US2577678A - Instructional device on the operation of voting machines - Google Patents

Description

C. R. FINEGAN Dec. 4, 1951 INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICE ON THE OPERATION OF VOTING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1948 Quite: 2:04 Q

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C. R. FINEGAN Dec. 4, 1951 INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICE ON THE OPERATION OF VOTING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICE ON THE OPERA- TION F VOTING MACHINES Carl It. Finegan, Elyria, Ohio Application August 6, 1948, Serial No. 42,858

3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to a device for instructing voters in the use of a voting machine.

In the past few years many political subdivisions of the country have been installing voting machines in place of the old paper ballots. Since these voting machines are expensive and will register the vote of many voters there are relatively few of the machines as compared to the number of voters using them. Thus, the individual voter does not have an opportunity to spend much time learning to operate the machine. Generally the voter tries to learn how to operate the machine on the day of the election instead of making a special trip to the voting place before the election day. I have discovered that it is a great advantage to the public to have some means whereby the public may easily learn how to operate the voting machine before going to the poll or voting place. It is generally understood that to teach the public how to use the machine, the machine must be taken to the public since the voters will not go to the voting place to learn to operate the machine before election day. Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is to provide an inexpensive instructional device which may be easily constructed in large quantities and distributed to the public.

Another object of my invention is to provide a voting machine instructional device comprising a keyboard representing a voting machine and having voting indicators operable the same as those on the regular voting machine.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a means for instructing a high percentage of the voters in the use of the voting machine without causing the voters to go to the place of voting.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my instruction device representing the voting machine as it first appears to the voter;

Figure 2 is a back elevational view, the back cover having been removed, of the keyboard of my instruction device showing some of the in dicators in the voted position with the curtain handle in its closed position and with some of the indicators in non-voted position;

Figure 3 is a sectional View along the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

My voting machine instruction device comprises generally a keyboard I0 having a back side II and a face side I2. The keyboard It is supported by a housing I9 having a back cover 3|, which has been removed in Figure 2. The face side I2 is a representation of a voting machine used by the voter and thus includes party rows I3 and I4 respectively, of candidates names. The party row I3 is illustrated as having candidates names I5 and I6, while the party row I4 is illustrated as having candidates names I! and I8. It is understood that any number of candidates names may be placed on my keyboard It, and that I have placed two names for each party by way of example only. The keyboard IQ has arcuate slots next adjacent each of the candidates names I5, IE, IT, I8 and I9. I have provided voting indicators 2!, 22, 23 and 24 for each of the candidates names I5 to I8, respectively. These voting indicators 2| through 24 are pivotally mounted on the face side I2 of the keyboard ID with each voting indicator next adjacent its respective candidate name. The voting indicators are pivotally mounted in rows substantially parallel to the party rows. Lever arms 25, 26, 2'! and 28 are mounted on the back side II of the keyboard I0, and are aligned with their respective voting indicators 2I through 24 inclusive. In my drawings 1 have illustrated the pivotal mounting of each lever arm with its respective voting indicator on opposite sides of the keyboard I!) by means of a rivet 29. Thus, each lever arm is pivoted about the same axis as each voting indicator. I have also connected each lever arm with its respective voting indicator by a member 30 which extends through the respective arcuate slot 20 provided therefor. The

voting indicators and their respective lever arms are thus annularly movable toward the respective candidate name to a voted position and away from the respective candidate name to a non-voting position with the members 33 reciprocally moving in the respective slots 20. I have further provided my keyboard ID with a curtain handle 32 and a control lever 33 fastened thereto for angular movement therewith. The curtain handle 32 is pivotally mounted on the face side I2 while the control lever 33 is mounted on the back side II. A rivet 34 extending through the curtain handle 32, the keyboard I5 and the control lever 33, pivotally mounts the handle 32 and control lever 33 on the keyboard I0. An arcuate slot 35 is also provided next adjacent the curtain handle 32. A member 36 extending through the arcuate slot 35 connects the curtain handle 32 and the control lever 33 for angular movement of the control lever 33 with movement of the curtain handle 32. I have connected the lever arms through 2d of the voting indicators 2| through 24, respectively, to the control lever 33 by flexible connectors id to 33. lhe flexible connector is fastened to the lever arm 25, the connector 4! to lever 25, the connector 42 to lever 21, and the connector 43 to the lever 28. When the curtain handle is moved annularly in one direction to a curtain closed position, these flexible connectors All through A3 are drawn tight and thus pull the voting indicators 2! through 24 respectively to the non-voted position. When the curtain handle is moved to the curtain closed position which symbolizes the closing of the curtain on the big voting machine, these flexible connectors as to 43 inclusive are relaxed, thus permitting annular movement of the voting indicators 2| to 23 to voting position. I have also provided the keyboard with party levers 14 and 45 for the respective party rows l3 and 14. Iihese party levers M and 45 are pivotally supported by pivot support means 46 and ll, respectively and are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the voting indicators of their respective party row. Springs 158 and at connected between the housing l9 and the respective party levers 44 and 45 normally hold theparty levers in a position as indicated in Figure 1 or the draw-- ing. It is understood that other suitable means may be used in place of the springs 48 and 49 which will serve the same purpose. I have connected each of the party levers M and 55 to the voting indicators in its particular party row by means of flexible connectors 56 to -53, inclusive. The flexible connectors 50 and 5-! connect the party lever 45 to the lever arms 25 and 26 of the voting indicators 2! and 2-2., respectively, While the flexible connectors 52 and 53 connect the party lever 45 to the lever arm 2 and 28 of the voting indicators 23 and 24, respectively. When the curtain handle 32 is in open curtain position as illustrated in Figure 1, the connectors for the party levers are taught. When the party levers are pivoted relative to the .keyboard Ill, the curtain handle 32 having been moved to closed curtain position, they pull all of the voting indicators in their particular party row into voting position. In Figure 2 of my drawings I have illustrated the back side of a keyboard with the curtain handle .in closed curtain position, and v with the voting indicators 2 and 22 in non-vot ing position. The voting indicators 25 and 23 are illustrated in voted position, thus indicating the voting of a split party ticket. Should the applicant desire to vote a straight party ticket he merely has to pivotally move the party lever for the party of his choice, which thus pulls all of the voting indicators in that party row into voted position. I have also provided my instruction device with a question and answer indicator as illustrated by the numbers 55 and .56 of Figure 1. In this instance the indicator 55, is labeled yes and the indicator 56 is labeled no. These indicators 55 and 58 are substantially the same as the voting indicators and have levers 5? and 58 attached thereto in the same manner as the voting indicators. I have connected the levers 57 and 58 of the voting indicators 5.5 and 56 respectively, to the control lever 33 of the curtain handle 32 by flexible members 59 and 50, respectively. Should a bond issue or any similar yes and no vote be taken, the voter merely has to move the indicator yes or the indicator no to the voted position.

