US3717870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Card directory
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of individually folded cards, each bearing indicia relating to the location of individual switches of a switch array, is hingedly attached to a housing. Selection means is provided for selecting one of the cards so that the certain of the cards become stacked in a region of the housing and the selected card unfolds across the switch array. Registration means may be provided for fixedly positioning the selected card with respect to the switch array. The cards may be translucent so that light emitting indicators associated with the switches may be viewed through the selected card.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mathews
- 👤 G Kaelin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0238
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A card directory comprising: first and second housing means hinged together; a plurality of card portions each having a first edge hingedly attached to said first housing means; a plurality of cards each hingedly attached to an edge opposite said first edge of a respective one of said card portions; said cards and card portions being normally individually folded together at the hinge between then and retained in a cavity between said first and second housing means; said cards and card portions being sized relative to said cavity; selectably movable retention means supported on said second housing for retaining selected card portions in said second housing, whereby when the cavity between said first and second housing is opened so that card portions are retained in said second housing above said first housing, selected cards and card portions are permitted to fall into said first housing in stacked individually folded relation and the card hinged to the uppermost card portion of said stack is permitted to unfold from said card portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A card directory comprising: first and second housing means hinged together; a plurality of card portions each having a first edge hingedly attached to said first housing means; a plurality of cards each hingedly attached to an edge opposite said first edge of a respective one of said card portions; said cards and card portions being normally individually folded together at the hinge between then and retained in a cavity between said first and second housing means; said cards and card portions being sized relative to said cavity; selectably movable retention means supported on said second housing for retaining selected card portions in said second housing, whereby when the cavity between said first and second housing is opened so that card portions are retained in said second housing above said first housing, selected cards and card portions are permitted to fall into said first housing in stacked individually folded relation and the card hinged to the uppermost card portion of said stack is permitted to unfold from said card portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
A card directory comprising: first and second housing means hinged together; a plurality of card portions each having a first edge hingedly attached to said first housing means; a plurality of cards each hingedly attached to an edge opposite said first edge of a respective one of said card portions; said cards and card portions being normally individually folded together at the hinge between then and retained in a cavity between said first and second housing means; said cards and card portions being sized relative to said cavity; selectably movable retention means supported on said second housing for retaining selected card portions in said second housing, whereby when the cavity between said first and second housing is opened so that card portions are retained in said second housing above said first housing, selected cards and card portions are permitted to fall into said first housing in stacked individually folded relation and the card hinged to the uppermost card portion of said stack is permitted to unfold from said card portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A card directory comprising: first and second housing means hinged together; a plurality of card portions each having a first edge hingedly attached to said first housing means; a plurality of cards each hingedly attached to an edge opposite said first edge of a respective one of said card portions; said cards and card portions being normally individually folded together at the hinge between then and retained in a cavity between said first and second housing means; said cards and card portions being sized relative to said cavity; selectably movable retention means supported on said second housing for retaining selected card portions in said second housing, whereby when the cavity between said first and second housing is opened so that card portions are retained in said second housing above said first housing, selected cards and card portions are permitted to fall into said first housing in stacked individually folded relation and the card hinged to the uppermost card portion of said stack is permitted to unfold from said card portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cards are translucent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first housing means is hingedly attached to a third housing supporting an array of switches, said cards each carrying indicia segmenting the cards into individual segments corresponding to individual ones of said switches, and registration means for positioning the card hinged to the uppermost card portion of said stack over said last-mentioned card are juxtapositioned to respective individual switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein light emitting indicators are associated with each switch of said array, and said cards are translucent so that operation of said indicators may be viewed through the selected card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 further including retention means for retaining the selected card to said third hoUsing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cards include indicia associated with each segment for instructing an operator to actuate selected switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said switches are adapted to be connected to message formulation means for formulating an electronic signal representative of a message to be sent to a remote station, and the indicia on said cards is representative of the location of the switches to be actuated to formulate a particular message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein light emitting indicators are associated with each switch of said array, and said cards are translucent so that operation of said indicators may be viewed through the selected card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 further including tab means protruding from an edge of each of said card portions, the tab means for each such card portion having a portion at a distinct location on the edge of the card portion with respect to the location of similar portions of the tab means on the other card portions, and said retention means comprises means for bearing against the tab means on said card portions, said last-named means being movable along an edge of said second housing to selectively bear against selected portions of said tab means.
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) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |