PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
United States Patent 3572866
A phonograph record player of the type having a generally upright carrying case or housing, having a backwall, front wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable tray or base positioned in an enlarged opening in, and forming a closure portion of, the front wall of the carrying case or housing. A double pivot arrangement is used to support the turntable base between the sidewalls of the housing for movement between a stable generally upright storing position and a stable generally horizontal record playing position.
US Patent References:
Portable phonograph
Bentsen - January 1965 - 3167314
Damping device
Gehrung et al. - November 1968 - 3409339
FRICTION PIVOT FOR PHONOGRAPH TRAY
Wamboldt - October 1969 - 3471972
Portable phonograph
Bentsen - January 1965 - 3167314
Damping device
Gehrung et al. - November 1968 - 3409339
FRICTION PIVOT FOR PHONOGRAPH TRAY
Wamboldt - October 1969 - 3471972
Application Number:
04/802043
Publication Date:
03/30/1971
Filing Date:
02/25/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
V-M Corporation (Benton Harbor, MI)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
G11B33/02; G11B33/06; A47B81/06
Field of Search:
312/8 221/(Inquired)
Primary Examiner:
Lawson, Patrick D.
Claims:
I claim
1. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means and the guide track means being contoured to require initial movement of the turntable base upwardly and outwardly and then downwardly with respect to the housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means for movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing location.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the turntable base, when in its record playing location, has its center of gravity overlying the base portion of the housing.
3. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means and the guide track means being contoured to require initial movement of the pivot means upwardly and then outwardly and downwardly with respect to the housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means for movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing position and from its record playing position to its storage position.
4. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means providing a substantially arcuate path for the pivot means and the guide track means providing a path which is nonarcuate for the guide means, the contour of said pivot track means and said guide track means requiring movement of the turntable base outwardly and downwardly with respect to said housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means during movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing position.
5. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the contour of the pivot track means and guide track means requiring the turntable base, when pivotally moving from its storage location toward its record playing location to be pivoted forwardly from the housing and then downwardly and then rearwardly so that the rear surface of the turntable base will lie closely adjacent the rear wall of the housing when it reaches its record playing location.
6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the turntable base in either its storage location or record playing location has its center of gravity overlying the base portion of the casing.
7. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require initial movement of the turntable base upwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing for movement of said turntable base from its storage location toward its record playing location.
8. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means and the guide track means are carried by the sidewalls of the housing and the pivot means and the guide means are carried by the turntable base.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the pivot means and guide means comprise on each side of the turntable base a pair of pins mounted on a plate and the plate is carried on the inner wall of a sidewall of the turntable base with the pins protruding through at least one opening in said sidewall of the turntable base.
10. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means provides a generally arcuate path for the pivot means and has stop means at the opposite ends of the path to prevent further arcuate movement by the pivot means, said stop means assisting in determining the storage location and record playing location of the turntable base, the stop means for the storage location being so disposed that the pivot means, in moving therefrom toward the record playing location of the turntable base, must rise before it descends.
1. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means and the guide track means being contoured to require initial movement of the turntable base upwardly and outwardly and then downwardly with respect to the housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means for movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing location.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the turntable base, when in its record playing location, has its center of gravity overlying the base portion of the housing.
3. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means and the guide track means being contoured to require initial movement of the pivot means upwardly and then outwardly and downwardly with respect to the housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means for movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing position and from its record playing position to its storage position.
4. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the pivot track means providing a substantially arcuate path for the pivot means and the guide track means providing a path which is nonarcuate for the guide means, the contour of said pivot track means and said guide track means requiring movement of the turntable base outwardly and downwardly with respect to said housing as said pivot means and said guide means move along their respective pivot track means and guide track means during movement of said turntable base from its storage position toward its record playing position.
5. In a phonograph record player comprising a generally upright housing with a supporting base, a rear wall and spaced sidewalls, and a turntable base pivotally supported between said sidewalls for movement between a generally upright storage position and a tilted down generally horizontal record playing position, the improvement comprising pivot track means, and cooperating pivot means movable relative to said pivot track means, one of said means being carried on opposite sides of the turntable base and the other of said means being carried by the housing, said pivot track means affording an upper position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in its storage location, and a lower position for the pivot means, at which position the turntable base is in a lowered record playing location, guide track means, and cooperating guide means movable relative to said guide track means, one of said latter two means being carried by at least one of the sides of the turntable base and the other of said latter two means being carried by the housing, the contour of the pivot track means and guide track means requiring the turntable base, when pivotally moving from its storage location toward its record playing location to be pivoted forwardly from the housing and then downwardly and then rearwardly so that the rear surface of the turntable base will lie closely adjacent the rear wall of the housing when it reaches its record playing location.
