wall 48 having spaced apart slots 4 through which resilient members 42 are adapted to project. The lower ends of the springs 42 are secured as at 43 to the inside surface of the front plate 38, and the upper ends of the springs 42 are secured in any suitable manner to a sheet holding clamp 44 of substantially L-shape which has one leg thereof disposed over the top wall 40 and the other leg disposed in dependent relation over the top of the front wall 38 and provided with a rolled portion 45, as shown in Figs.

10 and 12. This clamping member 44 may be shifted forwardly to the limit of the slots 4|, and 1 normally the springs 42 hold the rolled portion 45 tightly against the upper portion of the front plate 38 so as to'permit the insertion of the upperedge of the copy material between this member 44 and the holder member 31. A barrel 46 is formed at the rear portion of the horizontal leg of the clamping member 44, and one leg of a substantially U-shaped sheet holding member 41 is adapted to engage in this barrel 46. The other leg of the sheet holding member 41 is free and is adapted to loosely hold sheets which have been turned back over the top of the holder 31. This member 41 may be shifted laterally of the holder 31 ,so as to accommodate sheets of varying sizes, and is preferably frictionally held in the barrel 46 so that the member 41 may be adjusted at will lengthwise of the barrel 46 and also rotated to a limited extent within the barrel.

' Selective movement of the copy holding member 31 is accomplished in the following manner: A pair of parallel rods 48 are secured by means of a nut 49 or other fastening means to the top wall 40 between the slots 4|, and these .rods 48 upper end of the rear wall 26. The lower ends of the guide members 58 are fastened to the bottom member 28, and the rods 48 are adapted to freely move longitudinally of the guide mem: bers 50.

A resilient braking member 52 in the formof an elongated-fiat spring with a bowed intermediate portion is positioned in the U-shaped supporting member 5|, and the opposite ends of the braking member 52 frictionally contact with the periphery of the rods 48, the guide members 58 being cut out as at 53 so as to permit contact of the braking member 52 with the rods 48. The

with the braking member 52 moving therewith to the limit of the channel 5!.

A vertically disposed lifting bar 54 is slidably disposed within the stationary holding member 25, having its lower portion slidable through a bracket 55 of substantially L-shape which is fixed to the rear wall 26 adjacent the lower portion of the rear wall, and having its upper portion slidable through the channel member 5|. A pair of opposed lifting members 56 are pivotally secured at their inner ends to the upper end of the lifting bar 54, and are provided with a hole 57 adjacent the outer ends thereof through which a rod 68 projects. Upward movement of the inner ends of these lifting members 56 will cause these members to change their angular relation with respect to the rods 68, with the result that the marginal portions of the holes 5'! will at opposite points engage the periphery of the rods 58 so that the lifting members 56, in the further upward movement of the lifting bar 56, will be held against movement with respect to the rods 38 and thus raise these rods and the parts associated therewith.

When the rods 38 are raised they are held against downward movement by a-pair of holding bars 58 which are interposed between the lifting members 56 and the support 5|. These holding bars 56 are provided with bifurcated inner end portions which loosely engage opposite edge portions of the lifting bar 56, and each bar 58 is provided with a hole to loosely receive a rod 68. Cushioning members 59 are secured to the support 5! on opposite sides of the bar 54, and the holding bars 58 are fulcrumed on these cushioning members so that when the lifting bar 54 is forced downwardly to released position the outer ends of the holding bars 56 will be raised to prevent the marginal portions of the holes therein from gripping the rods 48.

The lifting bar 54 is biased to a lower position by means of a pair of springs 60 disposed in upwardly convergent position and with their divergent ends secured to the bracket 55. The slot 6! in the bracket 55 is preferably longer than the width of the lifting bar 54 so that this bar 56 may have a limited lateral swinging movement. A U-shaped member 62 is secured to the lower end of the lifting bar 54, and the upper horizontal leg of the U-shaped member 62 is preferably longer than the lower leg thereof, and terminates in a vertically disposed cam 63.

A copy holder operating member, generally designated as 54 is rockably carried by the base 28, and comprises a lifting lever or arm 65, one

end of which is loosely disposed between the horizontal legs of the U-shaped member 62. The other end of the lifting lever or arm 65 is integral with a shaft 56 which is rockably mounted in the barrel 23. An operating handle or lever '61'is integral with the shaft 66 and projects forwardly of the base Ziiand is adapted, when the device is in applied position, to be disposed alongside of the typewriter T with its forward end adjacent one end of the keyboard of the typewriter. When the lever 67 is rocked downwardly the lifting arm or lever 65 will be raised thus raising the lifting bar 54 and effecting a raising of the copy holder 31,

In order to permit the copy holder 31 to be raised a predetermined distance at each lowering of the lever 61, I have provided an adjustable cam member '68 provided with a cushioning rib 69. The cam member 68 is fixed to a sleeve 16 which is slidable and rotatable on the lever 61. The lever 61 has a notched collar 'Il fixed to the outer end thereof, and an enlarged sleeve 12 is fixed to the sleeve H and loosely, engages about the collar 12. A pin 13 extends diametrically of the sleeve l2 and is adapted to engage in a selected pair of notches "in the collar ll. Preferably a spring is disposed about the lever 61 between the collar H and the shoulder I6 formed at the juncture of the sleeve 12 with the sleeve 'Il so as to yieldingly maintain the pin 13 in the desired notches H. The periphery of the sleeve 12 may be provided with numbers or other indicia, and

the outer face of the cam member 58 may be provided with'numbers or other indicia so that the operator of the device may determine what movement will be had with respect to the copy holder 31. upon downward movement of the lever 61.

