US2800573A - Detachable typewriter lamp - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1957 R. o; HUDSON DETACHABLE TYPEWRITER LAMP Filed Nov. 12, 1953 INVENTOR. Russ/5L1. 0. Huasou ATTORNEY? DETACHABLE TYPEWRITER LAMP Russell 0. Hudson, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to William E. Cole II, Seattle, Wash;

Aim c t qn N mber 1 125 S a N 39 08 6 Claims. ((31.240-2) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in detachable lamps for typewriters and copyholders and in conjunction with other equipment where illumination is required. i

The present invention comprises a lamp which may be fastened to the outwardly extending arms of the paper hail of a typewriter or to some other convenient location on a typewriter to illuminate the work being typed.

' One of the features of the invention is the fact that the device may be readily attached and detached from the machine and is readily adjustable to direct the illumination where it is most suitable.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that use of the lamp does not interfere with normal typing operations.

Still another feature of the invention is the excellent illumination which is produced by use ofthe device.

Another feature of the invention is the means whereby the device. may be attached to the paper bail or the hail of the guide line of a copyhol-der;

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing specification and referring to the accompanying drawings. in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the following description the device is described as installed on a typewriter paper bail.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of the lamp and associated attaching mechanism and electrical connections.

Fig. 2 is a section taken through a typewriter platen showing the device installed and in use.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lamp taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The present invention comprises a long thin light-weight fluorescent lighting tube 11 of a length approximately equal to the width of the platen 12 of a conventional typewriter. Surrounding the tube 11 is a protective tubular casing 13 of metal or other material which will protect the tube against breakage and which is, preferably, opaque. Approximately one quarter of the circumference of the tubular casing is cut away to provide a window 14 through which the light of the fluorescent tube 11 may shine to illuminate the portion of the paper 16 on the platen 12 which is being typed. The length of the window 14 measured longitudinally of the casing 13, is approximately equal to the length of the tube 11 and comprises the major portion of the length of the casing. Within the casing are sockets 17 at each end of the tube, which receive the contact points 18 projecting from the ends of the tube 11. Lead wires 19 are connected to the contacts 18 and pass out through slot 21 formed in each end of the casing. The wires 19 are sufiiciently long enough to fit behind the typewriter carriage or otherwise conveniently to be positioned so as to not interfere with operation of the typewriter. The wires 19 come 2,800,573 Patented July 23, 1957 together in a conventional fluorescent light switch 22 from which extends cord 23 which terminates in a conventional plug-in ballast 24 which may be plugged into a conventional light-socket by means of prongs 26.

The open ends of the tubular casing 13 are closed off at each end by caps 31 extending from a flat end disk 33, the outer circumference of which may be knurled to facilitate installation and removal of the cap inside the end of the tubular casing. The tubular extension is serrated by inward extendingslots 34 to form prongs 36, the prongs 36 being springy and biased outward so as to retain the cap 31 inside the end of the casing 13. The tubular extension 32 is notched out as indicated by reference numeral 37 to permit wires 19 to extend out through slot 21.

' On each side of the casing is a bracket 41 which is used to attach the light to a paper bail 42 or other convenient portion of a typewriter. The bracket 41 is preferably formed of two arms 43 and 44 which are pivotally held together by rivet 46 so that the angular position of the light may be adjusted. The light-engaging arm 43 of the bracket is formed at its outer end in a curled portion 47 which curves around the outside of the casing 13 and frictionally engages the same. The curved portion 47 may be moved longitudinally of the casing, if required, to adjust the position of the casing relative to the platen, but the fit of the curved portion around the casing is tight enough so as to. eliminate rotation of the casing due to vibration. The curved portion is then twisted as indicated by reference numeral 48,'and the inner end of the arm 43 is apertured for the reception of rivet 46 which joins the bail-engaging arm 43 of the bracket to the casing-engaging arm 44.

In Fig. 2 a conventional typewriter platen 12 and bail 42 having a roller 51 which keeps the paper 16 in contact with the. platen 12 is shown. The outward extending arm 52 of the bailiispivotally attached to the carriage of the machine. In cross-section, arm 52 is usually rectangular. It will be understood that the bail arm 52 may thus be swung up pivotally to provide access to the platen 12 for erasures. and the like.