6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the turntable base in either its storage location or record playing location has its center of gravity overlying the base portion of the casing.
7. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require initial movement of the turntable base upwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing for movement of said turntable base from its storage location toward its record playing location.
8. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means and the guide track means are carried by the sidewalls of the housing and the pivot means and the guide means are carried by the turntable base.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the pivot means and guide means comprise on each side of the turntable base a pair of pins mounted on a plate and the plate is carried on the inner wall of a sidewall of the turntable base with the pins protruding through at least one opening in said sidewall of the turntable base.
10. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the pivot track means provides a generally arcuate path for the pivot means and has stop means at the opposite ends of the path to prevent further arcuate movement by the pivot means, said stop means assisting in determining the storage location and record playing location of the turntable base, the stop means for the storage location being so disposed that the pivot means, in moving therefrom toward the record playing location of the turntable base, must rise before it descends.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to phonograph record players and more particularly to portable phonograph record players of the type comprising a generally upright carrying case or housing and a turntable tray or base positioned in an enlarged opening in the front wall of the carrying case or housing and pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the carrying case or housing for movement between a stable generally upright storing position and a stable generally horizontal record playing position. The turntable base carries a turntable, a tone arm having an associated stylus, and other component parts of record playing and changing mechanism, and the "bottom" of the tray or base forms part of the front wall of the housing when the tray is in its upright position.
It is conventional for such a turntable to be pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the housing by means of fixed pivot pins extending from opposite side portions of the turntable base and engaging fixed pivot bearings on the sidewalls of the housing. Thus, the turntable base may be tilted upwardly to the generally upright storing position and downwardly to the generally horizontal record playing position.
Frequently, because of their compact size, portable phonograph record players of this type are rested on wall-mounted shelves or even on shelves of bookcases. Consequently, because most shelves abut a wall or other obstruction, it is important in designing a portable phonograph record player of this type to minimize the depth of the housing. Also for convenience in carrying the unit it is desirable that the housing not be too wide, or else it will bump into one's leg. However, the interior of the housing must allow clearance for part of the turntable base as the turntable base is tilted upwardly or downwardly and a portion of it swings rearwardly into the housing. Furthermore, the center of gravity of the turntable base preferably should not overhang the base portion of the housing on which the record player is rested when the turntable base is in the generally horizontal record playing position, otherwise the entire unit may be unstable and may tip over. So, if the housing is narrow, then most of the tilted down turntable tray will have to extend out of the housing with its center of gravity so situated that the unit will be unstable.
In attempting to have as much of the turntable base, when in record playing position, situated within the casing, the pivots of prior record players have sought to have the rear edge of the turntable tray pivot into as close a position to the inside surface of the rear wall as possible. However because of the depth of the turntable base and need for clearance of its top and bottom rear edges with the rear wall of the housing as it pivots--while yet seeking to have the center of gravity of the turntable base be disposed within the housing when the turntable base is in its horizontal position--prior record players have had to have the housing wider than desired. Trying to provide narrowness of the casing and also a stable unit have therefore presented problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of this invention to provide improvements in a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type.
A more specific object is to provide a portable record player so constructed as to provide a narrower housing that is a housing less deep from front to back--then heretofore, while yet providing stability of the record player in its storage (carrying) position and, more particularly, in its record playing position.
It is another object of this invention to provide a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type in which a unique double-pivot arrangement is used to pivotally support the turntable base between the sidewalls of the housing for movement between a generally upright storage position and a generally horizontal record playing position, whereby a narrower housing may be employed, while yet assuring that the entire portable unit will have stability when its tray is in record playing position. Because of the double-pivot arrangement, the depth required for the carrying case or housing is less than would be required if conventional fixed pivots were used.
It is another object of this invention to provide a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type, in which the turntable base is pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the housing in such a manner as to provide stability not only for the entire portable unit but also for the turntable base, itself, relative to the housing, both in a generally upright storing position and in a generally horizontal record playing position.
The preceding objects may be attained in the combination of pivot means mounted to the turntable base on opposite sides thereof, pivot track means carried by the respective sidewalls of the housing for support of the pivot means and movement of the pivot means therealong, together with guide means mounted to the turntable base on at least one side thereof and preferably on opposite sides thereof, and guide track means carried by the corresponding sidewall or walls of the housing for engagement by the guide means and movement of the guide means therealong.
