Phonograph record player

Claim 2

A phonograph record player having a low profile comprising supporting means, said supporing means having an upper surface provided with a depressed well portion and a peripheral trough surrounding said well, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting means and having a horizontally disposed recordengaging surface, said turntable having a flange extending downwardly into said trough, and drive means for said turntable, said drive means including an electric motor mounted on the well portion of the supporting means, an upright rotatably mounted member extending from and driven by said motor, said member having an upper driving end thereof terminating closely adjacent the underside of said turntable surface, a rotary element secured in a predetermined relationship to said supporting means and in driving engagement with said flange and the upper end of said upright member, said well portion and a trough being apertured to accommodate said rotary element.

Claim 3

The phonograph record player of claim 1 wherein said rotary element is vertically adjustable with respect to said upper end and said upper end has a plurality of vertically related portions of different diameters whereby said rotary element, when in one position of vertical adjustment relative to said upper end effects rotation of said turntable at a first predetermined speed and when in a second position of vertical adjustment relative to said upper end effects rotation of said turntable at a second predetermined speed.

Claim 4

The phonograph record player of claim 2 wherein the upright member has a first cylindrical upper end portion and a second cylindrical upper end portion disposed downwardly rElative to said first upper end portion, one of said end portions having a greater diameter than the other; said rotary element being adapted to selectively engage said upper end portions.

Claim 5

The phonograph record player of claim 3 including adjustably mounted cam means operatively engaging a portion of said rotary element, and means for effecting adjustment of said cam means; adjustment of said cam means imparting vertical adjustment of said rotary element.

Claim 6

The phonograph record player of claim 4 wherein said rotary element is in continuous engagement with said upright member while said rotary element is being adjusted vertically.

Claim 7

The phonograph record player of claim 5 wherein said rotary element is out of engagement with said turntable flange and said upright member, when said player is shut off.

Claim 8

The phonograph record player of claim 1 wherein said motor has a rotor means and stator means, and said rotatably mounted upright member is coaxial with and an extension of said rotor means, a single bearing unit rotatably supporting said rotor means relative to said stator means subtending said upright member and being secured relative to said supporting means, the axial extension of said bearing unit being generally coextensive with the axial extension of said rotor means.

Claim 9

The phonograph record player of claim 7 wherein said bearing unit has a stationary upright shaft seucred to said supporting means and a rotatable sleeve having a recess which rotatably rests on said shaft in load-bearing relationship is secured to said rotor means and supports said upright member.

Claim 10

The phonograph record player of claim 8 wherein the lower end of said upright member is provided with an axial bore having a closed upper end, and said bearing unit stationary upright shaft is accommodated within said bore and the upper terminus of said stationary section is in load-bearing engagement with the closed upper end of said bore.

Claim 11

The phonograph record player of claim 9 wherein a rotatable bearing member is disposed between said upright shaft and said bore terminus.

Claim 12

A phonograph record player according to claim 1 wherein said rotatably mounted turntable accommodating thereon one or more records in playing position; an adjustably mounted pickup arm mounted on said support means for contacting the exposed playing surface of the record disposed in playing position on said turntable, said arm having an initial set-down position adjacent the outer periphery of the record being played; adjustable coupling means engaging said drive means and turntable for rotating same at said predetermined speeds; and single control means operatively connected to said pickup arm and said coupling means and selectively engageable by a record when the latter is disposed in playing position on said turntable whereby the turntable speed and the initial set-down position of said pickup arm are automatically adjusted to the playing characteristics and peripheral dimension of the record being played.

Claim 13

The phonograph record player of claim 11 wherein said control means includes a sensing element carried by said turntable, said sensing element being actuated only by a record of predetermined size when the latter is in playing position and in contact with said turntable.