The middle portion of the bail-engaging arm 44 of the bracket is provided with a longitudinal slot 56 through which fits the shank of screw 57. The inner end of screw 57 engages clip portion 58, the clip portion being formed with a counter-sunk hole in which the head of the screw 57 is recessed. A small rectangular spacer 59 is interposed between clip member 58 and arm 44, spacer 59 likewise being apertured for reception of screw 57. The lower edge of spacer 59 is flat and square and fits tightly against the top edge of arm 52. On the opposite side of arm 44 is a channel-shaped piece 61, the sides 62 of which prevent members 58 and 59 from turning, screw 57 likewise passing through the connecting member of channel 61. A knurled nut 63 on the end of screw 57 is used to tighten the parts together. The lower end of arm 44 is bent outwardly and then inwardly in a hook 64. The lower end of clip 58 is likewise formed in a hook 66 in the opposite direction from hook. In use, the clip is positioned on the bail-arm 52 so that the hook 64 on the end of the arm 44 fits under the edge of the bail arm. The :clip member 58 fits on the opposite side of the bailarm and thus when nut 63 is tightened the two members 64 and 66 function to grip the bail-arm 52. The spacer 59 fits against the upper edge of the bail-arm 52 and thus prevents rocking of the bracket due to the vibration of the typewriter.

In use, the lamp is originally installed by loosening nuts 63 and slipping a clip over each of the arms 52 of the typewriter bail, as has been described, and then tightening the nuts 63 to hold the brackets in position. The casing 13 is then swung down, rivets 46 acting as pivots,

until the proper illumination of the paper 16 on the platen 12 is secured. Switch 22 may be pressed to illuminate the light or extinguish the same.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an elongated tubular lamp, a casing surrounding said lamp, said casing having a window extending longitudinally thereto the length of said tube and having an arcuate width substantially less than the circumference of said casing, means for energizing said lamp,

and a pair of brackets for supporting said casing on the I paper bail of a typewriter, each said bracket comprising a first arm, a second arm articulately connected to said first arm, said first arm being formed with a curl on its end opposite said connection to second arm, said curl fitting around said casing and being slideable longitudinally over said casing, said curl fitting against said casing to restrain said casing against rotation, and means on the end of said second arm for engaging the paper hail of said typewriter.

2. In combination, an elongated tubular lamp, a casing surrounding said lamp, said casing having a window extending longitudinally thereto the length of said lamp and having an arcuate width substantially less than thecircumference of said casing, means for energizing said lamp, and a pair of brackets for supporting said casing on the paper bail of the typewriter, each said bracket comprising a first arm having means for engaging said casing,

a second arm articulately connected to said first arm, and means on the end of said second arm for engaging the paper pail of said typewriter, said means comprising a clip member and means for slideably connecting said clip member to said second arm, said clip member and the lower end of said second arm being shaped to engage the on the hail of a paper holder of said typewriter, each said bracket comprising a first arm having means for engaging said casing, a second arm articulately connected to said first arm, and means on the end of said second arm for engaging the paper bail of said typewriter, said means comprising a longitudinally extending slot formed in said second arm, a clip member, a screw and a nut, the shank of said screw passing through said slot in said second arm, and through an aperture in said clip member, the lower end of said clip member and the lower end of said second arm being shaped to engage said paper bail and hold said bracket and said bail together.

4. The combination of claim 3 which further comprises a channel-shaped member mounted on said second arm, the sides of said channel being disposed to restrain said clip member against rotation when said nut is tightened.

5. The combination of claim 3 which further comprises a channel-shaped member mounted on said second arm, the sides of said channel being disposed to restrain said clip member against rotation when said nut is tightened, and a spacer member having an aperture through which said screw passes, said spacer being located between said clip member and said second arm, said spacer member having a flat bottom edge arranged to fit against said bail and restrain said bracket against rocking.

6. In a typewriter, the combination of the platen, a paper bail, a tubular lamp, said lamp being substantially coextensive with said platen and serving uniformly to illuminate the same, and a pair of pivotal lamp mounting brackets, one securing one end of said lamp to one end of said paper bail and the other securing the other end of said lamp to the other end of said paper bail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,269 Cole Aug. 7, 1917 1,326,650 Doerr Dec. 30, 1919 1,353,033 Eberhart Sept. 14, 1920 1,764,071 Foulke June 17, 1930 1,886,027 Klingsick Nov. 1, 1932 2,295,210 Gutensohn Sept. 8, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 771,545 France Oct. 10, 1934

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