It is one feature of this invention that the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require movement of the pivot means--and therefore movement of the turntable base, or tray--outwardly and downwardly and then rearwardly with respect to the housing, along the pivot track means, during movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position. Because the turntable base, or tray, is moved outwardly with respect to the carrying case, or housing, upon movement from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position, clearance is provided for the rear edges of the turntable tray as it pivots relative to the rear wall of the housing. Thereafter the downward movement of the pivotal support lowers the turntable tray--and also its center of gravity--and the rearward movement assures that the turntable base will be close to the rear wall of the housing, thereby causing the center of gravity of the turntable base to overlie the base of the record player. Consequently less depth is required in the interior of the housing than would be required if the turntable base were to be supported by means of conventional fixed pivots.
It is another feature of this invention that the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to provide stability for the turntable base, itself, relative to the housing, both in the generally upright storing position and in the generally horizontal record playing position. To this end, the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require initial movement of the pivot means upwardly and outwardly with respect to the carrying case, or housing, preferably over an arcuate path, both for movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position and for the reverse movement of the turntable base from the generally horizontal record playing position to the generally upright storing position. As a result, there is no need to use a trunk latch or the like to hold the turntable base in the generally upright storing position. Stability in the record playing position is afforded not only by wall portions of the pivot track means and the guide track means, but also may be assured by a stop associated with the housing.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following description, with the aid of the attached drawings, of a presently preferred embodiment of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view, with certain parts broken away, of a portable phonograph record player embodying the principles of this invention, taken substantially along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable, or tray, in a tilted-down, generally horizontal, position suitable for playing of records;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portable phonograph record player of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the offset line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in a tilted-up position;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, indicating the limits of movement of the turntable base;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the turntable in intermediate positions of pivotal movement;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in the tilted-down position;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in an intermediate position, nearing its record playing position;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 8, showing the turntable base in the tilted-down, record playing, position; and
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along lone 10-10 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings, the principles of this invention are embodied in a portable phonograph record player, indicated generally at 20, comprising a carrying case or housing 22, which somewhat resembles a suitcase and has a plurality of walls including a backwall 24 and spaced sidewalls 26 and 28, and a turntable tray or base 30, which is positioned in an enlarged rectangular opening 32 in the front of the housing 22. When the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright, storage position, it forms substantially the entire front wall of the housing 22. The turntable base 30 is pivotally supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28, in a manner to be described hereinafter, for movement between a generally upright, storage and carrying position and a generally horizontal record playing position. The turntable base 30 is shown in the storage position in FIG. 4, and in the record playing position in FIGS. 1--3. The housing 22 and the turntable base 30 are shown made of molded plastic, but they may be made of other materials.
For present purposes, it should be understood that the turntable base 30 carries and supports a number of known component parts of mechanism for playing and changing records, indicated generally at 34, including a rotatably mounted turntable 36 having a concealed drive motor, a center spindle 38, a pivotally mounted tone arm 40 having an associated stylus (not shown), and a record steadying arm 42. Details of the structure and function of suitable mechanism for use as the record playing and changing mechanism 34 are not needed for an understanding of the present invention and may be supplied readily by those skilled in the art.
As shown in FIG. 4, in order to protect the aforementioned otherwise exposed component parts of the mechanism 34, the turntable base 30 fits closely within the opening 32 in the housing 22 when moved to the generally upright storage position and thereby forms the front wall of the housing 22. The turntable base 30 is retained in the generally upright storing position by means of a pair of similar resilient clips 44 and 46, respectively, (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 10) riveted or otherwise suitably mounted in cantilevered relation to the respective sidewalls 26 and 28. The clip 44 is adapted to be snapped into or out of engagement with a rib 52 (FIG. 10) formed on one lateral edge of the turntable base 30 upon the application of a slight amount of force to the turnable base 30. The clip 46 is adapted to be similarly snapped into and out of engagement with a rib 60 formed on the opposite lateral edge of the turnable base 30.
