US2598342A - Office machine - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1952 BQYDEN 2,598,342

OFFICE MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1948 I N V EN TOR: Eabe/"f E Hayden M% his Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OFFICE MACHINE Robert E. Boyden, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Marchant Calculating Machine Company, a corporation of California Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,862

3 Claims. (Cl. 45-681) This invention relates to office machines and more particularly concerns the construction and assembly of covers therefor. 7

Covers which completely enclose oifice machines have heretofore required outwardly exposed screws or similar means for attaching the covers to the inside framework of the machine. In order that cover assemblies may be attractive as well as useful, manufacturers of office machines have inclined toward improvements in appearance and styling. Such appearance is notably enhanced by eliminating exposed screws or their equivalent from the outside surface of the covers.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to arrange and securely attach the covers of such machines without using outwardly exposed visible screws or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to attain.

the objective set forth in the primary object of the invention by overlapping and interlocking one or more covers with other covers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine cover assembly in which certain of the covers may be held securely in place without the use of any external or internal screws or the like.

. Other objects will be apparent from detailed description of a preferred form of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side view partially in section showing the manner in which various covers are attached to the framework of the machine and/ or interlocked with other covers.

Fig. 2 is a front view partially in section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 with the front cover removed and illustrating the interlocking relation of the top and bottom covers to the side covers.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the left side cover is secured to the framework of the machine and also illustrating the interlocking of the front cover with that side cover.

2 locked in position by flanges interlocking with flanges of adjacent covers without using any screws or the like, as will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of the invention.

The cover assembly (Figs. 1 and 2) consists of two side covers I and H, a back cover 30, a top or keyboard cover 40, a front cover 60, and a bottom cover or plate 10.

The initial step in assembling the interlocking covers is to attach the side covers to the framework of the machine. Three framework brackets l5, l6, and I! (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and secured to the framework of the machine are provided for supporting side cover ID or H (Fig. 1). For this purpose the brackets have molded thereon, or otherwise secured thereto, grommets 18 (Fig. 2) which are adapted to receive the reduced shank 23 (Figs. 2 and 4) of respective projections l2, l3, and I4 formed on the inside of each side cover l0 and I l. A knob 2| is formed on the end of each shank 23 and after being pressed through the grommet, the knob serves to yieldably hold the shank within the grommet, with the shoulder IQ of a projection [2, I3, or M pressed against said grommet.

If it is preferred to use screws or the like for attaching the side covers to the framework brackets, the screws may be inserted through the brackets into threaded bosses formed on the inside of the covers, the back cover being swung counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 1 to permit the insertion of the screws from the inside of the machine.

In this manner an unbroken exterior finish of the side covers is preserved either by attaching the covers to the framework of the machine without the use of screws or the like, or if screws are used for such attaching, the screws may be inserted into the inside of said covers from the inside of the machine.

As seen in Fig. 5 each side cover I!) and H has formed as a part thereof a laterally extending portion so shaped as to conform with the outline of a shiftable carriage 80 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The extending portion 20 forms a part of the cover design and also aids in preventing the entry of dust into the machine when the carriage is shifted to either of its end positions.

The back cover (Fig. 1) is pivotally supported between similar upper extensions 21 of side covers Ill and H. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the right side extension, for example, carries a spring urged plunger adapted to pass through an aperture formed in an ear 3| of the back cover.

It will be apparent that fixed studs or the like could be carried by the side covers Ill and II in place of the spring urged plungers 35 in which case the studs on the side covers would be inserted into their respective ears 3| of the back cover before the second side cover is attached, the back cover as viewed in Fig. 1 being swung counter-clockwise about the studs so that flanges on the back cover will subsequently overlie and interlock with cooperating flanges on the side covers when the back cover is swung counter-clockwise into proper position.

