Protective cover with viewing window for printers

Claim 2

A protective cover, including a viewing window, particularly adapted for use as part of a housing for enclosing printer apparatus and the like, said cover comprising: a first major wall portion dimensioned to substantially enclose an opening in an associated housing, and having a surface profile that allows at least the peripheral edges thereof to conform with the respectively adjacent peripheral edges of the opening in the associated housing, as mounted thereon, and a second portion in the form of an integral, laterally disposed, recessed trough which further encloses said opening and includes first and second spaced side walls which extend downwardly from the underside of the cover at oppositely inclined angles toward each other, said walls at least cooperating to form a closed bottom of said trough, said trough having a predetermined lateral length and terminating at each end at least a short distance inwardly from the resPectively adjacent edges of said cover, at least said first side wall of said trough being formed to be transparent for viewing therethrough, and said second side wall being formed with the upper surface thereof having a light diffusing finish and being disposed at such an angle with respect to the transparent window that it will diffuse any ambient light that would not only be reflected thereto, but otherwise be capable of being reflected therefrom back to and then off the window as glaring light rays along any one of all intended line-of-sight angles of viewing through the window.

Claim 3

A protective cover in accordance with claim 1 wherein a web-accommodating feed-out passageway is formed in said cover on one side of said trough.

Claim 4

A protective cover in accordance with claim 2 wherein said passageway is defined in part by two short, mutually disposed cut-back notches which respectively define the lateral extremities of said passageway.

Claim 5

A protective cover in accordance with claim 3 wherein said passageway further includes two mutually disposed flanges which extend outwardly and in parallel relationship from the respective notches as edge extensions of said major cover portion, and define an opening forming part of said passageway therebetween, each of said flanges forming at its inner end one of the two juxtaposed and laterally disposed side walls of the associated notch, with the inner edge of each flange tapering both inwardly and outwardly from the associated notch so as to form a support ledge of progressively increasing width for a section of web when fed upwardly through said notches.

Claim 6

A protective cover in accordance with claim 4 wherein said notches are formed at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the adjacent surface area of said major cover portion, and wherein the inner inclined wall of each notch is formed as a common extension between the notches so as to define an elongated, beveled edge having an acute angled upper corner which forms a relatively sharp web-cutting edge.

Claim 7

A protective cover in accordance with claim 1 which further comprises a pair of integral pins, said pins respectively extending outwardly from opposite edges of said cover so as to allow the latter to be pivotally mounted on an associated housing.

Claim 8

A protective cover in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second oppositely inclined side walls forming said trough merge into a narrow, base-defining third wall.

Claim 9

A protective cover in accordance with claim 7 wherein an elongated indicator scale extends along said third wall of said trough.

Claim 10

A protective cover in accordance with claim 5 wherein said cover is made of glass.

Claim 11

A protective cover in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover is made of transparent plastic material, and wherein said light diffusing surface of said second wall comprises a translucent, textured finish formed during the molding of said cover.

Claim 12

A protective cover in accordance with claim 10 wherein not only said upper surface of said second wall, but other selected surfaces of said cover each has a translucent, textured finish formed during the molding of said cover so as to both diffuse light and conceal selected portions of an apparatus when enclosed therebeneath in an associated housing.

Claim 13

A protective cover in accordance with claim 7 wherein said cover is made out of a transparent plastic material, and wherein not only said upper surface of said second wall of said trough, but other selected upper surfaces of said major cover portion each has a translucent, textured finish formed during the molding of said cover so as to both diffuse light and conceal selected portions of an apparatus when enclosed therebeneath in an associated housing.

Claim 14

A protective cover in accordance with claim 12 wherein a web-accommodating feed-out passageway is formed in said cover on one side of said trough, said passageway being defined in part by two short, mutually disposed cut-back notches which respectively define The lateral extremities of said passageway, and wherein said passageway further includes two mutually disposed flanges which extend outwardly and in parallel relationship from the respective notches as edge extensions of said major cover portion, and define an opening forming part of said passageway therebetween, each of said flanges forming at its inner end one of the two juxtaposed and laterally disposed side walls of the associated notch, with the inner edge of each flange tapering both inwardly and outwardly from the associated notch so as to form a support ledge of progressively increasing width for a section of web when fed upwardly through said notches.

Claim 15

A protective cover in accordance with claim 13 wherein said notches are formed at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the adjacent surface area of said major cover portion, and wherein the inner inclined wall of each notch is formed as a common extension between the notches so as to define an elongated, beveled edge having an acute angled upper corner which forms a relatively sharp web-cutting edge, and wherein an elongated indicator scale extends along said third wall of said trough.

Claim 16

In a printer including means for periodically line-feed advancing an incremental length of a record medium in roll stock form on which alphanumeric characters are to be line printed, and wherein a housing substantially encloses the printer and includes an opening in one wall thereof so as to allow at least the width and lateral length of one print line to be observed, the combination further comprising: a protective cover dimensioned to substantially enclose the opening in said housing, said cover being molded out of a transparent plastic material as a one-piece unit, said cover including: a first major wall portion having a surface profile that allows at least the peripheral edges thereof to conform with the contour of the housing, as mounted thereon to partially enclose said opening; a second cover portion in the form of an integral, laterally disposed, recessed trough which further encloses said opening and includes first and second spaced and parallel extending side walls which extend downwardly from the underside of the cover at oppositely inclined angles toward each other, said walls at least cooperating to form a closed bottom of said trough, said trough having a lateral length approximately equal to the maximum allowable width of a record medium accommodated by the printer, and terminating at each end in end walls which are spaced at least a short distance inwardly from the respectively adjacent edges of said cover, at least said first side wall of said trough being formed to be transparent for viewing therethrough, and said second side wall being formed with the upper surface thereof having a non-reflective, translucent, textured finish, and being disposed at such an angle with respect to the transparent window that it will diffuse any ambient light that would not only be reflected thereto by said window, but otherwise be capable of being reflected from said second side wall back to and then off said window as glaring light rays along any one of all intended line-of-sight angles of viewing through the window, and a record medium-accommodating feed-out passageway formed in said cover, and being positioned a predetermined distance from the window side of said trough, said passageway being defined, in part, by two short, laterally disposed cut-back notches which are commonly aligned in parallel relationship with said trough, and respectively form the lateral extremities of said passageway.