The turntable base 30 is pivotally supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28 of the housing 22 by means of a unique double-pivot arrangement, indicated generally at 64, 64 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The sidewalls 66 and 68 of the turntable base 30 may have a slight draft or taper, as shown, owing to the molding processes by which the turntable base 30 may be fabricated. The double-pivot arrangement 64, 64, by means of which the turntable base 30 is supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22, is formed by aligned pivot means 70 and aligned guide means 72 (the latter also serving as pivot means), both means 70 and 72 being mounted to each of the respective sidewalls 66 and 68 of the turntable base 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 has a enlarged horizontally extending, circular opening 78 and a slightly smaller, horizontally extending, circular opening 80 in predetermined spaced relation to the opening 78. A backing plate 82 is rigidly attached to the inside surface 86 of the sidewall 66, by means of plurality screws (not shown), and is integrally formed with an integral cylindrical spacer 88 extending outwardly through the opening 78 and a slightly smaller integral cylindrical spacer 90 extending outwardly through the slightly smaller opening 80. The pivot means 70 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 is in the form of a cylindrical pivot boss 92, of reduced diameter, integrally formed on the cylindrical spacer 88, and the guide means 72 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 is in the form of a cylindrical pivot boss 94, of reduced diameter, integrally formed on the cylindrical spacer 90. The pivot means 70 and guide means 72 mounted to the opposite sidewall 68 are similarly formed.
The pivot means 70 engage and are supported by pivot track means 100 carried by the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22. As shown, the pivot track means 100 carried by the sidewall 26 of the housing 22 is formed by a raised flange 102, preferably molded on the inside surface 104 of the sidewall 26, defining a substantially arcuate path of movement of the pivot means 70 which is mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30. The pivot track means 100 carried by the opposite sidewall 28 is similarly formed, and cooperates with its associated pivot means 70. The guide means 72 engage and are supported by guide track means 112 carried by the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22. As shown, the guide track means 112 carried by the sidewall 26 of the housing 22 is formed by a raised flange 114, preferably molded on the inside surface 104 of the sidewall 26, defining a nonarcuate path of movement of the guide means 72 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30. The guide track means 112 carried by the opposite sidewall 28 of the housing is similarly formed and each guide track means is formed by a raised flange 118 on the inside surface of the sidewall 26 and 28.
The respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 on each sidewall of the housing are contoured by their respective flanges 102 and 114 to determine the path of movement of the turntable base 30 in either direction between the generally upright storage position and the generally horizontal record playing position, and, furthermore, require movement of the respective pivot means 70 outwardly and downwardly with respect to the housing 22, along the respective pivot track means 100, for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally upright storage location toward the generally horizontal record playing location. Thus as shown in FIG. 4, when the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright storing position, the respective pivot means 70 are at the upper extremities of the respective pivot track means 100, and the respective guide means 72 are and the outer extremities of the respective guide track means 11. Portions 102a and 102b of flange 102 form stop means for the cooperating pivot means 70; and portions 114a and 114b of flange 114 form stop means for the cooperating guide means 72. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position, the respective pivot means 70 are at the lower extremities of the respective pivot track means 100, and the respective guide means 72 are at the inner extremities of the respective guide track means 112. Stopping of the pivotal movement of turntable base 30 at the generally horizontal record playing position also is controlled by integral stop means 118 on the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the housing 22. Movement of the turntable base 30 to the generally upright storage position also is limited by engagement of the turntable base 30 with the housing 22.
Because an outward component of movement of the pivot means 70 with respect to the housing 22 is required for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally upright storage position toward the generally horizontal record playing position, less depth is required in the interior of the carrying case or housing 22 than would be required if the turntable base 30 were to be supported by means of conventional fixed pivots.
The respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 are contoured so as to cause one edge 124 of the turntable base 30--which edge 124 constitutes the inner edge of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position--to be moved simultaneously to its uppermost position and to its innermost position as the turntable base 30 makes its final pivotal movement to the generally horizontal record playing position. This movement is useful in connection with the operation of latching means for speaker enclosures which are hingedly connected with the housing 22. As may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the guide track means 112 on each sidewall of the housing has a short upturned end 112a and stop means 114a, followed by a generally horizontal path 112b and then completed by an upwardly curved end 112c and stop means 114b.
The component parts 34 supported by the turntable base 30 are arranged such that the turntable base, with the components 34, has a center of gravity which lies above and to the left of the center of guide means 72 when the base is in the FIG. 5 position. Preferably the pivot means 70 lie inwardly (that is, inwardly in the direction of the housing) of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position, and outwardly of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright storing position. Consequently the turntable base 30 will be stable in either position. Also, when the turntable base is in the record playing position its center of gravity preferably overlies the base 122 of the housing 22.
