Simplified record player

Claim 1

In a simplified record player of the type which comprises a normally upwardly biased push button which defines means for holding a record disc, the record disc being lowered by depression of the push button such that the lower face of the disc, having reproducing grooves, engages with an upwardly projecting reproduction stylus carried by the record player; a latch shaft having an upwardly facing end face for latching a latch piece, the latch piece being normally biased toward the outer periphery of the latch shaft such that the push button and the record disc are maintained together in a depressed state, and actuating link means which pushes the latch piece so as to release it from engagement with the latch shaft thereby permitting the push button and record disc to return to their initial position, the improvement which comprises: an upwardly extending shaft member assembly including (a) a drive shaft, (b) a tubular shaft telescopically coupled to said drive shaft so as to be rotated integrally with the drive shaft only in a direction of rotation, (c) a latch shaft fitted around the outer periphery of the tubular shaft; the tubular shaft having a downwardly facing stepped portion formed on the outer periphery thereof; the latch shaft having a flange and an upper end face formed at a predetermined space thereon, the flange and upper end face each acting as a latch face, the latch shaft having an upwardly facing stepped portion formed interiorly thereof; a first spring means resiliently biasing the tubular shaft such that the tubular shaft is supported at the downwardly facing stepped portion by the upwardly facing stepped portion of the latch shaft, and a second spring means resiliently biasing the latch shaft such that the latch shaft is supported upwardly under resilient force imparted by the second spring means.