The instruction device is merely a form. .of

teaching the use of a voting machine and is operated in the same manner as the voting machine. The operator first moves the curtain handle to closed curtain position, thus loosening all of the flexible connectors fastened thereto. If the voter wishes to vote a straight ticket he merely has to move the party handle of his choice which moves all of the voting indicators in that party to voted position. Should the applicant wish to vote a split ticket he first votes a straight party ticket, then moves the voting indicators of the candidates he does not want in ofiice to nonvoti-ng position and moves the oting indicators of the candidates of the other party he does want in office to voted position. After making all of his selections, the voter then moves the curtain handle to open curtain position, thus symbolizing the registering of his vote and opening of the curtain on a real voting machine.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity its-preferred form, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:v

1. An instruction device for instructing a voter in the correct manipulation of a voting machine comprising. a keyboard having a back side air having a face side with a representation of voting machine used by the voters and including party rows of candidate names tor offices, a votindicator for each name pivotaliy mounted on the face side of said keyboard for movement angularly toward its respective name to a voted position and for movement angujaily away irem its respective name to a :non-voted position, levers having opposite ends on the back side or said keyboard one secured between the opposite ends thereof to .each voting indicator tor angular movement therewith, a party lever for each oi the party rows pivotally mounted on said lacy board and in substantial longitudinal alignment with the voting indicators of its respective party row of candidates, first flexible connectors inter connecting each of said party levers and one end of each of the levers in its respective party row to move all of the voting indicators in that row into voted position upon pivotal movement of the party lever, a curtain handle ivotally mounted on the face side of said keyboard for movemtuit angularly in one direction to an open curtain position and for movement angularly in the opposite direction to a closed curtain position, a control lever on the back side of said keyboard and secured to said curtain handle for angular movement therewith, and second flexible connectors interconnecting the other end of each of said levers and said control lever to angularl-y move its respective voting indicator :to its non voted position upon movement of the curtain handle to its open curtain position, thereby symbolizing the registering of a vote on a voting machine.

2. .An instruction device for instructing a voter in the correct manipulation of a voting "machine comprising, a keyboard having a back side and having a face side with a representation-cf a vot in machine used by the voters and including party rows of candidate names for ofli'ces, a voting indicator for each name pivotally mounted on the face side of said keyboard for movement angularly toward its respective name to a voted position and for movement angularly away from its respective name to a non-voted position, levers on the back side of said keyboard, one secured to each voting indicator for angular movement therewith, each lever having first and second connection points spaced apart from each other, a party lever for each of the party rows pivotally mounted on said keyboard and in substantial longitudinal alignment with the voting indicators of its respective party row of candidates, first flexible connectors interconnecting each of said party levers and the first connection point of the levers in its respective party row to move all of the voting indicators in that row into voted position upon pivotal movement of the party lever, a curtain handle pivotally mounted on the face side of said keyboard for movement angularly in one direction to an open curtain position and for movement angularly in the opposite direction to a closed curtain position, a control lever on the back side of said keyboard and secured to said curtain handle for angular movement therewith, and second flexible connectors interconnecting the second connection point of each of said levers and said control lever to angularly move its respective voting indicator to its voted position upon movement of the curtain handle to its open curtain position, thereby symbolizing the registering of a vote on a votin machine.

3. An instruction device for instructing a voter in the correct manipulation of a voting machine comprising, a keyboard having a face side with a representation of a voting machine used by the voters and including rows of candidate names for offices, voting indicator means for each name pivotally mounted on said keyboard for movement angularly in one direction to a voted position and for movement angularly in the opposite direction to a non-voted position, each of said voting indicator means having first and second connection points, a row lever for each of the rows of candidate names pivotally mounted on said keyboard and in substantial longitudinal alignment with the voting indicator means of its respective row of candidates, first flexible connectors interconnecting each of said row levers and the first connection point of each of the voting indicator means of its respective row of candidate names to move all of the voting indicator means of that row into voted position upon pivotal movement of the respective row lever, curtain handle means pivotally mounted on said keyboard for movement in one direction to' an open curtain position and for movement in an opposite direction to a closed curtain position, and second flexible connectors interconnecting said curtain handle means and the second connection point of each of said voting indicator means to angular-1y move the voting indicator means to non-voted position upon movement of the curtain handle to open curtain position, symbolizing the registering of a vote on the machine.

CARL R. FINES-AN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 628,905 Gillespie July 11, 1899 847,047 Delavan et al Mar. 12, 1907 900,630 Whiteside Oct. 6, 1908 1,055,449 Dean Mar. 11, 1913 2,176,767 Kronson et a1 Oct. 17, 1939

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