Claim 14

A phonograph record player having a low profile, comprising supporting means having a surface provided with a well, said well having a peripheral trough; a turntable rotatably mounted within said well and having a generally vertical axis and a horizontally disposed record-engaging surface, a flange depending from the periphery of said turntable, said flange being accommodated by said trough, the depth of said trough being greater than the depression of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the well overlaid by said turntable; and turntable drive means mounted on said portion of the well bottom surface and in close proximity to the underside of said turntable surface, said drive means being in driving relation with said turntable flange.

Claim 15

A phonograph record player having a low profile, comprising supporting means having a surface provided with a well, said well having a peripheral trough; a turntable rotatably mounted within said well and having a generally vertical axis and a horizontally disposed record-engaging surface, a flange depending from the periphery of said turntable, said flange being accommodated by said trough, the depth of said trough being greater than the depression of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the well overlaid by said turntable; and turntable drive means mounted on said portion of the well bottom surface and in close proximity to the underside of said turntable surface, said drive means being in driving relation with said turntable flange.

Claim 16

The phonograph record player of claim 13 wherein said trough is of annular configuration and concentric with the rotary axis of said turntable.

Claim 17

The phonograph record player of claim 14 wherein the trough and the bottom surface of the well delimited thereby are separated from one another by an upwardly projecting annular wall.

Claim 18

The phonograph record player of claim 13 wherein said turntable drive means includes a motor driven upright member terminating closely adjacent the underside of said turntable surface and in driving relation with said turntable flange, and a single bearing unit subtending said upright member and being secured to said well bottom surface; saidearing unit said bearing a stationary upright section in axially aligned, interfittings load-bearing relation with said upright member.

Claim 19

A multi-speed phonograph record player for playing various size records, the playing characteristics of one size record requiring rotation thereof at one predetermined speed and the playing characteristics of a second size record requiring rotation thereof at a second predetermined speed, said player comprising support means having an upper surface provided with a depressed well portion and a peripheral trough surrounding said well, a rotatably mounted turntable for accommodating thereon one or more records in playing position and having a flange extending into said trough; an adjustably mounted pickup arm for contacting the exposed playing surface of the record disposed in playing position on said turntable, said arm having an initial set-down position adjacent the outer periphery of the record being played; adjustable drive means engaging said turntable for rotating same at said predetermined speeds said drive means engaging said flange through an opening in the wall of said trough; and single control means operatively connected to said pickup arm and said drive means and selectively engageable by a record when the latter is disposed in playing position on said turntable whereby the turntable speed and the initial set-down position of said pickup arm are automatically adjusted to the playing characteristics and peripheral dimension of the record being played.

Claim 20

A multi-speed phonograph record player for playing various size records, the playing characteristics of one size record requiring rotation thereof at one predetermined speed and the playing characteristics of a second size record requiring rotation thereof at a second predetermined speed, said player comprising support means having an upper surface provided with a depressed well portion and a peripheral trough surrounding said well, a rotatably mounted turntable for accommodating thereon one or more records in playing position and having a flange extending into said trough; an adjustably mounted pickup arm for contacting the exposed playing surface of the record disposed in playing position on said turntable, said arm having an initial set-down position adjacent the outer periphery of the record being played; adjustable drive means engaging said turntable for rotating same at said predetermined speeds said drive means engaging said flange through an opening in the wall of said trough; and single control means operatively connected to said pickup arm and said drive means and selectively engageable by a record when the latter is disposed in playing position on said turntable whereby the turntable speed and the initial set-down position of said pickup arm are automatically adjusted to the playing characteristics and peripheral dimension of the record being played.

Claim 21

The phonograph record player of claim 17 wherein said control means includes a sensing element carried by said turntable, said sensing element being actuated only by a record of predetermined size when the latter is in playing position and in contact with said turntable.

Claim 22

The phonograph record player of claim 18 wherein said sensing element includes a spring loaded detent which projects upwardly from said turntable surface, said detent being engaged and depressed by a record of predetermined size when the latter is disposed in playing position on said turntable surface.