US1526064A - Typewriting practice device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10. 1925. Y 1,526,064

' ,J. HALBERSTADTER TYPEWRITING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed June 21 1924 2 sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a/u DH Hm. BEEJTHD TEE ATTO R N EYS Feb. 10. 1 925.

J. HALBERSTADTER TYPEWRITING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed June 21 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Juan '/-/flLaE2.sTHo-rE/2 ATTORNEYS 20 are accomplished by Patented Feb. 10, 19 25.

UNITED ,STATES,

JUDA HALBERSTADTER, or 13300313311, NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING PRACTICE'DEVIGE.

- Application filed June 21, 1924. Serial No. 721,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UDA I-IArnnns'rAnTEn,

a citizen of the Republic of Germany, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Practice Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to means for enabling a person to learn how to operate a typewriter, and has for its main object to provide a practicing device of the character stated, adapted .to enable a beginner to learn how to operate a typewriter of a predetermined design or typewriters of various designs or makes under the most favorable conditions, in the shortest time possible, and at a minimum expense.

Such, and other objects of the invention the means hereinafter described, which constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that changes, modifications, and alterations may be made therein without departing from the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein/the practising apparatus is provided with a keyboard similar to those now in general use, in connection with which each key rests on a resilient key lever, which when being pressed down, causes a corresponding letter. to appear; in this way it is possible for the person operating the typewriter to note for himself as to 85 whether or nothe has struck the right key.

For writing capital letters or figures, additional keys are provided as in the case of the customary typewriters, in the actuation of which a sign is placed in the correct position, or is made visible, in a way to show whether the desired capital letter, has been correctly struck. I

Finally, as in the case of the well known makes of typewriters, a blank key. is pro- 4 vided, which by means of a simple lever transfer, displaces a small plate or other device, showing that the space between the WOIdS, signs, or figures has been correctly ma e.

The key lever and the lever systems con nected therewith can be manufactured at a lowprice from bent wire, so that the entire practising apparatus can be manufactured and obtained at a comparatively small expense.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a 7 device embodying the invention. 60 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1 having a keylever arrange- '.ment, with only one row of keys.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in. Fig. 1 illustrating the arrange mentof the shift key for capital letters, and also the blank key arrangement.

As illustrated in the drawings, the practising apparatus contains a base plate a, preferably in the iform'of a wooden board above which the keyboard is arranged. In the case of a completely equipped practising apparatus, a plurality of key levers b are arranged .in four rows, the number of keys being equal to the number usually employed on standard machines, Fig. 2 for instance showing one row.

There is furthermore provided a frame or housing 0 which rests on the base late d, and which serves-as a support for the lever and rod system connected with the key levers.

Each one of the key levers b carries at its front end in a well known manner a key a and, below the key the lever is doubled'over 86 on itself to form a loop-like striker 7. On

its rear end, each of the key levers b is curved in order to obtain a spring bend g, which ends in an arm b, that is attached at its front at b, to the base late (1.

The keys e may preferab y be fastened to I the key levers b in a detachable manner, for instance, by screws or otherwise, so that an exchange of keys is made possible. In this manner the arrangement of the keys may be adjusted to the various keyboards of the different makes of machines, thereby making it possible for the beginner to become acquainted with the different systems.

Inasmuch as the keys are arranged in sevon board a,

various typewriter systems.

' gaged eral rows, ste wise, at'diiferent heights, the portions of t e ke levers between the bottoms of the loop-1i e bends f and the keys e are not made of the same height; the front row of keys which is arranged lowest, preferably having the shortest of these portions, and each one of the following rows having portions of increasing length. In this way the base plate a forms a striking surface for all the rows of thekeyboard, in case of the downward movement of a key. By striking each key when pressed down with the finger, produces at the same time a clicking sound, also noticeable in actual typewriting.

To each key lever b there is connected, in any suitable manner, a vertical arm h, which at the time of the pressing down of the shift key makes a downward movement. This arm' is guided in a plate h (Fig. 1) of the frame 0, and carries at its upper end a covering plate 2'. As many rows of covering plates 5 are provided as there are rows of characters.

Behind each row of plates on the frame a, there is arran ed a row of letters or figures correspon ing to the letters and figarcs of those keys to which the corresponding, covering plates z belong. The letter or 'gure rows arranged in frame 0 are suitably arranged in such a manner that they can be exchanged, for instance, on strips which can be pulled out from the side, so that it is possible to make an exchange in accordance with the different keyboards of the This exchange, in case the beginner is to practice with a machine system having a different alphabet arrangement, must be effected at the same time when changing the keys, as stated above.

The manner of operation is such that if the finger presses down the key 6, the corresponding plate 2' is carried along downward by arm 72, so that there appears the letter (or fi ure) arranged behind plate 2'. In this way the beginner can check up whether he has struck the right key or not.

On the front side of the machine frame, preferably above the row or rows k, for the letters and figures, a table Z is arranged, as shown in Fig. 3 and provided on each end with a window like opening m. Adjacent the en'd openings m, small plates at are pro vided and made visible in case one of the two lateral shift keys n is struck. corresponding to the capital letters. Each of the small plates n is given a corresponding inscription, for instance Capital or the inscription CL. (capital letter). Each of the shift keys n is in turn connected with a key lever b.

In each of these key levers b there is enan arm 0 with which there is connected by means of an eyelet, a double lever table Z.

0 pivotally supported in the frame. The front end of the double lever o" is connected with a rod 0" which is guidedvertically on the frame, and carries a small plate n.

In case one of the shift keys n is pressed down, the swinging double lever 0' lifts the rod 0", and brings the respective small plate or within the opening of the window m of The beginner in this way knows that he has correctly struck the shift key. The two small plates n arenormally covered by the front wall of the frame and are only visible upon their coming within the opening of one of the windows m.

The blank key p is connected with the two key levers p which otherwise are constructed like the key lever b." A rod 9 enga es the two levers 7) and is connected by a rod 1' with a rocking lever r restin on the frame. The lever r is'connected with a rod .9 which is guided vertically, and which rod carries at its upper end a small plate 8'. The latter in its rest position like the two lateral small plates n, is not visible, being concealed by the front wall of the frame.

In case the blank key the two swinging'key levers p pull down the rod (7 and the rod r, whereby the lever 1- is swung out, lifting the small plate a. The latter in so doing comes within the opening of the middle window t of table Z.

The small plate 8' may also be given a blank surface, in this way showing that there is a spacing after a written word.

Instead, as in the manner 'described of displaying the letters of the alphabet, or the figures by one of the small covering plates n on pressing down a key, the arrangement can also be made in such a manner that each one of the small plates 2', may be given the letter or figure in question. and as in the case of the smallplates n and s when the key is pressed down the letters or figures are lifted or brought intoexposed position.

What I claim is:

1. A typewritinopractice device, including a main frame. a plurality of rows of normally concealed reference characters on said frame, a shutter for concealing each character, a board of keys simulating-those of a typewriter and each corresponding to one of said characters. and a connection between each key and the shutter associated with the corresponding character, said connection being operable upon depression of its key to move the shutter to a position exposing the associated character.

2. A typewriting practice device including a base plate, a main frame, a plurality of rows of normally concealed reference characters on said frame, a shutter for concealing each character. a board of keys simulating those of a typewriter and each p is pressed down,

corresponding to one of said characters, a actor, said connection being operable upon lever for each key having a loop interdepression of its key to move the shutter to mediate its ends normally out of contact a position exposing the associated character. 1 with said base plate and engageable there- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my with when the key is depressed, and a consignature.

nection between each key lever and the shutter associated with the corresponding cher- J UDA HALBERSTADTER.

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