Patent US3573434A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3573434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Card reader
Assignee: Vertex Industries Inc
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Filing: 1968-08-28
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Granted: 1971-04-06
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Expires: 1988-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A reliable, low cost card reader for reading credit cards. A simplified mechanism for actuating the card reading head comprises a spring toggle arrangement which is released when a credit card is inserted into the reader. A manual lever resets the toggle arrangement to raise the reading head and eject the card. The mechanism utilizes a number of inexpensive stamped parts, and the design is such that assembly of parts is very easy and precise.
Inventors
- 👤 John Gleason Wallace
- 👤 Charles Michael Lovendusky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In a cardreader of the character described, an improved actuating mechanism comprising a card-receiving platen, a head, an eccentric shaft on which said head is pivotally mounted an by which it is moved toward and away from said platen, a frame for supporting said shaft and said platen in generally parallel spaced relation, a rigid lever arm fixed on said shaft, a main spring connected between a point on said lever arm and a point on said frame, upper and lower stop means to limit the upper and lower rotation of said lever arm, said lever arm and said spring comprising a toggle arrangement, said lever arm in its lower position being slightly over toggle center and being urged against said lower stop means by said spring, and said lever arm in its upper position being substantially beyond toggle center and being urged against said upper stop means by said spring, arm means actuated by the insertion of a card into the reader to move said lever arm up beyond toggle center, and actuating means to move said lever arm from its upper to its lower position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a cardreader of the character described, an improved actuating mechanism comprising a card-receiving platen, a head, an eccentric shaft on which said head is pivotally mounted an by which it is moved toward and away from said platen, a frame for supporting said shaft and said platen in generally parallel spaced relation, a rigid lever arm fixed on said shaft, a main spring connected between a point on said lever arm and a point on said frame, upper and lower stop means to limit the upper and lower rotation of said lever arm, said lever arm and said spring comprising a toggle arrangement, said lever arm in its lower position being slightly over toggle center and being urged against said lower stop means by said spring, and said lever arm in its upper position being substantially beyond toggle center and being urged against said upper stop means by said spring, arm means actuated by the insertion of a card into the reader to move said lever arm up beyond toggle center, and actuating means to move said lever arm from its upper to its lower position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The mechanism in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a sheet metal housing formed into U-shape, said shaft being mounted transversely near the center of said housing, said platen being mounted across the bottom of said housing, and said arm means comprises an L-shaped arm pivoted near the upper rear of said housing, the lower end of said L-shaped arm being engageable with the front edge of a card as it is inserted into said mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
A simplified cardreader of the character described comprising: a U-shaped thin wall housing having an open bottom, a card-receiving platen tightly fitted across the open bottom of said housing, an eccentric shaft mounted transversely within said housing near the center thereof, a spring toggle mechanism coupled to said shaft to rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise and to hold it in either position, a cardreading head mounted on said shaft for movement toward and away from said platen, trigger means engageable by the front edge of a card when it is inserted into said reader to move said toggle mechanism back over center and to allow it to rotate said shaft counterclockwise and to move said head into cardreading position, and manually operable means to move said toggle to overcenter condition to rotate said shaft clockwise and to raise said head from cardreading position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A simplified cardreader of the character described comprising: a U-shaped thin wall housing having an open bottom, a card-receiving platen tightly fitted across the open bottom of said housing, an eccentric shaft mounted transversely within said housing near the center thereof, a spring toggle mechanism coupled to said shaft to rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise and to hold it in either position, a cardreading head mounted on said shaft for movement toward and away from said platen, trigger means engageable by the front edge of a card when it is inserted into said reader to move said toggle mechanism back over center and to allow it to rotate said shaft counterclockwise and to move said head into cardreading position, and manually operable means to move said toggle to overcenter condition to rotate said shaft clockwise and to raise said head from cardreading position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The reader in claim 3 wherein said toggle mechanism comprises a lever arm on the end of said eccentric shaft, a main spring acting between a point on said lever arm and a fixed point on said housing, the line of centers of said points being positioned relative to the axis of said shaft to form a self-locking slightly overcenter toggle when said shaft is in its upper position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The reader in claim 4 wherein said fixed point on said housing comprises the outer end of a fixed shaft mounted transversely across the upper rear of said housing, said trigger means comprising an L-Shaped arm pivoted on said fixed shaft, the lower end of said L-shaped arm being engageable by the front edge of a card, the upper end of said L-Shaped arm being engageable with said lever arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reader in claim 5 wherein said fixed shaft is retained in placE by groove engagement with said housing and by force from said main spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The reader in claim 3 wherein said eccentric shaft comprises a rotatable shaft mounted offcenter on an axle, said axle being slidable through said shaft for assembly and being retained at each end by a head screw engaging a respective sidewall of said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-05 | 1974-10-05 | 1975-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-05 | 1978-10-05 | 1979-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-05 | 1982-10-05 | 1983-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |