Motion translating mechanism

Claim 2

In a mechanism for translating motion in a first direction to an output motion in a direction normal to said first direction, said mechanism comprising: a first elongate generally bar-shaped member; a second generally bar-shaped member slidably coupled to said first member; and a deformable pressure plate means having one end thereof hingedly coupled to said first member and the other end thereof hingedly coupled to said second member, said first member, said second member and said pressure plate means being portions of a unitary generally rigid plastic member having integral reduced cross section hinge portions, said pressure plate means being normally biased away from the surface of said first member and operable by a force thereon toward said surface whereby to move said second member relative to said first member.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first member has a channel-shaped cross section and said second member is slidable within the channel.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said pressure plate means include a pair of generally trapezoidal trough members hinged end-to-end with the walls thereof adjacent said hinge forming a generally planar pressure plate normally disposed generally parallel to said first member.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein the normal bias is provided by a spring having the opposite ends thereof secured within said trough member and upon application of force to urge said pressure plate toward said first member said trough members pivot relative to each other against the force of said spring.

Claim 6

In a mechanism for translating motion in a first direction to an output motion in a direction normal to said first direction, said mechanism comprising: a first elongate generally bar-shaped member having a channel-shaped cross-section; a second generally bar-shaped member coupled to said first member for slidable movement within the channel; and a deformable pressure plate means having one end thereof hingedly coupled to said first member and the other end thereof hingedly coupled to said second member, said pressure plate means including a pair of generally trapezoidal trough members hinged end-to-end with the walls thereof adjacent said hinge forming a generally planar pressure plate normally disposed generally parallel to said first member, said pressure plate means being normally biased away from the surface of said first member and operable by a force thereon toward said surface whereby to move said second member relative to said first member.

Claim 7

In a mechanism for translating motion in a first direction to an output motion in a direction normal to said first direction, said mechanism comprising: a first elongate generally bar-shaped member having a channel-shaped cross-section; a second generally bar-shaped member coupled to said first member for slidable movement within the channel; and a deformable pressure plate means having one end thereof hingedly coupled to said first member and the other end thereof hingedly coupled to said second member, said pressure plate means including a pair of generally trapezoidal trough members hinged end-to-end with the walls thereof adjacent said hinge forming a generally planar pressure plate normally disposed generally parallel to said first member, said pressure plate means being normally biased away from the surface of said first member and operable by a force thereon toward said surface whereby to move said second member relative to said first member.