After the copy holder 31 is raised to the desired point; it may be quickly lowered to starting position by raising the lever 61 which will cause the lifting bar 56 to be lowered against the tension of a yieldable stop member 18 which is secured within the stationary holder member 25 at the bottom 26 thereof and between the guide members 50. Stop members i! in the form of bolts or the like are secured to the plate 38 adjacent the lower edge thereof and project inwardly a distance sufficient to contact with the supporting member 5|. Removal of the stopmembers .71 will permit the removal of the slidable copy holder 31 fromthe stationary copy holder member 25.

In the use and operation of this copy holder,

the base member is fixed to a support, either being bolted, clamped or otherwise fastened to the support. In the absence of being bolted or otherwise fixed to the support, the base plate 20 is interposed between the feet of the typewriter T and the platform P and held in fixed position with respect to the platform P by the fastening devices for the typewriter. In operative position the copy holder, including the stationary member 25 and the slidable and shiftable member 31 will be disposed in a vertical position, being releasably locked in such a position by the locking arm 36.

The free end of the raising lever 65 will be en gaged between the parallel legs of the U-shaped member 62, and after the cam 68 has been properly adjusted to determine the distance the copy holder member 31 is to be raised at each lowering of the lever 61, the operator of the device may merely strike the outer end of the lever 61 a sumcient blow to cause the cam 68 to contact with the surface of the platform P, or may grasp the lever 61 with one hand and lower the operating lever 61 until the cam 68 strikes the platform P. It will be seen from this that once the cam 68 has been set to take care of the spacing between the lines of the copy held by the clamping member 44 theoperator can quickly shift the holder. When the copy is clamped on the holder .31 the line of copy is determined by means of a strip l9 carried by a U-shaped member 60 which is rockably and slidably carried by the rear wall 26 in a barrel or barrels 8|. The line gauging strip 18 may be shifted laterally of the face of the holder 31 by lateral shifting of the strip supporting member 80.

Assuming that the holder is in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, if it is desired to close the desk. the holder including the shiftable copy holder 31 and the stationary holder 25 may be swung to a horizontal inoperative position by first swinging the locking lever 32 upwardly to a substantially vertical position so as to release the locking arm 30. The top of the device may then be pulled forwardly so as to swing the lower por tion of the device rearwardly and effect a release of the locking tongues 28 from the headed locking members 29. When the holder is released from the locking members 29, the lower or short leg of the U-shaped member 62 will be moved rearwardly out of engagement with the free end of the lever 62, so that the holder, including the shiftable copy holding member 31 and the stationary mem- 7 ber 25 may be raised and at the same time swung about so that the pin 34 will travel along the length of the slot 35 to substantially the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

The device is moved to operative or vertical position by reversing the foregoing operation. However, when the lever 65 is released from the U-shaped holding member 62 the weight of the operating lever 61 will cause this lever 65 to rise to a point where it is above the holding member 62 when the device is again swung to operative position. In order to take care of this condition, and so that the operator of the device may quickly couple the end of the lever 65 with the holding member 62, the cam 63 is provided. Assuming that the holder has just been swung to operative position and the operating member 64 has not been touched, the coupling between the lifting bar 54 and the lever 65 is automatically eifected by merely raising the free end of the lever 61 so that the free end of the lever 65 will strike the cam 63 and thereby swing the lower portion of the lifting bar 54 laterally against the tension of the springs 68. When the free end of the lever 65 passes the lower end of the cam 63 the springs 60 will automatically swing the coupling member 62 carried by the lower end of the lifting bar 54 into engagement with the free end of the lever 65. Further movement of the lever 65 will be resiliently resisted by the stop member 18. The operating member 64 is now coupled with the lifting bar 54 so that downward rocking of the operating member 64 will effect an upward movement of the lifting members 56 and a consequent raising of the bars 48 and the copy holder 31.

While I have shown the slot 35 as being disposed in the rear wall of the stationary member 25 and the pin 84 secured in the stationary base member 2|, it will be obvious that these members may be readily reversed, that is the slot 35 may be placed in the vertical member 2| and the pin in the rear wall 26.