Claim 17

In a printer including means for periodically line-feed advancing an incremental length of a record medium in roll stock form on which alphanumeric characters are to be line printed, and wherein a housing substantially encloses the printer and includes an opening in one wall thereof so as to allow at least the width and lateral length of one print line to be observed, the combination further comprising: a protective cover dimensioned to substantially enclose the opening in said housing, said cover being molded out of a transparent plastic material as a one-piece unit, said cover including: a first major wall portion having a surface profile that allows at least the peripheral edges thereof to conform with the contour of the housing, as mounted thereon to partially enclose said opening; a second cover portion in the form of an integral, laterally disposed, recessed trough which further encloses said opening and includes first and second spaced and parallel extending side walls which extend downwardly from the underside of the cover at oppositely inclined angles toward each other, said walls at least cooperating to form a closed bottom of said trough, said trough having a lateral length approximately equal to the maximum allowable width of a record medium accommodated by the printer, and terminating at each end in end walls which are spaced at least a short distance inwardly from the respectively adjacent edges of said cover, at least said first side wall of said trough being formed to be transparent for viewing therethrough, and said second side wall being formed with the upper surface thereof having a non-reflective, translucent, textured finish, and being disposed at such an angle with respect to the transparent window that it will diffuse any ambient light that would not only be reflected thereto by said window, but otherwise be capable of being reflected from said second side wall back to and then off said window as glaring light rays along any one of all intended line-of-sight angles of viewing through the window, and a record medium-accommodating feed-out passageway formed in said cover, and being positioned a predetermined distance from the window side of said trough, said passageway being defined, in part, by two short, laterally disposed cut-back notches which are commonly aligned in parallel relationship with said trough, and respectively form the lateral extremities of said passageway.

Claim 18

In a printer in accordance with claim 15, said passageway in said cover further including two mutually disposed flanges which extend outwardly and in parallel relationship from the respective notches as edge extensions of said major cover portion, and define an opening forming part of said passageway therebetween, each of said flanges forming at its inner end one of the two juxtaposed and laterally disposed side walls of the associated notch, with the inner edge of each flange tapering both inwardly and outwardly from the associated notch so as to form a support ledge of progressively increasing width for a section of the print medium when fed upwardly through said notches, and said notches being formed at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the adjacent surface area of said major cover portion, with the inner inclined wall of each notch being formed as a common extension between the notches so as to define an elongated, beveled edge having an acute angled upper corner which forms a relatively sharp cutting edge for said print medium.

Claim 19

In a printer in accordance with claim 15, said protective cover having not only said upper surface of said second wall of said trough, but other selected surfaces of the major cover portion formed with a translucent, textured finish during the molding of said cover so as to both diffuse light and conceal selected portions of an apparatus enclosed within the housing therebelow.

Claim 20

In a printer in accordance with claim 16, said first and second oppositely inclined walls of said trough merging into a narrow, essentially horizontal third wall-defining base.

Claim 21

In a printer in accordance with claim 18, said cover further including an elongated scale extending along said narrow, horizontal base of said trough.

Claim 22

In a printer in accordance with claim 19, said elongated scale being formed in the upper surface of and as an integral part of said base of said trough.

Claim 23

In a printer in accordance with claim 20, said trough of said protective cover being formed at each end with a narrow slit that extends through each end wall at the intersection with said base, and said protective cover further including an elongated, slidably adjustable indicator scale supported on said base, with the ends of said scale respectively extending through the adjacent slits formed in said end walls.

Claim 24

In a printer in accordance with claim 21, said elongated indicator scale including an integral, outwardly extending tab formed near each end region thereof, said tabs functioning both as stops to limit the lateral displacement of said scale within said trough, and to retain said scale within the slits thereof.

Claim 25

In a printer in accordance with claim 22, said passageway in said cover further including two mutually disposed flanges which extend outwardly and in parallel relationship from the respective notches as edge extensions of said major cover portion, and define an opening forming part of said passageway therebetween, each of said flanges forming at its inner end one of the two juxtaposed and laterally disposed side walls of the associated notch, with the inner edge of each flange tapering both inwardly and outwardly from the associated notch so as to form a support ledge of progressively increasing width for a section of a print medium when fed upwardly through said notches, and said cover further including a pair of integral pins, said pins respectively extending outwardly from opposite edges of said cover so as to allow the latter to be pivotally mounted on the associated housing.

Claim 26

In a printer in accordance with claim 23, said notches partially defining said passageway being formed at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the adjacent surface area of said major cover portion, and the inner, inclined wall of each notch being formed as a common extension between the notches so as to define an elongated, beveled edge having an acute angled upper corner which forms a relatively sharp cutting edge for said print medium, and said protective cover further having not only said upper surface of said second wall of the trough, but also other upper preselected surface areas of said cover, formed with a translucent, textured finish during the molding of said cover, with the exception of said window and an area defined between said trough and said beveled cutting edge and coextensive therewith, said last mentioned area being dimensioneD and located so as to allow at least the lateral space associated with the print line preceding the print line observed through said window to also be observed.