US1027702A - Controlling device. - Google Patents

Description

N. (LDURAND.

CONTROLLING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. I910.

Patented May 28, 1912.

UNITED sTAr s PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON c. DURAND, 0E NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, or WESIOBANGE, NEWJEBSEY, A 003- PORATION OF- NEW JERSEY.

CONTROLLING nEvIcE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,1912.

Application filed July 16, 1910. Serial No. 572,290.

- State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Controlling Devices, of which the following is a description.

My lnvent-ion relates to devices for controlling the starting and stopping of mechanism, particularly phonographs.

In the operation of phonographs used for dictation purposes, it is necessary to start and stop the machine a great many times. For this purpose, pneumatic and other controlling devices intended to be operated by the foot of the transcriber or operator have been provided. Such a device is described and illustrated in the application of Charles Schifii entitled Controlling devices, Serial No. 572,796, filed July 30, 1910, in which relative movement of a plunger and cylinder for compressing and rarefying the air to operate the starting and stopping mechanism of the phonograph is caused by the movement of a pivoted cover or foot piece, which is depressed by the foot of the oper ator.

' I have found, however, that in practice the pneumatic device is apt to get turned upon the floor, or its correct position is not noted by the person using the phonograph, so that the foot is likely to be pressed upon the cover directly over the pivoted point of the same, or over one side, so that the leverage is less than if the foot were positioned on the side opposite to the pivot. Accordingly, I propose to remedy this difficulty by constructing a foot support secured to the base of a controlling device of the general character mentioned above,so that the foot of the operator may be always placed in a correct posit-ion to operate the pneumatic and so that, also, the heel of the opdevice,

be ralsed 1f desired nto a more erator may comfortable position for operating the device. The objects of myinvention are the provision of means of the character described,

This cover or foot-operated member. in the construction described in the said apand also the construction of parts and combinations of elements desirable in the same, as hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents my device in side elevation, and Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, the controlling device may be of any suitable character having an operating memberpivoted to one side. I have illustrated a device of the character described in the said application of Schifii, in which the base 1 is adapted to rest upon the floor and'has a bracket 2 rising from one edge of the same, the cover or foot-operated member 3 being pivoted thereto at 4. By the movement of member 3 caused by pressure thereupon of the foot 5 of the operator, air is forced into or is withdrawn from tube 6 which may be connected to a cylinder mounted upon a phonograph or other mechanism to be controlled. Member 7 is adapted to rest upon the fioorand is shapedto fit the heel of the operator, as

shown. Heel piece? which may be raised any desired distance above the floor and which may be provided with a curved flange 8 to fit the operators heel, is secured to the base 1 of the pneumatic device by means of a connecting member 9 which may be secured to base 1 of the controlling device as by screws 10. Connecting member 9 may be rigidly secured to heel piece 7 but I find it advisable to provide means'for adjusting the distance between the heel piece and the pneumatic device in order that the feet of different persons may be comfortably adjusted with respect to the pneumatic device. This may be accomplished by any suitable means, as the screw 11 which passes through $1013 12 in member 9, and screws into extension 13 of heel piece 7, the end of member 9 being adapted to move under the heel piece 7 into any desired position, in which it is secured by tightening screw 11.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 2- 1. In a controlling device, the combination of a stationary member, a movable member pivoted thereto at one side thereof, and a foot-positioning device secured to said stationary member on the opposite side thereof from the pivot of said movable mem ber, substantially as described.

2. In a controlling device, the combination of a stationary base, a member pivoted thereto at one side thereof and adapted to be oscillated about its pivot by foot pressure, and a heel-support secured to said base on the opposite side thereof from the pivot of said member, substantially as described.

3. In a controlling device, the combination of a stationary base, a member pivoted thereto at one side thereof and adapted to be oscillated about its pivot by foot pressure, a heel-support, means connecting the same to said base on the opposite side thereof from the pivot of said member, the said means being adjustable for varying the distance from said base at which said support is positioned, substantially as described.

4:. In a controlling device, the combinatlon of a stationary base, a member pivoted thereto at one side thereof and adapted to be moved about its pivot by foot pressure, and a heel support secured to said base in fixed relation thereto and on the side thereof opposite to said pivot, substantially as described.

5. In a controlling device, the combination of a stationary base, a member pivoted thereto at one side thereof and adapted to be moved about its pivot by foo-t pressure, a stationary heel support, and means for ad justably connecting said support to said base on the side of said base opposite to the said pivot, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of July 1910.

NELSON C. DURAND. Witnesses:

DYER SMITH, FRANK D. LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing? the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G.

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