However, the respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 are contoured to provide stability for the turntable base 30 both in the generally upright storing position and in the generally horizontal record playing position, notwithstanding the location of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 in either position. To this end, the respective pivot track means 100 and respective guide track means 112 are contoured to require initial movement of the respective pivot means 70 upwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing 22 both for movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position and for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally horizontal record playing position to the generally upright storing position. Thus, for the turntable base 30 to be moved from the generally upright storing position, the respective pivot means 70 initially must be moved upwardly by the distance as a 1 (FIG. 5) and outwardly by the distance indicated as a 2 (FIG. 5), that is, from the dashed line position of FIG. 5 to the full line position of FIG. 6. Thereupon, the respective pivot means 70 may be moved forwardly and downwardly and then rearwardly to the full line position of FIG. 5. Likewise, for the turntable base 30 to be moved from the generally horizontal record playing position, the respective pivot means 70 initially must be moved upwardly and outwardly from the full line position of FIG. 5 to the dashed line position of FIG. 6, before the pivots may again move rearwardly and upwardly. Such movement assures that the "rear" edge of the turntable base will clear the rear wall 24 of housing 22.
Because of the contour of the pivot track means 100 and guide track means 114, stability of the turntable base 30, itself, relative to the housing 22 in both its upright storage location and in its generally horizontal record playing location is achieved even though the center of gravity of the turntable base does not overlie the base 122 of the housing. Consequently the aforenoted clips 44 and 46 for retaining the turnable base in its upright position may be eliminated. However, the clips 44 and 46 are included by preference for additional stability in storage and movement of the record player 20.
The record player 20 may further comprise a speaker enclosure 130 mounted to the sidewall 26 of the housing 22, by means of a pair of vertical hinges 132. The hinged support permits movement away from the sidewall 26 to an extended position flanking the housing 22 and movement toward the sidewall 26 to a retracted position against the sidewall 26. Similarly a speaker enclosure 134 may be mounted to the sidewall 28 of the housing 22, by means of a pair of vertical hinges 136, for movement away from the sidewall 26 to an extended position flanking the carrying case or housing 22 and toward the sidewall 28 to a retracted position against the sidewall 28. The speaker enclosures 130 and 134 may contain stereophonic speakers. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the speaker enclosures 130 and 134 are shown is the extended positions in dashed lines and in the retracted positions in full lines. Suitable latching means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 138 in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be used to hold the speaker enclosures 130 and 134 in the retracted positions.
It will be appreciated that while the objects, features and advantages of the invention have been demonstrated in the disclosed preferred form, they may also be embodied in other forms of record players, so the scope of this invention should be determined from the following claims.
This invention pertains generally to phonograph record players and more particularly to portable phonograph record players of the type comprising a generally upright carrying case or housing and a turntable tray or base positioned in an enlarged opening in the front wall of the carrying case or housing and pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the carrying case or housing for movement between a stable generally upright storing position and a stable generally horizontal record playing position. The turntable base carries a turntable, a tone arm having an associated stylus, and other component parts of record playing and changing mechanism, and the "bottom" of the tray or base forms part of the front wall of the housing when the tray is in its upright position.
It is conventional for such a turntable to be pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the housing by means of fixed pivot pins extending from opposite side portions of the turntable base and engaging fixed pivot bearings on the sidewalls of the housing. Thus, the turntable base may be tilted upwardly to the generally upright storing position and downwardly to the generally horizontal record playing position.
Frequently, because of their compact size, portable phonograph record players of this type are rested on wall-mounted shelves or even on shelves of bookcases. Consequently, because most shelves abut a wall or other obstruction, it is important in designing a portable phonograph record player of this type to minimize the depth of the housing. Also for convenience in carrying the unit it is desirable that the housing not be too wide, or else it will bump into one's leg. However, the interior of the housing must allow clearance for part of the turntable base as the turntable base is tilted upwardly or downwardly and a portion of it swings rearwardly into the housing. Furthermore, the center of gravity of the turntable base preferably should not overhang the base portion of the housing on which the record player is rested when the turntable base is in the generally horizontal record playing position, otherwise the entire unit may be unstable and may tip over. So, if the housing is narrow, then most of the tilted down turntable tray will have to extend out of the housing with its center of gravity so situated that the unit will be unstable.
