US3892355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lock for selection mechanism for a postage meter
Assignee: AJM RESEARCH Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-03
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1994-04-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a locking device for locking all or any higher order of the selection mechanism of a postage meter, so that only a person having a suitable key can unlock it and change the value to be printed and registered. The device is particularly adapted for use in a postage meter utilizing a Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator, a selection gear moved longitudinally along the periphery of said mutilated drum and adapted to set the value to be entered into the registers of the meter, a selection member manually set to position said selection gear, a postage printing mechanism set by said selection member, means for automatically restoring the selection member to a zero position at the end of each cycle of operation, and the specific device includes means for disabling said automatic restore mechanism and means for locking said last mentioned means in any adjusted position and enabling said disabling means.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J Malavazos
- 👤 Administrator By Gre Malavazos
- 👤 Jan Urdal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
In a postage meter, the combination which comprises: 1. manually set and ordinally arranged value selection members for determining the value to be stamped upon mail matter and to be registered in suitable registers; and 2. selectively operable means for locking selected ones of said value selection members in a differentially set position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a postage meter, the combination which comprises: 1. manually set and ordinally arranged value selection members for determining the value to be stamped upon mail matter and to be registered in suitable registers; and 2. selectively operable means for locking selected ones of said value selection members in a differentially set position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
selectively operable means for locking selected ones of said value selection members in a differentially set position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
selectively operable means for locking selected ones of said value selection members in a differentially set position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a keyed lock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for latching said selection members in a differentially set position;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for latching said selection members in a differentially set position;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for latching said selection members in a selected value position;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for latching said selection members in a selected value position;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
means for locking said latching means in an adjusted position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
means for locking said latching means in an adjusted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for latching said value selection members in a differentially set position;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for latching said value selection members in a differentially set position;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
means selectively operable to disable said automatic restore means and to enable said latching means or alternately to enable said automatic restore means and disable said latching means;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
means selectively operable to disable said automatic restore means and to enable said latching means or alternately to enable said automatic restore means and disable said latching means;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
a first manually adjusted means for enabling said latching means and disabling said restoring means order-by-order or alternately enabling said restoring means and disabling said latching means;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
a first manually adjusted means for enabling said latching means and disabling said restoring means order-by-order or alternately enabling said restoring means and disabling said latching means;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
7 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also:
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
selectively operable means for disabling selected ones of said automatic restoring means and simultaneously enabling the latching means for the same member; and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
selectively operable means for disabling selected ones of said automatic restoring means and simultaneously enabling the latching means for the same member; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
wherein the selectively operable locking means is operable to lock said last mentioned means in an adjusted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
wherein the selectively operable locking means is operable to lock said last mentioned means in an adjusted position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
7 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
a second manually adjusted means for preventing operation of said first manually operated means in selected higher orders; and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
a second manually adjusted means for preventing operation of said first manually operated means in selected higher orders; and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
a first manually operated setting member operable to set said last mentioned means into either operating position; and
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
a first manually operated setting member operable to set said last mentioned means into either operating position; and
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
a second manually operable setting member effective to limit the setting of said first manual setting member against setting in the position in which said automatic restore means is effective and said latching means is ineffective.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
a second manually operable setting member effective to limit the setting of said first manual setting member against setting in the position in which said automatic restore means is effective and said latching means is ineffective.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a postage meter having a manually operated value selection mechanism for determining the value to be stamped upon mail matter and to register that value in suitable registers, means for automatically restoring said value selection mechanism to zero in the latter part of each cycle of operation, and means for disabling said automatic restore means, a locking mechanism comprising:
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a postage meter having a manually operated value selection mechanism for determining the value to be stamped upon mail matter and to register that value in suitable registers, means for automatically restoring said value selection mechanism to zero in the latter part of each cycle of operation, and means for disabling said automatic restore means, a locking mechanism comprising:
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for locking said second manually operated means in an adjusted position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for locking said second manually operated means in an adjusted position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said locking means in a keyed lock.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a postage meter having ordinally arranged value selection members for selectively determining the value to be stamped on mail matter and for registering that value in the proper registers, the combination which comprises:
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a postage meter having ordinally arranged value selection members for selectively determining the value to be stamped on mail matter and for registering that value in the proper registers, the combination which comprises:
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including also a key-operated lock and means controlled by said lock for locking said second manually operated setting member in an adjusted position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second manually operated means is operable order-by-order from the highest to the lowest to limit operation of said frist manually operated means to disable said latching means and enable said automatic restore 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) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |