US903031A - Attachment for key-operated machines. - Google Patents

Description

J. VIDAL Y DIAZ.

ATTACHMENT r012 KEY ommxn MACHINES.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JAN 7, 1908. 903,03 1 Patented ho'v. 3, i968.

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J. VIDAL Y DIAZ.

ATTACHMENT FOR KEY OPERATED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN/7,1908.

903,03 1 Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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L. 1;! f"%%@%bah 1 WITNESSES INVENTOH @Zz'an ldaZ flz'caz ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN NIBAL Y one, or assess, A

VENTOSA, OF NEwYoRK, it, AND TWO-THIRDS TO HIMSELF AND JUAN BAUTIS'TA VIDAL AND Josn GALASANZ VIDALLOF NEW roan, N. Y.

ATTAOHIIENT FOR KEY-OPERATED MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' named Nov. s, 1903.

Application filed January 7,190811Scria1 No 109,685.

I To all whom it may concern:

ing a plurality' of keys adapted to be manually operated, ant the object of the invention is to provide means for locating and defining the keyboard by other than the sense of direct sight, whereby said operator instinctively retains the hands in the proper position in re spect. to the keyboard while reading the 00 y and operating the machine simultaneous y. In order'to secure this object, I provide a frame or border extending alon adjacent the outermost keys, so that the oundaries of the keyboard are more clearly defined and so that the operator may without looking directly at the keyboard locate the keys thereon. This frame may hepf a contrastlug color to that of the keys, in which case the operator even though not looking directly at the keyboard may still locate it accurately; or said frame may extend up ward from the keyboard, so that the hand will engage therewith should it move beyond the confines of said keyboard.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specitication, in which similar characters of ref-- erence indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a typewriter having a marginal frame for the keyboard of a contrasting color to that of the keys; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on y the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portion of a typewriter, similar to Fig. l but showing av frame extending to a higher elevation than the keys; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of'Fig. 5. Y

My improved device is so constructed as to be readily applied to any typewriter, and in cludes in its construction a marginal frame havlnga subdividing partition, a supporting adapte bar for said frame, and brackets adapted to be secured'to the frame of the mtichine and servin to support said bar. f

In the specific form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the marginal frame includes a lo itudinally extending -memher 10,

to lie beyond but adacent the upper line of keys, and two side members 11 adapted to' extend along the ends of the keyboard. The frame supports a dividing partition 12, which exten s substantially parallel to the side members 11 but is bent or curved to pass between the keys and to subdivide the keys operated by the right hand from thoseoperated by the left hand. The frame with its partition 12 is of a contrasting color to the keys, in the present instance, the keys being white and theframe being black. This contrast is such that even though the o orator does not look directly at the keyboard, he may unconsciously locate the keyboard and the keys thereon while he is reading the copy. The frame is readily detachable from the machine, it being preferably supported 11 on a transverse sup orting bar 13, cxten in longitudinally o the frame member 10. he member 10 is preferably provided with a longitudinally-disposed slot extending into its ower side, as is illustrated in Fig. 4, and the bar 13 fits into this slot. The ends of the bar are supported upon suitable brackets fastened to the frame of the machine, each of said brackets pref erably including a vertically-disposed mem-- ber 14, having a book 15 at the lower end thereof adapted to engage with the under side of a portion of the frame, and having a securing member 16 adapted to be rigidly secured thereto and to engage With'the u er side of a portion of the machine frame. he vertically-extending member 14 is provided with a series of perforations 17 through which the bar 13 may extend and be supported at different elevations. The bar 13 may be secured to the brackets in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by keys 18.

The frame illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may, if desired, he used in place of the frame illus trated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and, is so constructed that it may be readily secured to the supporting bar 13. In this form the. '1

ens-rams ro JUANWENTGSA- r' frame is designed to locate and define the keyboard not by a contrasting color so much as by being raised to a higher elevation than the keyboard, so that should the hand of the operator pass to one side of the keyboard, it will immediately ei'igage with the frame and the operator will instinctively move his-hand back to its proper position over the keyboard. The frame illustrated is formed of a strip of sheet metal having a longitudinally-exteiid ing portion 10*, side portions or members 11, and a partition 12. The lower edge of the member if) is provided with a flange 19, which forms therewith a slot adapted to receive the supporting bar 125, the slot being open at the lower side, so that the frame may be readily raised and removed. The upper edge of the sheet metal is curved outwardly to form an inwardly-directed inclined surface which not only prevei'its the operatori'rom hurting the hand by striking against the sharp upper edge, but also serves to direct the hand inwardly onto the keyboard. The frame and its partition may extend to any desired elevation above the keyboard de pendent upon the skill of the operator and the necessity for said frame. The elevation may be varied by raising or lowering the supporting bar 13 in respect to the brackets.

As the shift keys are not operated as frequently as are the lettei'keys of the machine, the side portions of the frame may be extended inwardly at such an angle as to leave these keys outside of the frame, whereby the liability of touching said keys uninten-' tionally is materially reduced. As the frame stands somewhat above the keyboard, these keys may be readily operated when desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An attachment for machines having keyboards, comprising two brackets detach ably connected to the frame of the machine, a horizontally-disposed supporting bar carried by said brackets and vertically adjustable, and a frame carried by said supporting bar and having portions extending along three sides of. the keyboard.

2. An attachment for machines having keyboards, comprising two brackets detaclr ably connected to the frame of the machine, and having a plurality of openings adjacent the upper end thereof, a. horizontally-disposed supporting bar having the end portions thereof adapted to extend into any one of said o1 eni1'1gs, so as to permit of the vertical. adjustment 'of the bar, and a frame having a longitudinally-disposed groove for the reception of said supporting bar and having portions extending adjacent the keyboard and serving to define the borders of the keyboard.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIAN VIDAL Y DIAZ.

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