In attempting to have as much of the turntable base, when in record playing position, situated within the casing, the pivots of prior record players have sought to have the rear edge of the turntable tray pivot into as close a position to the inside surface of the rear wall as possible. However because of the depth of the turntable base and need for clearance of its top and bottom rear edges with the rear wall of the housing as it pivots--while yet seeking to have the center of gravity of the turntable base be disposed within the housing when the turntable base is in its horizontal position--prior record players have had to have the housing wider than desired. Trying to provide narrowness of the casing and also a stable unit have therefore presented problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of this invention to provide improvements in a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type.
A more specific object is to provide a portable record player so constructed as to provide a narrower housing that is a housing less deep from front to back--then heretofore, while yet providing stability of the record player in its storage (carrying) position and, more particularly, in its record playing position.
It is another object of this invention to provide a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type in which a unique double-pivot arrangement is used to pivotally support the turntable base between the sidewalls of the housing for movement between a generally upright storage position and a generally horizontal record playing position, whereby a narrower housing may be employed, while yet assuring that the entire portable unit will have stability when its tray is in record playing position. Because of the double-pivot arrangement, the depth required for the carrying case or housing is less than would be required if conventional fixed pivots were used.
It is another object of this invention to provide a portable phonograph record player of the aforementioned type, in which the turntable base is pivotally supported between the sidewalls of the housing in such a manner as to provide stability not only for the entire portable unit but also for the turntable base, itself, relative to the housing, both in a generally upright storing position and in a generally horizontal record playing position.
The preceding objects may be attained in the combination of pivot means mounted to the turntable base on opposite sides thereof, pivot track means carried by the respective sidewalls of the housing for support of the pivot means and movement of the pivot means therealong, together with guide means mounted to the turntable base on at least one side thereof and preferably on opposite sides thereof, and guide track means carried by the corresponding sidewall or walls of the housing for engagement by the guide means and movement of the guide means therealong.
It is one feature of this invention that the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require movement of the pivot means--and therefore movement of the turntable base, or tray--outwardly and downwardly and then rearwardly with respect to the housing, along the pivot track means, during movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position. Because the turntable base, or tray, is moved outwardly with respect to the carrying case, or housing, upon movement from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position, clearance is provided for the rear edges of the turntable tray as it pivots relative to the rear wall of the housing. Thereafter the downward movement of the pivotal support lowers the turntable tray--and also its center of gravity--and the rearward movement assures that the turntable base will be close to the rear wall of the housing, thereby causing the center of gravity of the turntable base to overlie the base of the record player. Consequently less depth is required in the interior of the housing than would be required if the turntable base were to be supported by means of conventional fixed pivots.
It is another feature of this invention that the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to provide stability for the turntable base, itself, relative to the housing, both in the generally upright storing position and in the generally horizontal record playing position. To this end, the pivot track means and the guide track means are contoured to require initial movement of the pivot means upwardly and outwardly with respect to the carrying case, or housing, preferably over an arcuate path, both for movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position and for the reverse movement of the turntable base from the generally horizontal record playing position to the generally upright storing position. As a result, there is no need to use a trunk latch or the like to hold the turntable base in the generally upright storing position. Stability in the record playing position is afforded not only by wall portions of the pivot track means and the guide track means, but also may be assured by a stop associated with the housing.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following description, with the aid of the attached drawings, of a presently preferred embodiment of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view, with certain parts broken away, of a portable phonograph record player embodying the principles of this invention, taken substantially along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable, or tray, in a tilted-down, generally horizontal, position suitable for playing of records;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portable phonograph record player of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the offset line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in a tilted-up position;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, indicating the limits of movement of the turntable base;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the turntable in intermediate positions of pivotal movement;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in the tilted-down position;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the turntable base in an intermediate position, nearing its record playing position;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 8, showing the turntable base in the tilted-down, record playing, position; and
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along lone 10-10 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings, the principles of this invention are embodied in a portable phonograph record player, indicated generally at 20, comprising a carrying case or housing 22, which somewhat resembles a suitcase and has a plurality of walls including a backwall 24 and spaced sidewalls 26 and 28, and a turntable tray or base 30, which is positioned in an enlarged rectangular opening 32 in the front of the housing 22. When the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright, storage position, it forms substantially the entire front wall of the housing 22. The turntable base 30 is pivotally supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28, in a manner to be described hereinafter, for movement between a generally upright, storage and carrying position and a generally horizontal record playing position. The turntable base 30 is shown in the storage position in FIG. 4, and in the record playing position in FIGS. 1--3. The housing 22 and the turntable base 30 are shown made of molded plastic, but they may be made of other materials.
