Pushbutton tuner

Claim 2

A pushbutton tuner comprising at least one tuning element, first and second members rotatable about axes, respectively, first and second link members each extending between said first and second rotatable members and having opposite ends pivotally connected thereto, an auxiliary link member interconnecting said first and second rotatable members to form a link work together with said first and second link members and rotabable members, said auxiliary link member being pivotally connected to each of said first and second rotatable members at a point positioned at the apex of a triangle having its bottom side formed by a line joining the points at which said first and second link members are pivotally connected to each rotatable member, at least one pushbutton, a stem carrying said pushbutton, a regulating member carried by said stem and having portions adapted to be urged against said first and second link members when said pushbutton is pushed thereby to move said first and second link members and correspondingly rotate said first and second rotatable members, at least one variable element operatively connected to said link work and movable relative to said tuning element when said pushbutton is pushed whereby a tuned state is obtained, pins secured to said first and second rotatable members to pivotally connect said first and second rotatable members to said first and second link members, each of said pins having a groove formed therein, said first and second link members being formed therein with through-holes each formed by a circular portion and non-circular portion, each of said pins extending through each of said through-holes, and a resilient retainer having an end portion engaged with the groove in each of said pins and urging the non-circular portion of the associated through-hole against the pin.

Claim 3

A pushbutton tuner according to claim 1, further including first and second bearings supporting said stem at spaced points along the length thereof, a rotary tuning mechanism including a rotary tuning shaft and a disc member rotatable by said tuning shaft and normally engaging one of said first and second rotatable members, a clutch release member carried by said stem, a control member disposed between said first and second bearings and operatively connected to said rotary tuning mechanism, said control member also being operatively associated with said clutch release member so that said disc is disengaged from said one rotatable member when said pushbutton is pushed.

Claim 4

A pushbutton tuner comprising a plurality of tuning elements mounted on said base, a row of a plurality of pushbuttons mounted on said base along a front edge thereof for movement relative to said base, first and second turn plates mounted on said base for rotation about first and second axes, respectively, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base, first and second generally comb-shaped link members each extending between said first and second turn plates and having opposite ends pivotally connected thereto, an auxiliary link member interconnecting said first and second turn plates to form a link work together with said first and second comb-shaped link members and said first and second turn plates, said link work extending substantially parallel to the plane of said base, said auxiliary link member being pivotally connected to each of said first and second turn plates at a point positioned at the apex of a triangle having its bottom side formed by a line joining the points of which said first and second comb-shaped link members are pivotally connected to each turn plate, said first and second comb-shaped link members and said auxiliary link member being substantially parallel with respect to each other and with said row of pushbuttons, said first and second comb-shaped link members being closely spaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base and movable toward and away from said row of pushbuttons, each of said first and second comb-shaped link members having a plurality of spaced projections extending toward said row of pushbuttons substantially parallel with the plane of said base, said pushbuttons having stems laterally spaced from each other and extending substantially transversely of a group of said first and second comb-shaped link members and said auxiliary link member through a space between said base and said group, each of said pushbutton stems carrying a generally flat regulating member normally fixed to an associated pushbutton stem and extending in a plane substantially parallel to said link work, said regulating member having first and second projections disposed on opposite sides of an associated pushbutton stem, said regulating member being movable toward said first and second comb-shaped link members when an associated pushbutton is pushed, said first and second comb-shaped link members and the regulating member on each pushbutton stem being arranged such that one of the projections of said first comb-shaped link member and one of the projections of said comb-shaped link member are positioned in paths of movement of said first and second projections of said regulating member whereby said first and second projections of said regulating member are moved into engagement with corresponding projections of said first and second comb-shaped link members when an associated pushbutton is pushed to thereby move said link work relative to said base, and a plurality of variable elements operatively connected to said link work and movable relative to said tuning elements to obtain a tuned state.

Claim 5

A pushbutton tuner comprising a plurality of tuning elements mounted on said base, a row of a plurality of pushbuttons mounted on said base along a front edge thereof for movement relative to said base, first and second turn plates mounted on said base for rotation about first and second axes, respectively, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base, first and second generally comb-shaped link members each extending between said first and second turn plates and having opposite ends pivotally connected thereto, an auxiliary link member interconnecting said first and second turn plates to form a link work together with said first and second comb-shaped link members and said first and second turn plates, said link work extending substantially parallel to the plane of said base, said auxiliary link member being pivotally connected to each of said first and second turn plates at a point positioned at the apex of a triangle having its bottom side formed by a line joining the points of which said first and second comb-shaped link members are pivotally connected to each turn plate, said first and second comb-shaped link members and said auxiliary link member being substantially parallel with respect to each other and with said row of pushbuttons, said first and second comb-shaped link members being closely spaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base and movable toward and away from said row of pushbuttons, each of said first and second comb-shaped link members having a plurality of spaced projections extending toward said row of pushbuttons substantially parallel with the plane of said base, said pushbuttons having stems laterally spaced from each other and extending substantially transversely of a group of said first and second comb-shaped link members and said auxiliary link member through a space between said base and said group, each of said pushbutton stems carrying a generally flat regulating member normally fixed to an associated pushbutton stem and extending in a plane substantially parallel to said link work, said regulating member having first and second projections disposed on opposite sides of an associated pushbutton stem, said regulating member being movable toward said first and second comb-shaped link members when an associated pushbutton is pushed, said first and second comb-shaped link members and the regulating member on each pushbutton stem being arranged such that one of the projections of said first comb-shaped link member and one of the projections of said comb-shaped link member are positioned in paths of movement of said first and second projections of said regulating member whereby said first and second projections of said regulating member are moved into engagement with corresponding projections of said first and second comb-shaped link members when an associated pushbutton is pushed to thereby move said link work relative to said base, and a plurality of variable elements operatively connected to said link work and movable relative to said tuning elements to obtain a tuned state.

Claim 6

A pushbutton tuner according to claim 3, wherein the projections of said first comb-shaped link member extend therefrom substantially to a first straight line extending between the points at which said first comb-shaped link member is pivotally connected to said first and second turn plates and the projections of said second comb-shaped link member extend therefrom substantially to a second straight line extending between the points at which said second comb-shaped link member is pivotally connected to said first and second turn plates.

Claim 7

A pushbutton tuner according to claim 3, further including a rotary tuning mechanism including a tuning shaft mounted on said base for rotation about a third axis generally parallel to said pushbutton stems, a rotary tuning mechanism mounting plate mounted on said base for rotation about a fourth axis substantially parallel to said first and second axes, a disc member mounted on said tuning mechanism mounting plate for rotation about a fifth axis substantially parallel to said fourth axis, and transmission means on said tuning mechanism mounting plate for drivingly connecting said tuning shaft to said disc member; one of said turn plates having a generally arcuate portion, said disc member being movable into and out of driving engagement with said arcuate portion of said one turn plate; an elongated member operatively connected at one end to said tuning mechanism mounting plate and extending over said pushbutton stems substantially transversely thereof, said pushbutton stems carrying cams thereon, respectively, said elongated member having cam followers each operatively associated with one of said cams, the arrangement being such that when a pushbutton is pushed, said elongated member is moved to rotate said tuning mechanism mounting plate about said fourth axis in a direction to move said disc member out of engagement with said one turn plate; and a spring member always biasing said tuning mechanism mounting plate about said fourth axis in the opposite direction.