When the copy holder 31 has been raised to the desired point it may be lowered by raising the end of the lever 61 against the tension of the stop member 18, which will cause the lifting members 56 and the holding members 58 to be rocked to released position. It will be understood that initial upward movement of the copy holder 31 will cause the braking member 52 to move to the top of the supporting member This braking member 52 is tensioned by means of a tensioning lever or bar 82 which has one end secured by means of a bolt 83 to the rear plate or wall 26. The upper end of the lever 82 engages behind the braking memberv 52 at substantially the center thereof, and this upper end of the lever 82 may be moved with respect to the rear wall 26 by means of a t'ensioning bolt 84 which is threaded through the lever 82 and which loosely extends through a slot 85 provided in the lifting bar 54.

downward movement of the slidable copy holder 31 may be easily controlled so as to prevent sudden dropping of the holder when the operating member 64 is raised to released position. This, braking member 52 permits the holder 31 to gravitatingly slide downwardly to starting position with the downward movement cushioned.

What is claimed is:

1. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a paper holding member, one of said members having a curved slot therein, and a pin carried by the other member and engageable-in the slot to adjustably mount the paper holding member on the base member for movement from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position.

2. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a paper holding member, one of said members having a curved slot therein, a pin carried by the other member and engageable in the slot to adjustably mount the paper holding member on the base member for movement from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, and releasable means for locking the paper holding member in a vertical operative position.

3. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a paper holding member, one of said members having a curved slot therein, a pin carried by the other member and engageable in the slot to adjustably mount the paper holding member on the base member for movement from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, and coacting means carried by each of the members for releasably locking the paper holding member in a vertical operative position.

4. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a paper holding member, one of said members having a substantially C-shaped slot therein, a pin carried by the other member and engageable in the slot to adjustably mount the paper holding member on the base member for movement from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position.

5. A device as set forth comprising a base member, aguide member, means carried by each of said members to mount the guide member on the base member for positioning in either a vertical operativeposition or a horizontal inoperative position, a slide engaging the guide member,

means for progressively moving and holding the tical operative position or a horizontal inoperative position, a slide engaging the guide member, means for progressively moving and holding the slide relative to the guide member, an operating lever pivotally carried by the base member, and automatically engageable lever engaging means carried by said first means.

7. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a guide member, means carried by each of said members to mount the guide member on the base member for positioning in either a vertical operative position or a horizontal inoperative position, a slide engaging the guide member, means for progressively moving and holding the slide relative to the guide member, an operating releasable lever engaging means carried by said member may be swung from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, a paper holding means slidably carried by the member, means carried by the member and engaging the paper holding-means to progressively move the paper holding means relative to the member, and operating means carried by the base and engageable with said latter means when the member is in a vertical operative position to progressively raise the paper holding means.

9. A device as set forth comprising a base, a paper holding means carried by the base and in cluding a slide member and means for progressively moving the slide member, mounting means for mounting thepaper holding means on the base in a manner whereby the paper holding means may be adjusted from a vertical operative position to a horizontal inoperative position, an operative lever rockably carried by the base, and means carried by the paper holding means and engageable with the lever when the paper holding means is in a vertical operative position to progressively move the slide member upon rocking of the lever.

10. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a shiftable copy holding member carried by the base, operating means for shifting said copy holding member, and spring-pressed means carried by said operating means to limit the movement thereof.

11. A device as set forth comprising a'base member, a shiftable copy holding member carried by the base, rockable operating means carried by the said base member and shifting said copy holding member, means carried by said operat- 5 ing means to limit the movement thereof, and

spring-pressed locking means for holding said latter means in adjusted position.

12. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a shiftable copy holding member, means 50 for mounting said copy holding member on the base, rockable operating means for moving said copy holding member in anupward direction,

releasable locking means for holding said copy holding member against movement in a down-, ward direction, means carried by said operating means to limit the movement thereof in one direction, and spring-pressed locking means for adjusting said latter means.

13, A device as set forth comprising a base member, a shiftable copy holding member, rockable operating means for said copy holding mem-' ber, a cam carried by said operating means and engageable with a support for the device to limit rocking of the operating means, and means for adjusting said cam.

14. A device as set forth comprising a base, a shiftable copy holding member mounted on the base, rockable operating means-carried by the base for shifting said copy holding member relative to the base, a cam shaped limiting means for said operating means, and means for adjustably mounting said limiting means 'on a portion of said operating means. A

15. A device as set forth comprising a base, a shiftable copy holding member mounted on the base, rockable operating means carried by the base for shifting said copy holding member relative to the base, a swingable limiting means carried by said operating means to limit the movement of said operating means, and means for mounting said limiting means for movement with said operating means.

16. A device as set forth comprising a base member, a shiftable copy holding member carried by the base member, operating means for shifting said copy holding member; means-for adjustably mounting said copy holding member on the base member, and automatically engageable coupling means carried by said copy holding memberwherebyto couple said operating means with said copy holding member when saidcopy'holding member is disposed in operative position.

member, a shiftable COPY holding member carried 40 17. A device as set forth comprising a base' by the base member, an operating lever'for.said

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