For present purposes, it should be understood that the turntable base 30 carries and supports a number of known component parts of mechanism for playing and changing records, indicated generally at 34, including a rotatably mounted turntable 36 having a concealed drive motor, a center spindle 38, a pivotally mounted tone arm 40 having an associated stylus (not shown), and a record steadying arm 42. Details of the structure and function of suitable mechanism for use as the record playing and changing mechanism 34 are not needed for an understanding of the present invention and may be supplied readily by those skilled in the art.
As shown in FIG. 4, in order to protect the aforementioned otherwise exposed component parts of the mechanism 34, the turntable base 30 fits closely within the opening 32 in the housing 22 when moved to the generally upright storage position and thereby forms the front wall of the housing 22. The turntable base 30 is retained in the generally upright storing position by means of a pair of similar resilient clips 44 and 46, respectively, (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 10) riveted or otherwise suitably mounted in cantilevered relation to the respective sidewalls 26 and 28. The clip 44 is adapted to be snapped into or out of engagement with a rib 52 (FIG. 10) formed on one lateral edge of the turntable base 30 upon the application of a slight amount of force to the turnable base 30. The clip 46 is adapted to be similarly snapped into and out of engagement with a rib 60 formed on the opposite lateral edge of the turnable base 30.
The turntable base 30 is pivotally supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28 of the housing 22 by means of a unique double-pivot arrangement, indicated generally at 64, 64 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The sidewalls 66 and 68 of the turntable base 30 may have a slight draft or taper, as shown, owing to the molding processes by which the turntable base 30 may be fabricated. The double-pivot arrangement 64, 64, by means of which the turntable base 30 is supported between the sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22, is formed by aligned pivot means 70 and aligned guide means 72 (the latter also serving as pivot means), both means 70 and 72 being mounted to each of the respective sidewalls 66 and 68 of the turntable base 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 has a enlarged horizontally extending, circular opening 78 and a slightly smaller, horizontally extending, circular opening 80 in predetermined spaced relation to the opening 78. A backing plate 82 is rigidly attached to the inside surface 86 of the sidewall 66, by means of plurality screws (not shown), and is integrally formed with an integral cylindrical spacer 88 extending outwardly through the opening 78 and a slightly smaller integral cylindrical spacer 90 extending outwardly through the slightly smaller opening 80. The pivot means 70 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 is in the form of a cylindrical pivot boss 92, of reduced diameter, integrally formed on the cylindrical spacer 88, and the guide means 72 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30 is in the form of a cylindrical pivot boss 94, of reduced diameter, integrally formed on the cylindrical spacer 90. The pivot means 70 and guide means 72 mounted to the opposite sidewall 68 are similarly formed.
The pivot means 70 engage and are supported by pivot track means 100 carried by the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22. As shown, the pivot track means 100 carried by the sidewall 26 of the housing 22 is formed by a raised flange 102, preferably molded on the inside surface 104 of the sidewall 26, defining a substantially arcuate path of movement of the pivot means 70 which is mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30. The pivot track means 100 carried by the opposite sidewall 28 is similarly formed, and cooperates with its associated pivot means 70. The guide means 72 engage and are supported by guide track means 112 carried by the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the carrying case or housing 22. As shown, the guide track means 112 carried by the sidewall 26 of the housing 22 is formed by a raised flange 114, preferably molded on the inside surface 104 of the sidewall 26, defining a nonarcuate path of movement of the guide means 72 mounted to the sidewall 66 of the turntable base 30. The guide track means 112 carried by the opposite sidewall 28 of the housing is similarly formed and each guide track means is formed by a raised flange 118 on the inside surface of the sidewall 26 and 28.
The respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 on each sidewall of the housing are contoured by their respective flanges 102 and 114 to determine the path of movement of the turntable base 30 in either direction between the generally upright storage position and the generally horizontal record playing position, and, furthermore, require movement of the respective pivot means 70 outwardly and downwardly with respect to the housing 22, along the respective pivot track means 100, for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally upright storage location toward the generally horizontal record playing location. Thus as shown in FIG. 4, when the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright storing position, the respective pivot means 70 are at the upper extremities of the respective pivot track means 100, and the respective guide means 72 are and the outer extremities of the respective guide track means 11. Portions 102a and 102b of flange 102 form stop means for the cooperating pivot means 70; and portions 114a and 114b of flange 114 form stop means for the cooperating guide means 72. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position, the respective pivot means 70 are at the lower extremities of the respective pivot track means 100, and the respective guide means 72 are at the inner extremities of the respective guide track means 112. Stopping of the pivotal movement of turntable base 30 at the generally horizontal record playing position also is controlled by integral stop means 118 on the respective sidewalls 26 and 28 of the housing 22. Movement of the turntable base 30 to the generally upright storage position also is limited by engagement of the turntable base 30 with the housing 22.