Back cover 30 is secured against lateral movement by right and left flanges 33 (Fig. 4) there? on overlying and interlocking with rearwardly extending flanges 22 on side covers 10 and H. In addition to being pivotally supported, as described above, the back cover is yieldably secured to the framework of the machine and is urged into interlockin relationship with th id c v rs by tw spr n s. -3 (Fi s .1. attach d ea at on end to respective bracke s 3 1 the insi .o a k co e ,30 and adapted at their-other ends to be drawn by means of a hook or other tool over respective extens ons .8 of b ack ts t l t e bein p viously disc osed a s c red to th f-ramewe k of the machine. When bottom pl e "Us sec as later described, the bottom flange 35 of back cover 3.0-wi1 he inte lock d by a f an e I on he bottom plate ll Fig to comp e e h se r n o cover :30.

' Theton orkeyhqard cover 4 has a e t s (not sh wn) formed therein t re e ve the-respect v hume n con r -k s '9 the k oard d .hasrbraeketsmount d u d rneath its forwa d a d war en s by m ans o which it is atta h d to th ram workof thema hin Two rearward brackets..." of cover all], as illustrated in Fig.1, are

each adapted o eive th r arward e d o a v,

an .5 itheh aekets 151 an 56 a so s pp tin t .plungers 46 previously described.

flop cover 40 has left and right side flanges 4 8 and ie w ic v rli res tive-co peratins f an .2 a d o le t and rightsid e r l0 and H. A dependingfront-flange 41 Fig. 1) on en c e 4!! is rovided fo c op r t on wit r .1; co r as ter descr d- -F. e .e v j meu i h fo owin -manner. The cover is placed in tentative alignment with side covers 10 and 1:1. Then the forward end of cover All is raised to expose the forward end of plungers which are withdrawn to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 by an amount sufficient to clear the rear brackets 42 and allow the same to .drop into alignment with the. plungers.

Upon the release of the .plungers =to-the tension of plunger springs 41 the-plungers enter the apertures in brackets 42 to lock the rearward end of cover 40 to theframework of the machine. The fron end ofcover 40 is then lowered so that slots cut in the forward brackets 53, 54, and overlie the shanks of set screws 5!, 5'2, and 53 which screws are tightened to complete the securing of cover to the framework of the machine.

The front coverfifl'is interlocked in proper position-by top cover 40, side covers 10 and LI and bottom plate'lo without the use of screws-springs,

or other such attaching device's. Front cover 63 is mounted by hooking the flange 62 (Fig. l) thereon under flange 4| of the top cover while holding the lower portion of the front cover slightly clockwise from the position shown and then by swinging it counter-clockwise so that its similar left and right side flanges 63 (Fig. 3) overlie and interlock with respective flanges 26 of the left and right side covers.

Bottom plate 10 is mounted last to complete the cover assembly. Front flange 14 (Fig. 1) of bottom plate 19 overlies and interlocks with flange 62 of front cover while rear flange H of plate 70 overlies and interlocks with flange 36 of back cover 30. Left and right side flanges 12 and 13 (Fig. 2) of bottom plate 10 overlie and interlock with flanges 28 and 29 of left and right side covers respectively.

The bottom plate 10 is secured to the framework of the machine by four rubber foot assemblies 65 .(Fig. 5), eachincludingalllbher foot 69, a steel collar 67, a rubber retainer 58, ,a washer 64 and a screw 66. .Rubber fcotsfifl underlies an aperture formed in bottomplate T118 and is {formed to receive .collar fil. An .upper shqulder .of the latter is adapted to .protrude through the aligned aperture of plate 70. Retainer 58 lies between plate l0 and washer 3.4 adjacent the machine framework, and is recessed to receiveqandxenflp over the upper shoulder .of the steel collar .61. At the time of attaching the bottom cover or plate to the machine the foot '69, collar 6.7, plate 10 and retainer 58. are assembled into anintegral unit. Screw 66 is inserted through the "above mentioned collar, and .is tightened into the framework of the machine to attach plate '10 .and foot assembly 65 to the same. With the machine standing on its four. feetfiill the screws 66, be ing embedded in the-feet, cannot be seen.

