Dictating machine ball-like finger control mounted by a universal joint

Claim 2

A hand held dictating machine control unit for setting the operative states of said machine, comprising, a body member adapted to be held in the palm of the hand and gripped by fingers overlying the body member and having a plurality of switch means operably connected to said machine for setting its operative states, an actuator member for actuating said switch means, a universal joint secured to said actuator member and pivotally mounted in said body along a pair of axes intersecting at right angles to each other, whereby said actuator member is mounted in said body for rotation in at least first and second directions of movement at right angles to each other, said first and second directions of movement having ends defined at the limits to which said actuating member can be rotated, said switch means being operatively connected to said actuating member for actuation by selective rotation of said actuating member, said actuating member being adapted to remain at either one of the ends of said first direction of movement to operate a selected one of said switches, and said universal joint permitting movement of said actuating member perpendicularly in said second direction of movement from either of said ends of said first direction of movement to either of said ends of said second direction of movement thereby to actuate another of said switch means and change the operative state of said machine.

Claim 3

A control unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includes at least three switches positioned in said body member adjacent one of said ends of said second direction of movement, one of said switches being actuated by rotation of said actuator member to one of the ends of said first direction of movement and the other of said switches being actuated respectively by rotation of said actuator member to the respective ends of said second direction of movement whereby, said one switch and a selected one of said other switches are adapted to be sequentially and simultaneously actuated by sequential rotation of said actuator member in said second direction of movement to a respective one of the ends thereof and in said first direction of movement to said one end thereof.

Claim 4

A control unit as described in claim 1 wherein said actuating member is a hemispherical shell and each said plurality of switch means includes a movable contact with an end positioned adjacent the edge of the hemispherical shell and adapted to be displaced by said shell to actuate said switch means when said shell is rotated.

Claim 5

A control unit as described in claim 1 wherein said actuating member is moved in said second direction of movement against a bias.

Claim 6

A control unit as described in claim 1 wherein a microphone is located at one end of said housing and said actuating member is a hemispherical shell having its outer rounded portion protruding from an aperture in said housing and located intermediate said housing ends.

Claim 7

A control unit as described in claim 5 wherein said second direction of movement is coextensive with a direction along an axis through said microphone and said hemispherical shell, and said machine is conditioned for dictation when said hemispherical shell is rotated to The end of movement in said second direction nearest said microphone, said machine is controlled for backspacing when said shell is rotated to the other end of said second direction of movement and said machine is conditioned respectively for ''''off'''' and ''''forward running'''' when said shell is rotated to an end of said first direction of motion.

Claim 8

A hand held dictating machine control unit for setting the operative states of said machine comprising, a body member adapted to be held in the palm of the hand and gripped by fingers overlying the body member, an actuator member, a universal joint secured to said actuator member and pivotally mounted in said body along a pair of axes intersecting at right angles to each other, whereby said actuator member is mounted in said body for rotation in at least first and second directions of movement, said first and second directions of movement having ends defined at the limits to which said actuating member can be rotated, at least three switches mounted in said body member adjacent one end of said second direction of movement, each of said switches being adapted to be selectively and operatively engaged for actuation by said actuator member by the selective rotation of said member in said first and second directions of movement to set the operative states of said machine, one of said switches being actuated by rotation of said actuator to one of the ends of said first direction of movement and the other of said switches being actuated respectively by rotation of said actuator member to the respective ends of said second direction of movement whereby said one switch and a selected one of said other switches are adapted to be sequentially and simultaneously actuated by sequential rotation of said actuator member in said second direction of movement to a respective one of said ends thereof and in said first direction of movement to said one of the ends thereof.

Claim 9

A hand held dictating machine control unit for setting the operative states of said machine comprising, a body member adapted to be held in the palm of the hand and gripped by fingers overlying the body member, an actuator member, a universal joint secured to said actuator member and pivotally mounted in said body along a pair of axes intersecting at right angles to each other, whereby said actuator member is mounted in said body for rotation in at least first and second directions of movement, said first and second directions of movement having ends defined at the limits to which said actuating member can be rotated, at least three switches mounted in said body member adjacent one end of said second direction of movement, each of said switches being adapted to be selectively and operatively engaged for actuation by said actuator member by the selective rotation of said member in said first and second directions of movement to set the operative states of said machine, one of said switches being actuated by rotation of said actuator to one of the ends of said first direction of movement and the other of said switches being actuated respectively by rotation of said actuator member to the respective ends of said second direction of movement whereby said one switch and a selected one of said other switches are adapted to be sequentially and simultaneously actuated by sequential rotation of said actuator member in said second direction of movement to a respective one of said ends thereof and in said first direction of movement to said one of the ends thereof.

Claim 10

A control unit as defined in claim 7 including a first contact member for said one switch adapted to be engaged by said actuator to close said one switch upon rotation of said member to said one end of said first direction of movement and a second contact member, for said other switches operatively connected to said actuator member to selectively close said other switches upon selective rotation of said actuator to the respective ends of said second direction of movement, (said actuator member being adapted to maintain engagement with said second contact member during movement of the actuator member in said first direction of movement to sequentially and simultaneously actuate a selected one of said second switches and said one switch to set the operative state of said machine.)