Because an outward component of movement of the pivot means 70 with respect to the housing 22 is required for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally upright storage position toward the generally horizontal record playing position, less depth is required in the interior of the carrying case or housing 22 than would be required if the turntable base 30 were to be supported by means of conventional fixed pivots.
The respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 are contoured so as to cause one edge 124 of the turntable base 30--which edge 124 constitutes the inner edge of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position--to be moved simultaneously to its uppermost position and to its innermost position as the turntable base 30 makes its final pivotal movement to the generally horizontal record playing position. This movement is useful in connection with the operation of latching means for speaker enclosures which are hingedly connected with the housing 22. As may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the guide track means 112 on each sidewall of the housing has a short upturned end 112a and stop means 114a, followed by a generally horizontal path 112b and then completed by an upwardly curved end 112c and stop means 114b.
The component parts 34 supported by the turntable base 30 are arranged such that the turntable base, with the components 34, has a center of gravity which lies above and to the left of the center of guide means 72 when the base is in the FIG. 5 position. Preferably the pivot means 70 lie inwardly (that is, inwardly in the direction of the housing) of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally horizontal record playing position, and outwardly of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 when the turntable base 30 is in the generally upright storing position. Consequently the turntable base 30 will be stable in either position. Also, when the turntable base is in the record playing position its center of gravity preferably overlies the base 122 of the housing 22.
However, the respective pivot track means 100 and the respective guide track means 112 are contoured to provide stability for the turntable base 30 both in the generally upright storing position and in the generally horizontal record playing position, notwithstanding the location of the center of gravity of the turntable base 30 in either position. To this end, the respective pivot track means 100 and respective guide track means 112 are contoured to require initial movement of the respective pivot means 70 upwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing 22 both for movement of the turntable base from the generally upright storing position to the generally horizontal record playing position and for movement of the turntable base 30 from the generally horizontal record playing position to the generally upright storing position. Thus, for the turntable base 30 to be moved from the generally upright storing position, the respective pivot means 70 initially must be moved upwardly by the distance as a 1 (FIG. 5) and outwardly by the distance indicated as a 2 (FIG. 5), that is, from the dashed line position of FIG. 5 to the full line position of FIG. 6. Thereupon, the respective pivot means 70 may be moved forwardly and downwardly and then rearwardly to the full line position of FIG. 5. Likewise, for the turntable base 30 to be moved from the generally horizontal record playing position, the respective pivot means 70 initially must be moved upwardly and outwardly from the full line position of FIG. 5 to the dashed line position of FIG. 6, before the pivots may again move rearwardly and upwardly. Such movement assures that the "rear" edge of the turntable base will clear the rear wall 24 of housing 22.
Because of the contour of the pivot track means 100 and guide track means 114, stability of the turntable base 30, itself, relative to the housing 22 in both its upright storage location and in its generally horizontal record playing location is achieved even though the center of gravity of the turntable base does not overlie the base 122 of the housing. Consequently the aforenoted clips 44 and 46 for retaining the turnable base in its upright position may be eliminated. However, the clips 44 and 46 are included by preference for additional stability in storage and movement of the record player 20.
The record player 20 may further comprise a speaker enclosure 130 mounted to the sidewall 26 of the housing 22, by means of a pair of vertical hinges 132. The hinged support permits movement away from the sidewall 26 to an extended position flanking the housing 22 and movement toward the sidewall 26 to a retracted position against the sidewall 26. Similarly a speaker enclosure 134 may be mounted to the sidewall 28 of the housing 22, by means of a pair of vertical hinges 136, for movement away from the sidewall 26 to an extended position flanking the carrying case or housing 22 and toward the sidewall 28 to a retracted position against the sidewall 28. The speaker enclosures 130 and 134 may contain stereophonic speakers. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the speaker enclosures 130 and 134 are shown is the extended positions in dashed lines and in the retracted positions in full lines. Suitable latching means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 138 in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be used to hold the speaker enclosures 130 and 134 in the retracted positions.
It will be appreciated that while the objects, features and advantages of the invention have been demonstrated in the disclosed preferred form, they may also be embodied in other forms of record players, so the scope of this invention should be determined from the following claims.