An alternative method of attaching the-rubber feet 69 .and the bottom plate "I0 .to the framework of the machine is to substitute a bayonet type mount for the threaded portion of the screw 65 which is thenlocked into the framework of .the machine bya partial .turn ofthe screw.

When the covers comprising the cover assembly are secured, the screws, springs, grommets, and plungers that aid in holding the covers .tothe framework of the machinearecompletely hidden, thus providing smooth exteriorsurfaces. The in,- -terlocks and overlapping edges constituting a partof the organization for holding and retaining the various covers in place-reduce thenumber,

of operations and-the time required'for attaching or removing the cover assembly from the framework of the machine.

For servicing the machine, all or part of the covers maybe removed as the occasion demands.

By removing four screws and the bottom cover,

the front'cover may be removedfrominterlocking relation with the side'and 'top covers. Loosening the three screws 5 552, and 53 (Fig. 2) toaether w th w thd awal of .t o p lmge lfi al ows removal of the keyboard or top cover 40. (than, by detaching the two springs 34 (Fig. 1) .the back cover may be swung counter-clockwise On its p ots 5 unt l t res s o top of the keyboa d. and at which time the detachment of the two side covers [0 and ,'II from their respective sup.- porting framework brackets completely strips the machine of covers.

From th f e oin dese in n-of th p e err embodiment of the invention it will appear that various modificationsof interlocking covers based upon the principle disclosed herein could be d evised; for example, instead of the framework limiting inward movement of the side covers, as shown in Fig. 2, with flanges on the bottom cover preventing outward movement of the side covers, the flanges of the side covers could, as well, fit inside slots or flanges on the bottom frame work to prevent outward movement of the Side covers relative thereto, with flanges on the bottom cover to fit inside the flanges of the side covers to prevent inward movement of the latter and wedge or press the side cover flanges outwardly against the bottom framework flanges or slots.

I claim:

1. In an oflice machine, the combination of an internal framework, and an external cover assembly including a first cover, and restrainin devices including a part of the framework to limit movement of said cover relative to the framework in all but one direction, a second cover fixed to the framework and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first cover, a flange formed on the second cover and interlocking one of the edges of the first cover to prevent movement of said one edge of the latter cover in said one direction, a third cover fixed to the framework and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first cover, a flange formed on the third cover and interlocking another one of the edges of the first cover to prevent movement of the latter edge of said cover in said one direction.

2. In an office machine, the combination of an internal framework, and an external cover assembly including, two side covers, a cover pivotally mounted at both sides of the top edge thereof to the respective right and left side covers, means work, means including a part of said side covers and a part of said framework to prevent inward movement of the side covers relative to the framework, a bottom cover secured to the framework and including a flange interlocking the bottom edge of the pivotally mounted cover to prevent outward movement of the bottom edge thereof and to maintain the side flanges in interlocking relation to said side covers.

3. In an office machine, the combination of an internal framework, and an external cover assembly including, a quadrilateral cover having an upturned flange formed longitudinally the upper edge of said cover, an interlocking cover fixed to said framework and having a downwardly formed flange disposed adjacent the outer edge of said upturned flange to prevent outward movement of the upper edge of the quadrilateral cover relative to said framework, a second interlocking cover fixed to the framework and having an upturned flange formed longitudinally said second interlocking cover and disposed adj acent the outer surface of the lower edge of the quadrilateral cover to prevent outward movement of said lower edge relative to said framework, two opposite covers each having an edge disposed adjacent the inner surface of the two ends of said quadrilateral cover to prevent inward movement thereof relative to the framework, flanges formed on said two ends of the quadrilateral cover and interlocking the adjacent edges of said opposite covers to prevent outward movement of the latter covers relative to the framework,

ROBERT E. BOYDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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